The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-26

of purpose. unity in counsel. affinity in dis
position and fellowship In religion. This
Jewess and a Christian. The husband was
a gentle. and, so far as known. was not
even a proselyte. IT was apparently a de
vided family. The speaker continued:
Timothy was blessed with a Christian
mother. She believed. Her faith was large
ly due to early training, for her mother,
Lois, was also a woman OF unfeigned faith.
Eunice in turn educated her boy in the fear
of God. While grace does not run in the
blood, the natural order of succession is
grandmother Lois. mother Eunice, SON
Timothy.
"A Christian mother is a blessing whose
value is above rubies. Her impress is beau
tiful. Her influence abides. Henry Clay's
mother, like Timothy's mother, believed.
She was the wife OF a Baptist minister,
who died when Henry was four years old.
The boy became the widows constant COM
panion. She was tender and noble. She
sacrificed self that she might educate her
SON. She loved him with an ending de.
votion. He did not forget her affection.
After attaining a worldwide reputation he
daily hallowed her memory, and when at
the age of seventy-fve he lay dying his
mind wandered back TO his boyhood LAYS
and he kept whispering Mother, mother,
mother" until he passed away. He who
had swayed thousands by the charm and
force of his oratory reserved his choicest
bit of eIoquence for his last words. Mother,
are you a believer? II not. believe to-
night, Tor Only a DelleV1nS motner ike
Eunice can rightly sway the home scepter.
1T would seem that Timothy's father,
like many fathers in our day, had his re-
ligion in his wife's name. Had he been a
Christian the fact would hardly have been
omitted from the sacred record, when the
faith of his wife and son and mother-in-
law Is distinctly mentioned. His ancestry
was not favorable. like that Of Eunice. He
was a gentle by descent His occupation
also may have deferred him. He was the
b~readwinner, and men whave less time
than their family for religious thought
and activity. Many a father Is so busy
trying to keep his wife and children in So
ciety and church that he has little strength
left for church attendance himself. 1t would
be better IL wives were willing to do with
a little less clothing and let their husbands
get a little more grace.
"A wife with her daughter came to talk
with me about uniting with the church.
They had been Christians for several years
but had been waiting in the vain hope that
the unbelieving husband-father would take
the same step. i suggested that possibly
their coming would bring him.. They were
baptized. When he saw his loved ones bur-
led with Christ by baptism and rising to
walk In newness OF life he was seized with
the terrible conviction that he and they
were going In opposite directions. He quick
ly followed in their footsteps. and tonight
his face, as well as theirs. Is set heaven
ward. Father, husband, is yours a divided
family? Does the word OF Christ dwell
richly in your wife and children. while you
are letting the cares of the world and the
deceitfulness of riches choke the word. so
that il Is unfruitful In you? fake their
Savior tonight. that after life's tempest.
under a clear sky. when your band Is count
ed, none may be found wanting. and so
hand In hand you may form a link in the
bright chain of ransomed families