The Washington herald., 1907-06-16


over the country as "Chiidren's Day.
In very many churches this morning will
be heard a sweet ripple q cmIdren's
voices, and instead Of the usual II o'clock
sermon. there VIII be a bright service
Of song and recitation, with the little
folks Of the primary department Of the
Sunday school taking the most active
part. have heard the question as TO
the whence and wherefore Of this beau
tiful custom asked q number OF times.
Rev Dr. James Z. Gilbert the popular
and scholarly general secretary Of the
American Society Of Religious Education.
kindly gave me the following statement
in regard thereto:
WheN. John Murray tho first Uuivcrsalist rre1cher
10 B0st1n began his ministry n this country early
On the last century De was impHtued bv parents 30
bsrtize their children but De refused. believing that
adults were the only proper subjects af Christian
baptism However. a7 Doe regarded children as the
gif- 0f God and members & ths b.dy n Christ. no
felt that some ceremonial in recognition q lls fact
was proper. and originated a rite which be called
dedication of children Either u church r else
where was most Convenient parents brought their
children 20 hiu. which Il infants be took ia his
arms, II older children they stood beside him. and
be- placing his hand on the Clllds head pro
nauured its name and declared it gratefully received
Gods FIft. and soiemniy dedicated . 60 hrs
service using the form u blessing which Moses TEc-
z1rihei o. Aaron: The Lord bless thee ard Keep
thee The Lord make Hrs face % shine upon thee
and be gracious unt0 thee The Lord lift up HIS
c11utcDaure up.n thee and give tLse Ie1ce.' Tins
service is now Tu-v generally observed among Uni
versaists on .he second SUNDAY in June designated
az frst as "JLIdreus Sunday. and sfterNard as
"ChHdrrn's DAY. Other denominations have grad
1aly adopted the practice. T. is customary on these
occasions 70 decorate The churches with flowers. and
various exercises have been introduced, nc. always
q q religious character,
It was June 9. 1870 that Charles Dickens
died. just thirty-seven years ago to-day.
His touching words, Lord, keep my
memoir. green" have been answered in
his case. for, IN spite OF all that is new in
literature. there are few, from scho0.
children up through all ages. who do not
number him as one Of their favorite au-
thors. There IS a statue erected 10 his
memory in Philadelphia. At its base is
the figure Of Little Nell And what could
be more appropriate? For leaving out
everything else ever written by Dickens.
his sympathetic knowledge Of children
and the love he showed whenever he
touched upon child life would give him
warm place in all hearts. But the chill
dren Of his brain. about whom he so elo-
quently and touchingly wrote did not
monopolize all his thought.
Better still, 70 the real boys and girls
about him he gave his loving considera-
ton and heIpfulness in fullest manner.
L has been told Of him that in all his
busy life he was never too busy TO think
Of and interest himself in them, and the
shyest and most awkward child would
come out quite brilliantly under his en-
cOuraging companlonship.
The relationship that existed among
himself and his own children was ideal
He was the good genius Of his home, and
its bright and fancy genius as well. He
had list Of amusing songs he used to
sing 10 them before they went 10 bed. and
sometimes over and over again before his
small audience was satisfied. His eldest
daughter gives q beautiful glimpse of tnat
charming home life in the following
words;
Il can see him now. through the mist
Of years, with a child nearly always on
his knee at this time in the evening, his
bright and beautiful eyes fun Of life and
FUN. I can hear his clear. sweet voice as
he sang to those children as II he had no
other occupation in the world but TO
amuse them
To me It seems that I'm all literature
there is nothing of its kind more ex-
quisitely beautiful than these lines Of
Dickens. and here, as ever, is shown his
intense and abiding love for the little
ones:
TIE old. old fashion, The fashion that
came I'm with our first parents and Will
last unchanged until our race has run
its course, and the wide armament is
rolled Up like a scroll The Old old
fashion-Death. Oh, thank God, all who
see it for that older fashion yet Of In
mortality, And look upon MS angels Of
young children with regards not quite
estranged, when the swift river bears US
10 the ocean
The musician gives this interesting and.
l believe, not familiar story Of the IA
nous old hymn. "Blest Be the Tie that
Binds" It was written by Rev. John
Fewcett, an English Baptist who died in
1871 having spent nearly sixty years in
the ministry. 1t was in 1772, after a few
years spent in pastoral work, that he
was called to London 10 succeed Rev. Dr
Gill. He had preached his farewell ser
mon to his congregation near Moinsgate.
n Yorkshire, and his books and furniture
we're packed, ready for departure.
M io1-fpe 1,eo,1a -.-a-a rfIroIya,,
Men. women. and children gathered
round himself and family with fearful
faces, hardly able to say good-by. At