The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-30
DR. EVANS ON HE FUTURE OF CHILD So Much Depends on the
 Parents HOME INFLUENCES Be Careful About the Childs Read ing and Teach It Something
 Else Besides Love for
 Money
HOME INFLUENCES

An aftermath of the religious census taken several Sundays ago, and one of the plans of the follow up movement, was the Home Coming Day. services at the Church of the Advent yesterday morning at Il o'clock. In response to invitations mailed to many who were formerly mem bers, and those who expressed prefer ence for this church, a large congrega- ton assembled at the morning worship the greater portion of which was com posed of men.
 The rector, Dr. ". E. Evans, announced that a class would be confirmed on Mo- vember 19 at the Church of the Advent, and It is expected that quite a number will become communicants of the church at this time. Instructions for confirma- ton will be given this afternoon between the hours of and o'clock and tomor- row night between and o'clock. These instructions will be continued until the date of confirmation.
 A special programme of music was pre- pared for the "Home Coming" and the offertory, Abide With Me- was sung by Mrs. Marie Kern Mullen
 The sermon text was taken from the first chapter and 66th verse of the gospel according to St. Luke: What manner of chile shall this be-" Dr. Evans preached of the importance of child training, saying
 in part:
 "'What manner of child shall this be-? That is the most momentus question of e.. i+ ata1 Nnc at the very heart of every mother and father. The men and women of the fu- ture are the children of today. The his tory yet to be made will be created by those children prattling about your knees. Many mothers ask what manner of child shall this be-? when the soul of her little child is new in her keeping, and she feels that it must come in contact with that which will wreck and ruin. She watches and cares for it as it grows like a flower unfolding, and still unfolding, until it becomes an ornament to grace humanity. Mothers dream dreams and sec visions of her boys among men of honor and her girls among women of truth. God knows that the bad men and
 
 children.
 "The manner of children they will be depends largely upon the manner of pa rents that you are. There are forces that gre called formative and these are hered- ity and environment. These are stu pendous influences and oftentimes does the one so combat the other that 1t con tIa ipc irip xaf fleets that the other offers. Heredity Is not necessary to successful environs, yet there may be tendencies developed or overcome by either element. Again and again it has been proven that environ ment can be so that it is victorious over these inheritances.
 If there is in a little child an un- usual amount of mentality there is great rejoicing among the entire family con nectlons and the parents are extreme ly pleased. John Stuart Mills, Mozart. Macauley, Voltaire and others of the beacon lights of the worlds genera tions were prodigies and profound thinkers at an early age. But there is something still higher than this wonderful mentality and that Is the development of precooiousness into be wonders of the age and above the average, you can so train them and bring them to the arms of Jesus that they will have a character equal and mayhap superior to the prodigy. "The first thing that should be taught them is that there is something in life better than spending their days in the chase for money. Teach them that honor, love and charity are higher than money What manner of child can you expect whose father is always talking, breathing and thinking money? Thank God for the good mothers who do not talk so much of money. If 1t were not for the fathers and mothers America would not be the most ma terial country of the world I believe, "The manner of child your son or daughter will be depends largely upon the manner in which you exert your in . nuence. Never let your child be afraid of you. If things go wrong in the shop or at the office. do not carry the shadow back home. Let home bo the happiest place on earth your chill dren ever knew. Let them romp, be noisy and play loud games for if their noise were stilled you would be the most miserable person In the universe. have never believed much in the rod for there Is a respect due the child that should cause you to reason with him and love him into doing the right. You may force him into obedience but you could not force him into loving you if you should strap him from morn ing until night.
 You should be the censor for the books your boys and girls read. In these days they are boring over books that would not have been allowed in homes of good breeding a few years ago. What the young people are read ing depends, too, upon what their par ents are reading, what literature they hear discussed in the home and what is placed in the way for their eager hands to grasp and open for careful digest. You wonder where your boy got that idea and where your girl learned that conception of life and you do not stop to trace it to their read ing.
 "Then the child should never re- member the time when he did not know and love Jesus. He should be brought to Jesus first of all and ought not ho permitted to go through the years with out love for the Savior. You must set the example of right living, right thinking, believing and speaking if you would determine what manner of child your children shall be-"
 
 Penitentiary Population 1927