Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-23
4 LESSON FROM THE CASE
OF PREACHERS SONS
By Bishop w. A. Gambler

of minis ters; but this list is quite sniff
cient to show that, far from it's being
true that the sons of preachers generally
turn on; badly, it is rather true the
world owes more to parsonages for it's
greatest men than 1t owes to any other
class of homes.
There is reason for these facts. 1t
is not an accloent that the homes OF
Slei - iieh eLe aiOst IruitLut "a sreaL anu
sOUu men. ALVsL Preachers VI Ine suspeI
al sincere anu seiiuIlciJ s0Ou sLl.u true
men, ana VI stalius IL reason mat an
the pa esence o. pious parents ana unuer
thelr lnIiuenCe Irom InLamcy 10 man
nOOu the Suns o. MINISTERS shoulu us-
NeiOp the hISnest ana nODIesL type or
character. Moreover, the MONIES OF cier-
gymen are rIcner IN DOCKS ana the Inlnss
wnIcn leed NINA ana nedrt tnan are
most other homes. ana dhey are also
blessed, not aIOne in things IN when
uney are rIch, but also IN the Things
IN whlcn they are poor; for preachers
homes are poor in the things winch
MAKE Tor hurtIul acknowledgement. Iney
ENJOY few luxures, and, hence, their sons
are not so apt TO become eHemnate and
enervdted. The parsonage generally
forces self-denlal upon the children VINO
dwell in it, and the Foundation of ali
human worth and real greatness is in
self-denial.
Herein is the main lesson of the case
of the sons of preachers which should
be laid to heart by the parents of
otner youths. Let every home practice
from choice what the families of preach
ers pracuce from necessity. The ruin
of many families is wrought by luxu-
rious self-induliience. No boy was every
hurt by hardship but thousands have
been destroyed by having every thing
which they could desire come to them
without effort.
1t should also be remarked that homes
which are given up TO luxur. us living
and worldly indulgences never have fam
lily worship; and thus the children of
such homes are deprived of one of the
most wholesome and inspiring influences
which contribute to the production of
elevated character. What poor, pow
erless dead home is a home without a
family altar! A prayelltss home is a
pagan home, although it may be called
a christian home and the members of
the family may attend church services
when it is convenient for them to do
so.
What holy place is a home of pray
er! 1t nourishes faith in children while
they are growing to maturity, and it
leaves in their memories restraining and
sanctifying recollections which bless
them in all their after years. OF such
a home a great American essayist wrote
these words some time ago. II recall
a home like this, long since left behind
in the journey of life; and it's memory
floats back over me with a shower of
emotions and thought toward whose pre-
cious fall my heart opens itself greed
lily like thirsty flower The
hour of evening has come, the lamps
are lighted, and good man in middle
hfe,-though very old he seems to
me-takes down the well-worn Bible,
and reads a chapter from it's hallowed
Spages. A sweet woman sits at his side,
with my sleepy head upon her knee, and
brothers and sisters are grouped rev.
erently around. L do not understand
the words, but have been told that
they are the words Of God, and I be-
lieve it. The long chapter ends, and
then we all kneel down. and the good
man prays. fall asleep with my head
in the chair, and the next morning re-
member nothing of the way in which
went to bed. After breakfast the Bible
is taken down, and the good man -praysl
again; and again and again the worship
is repeated through all the days OF
many golden years. The pleasant con-
Of the home, the words of encourage
ment as 1 bend over my school-tasks.
the kiss as 1 lie down to rest, the pa
tient bearing with the freaks of my
restless nature, the gentle counsels
mingled with reproofs and approvals,
the sympathy that meets and assuages
every sorrow and sweetens every little
successful these return to me amid
the responsibilities which press upon me
I Gee 2 Il hnh
in heaven, and, straying, had lost my
way"
From homes of worldly folly and self
ish luxury no such blessed memories
can be drawn No family prayers are
in them. The mother is at the theater
and the social functions in a perpetual
round which leaves no place for family
PRAYERS The father is infected with
mania for money-making until he has
lost the desire and the capacity to lead
family devotions. The Bible is the book
least read by the children and most in
frequently read to. them. o how pitt
fully poor are multitudes of homes in
which there is earthly plenty but little
piety!
The children of preachers are far bet
ter placed in humble homes filled with
the fragrance of piety and the incense
of prayer. Let none of them repine at
their lot, or envy the worldly for the
hurtful luxuries which they enjoy
If the parsonage is the pious place
it ought to be--as most parsonages are
it is the finest home in town, and OUT
of it the world must expect its finestI
men. The sons of preachers may well
lift up their heads in thanksgiving TO
God; for they belong to an Ilustrious
company of the mightiest and noblest
of the children of men.