The people's recorder. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1893-1925, 1909-09-11
IHE1 1PUsLPII;.
A. BRILLIANT SUNDAY, SERMON az
49, Or. ROBERT; J. KENT.
Theme: Home Training.

Brooklyn, N. Y.-lt was bnptisma1
Cunday at the Lewis Avenue Congre-
lsgational Church, and after baptizing
six children, the Rev. DR.. Robert j.
keat, the pastor, preached sermon
on S"Home Training" taking for his
teyt. Deuteronomy 6:7: And thou
l>shalt teach them diligently unto thy
CHILDREN. and shalt talk of them
when thor sittest in thy house, and
when thou3 %alkest by the way, and
when thou liest down, and when thou
| risest up" DR.. Kent said:
The sacrament which yo1 have
| witnessed this morning is either full
1t Is utterly devoid of all meaning
and power; a mere empty form.
Which It is depends upon the spirit
! or Intelligent. sincere conservation
| that Is present in, or absent from the
/ hearts OF these parents. The falling
| OF few droIs Of water on q baby's
head, while the, minister utters q
| sacred formula may have no value
| whatever. We do not believe that
rite OF baptism. Everything depends
upon the understanding, by those
who consecrate their children, of the
meaning Of the baptismal vows, and
| upon their resolve to keep those vows
| faithfully. What are the sacred
| promises made by the parents?
They solemnly pledge themselves
| to do all in their power to bring up
their children in Christian nurture.
They promise to teach their children,
/ as soon as they shall be able to un-
derstend, the meaning Of this act Of
conservation. Little children ask
curious questions about sacred
things. It is the parents duty and
privilege to explain why they bring
their children to church, and set
them apart in this formal way. They
should tell them Of the Heavenly
Fathers love, of the nobility of the
Christian life, of their earnest prayer
and wish that they may have their
part in bringing in the kingdom of
God, and that the sacred promise
| they made in church they must strive
to keep. Children can thus be made
to see that father and mother are
| under holy obligation to lead them
into the knowledge OF their Lord and
Saviour. Parents promise, too. that
they will instruct their children in
the Scriptures, teaching them the
great eternal principles of life. They
promise to pray. with them and for
them. Many a child has never
heard It's fathers or it's mothers
voice in prayer; one of the most
precious memories of childhood is
thus lost. And finally they promise
to set an example of piety and godli-
ness before their children. In word
the whole personality Is pledged to
the Christian training Of the child.
>These baptismal obligations cam
not be satisfactorily met by ssending
the boy or girl to Sunday school for
an hour Sunday afternoon during the
years OF childhood. Christian nurture
ts matter OF years. requiring the
highest wisdom and a CfFist-IiEe pa.
thence. a The daily training In the
home M necessary. Right here is
where the finger OF emphasis.needs
to be placed in our time. Never in
the history Of the world was SO much
thought given to the welfare OF the
child, and yet something Is evident
~ lacking. There is a large and in
creasfng literature devoted to the in
terests of childhood, books and mag
azines are discussing NIL sorts Of
questions pertaining to the physical,
mental and moral education of our
boys and girls. There are societies
for preventing cruelty to them. One
OF the reforms earnestly urged to-day
Is adequate legislation tc prevent
the cupidity OF employer or parent
from sending. children to work at too
early an age. The juvenile delfn-
quent has engaged the attentions of
wise and philanthropic men. The
chtidren's courts have come into be-
Ing, and growing out OF them is the
Big Brother movement. The public
school has been developed to a high
point OF efficiency; an army OF trained
educators. many Of them gifted spec
ialists, are devottng their best time
and thought to the education of the
Young; the Kindergarten is being es-
tablished everywhere. The health
OF the children is carefully guarded:
everything is being done to save them
from the devastation of epidemics.
There Is growing demand for more
Fairgrounds for them; we have all
kinds of organizations among the
children themselves. Then there is
the Sunday school, with its multi
plying methods, and It's host OF
teachers and it's vast literature
Surely the thoughtful world is
] aroused to the value OF the child.
And yet, no careful and candid OBJ
server can say that there is not
something wrong. Something ia
| missing. There Is a lack of rever-
ence, Of obedience, of res,ect for law.
The home is not doing It's part, and
| nothing can atone for neglect of
home training. A very thoughtful
book. recently published, in discuss
ing the question of juvenile delin-
/ quency has found the cause of the
trouble mainly in the lack OF home
training, and the most promising
remedy suggested fs the provision OF
homes with their whole some infiu-
ences. Whatever. tends tn undermine
] the homo Is therefore to he deplored;