The Penn's Grove record., 1909-09-10
THE PULPIT.
A BRILLIANT SUNDAY SERMON BY
DR.. ROBERT J. KENT.
Theme: Home Training.

Oh AAOAC AIdluluB, Taxing lot his
text, Deuteronomy 81: "And thou
shalt teach them diligently unto thy
children, and shalt talk of them
when thou sittest in thy house, and
When thou walkest by the way, and
when thou lest down, and when thou
risest up" DR.. Kent said:
The sacrament which you have
witnessed this morning is either full
OF beauty and vital significance, or
1T is utterly devoid of all meaning
and power; a mere empty form.
Which it is depends upon the spirit
OF intelligent, sincere conservation
that is present in, or absent from the
hearts of these parents. The falling
OF a few drops of water on a baby's
head, while the minister utters a
sacred formula may have no value
whatever. We do not believe that
there is any magical influence in the
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-
derstand, the meaning of this act of
conservation. Little children ask
curious questions about sacred
things. 1t 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 a 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 its fathers or its 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 a word
the whole personality is pledged to
the Christian training Of the child.
These baptispal obligations can-
not be satisfactorily met by sending
the boy or girl to Sunday school for
an hour Sunday afternoon during the
years of childhood. Christian nurture
is a matter of years, requiring the
highest wisdom and a Christ-like pa
thence. The daily training in the
home is 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
ly lacking. There is a large and in
creasing literature devoted to the in
terests of childhood, books and mag
azines are discussing all 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 to prevent
the cupidity Of employer or parent
from sending children to work at too
early an age. The juvenile delin-
quent has engaged the attentions of
wise and philanthropic men. The
children'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 devoting 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 a 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 its host of
teachers and its 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
oOA4Clh1A6 NtO46- 0OL4Olut05 .
missing. There Is a lack of rever-
ence, of obedience, of respect for law.
The home is not doing its part, and
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 is the provision OF
homes with their wholesome influ-
ences. Whatever tends to undermine
the home is therefore to be deplored;
and there are many such tendencies.
The frequent change OF residence in
the great city is one; the prevalence
of divorce is another; and the con-
slant pressure of business and social
interests is the worst. There is lit
tie time left in many a home for the
cultivation of companionship be-
tween parent and child. Parental
privileges and duties of supreme i'm
portance are neglected.
But when these duties are faith
fully and lovingly performed, they
result in unspeakabls blessing to the
child, to the State, to the church.
No more valuable work is being
done to-day than the quiet, unob-
served training of children in the
principles of Christian living within
the home.
That training is the finest thing
we can give our children. 1t Is the
richest fruit of our love.
We all look forward to the time
when they shall leave our home and
face the duties and temptations of
active life.
Happy is that father, that mother,
who can lie down at night with an
untrobuled heart, knowing hat wher-
ever their son or daughter may be,
he or she is fortified against the
perils of life by the principles in
stil.ed in the heart through years
of wise, loving nurture in the
home.
This is the demand, too, that the
market place is making on the home.
Business cannot be carried on except
on a basis of confidence. and conf
dence rests on character. We NAV