Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-10-08

svn poison almost everywhere preva-
lent, to find enjoyment anywhere, ev-
erywhere except by your own ireside,
will ultimately result In second
downfall of man as dramatic and over
whelming and complete as when Adam
and Eve ate of the fruit Of the for
hidden tree unless man himself, by
the grace Of God, halts and learns
again to find his chief pleasures in the
associations Of his wife and children
within the four walls of his own home.
l once heard father say to my mother,
II hope after we are dead that our
children will believe we have loved
them and have wanted to- be with
them more than with any one else on
earth" They lived for US. Yes, our
parents lived for us. May we be like
the old folks. May we find our chief
enjoyment not only in living for our
children, but also in the companion
ship OF our children, no matter how
old or how young they may be. May
modern society not be involuted into
the pleasures Of a clubhouse or pub
lie reception hall. but be evoluted into
the sanctifed enjoyments of Chris
tian home.
Worldly Success Versus Christianity.
But, lastly, I would state that the
iconoclasts of this day are trying to
sidetrack the chief purpose for which
Fot har ~
In reference to their children. Instead
Of leading parent to the altar OF
Jesus and saying, "Oh, fathers and
mothers, the chief desire Of your lives
should be to consecrate your children
at these affairs and have them make
public profession of Christ here" they
would break these affairs. They would
say: Here is the statue Of wisdom.
Dedicate your children here. Send your
boys to college and give them an in
tellectual education" Here Is the
statue of Midas. Sacrifice here, that
you may leave them money" Here
is the statue Of fame. Make out or
your children great orators or painters
or musicians or authors" Thus we
see scores and hundreds Of parents
working by day and night to give their
children-what? TO give them to God
and the higher life, as their parents
tried to do? No. To give them to a
worldly success, which those parents In
their hearts know may only lead their
r,tin nd narhanS
to eternal death.
o man. ask Of you one question.
1t Is a blunt question. Will you an
swsr me? What would you sooner
have had your father to be-a
great speaker, a great financier, a
great general or a simple, noble, pure
hearted and devoted servant of Christ
as he was and is today in heaven? You
answer well. There is but one right
answer. Then, If the noble, pure, gen.
tie Christian life of your father meant
so much to you, can you not, VIII you
not give to your boy the same Chris
tian Heritage? By the sacred altar OF
Gods love will you not follow their ex-
ample? Will you not carry out the
dying wishes of your now redeemed
and glorified parents and consecrate
| yourself to your Divine Master? VIII
you not here and now lead your boys
and girls to the feet of Christ. and con,
secrate4hem to the Master also? Shall
not the chief purpose of your Christian
narents I'm reference to their children
be duplicated in the chief purpose OF
your life, to bring to Christ your chill
dren and your children's childrenT
Today let US have some Of the old
fashioned purposes and ways and hao'
its of our forefathers. When we are
dying may we never be ashamed to
utter the words which Dwight L.
Moody said to his children. You all
have read them MAY we not be am
bilious to make money. May we not
be ambitious for worldly fame and
honors May we simply be ambitious
TO find a consecrated, earnest place tC
work In Gods vineyard and have In
that vineyard our wives, our children
and oil our friends working by OUT
side in the Masters name" That pur
bose is a noble purpose. That purpose
God Will bless as he has blessed tha
holy purpose in the lives of the ole
fashioned folks who are now in HEAVIER
awaiting the home coming Of their chill
dren. That purpose forms the tru'
foundation, the maker and builder o
which is the living and true and par
doning and redeeming and ascende'
and glorified Christ. May God answe
the fulfIlment Of this prayer for pul
pit and pew alike.
fCopyright, 1904. by Louis Klopsch.]