Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-19
NO. 6.
FAMILY WORSHIP.
It is Essential to the Highest Spiritual
UplItt.
(By Rev. Jos. T. Dendy.)

OPlirt.
(By Rev. Jos. T. Dendy.)
Family worship as taught in the
Bible should be practiced and enforced
in all religious homes. ] do not see
how any father who claims to be a
Christian can neglect so important a
duty as reading daily from the holy
scriptures ana praying for and with
his family. But the neglect Of this
important duty is so great and alarm
ing that every pastor and minister Of
the gospel snould put forth every ef-
lurt 10 DrIng godly parents to JOSH
uaS resolution Le., AS tor me ana
my house we will serve the Lord"
tamlIy worship Is certainly duty
wnen we consider the fact that God
pronounces a blessing upon those
VINO perform the duty and curse
upon those who neglect 1t. II you will
read in Deuteronomy the 18th chapter
and 9th verse, and In II Samuel the
9Th chapter and the 18th verse, you
viii hnu the Dresslns. Then in one or
the Psalms we find that 1T is a good
" 6lNS UNIV eAAS @NANb
to show forth thy Loving kindness in
the morning and tiny taitntuiness every
night" Read in jeremiah the 10th
chapter and 25th verse and you will
find the curse pronounced upon the
families that call not on His name"
ALSO we Ind IN / Timothy, 9Th
chapter and 9Th verse where the Apos-
tie Paul in speaking on the subject OF
family religion says, If any provide
not Tor his own, and especially for
those Of his own house, he hath denIed
the faith and Is worse than an inhdel."
Therefore, it is the duty Of all Chris
tan parents, or heads Of families to
have family worship.
Again, 1t is important that we have
proper methods of conducting family
worship. 1t should be made 80 pleas
ant and interesting that even the
smallest children will look forward to
it with delight. Too often the exer-
else Is made bur6ensome and tedious.
Men fall into a set form which they
never vary. Long passages are read
and the prayers offered are not only
long, but are the same every day from
year to year, with little adaptation to
the home life or the capacities Of chill
dren. But an effort should be made to
cause all Of the household to feel an
interest in the duty.
In order that his duty may be prop
erly performed parents must exercise
authority in the home. The father Is
head and priest Of the home and God
has delegated to him this authority.
A boy did not want to go to church,
but his Christian father kindly but
firmly insisted that he should. The
father said, $50 long as my boy sits
at my table he must sit in my pew"
1t Is said that the father Is now in the
grave, but the son today sits in the
tather's pew and Is a main supporter
Of that church. In almost every COM
munity there are throngs Of children
who suffer from the lack Of parental
care and training. If they feel like
going to church or Sabbath school
they go; If not they stay at home,
stray in the streets, or roam the fields.
No parental authority is used to Sc
cure their religious training, either in
the home or outside Of 1t. This neg
lect is a sin for which parents must
answer at the bar Of God. 1t is one
from which they are likely to reap
the bitterest results both here and
hereafter. Because of this neglect Of
home training we need not be surpris-
ed at so many murders, suicides and
crimes of all kinds which are so dread
full and common today.
Again, let US notice few objections
to family religion.
One says, II haven't time to perform
this duty"
Joshua was a ruler and a judge in
Israel, yet he did not make his nec-
essary application to public affairs an
excuse for the neglect Of family wor-
ship. Do any Of you have more to do
than he did to excuse you from the
performance Of that duty? You near
always liiiiC LII JSeA eAAAS
meals. Is food more necessary for
your bodies than religion for your
souls?
Another says, II am too ignorant to
pray with my family"
If you had a proper sense of your
wants you would not make this ex-
cuse. Did you ever hear a geggar,
however, ignorant, make this objec-
ZION. A sense Of his necessities Is an
unfailing fountain of his eloquence.
Often men stand on the street corners
and other places Of public resort and
discourse eloquently before their fell
lowmen for hours at a time over bus
mess, politics and almost every other
subject under the sun, yet when 1t
comes to asking God, their Creator,
for needed blessings, or thanking Him
for the blessings which he is daily and
hourly bestowing upon them and their
families, they are mum and plead lack
Of eloquence. am afraid that 1t Is the
desire in the heart that is wanting.
Still another says, II am ashamed
to pray" But is there any ground for
this shame? Is 1t really shame to
worship the God Of Heaven and share
in the employment Of angels? Are
sinners ashamed to serve their Re-
deemer? A little practice will enable
you to overcome the difficulty. Be-
sides Jesus says, "Whosoever shall be
ashamed Of me and my words of him
also shall the Son Of man be ashamed"
One other will say, But my fam
lily will. not join with me-" How do
you know? Have you ever tried? Are
you not master Of your own house
hold? You exercise supreme author
.ty in other things why not in this
the most important of all? Begin by
frs ..reating the Lords prayer and
you will - lually offer a prayer of
your own. Family worship embodies
allowing influence that pleads for
t.. Oiuac prorfipal