The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-09-10
THII PULPIT.
A BRILLIANT SUNDAY SERMON 81
DR.. ROBERT j. KENT.
Theme: Home Training.


Sunday at the Lewis Avenue Congre
gational Church, and after baptizinI
six children, the Rev. DR.. Robert
on Home Training" taking for hi
text, deuteronomy s:7: "And tho,
shalt teach them diligently unto tn.
when thou sittest in thy house, an,
when thou liest down, and when tho,
risest up" DR.. Kent said:
The sacrament which you have
witnessed this morning is either full
OF beauty and vital significance, OF
1t is utterly devoid of all meanin,
and power; mere empty form
Which II is depends upon the spiri
of intelligent, sincere conservation
that Ia present in, or absent from tn,
hearts of these parents. The fallin,
of few drops OF water on baby,
head, while the minister utters Z
whatever. We do not believe tha
! there Is any magical influence In tn,
rite of baptism. Everything depend,
upon the understanding, by those
who consecrate their children, of tn,
upon their resolve to keep those VOW
faithfully. What are the sacre<
promises made by the parents?
They solemnly pledge themselve,
to do all in their power to bring VI
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 o.
a1. ny
curious questions about sacred
things. 1t is the parents duty ant
privilege to explain why they brini
their children to church, and Sc
them apart in this formal way. The!
should tell them of the Heavenl!
Fathers love, Of the nobility of tn,
Christian life. of their earnest prayei
and wish that they may have theh
part in bringing in the kingdom o
God, and that the sacred promis,
they made in church they must striv.
to keep. Children can thus be made
to see that father and mother ar,
under a holy obligation to lead then
into the knowledge of their Lord ant
Saviour Parents promise, too, tina
they will instruct their children il
the Scriptures, teaching them tn,
great eternal principles of life. The.
promise to pray with them and 70.
them. Many child has neveI
heard its fathers or its mother
voice in prayer; one Of the mos
precious memories Of childhood i
thus lost. And finally they promis'
to set an example of piety and godli
ness before their children. In wore
the whole personality is pledged I,
the Christian training Of the child.
These baptismal obligations can
not be satisfactorily met by sending
the boy or girl to Sunday school TO
an hour Sunday afternoon during tn
years of childhood. Christian nurtur'
is a matter of years, requiring tn,
highest wisdom and Christ-like pa
tience. The daily training in tn
home is necessary. Right here l.
where the finger of emphasis need,
to be placed in our time. Never IL
the history of the world was so mucl
thought given TO the welfare Of tn
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
questions pertaining to the physical
mental and moral education of on
boys and girls. There are societie
for preventing cruelty to them. On
of the reforms earnestly urged to-da.
is adequate legislation to prevent
the cupidty of employer or paren
from sending children to work at to-
early an age. The Juvenile delin
quent has engaged the attentions o
wise and philanthropic men. TIL
children's courts have come into be
ing, and growing out of them is tn
Big Brother movement. The publ
school has been developed to higi
point Of efficiency; an army Of traine,
educators. many of them gifted sped
ialjsts, are devoting their best tim,
and thought to the education of TIN
young; the kindergarten is being es
tablished everywhere. The healtl
of the children is carefully guarded
everything is being done to save ther
from the devastation of epidemics
There is a growing demand for NOR
Fairgrounds for them; we have al
kinds of organizations among tn
children themselves. Then there 1
the Sunday school, with it's multi
plying methods. and its host
Surely the thoughtful world
aroused to the value OF the child
And vet. no careful and candid OF
server can say that there is nc
something wrong. Something ]
missing. There is n lack of revei
ence, Of obedience, of respect for Law
The home is not doing its part. an
nothing can atone for neglect O
home training. very thoughtfu
book. recently published. in discuss
ing the question of Juvenile delir
Quency has found the cause of tn
trouble mainly in the lack of home
training. and the most promisin
remedy suggested is the provision c
homes with their wholesome infiu
ences. Whatever tends to undermin
the homo is therefore TO be deplored
and there are many such tendencies
The frequent change of residence
the great city is one: the prevalence
of divorce is cnother: and the cor
stant pressure of business and socis
snt &c tS hn T. a.