The Washington herald., 1913-08-17

Writing of the obstacles toward bring
ing religion into the lives OF boys, the
Living Church puts first the average
present-day home. There is negative
attitude toward religion. Church going
is not a fundamental part of the family
life: at best it is but an unrelated ad-
dendum. The father, whose attitude to-
ward religion breaches a continuous SER
mon to the boy-more powerful than the
sermons delivered from any pulpit-is too
ant to let his influence be at least a
negative one. The boy very quickly as
Stimulates the fathers appraisal or the
worth Of the Christian religion. II 1t Is
mot a living force of the fathers life, il
worship be not a duty strong enough TO
counteract the fathers natural desire 10
play golf or go motoring on pleasant
sunday, the son quickly relegates 1t TO
at least a secondary place. The father
who does not practice his religion TO its
fullest extent. by regular participation IN
worship and regular communions, as well
as by letting it dominate his every day
life is helping toSfemOve the impetus
Of the Christian religion from his son
life Now nobody knows better than the
niddle-ased father what are the tempta-
tions that are coming, if not Immediately
present to his son, and it is a fact that
a vital religion is the strongest force 10
counteract those temptations. The father
who, by his example. weakens the force
of the boys religion, assumes thereog
tho responsibility for making 1t more
difficult for his son to resist temptation.
Fathers who use Sundays chiefly Tor
their own pleasure need not think 1t
strange Il their sons fall into sin as a
consequence. The cost of a game OF
Sunday gof or a motor ride into the
country may thus be pretty large
Maintaining Integrity OF Ministry.
1.-The admission into the ministry of
the Presbyterian church OF young men
who are not in full accord with the doc
trines of the faith is, in our Judgment
alarming and unfortunate. says the New
York Christian Intelligencer tRe1.'.
Among the many reasons advanced lof
the indifference of multitudes to tie
church. this must be cited among the
foremost, that the people are not fed
with the true bread of life in many
churches. The prospect does not become
any brighter when the ranks of the min
istry are recruited annually by young
men who find themselves unable to ac-
cept such fundamental facts as the Vir-
gin birth of Christ and mis- resurrection
from the dead. The spectacle of year
" controversy over the admission OF such
candidates is very disturbing to many
Christians Why should these young
men seek to enter the ministry Of de-
nomination whose doctrines do not COM
mend themselves to them? If they still
have a message, why not give 1t from
pulpits which confessedly do not stand
for the supernatural origin of our Lord
When Presbyterians attend their church
and contribute to the support Of its work
they may justly demand from their min
lister the whole counsel OF God and the
faithful exposition OF these central facts
of the Christion religion. IT is not a mat
ter of prosecuting these young men or OF
branding any one with the stigma Of her
esy. 1t is simply a matter of maintat:.-
ing the integrity Of the ministry and Of
safeguarding the spiritual interests OF
the church"