The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-02-06
ALWAYS BLAMES THE WOMEN
MODERN MAN MAKES VIRTUES
OF WIFE EXCUSE FOR HIS
OWN NEGLECT.
Synopsis Of Sermon Preached Sunday
Morning at Congregational Church
by Rev. Austin Rice.

Sunday morning Rev. Austin Rice
pastor Of the Congregational church
preached to a large congregation. He
chose his text from Luke 1920, Il
have married wife," and in part the
divine said:
How familiar the excuse is. Men
always like to put the blame on the
shoulders Of woman. Adam began it.
The woman tempted me and I did eat
And so this disobedient subject refused
to attend the feast saying: I have
married a wife and therefore can not
come .-
1T has remained for modern man
to make. the virtues Of their wives an
excuse for their own neglect.
Today the excuse reads: have
married a wife: she has gone to the
feast; the family is represented.
am a brother-in-law, and beg thee
have me excused.
In every community are many men
who are glad to have their children
taught the principles Of Jesus. who
wouldn't lose out Of their lives the
memory Of praying mothers; who
would be sorry to have their wives not
Christians but who refuse themselves
to take any part in the feast.
Let US notice:
"FIrst-The home where only one
parent Is q Christian is q spoiled
home. It may be q comfortable house,
but as a home It 10 a failure. It splits
the fourth commandment: Honor thy
father and thy mother How can a
child do SO when mother stands for
Christ and father lives for self: when
one seeks the Bread Of Heaven and
the other the things Of the earthly
entsearthy? How can a child obey
his parents in the Lord if only one
Is such a believer? A house divided
against itself can not stand.
Again such a home usually omits
family prayer. A little child learns
most from object lessons and what is
SO impressive as the sight Of the open
family bible; the song Of praise and
the entire household kneeling in prayer
led up to the throne of God in prayer
I'm a rough mining camp of Solora-
do a church was built and the con-
verted miners were asked this ques-
ton: What makes a happy home? p
After little reflection the unanimous
answer was: Family prayer
III the father Is not Christian then
the home will almost surely lack the
reverent keeping Of the Lords day; it
will be without steady instruction In
Christian duty. It will lack a common
bond Of unselfsh purpose and conse-
Grated aims and its atmosphere will
be poisoned by doors very foreign to
the fragrance Of heaven. AS we'll ex-
pect to introduce harmony into such
home as to make melody where one
person is singing sweetly and his
neighbor is filing saws!"
Mr.. Rice spoke with deep feeling of
the temptations which swept upon the
youth and the terrible danger of the
family boat being swamped in the
storms. why should the wife be
compelled to do all the rowing in the
life boat?" he asked.
"A man ought not to join the church
1nsincerely nor to please his wife. But
any man should live a true, sincere.
oren acknowledged Christian life be-
cause it is right. God commands IT.
Duty influence and conscience re-
enforce that command.
THE position Of the wife whose hus.
band is not a Christian is one Of great
practical difficulty. She will need to
be especially careful to be kind of
speech, genial and winning of temper: