Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-06-07
FAMILY RELIGION.
An InfaIIibIe Safeguard to Prosperity
and Happiness.

An InfaIIibIe Safeguard to Prosperity
and Happiness.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
We might speak Of the influence Of
family religion on politics and the
church, as well as society, but time
and space forbid.
1t was Pope who said, Man Is the
noblest work Of God" This is true,
and only true because he is the work
of God. And only in 80 far as he
keeps in touch with his Creator Is his
nobility manifest. A failure to real
lie the source Of human happiness even
for time, has caused shipwreck to
be made Of thousands Of lives. SO
many parents conclude that society
makes men and women, and therefore
the first thing they must do is to get
their sons and daughters into society.
They will make any personal sacrifice
In order to have their children popular
with men. And though oftentimes
what is recognized in their community
as the best society INDUCES in conduct
unbecoming Christian life, parents
will encourage their children to enter
1t. They doubtless comfort themselves
with the thought that after the chill
dren have established themselves So
cially and become popular among men,
they can easily be brought under the
influence Of the gospel. The mistake
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make men, but men make society. And
the first mistake has led to s second:
Social standing is no longer a matter
of personal merit, but a commodity to
be bought and sold as other articles Of
commerce. A beast Of man with a
well-flled purse can oftentime be found
In any place with the most refined Of
the community. In place OF morning
and evening prayers has been substi-
tuted the morning and evening dress,
and fashion sits and rules the world to-
day with q rod Of iron. And men In
authority today have gone so far as to
designate law provided for the vim
dication of Gods holy law in our cit
les, "A senseless ordinance" Now I
ask, does this kind Of conduct bring
human happiness? Does the knowledge
Of the most elegant dress and the most
skillful handling Of the game bring
happiness? Solomon said Of all such.
Vanity and vexation Of spirit" Does
setting Gods law at defiance bring hap
piness? BE not deceived; God is not
mocked, for whatsoever man soweth,
that shall he also reap"
Let US see an example. Jacob was
a man who carefully observed family
religion, he also INDUCED little pride
Of dress on his favorite son. The coat
Of many colors served as the messen-
ger Of sorrow to Jacob; the family re-
ligion was the anchor Of Joseph's soul,
and fortified him in the hour Of temp
tation and comforted him In prison and
directed him wisely in prosperity. Neb-
uchadnezzar defied God and was driv-
en- from his throne and from among
men to eat grass with the OK. Truly.
Pride goeth before destruction, and a
naughty spirit before fall"
Teach a child godliness and his So
cial enjoyment, will adjust Itself In a
way to give men perfect and perma-
nent happiness. Not to recognize this
truth is to refuse to heed the admoni-
ton: Seek ye first the kingdom OF
God and his Righteousness" That the
Bible Is the best legal code has long
since been demonstrated, and that 1t
Is the best social code is no less easy
of demonstration. It brings material
prosperity, 1t continues prosperity, 1t
points out the way Of getting the most
good out of life, 1t brings peace into
the home under every condition. For
godliness is profitable unto all things,
having the promise Of the life that now
Is and that which Is to come" Then
there is reflex blessing to the parent.
It brings peace and comfort to the
heart of the parent not only In the
consciousness Of duty performed, but
in the realization Of the promise:
Bring up a child in the way he should
go, and when he is old he will not de-
part from it, And when the parent
has grown old, as good old Jacob, they
will forget all their sorrow In hearing
their children rise up and call them
blessed" In place. Of seeing them go
ing down to the drunkard's grave or
the felon's cell, or what is worse. be-
come scofrers at the church Of the liv-
ing God, they will see them an honor
to the state and family. "The fear OF
the Lord is the beginning Of wisdom"
w. C. EwART.