West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-09-21
the child is at stake.

ms love ana TINS care are the
sunshine in which his moral nature
grows and blossomes into goodness.
The child, the youth blessed with
Christian home in which he sees
naught but good example and hears
naught but edifying words, has in
deed much TO be thankful for, it is
a boon which the longest life of
gratitude can but i'll requite.
1t is true some people would es-
tablish a religion OF beauty, of cul-
ture, OF fashion and dress, indeed.
of anything and everything but true
religion. a continuous appeal to
the gallantry and chivalry of the boy
and girl nature. This and nothing
more.
Without other safeguards the boy
soon outgrows the respect and awe
that this principal inspires. Indeed
superficial knowledge of human
nature which would reduce the chief
factor of a child's education and wo-
manly influence, unoonsecrated by
religion, unrestrained by tho sterner
authority of the father, the.civil-law,
the social custom.
The child OF christian home
where some member of the family is
competent and willing to give his
religious instructions regularly and
with method, might attend purely
secular school without losing the
christian spirit; but these conditions
obtain only in exceptional cases.
The home IN which the father is
absorbed in making money and the
wife is absorbed in spending that
money in worldly and frivolous
amusements and the children are
subject to the care Of servants, and
a home without a father, or a moth.
er to train the son or daughter in a
christian line Of duty, and the sun
less homes of the poor and indi-
gent where the struggle for life is
raging with all intensity, consider
the home of the workingman, where
the father is out from early morning
to late at night, and the mother is
weighted down with cares and anx-
ietles of home and drudging away
all day long at household duties
never done. To speak of home ed
ucation and delicacy OF conscience
and growth Of character among such
conditions is out of the question.
The church is pre-eminently a
teaching power that teaching power
extending chiefly to the formation of
character and development OF the
supernatural man. Her Divine
Founder said: "All power is given
to me IN Heaven and on earth 20
ing, therefore, teach all nations. &"
The church holds that of all periods
ia the life OF man, the period OF
childhood and youth, when the
heart Is plastic and character is
shaping and formative influence
leave an indellible impression, is one
in which religion can best mold con
duct and best give color to thought,
the church exhorts the parents to
make many and great sacrifices in
order to procure a christian educa-
tion for his children.
1t is the natural right Of every
| christian child TO receive this educa-
tion. II is the natural right and
bounded duty OF the parent by the
twofold obligation Of the natural law
and the divine law, to provide his
child with this education.
1t seems to be the drift Of fthe par.
ents that the child may learn the
truths OF his religion in Sunday
school alone and that religion is too
sacred thing for the home and the
public school room.
While thus oppose the teaching
OF religion in our public schools I
uphold the teaching Of morality
there. TO say that religion and
morality are one is an error. TO
say that religion is the only true
basis Of morality is true.
The christian parent and the
christian church are convinced that
It IS only by placing the christian
| yoke upon the child in its tender
I years that the child will afterward
grow up 20 manhood and woman
hood finding that yoke agreeable for
the Divine Founder Of christianity
has assured us that His yoke is sweet
and His burden light and will after
ward pcrsevere in holding all these
spiritual truths and practices tina,
make the christian home and the
christian life heaven upon earth.
This is why you find, the world
over, men and women, religious
teachers immnlalinn lhnir liun. ,hni.