New-York tribune., 1902-05-13
4 CHILD'S MORAL TRAINING.
THE REV DR.. BABBITT CONDEMNS PAR
ENTS FOR THE GROWING LAX
ITY OF THE YOUNG.

II Or 1I1E 1OO-NO-
The City Mothers Club met yesterday at the
Tuxedo for the last time this season. The early
part OF the meeting was devoted discussing ways
and means for the proper entertainment of the
State Assembly Of Mothers. which convenes in this
city next October. Mrs. Almon Hensley said:
The State Assembly has been entertained charm
ingly in the other cities where it has met, and We
must see that New-York If 1t does not surpass
them, shall lose nothing by comparison.
Committees were appointed to look after trans
portation. programmes and hospitality.
The topic for discussion Moral Training Of
children" The speaker of the day the Rev.
DR.. Dean Richmond Babbitt of Brooklyn. Dr.
Babbitt took strong ground for the absolute, reso-
Lutte unequivoca application of Christian ideals
and teachings to the training Of children as the
only possible dynamic moral power capable of cor
rectins present loose morals of young people. He
gave general view Of social conditions in Amer
lea not hatterng to American parents. whom he
held largely responsible for the present and grow
ing laxity of morals among the young. He empha-
sized the need of parents living with and among
their children, deplored the among the
rich OF intrusting their young children to servants
thought that some degree of the odtme rigor and
visor of American home life should he restored and
that morals. systema tcally but attractively taught
should assist in the home the parental Influences
He spoke severely of present Sunday school meth
DDS making the Sunday schools a mere religious
play at morals, with little of moral training. and
urged that simple elementary religious instruction
teachers in the public schools at set times. Some
thing radical must be done stem the flood of in
creasing moral laXness. He thought the women
should insist some fathers clubs being formed
After the lecture DR.. Babbitt questioned by
the women present as to the proprety of insisting
that children should be sent constantly and against
their will TO church services. He replied that his
own convictions that subject very strongly
In favor Of habtuatnG children from quite early
age to attend the services of the church. There
other way of forming the religious or
church habit. which became all the more powerful
from long continued observance during the plastic
period of childhood and youth. Granted the value
of worship and religious teaching and atmosphere
there was no other way by which so effectively the
child could he moulded religousy by the church
than by its constant attendance on worship
The Roman Catholic Communion. he urged had
demonstrated that fact. The cntCingy attractive
idea of religion. he thought. had been overdone
and he did not believe in attracting children into
the church bats rabbit with cabbage 70
enter its For Christianity to have It's proper
dynamic power over youth something of duty, Of
moral strenuousness needed. That the more
worth and more imperative teachings Of Chris
generation OF invNrtebrate Christian youth with
little enthusiasm for moral ideals and little power
to resist temptation.