The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-02-20
DISCIPLINE, SUBJECT
HARGREAVES' SERMON

In a recent sermon in the series OF
"The Ten Commandments" Mr.. Har.
greayes argued that the fifth, "Honoi
thy father and thy mother" J." was more
a subject for the practical considera.
ton of parents than the guidance OF
children. He said in part.
There is a primary law of God to
which even this clause in the Deca-
logue is subject. 1t is that Gud never
made demand impossible of fulfill
ment. The right of a parent to the
honor of son depends altogether on
wherther said parent is worthy of hon
or: for relation which involves obli-
cation as always reciprocal.
ut is a great misfortune for a child
when he cannot, or for any reason does
not, honor, respect and obey his par
ents. The undeveloped life, like the
ship in an untried sea, needs the con-
troll of one who knows, who cares and
who is able to direct. The learning
of obedience and regard is so necessary
to the development of youth that it
should be made easy as possible and to
this end much more depends upon the
condition of the one in authority than
upon the subject.
Commands are authoritative, not
on account of the penalty which backs
them, nor yet because of the severity
of the tone which utter them, but on
account of the virility of the com
There may be formal sub
mission to the regulation with penalty
but seldom any real subjec-
tivity.
IF parents would be honored, if
they would be obeyed let them bring
their own bodies under such suhiection
as will produce normal vitality with
its accompaniment of unconscious au-
thOrity. There is force, a sort of
psychic power goes from the person of
the self-restrained viriIe man or wom-
an, a power which makes conformity
to their wishes both easy and natural.
Wherein, in the person in authority,
such virility doe not exist obedience
even to good command is made very
difficult and that because there is
lack of the propellng psychic force.
Now, submission to regulations on
the part of children is, possibly in the
majority of instances, the result of the
lack of subjective control on the part
of those who would guide. 1t would
probably be safe to say that 80 per
cent of the difficulty in discipline would
pass away if those in authority, such
as parents. teachers and other leaders
would put 80 percent of their eXertion
for discipline upon themselves. If any
one would carry the note of command
let him pay for the privilege by doing
such things as will bring himself into
good form. Let him practice that re.
straint of appetite and passion, those
regular exercises mental, physical and
spiritual which bring fulness of virile
force. If man would guide the moral
habits of junior he must first bring
his own appetites under subiecIion TO
ABSOLUTE self control Among the him
drances to moral develoment in juniors
doubtless something must be charged
to the influence of bad examples set by
seniors, but much more hiudrance re.
suits from the lack of psychic power as
a result of self-indulaence on the part
of those to whom the youth intuitively
look for support and guidance. And
whether a weakness is given way TO.
openly or secretly. makes little differ
ence to the result. Even a beast can
tell when man is under the influence
Of master passion and may be troub.
Iesome; how much more sensitive
child. There is nothing hidden that
which shall not be revealed.
"The fact that children. in order to
their own well-being, need to honor
and obey those in authority makes il
incumbent on parents and other leaders
that they make obedience not only nos.
sible but easy and natural for children
have not yet learned to force them
selves to do the difficult thing. Con
tormlty is easy just in ratio to the
strength OF character of the one whose
desires are to be conformed To and
with that one lieth the greater mart of
the responsibility for the needed sub
mission.
"A rod is often necessary in the en-
torcement of discipline, but a mistake
IS commonly made in selecting the VIC
TIM. Whipping and scolding would be-
seldom called for if parents and teach
ers would more frequently buffet their
own bodies and cause them to submit
to wholesome restrictions and exer-
tions.
When her child is in danger a woman
VIII risk her life to protect il No great
act of hprOism or riek Of IN, ..... r'