Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-02-28
Moral Training of Children
IN tho Homo.

mOA0l xA0lA1AS Vi SAAluA OH
IN the Home.
At the w. Z. Il. U. meeting recently
held in this city the following paper
was read by Mrs. Davidson of this
city:
1t is sad fact that the Importance
of the moral training OF children is so
often dlsregard.d by parents, into
whose care have been intrusted the
little lives With moral characters so
largely dependent upon their lnhaerce
and instruction for their development.
We as parents and teachers have
gathered here this afternoon with a
d sire to promote morality in our COM
munity and may our Heavenly Father
bless our feeble efforts.
Let us consider first, the Importance
OF home training. Ii has been said
that, "rhe home makes the man. y
This we all know to be true. The
home is his first school in which he re-
ceives his first and most lasting im-
pressions He enters it with MI 4
and character as pure and spotless as
an imprinted page on which are TO he
Iindelbly stamped the habits and prl :
,dices Of his life. lie very early
|learns to initiate and his habi:s soon
become like the habits OF those around
him, each repetition of which add:
a link to the chain that envelops him
and binds him to these habits. How
important it is then that he early &C
quires good habits.
i Imagine an artist trying to paint ar
angel on a canvas already blackened
with lines of satan and we have ar
idea of the difficulty one finds wher
Trying to build good character on 6
Foundation of evil habits. True edu
cation involves moral development as
we'll as mental. The moral develop.
ment or education of the heart car
best be promoted in the home.
i Let us next consider the hes'
methods and the duties of parents il
the moral training of their children
l need not mention the great necessity
for good example of kindness, honesty
Temperance and virtue on the part o.
the parents. And with all these W,
have need of higher example, that O
our Lord and Saviour Our task will
be far easier if we early teach ou
children to love and honor Him.
1t is largely upon the mother tina
the training of her children d epends
Her influence for good is measured b.
the love and respect of her children
towards her, and these can only b
Igained by strict obedience on the par
of the children. She must have ais,
the fathers hearty cooperation for j
is hard for her to teach her child habit
are wrong which he sees practiced b,
, his father.
The home should be made as pleas
ant, comfortable and attractive a
: circumstances allow, and should ais
y be provided with plenty of good liiera
ture, both interesting and instructive
s The home should be place in whic
: the boy or girl enjoys spending leisnr
hours and to which he orshe gladly in
vites friends. Then they will not b
driven elsewhere to indulge in ques
tionable amusoments We should no
provide such amusements in GU
homes in order to prevent our youn
people from being led to ruin by ther
ELSEWHERE, for surely we would b
D kindling the flames which we are er
deavoring to smother Let us trai
oar children to shnn the card table an
i. the dance, tobacco and liquor. and a
q rule the theatre, as they.are the gate
ways to evil of ali descriptions. 1t
true that not all who indulge in thel
! are ruined, however we cannot affor
to take the risk. Rather let us trai
g our children to find that true pleasul
, of the soul is derived from readin
>, good books or listening to a good Sc
s mon or lecture Let rs teach them ,
j. admire all that is pure and noble.
8 We often make mistakes in to
freely gratifying the selfish desires
our children. If we would not ha,
them grow to be mere creatures {
appetite we must cultivate in them
spirit of self denial. We must ais
provide them with suitable occupatio
l. at intervals to prevent them becomil
mere lovers of sport.
Our homes should be kept free fro
all coarseness, discomfort and impur
10 ty of thought. speech and literatur
20 These are great hindrances to moralit
Evil companions are also among Il
20 greatest hindrances. 1t is lmpossib
Isl for any child or person to associa
M with evil companions without belr
influenced by them. No matter no
~ good his home training may be, the i
81 fluence of his intimate associates W
90 largely affect his character.
20 Fellow patrons, we are among tho
upon whom rests this important dut
a. We are those who should have O
souls filled with the task that lies
w fore US. Therefor we should fit on
631 selves for it with undaunted zeal. v