Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-08
community as the other, though there
are, of course, varying degrees Of the
disease.-Times- Union.
PARENTAL CONTROL.
Making Of Good Citizens Must Be
Commenced In the Home.

There is unquestionably q growing
tendency to disregard law and those in
authority. We see this spirit manifest
ed in the so-called mob rule Of today.
How often Is the blush Of shame
,, brought to the cheek Of law-abiding
citizens, when men take the law in
their own hands to mete out what they
deem justice to one untried and uncon-
victed. This done too, by men who are
honorably bound to obey and uphold
the law. That same tendency to disre-
gard those in authority is found
in the school, The authority that was
formerly supreme there, is now called
into question. Let the teacher exer-
else his due right Of discipline and ap-
peal Is at once made to parents or a
BOARD Of trustees. Nor are even our
churches free from this same spirit.
Discipline-by those appointed to rule
is applied for grave misconduct, and
how often does the offender hold him.
self aloof from the church, thereby say
ing that he will not submit to this au-
thority, although he himself has for
merly subscribed to 1t.
Wherever arises this disregard for
law, this spirit Of rebellion against au-
thority? The fact that this spirit Is
found in the school leads US to look
in early life for its origin. The fact
that the child passes Immediately from
the control of the parent to the con-
troll Of the tutor, leads US to look to the
family as the probable source where the
child learns to disregard law and re-
fuses submission to those in authority.
Here, perhaps we trace this evil to
it's rightful source, when we say that
It is due to the lack Of parental con-
trol-a failure on the part Of parents
to exercise that right Of discipline,
which God places in their hands and
requires them to exercise.
In the wonderful economy OF God,
the nation is divided into little family
kingdoms. These family kingdoms are
the normal schools, where subjectiop
to law is first taught. The child comes
into the home with will Of its own,
with q disposition to assert that will
regardless Of the wish Of others, re-
gardless often Of its own best interest.
God places the parents in that home
over the little life from its very be-
ginning and lays upon them the duty,
not only of caring for its body and
training and developing its mind, but
also Of controlling that little one, bring
ing it's will in subsection to higher
will, thus teaching subsection to law
and reverence for those in rightful
authority over it. Mark the word duty
it is not a matter of choice with pa
rents whether or not they shall con-
troll those whom God places in their
homes, for God lays 1t upon them as
duty.
The parents are supreme. They make
the laws by which the home Is gov
erned. Even though the child some
times feels that these laws are strict
and severe, 1t has no right Of appeal
for there is no higher power to which
it can appeal. No outsider has the
right to interfere in the rules Of that
home, for God has made those parents
supreme in the family kingdom. He
puts into their hands the power to en-
force these laws even to the infection
Of punishment for their violation. But
why does God thus make the parents
supreme? It Is because He lays upon
them the duty Of controlling that home
and hence places In their hands the
power needful for performing that duty.
The Scripture is explicit. Correct
thy son and he shall give thee rest, yea
he shall give delight unto thy soul"
The word correct" means Ito admon-
ish with words, to set right by In
struction, to chastise." "The rod and
reproof give wisdom, but child left
to himself bringeth his mother to
shame" The contrast Is here drawn be-
tween the child that is controlled and
instructed and the child left to follow
it's own inclination. The end Of the
one Is wisdom, the end Of the other
Is shame. With reference to those
who are to rule in the church, 1t Is
said "one that ruleth we'll his own
house, having his children in subsection
with all gravity"
Abraham was commended and hon.
ored, because of his faithful discharge
of this duty, "for know him that he
will command his children and his
household after him."
The Scripture is also plain in the
reciprocal relation Of child and pa
rents. Children obey your parents In
all things" Honor thy father and thy
mother" These commands have little
force to the child Of tender years. Are
we therefore to assume that during the
early years there Is no obedience? Are
we not rather to understand that dur
ing these early years the parent con-
trolls by force Of authority, then in ma
turer years as parental authority gives
way to persuasion, the force Of divine
command comes in, thus placing obedi-
ence to parents on higher plane, that
of obedience to God.
Again, the duty is plain If we con-
slider the question from its civil as
pect. The child going from the home
where obedience is required, enters the
school and there finds 1t no hardship to
obey and by that obedience gives tone
to that school, setting the example to
others. The child passes into maturer
years and into full citizenship, citi-
zen with due regard for law and rev.
erence for those in authority. Thus
in the home, parental control, lays the
foundation stone upon which the su-
perstructure, strong government Is
built.
The controlling Of our children Is not
matter left optional with US. God
places them in our homes and lays upon
us the duty Of caring for their bodies,
training their minds and controlling
their wills. When, therefore, we neg
lect this duty, we are proving untrue to
4 sacred trust.
Again, when we neglect this duty, we
are doing a positive injury to the child
..so,e vrho ohnl loft RI itself becomes