West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-09-21
RELIGIOUS TRAINING.
A Good Paper on the Religious
Training Of Children Read Be-
fore the S. S. Convention
al MaSOntoWn.

THIS paper. 10y T.. X, L. Grimes. read be.
fore the Preston County sunday school
Convention held at Masontown Aug. Al aud
Sept I. was submitted for publication by
the unanimous request OF the convention.
The sincere members OF all Chris
tian denominations hold religion to
be an essential element of education.
They are convinced that they would
be guilty OF gross breach of duty
were they to neglect this important
element in the training of their chill.
dren. Consequently any system of
education from which religious
training is eliminated were made.
quate and incomplete and an injus-
tice to the child receiving it.
Education should develop the
whole man. Intellect and heart,
body and soul, should all be cult.
waited and fitted to act, each in its
own sphere, with most efficiency.
And so the incubation of piety, rev
erence and religious doctrine is of
more Importance than training in
atheletic sports, or mathematical
studies. Moreover, other things
being equal, that is the best educa-
ton which gives man, so TO speak,
the best orientation which most
clearly defines his relation with soci-
ETY. and with his Creator, and points
out the way by which he may best
attain the end for which he was
created.
This element is the only element
that will guide our steps Alright As
given by Bryant in his lines "To
Waterfowl
He who from zone to zone
Guides through the boundlcss sky thy Ger.
tain flight
In the long way that must tread alone.
VIII lead my steps Alright"
Now 1t is only religious teaching
that can furnish man with this infor-
nation, and il is only in religious
observation that man can best attain
the aim and purpose Of all life and
promote the interest of society.
Neither ancient nor modern phil.
osopher has found better solution
for the enigma of life than is to be
found in religion.
Christianity has in many respects
changed mans point Of view. The
people OF the ancient world made
trees and flowers the habitation of
Gods and goddesses and earth born
spirits. The conception of nature
was pan-ihe istic. Christianity
threw a halo of tenderness and posy
Of another kind over the animal and
vegetable kingdom of nature. Its
Divine Founder woye the lilies of
the field and the vines Of the hill.
sides into his discourses. Christian
meekness taught men to look upon
every creature of God as good Wads-
worth recognizes this material uni
verse as a symbol of the higher
spiritual aspect.
In his "Ode on Immortality"
Thanks TO the human heart by which we
live.
Thanks to ITS tenderness its Joys and fears.
| TO me the meanest flower that blows can
give
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for
tears
Men may now speculate as to
what the actual state Of the world
would be, had christianity not enter
ed as disturbing element defect.
ing human progress from its former
course Such speculations are safe.
The work is done. The barbarian
who despised Roman civilization
and sought It's destruction has been
christianizedj he has been raised up
into a plain OF culture and refine.
ment and im5ued with an ideal of
life that no formative influence out.
side Of Christianity could have given
him. Individuals may repudiate it
but as a people we are still proud to
call ourselves christians. We have
not come to that pass at which we
are ashamed OF the cross in which
ST. Paul gloried.
Christian influence must needs
preside over every important act
from the cradle to the grave, so .be
church thinks and she acts accord
ingly The new born infant is con
secrated with prayer and ceremonial
70 a christian line Of conduct when
it is baptised.
The remains Of the christians are
laid in The grave with prayer and
ceremonial. Al no time in the life
Of man does the church relax in her
care Of him. Least Of an is she
disposed to leave him to himself al
the period, when he is most amena.
bic TO impression and when she can
best lay hold upon his whole nature
and mold itin the ideal that is sole
ly hers.