Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1914-03-07
RELIGIOUS TRAINING
OF THE YOUNG CHILD
FrOebels Recognition Of the Divine
Element in the Human Soul.
EXPERIENCE THE FIRST TEACHER
bildrsn's Capacity for Reverence
sBd Their Practical Valuation Of
Prayer.

The fifth talk IN the series on
"Child Development was given last
night by Mrs. Letitia P Wilson in
the Assembly Hall Of the City High
School Her special topic was The
delicious Training Of the Child. In
intro ducing her subject Mrs Wilson
spoke Of Froebel, the great German
educator, as one whose childhood bad
been a sad one, and so he determined
to spend his life in the work Of
Frightening .he lives of others.
He, therefore, founded the kinder
garten system. He recopni ed the
divine element in the child's soul, q
something which is not acquired
through the senses, bat is an innat ,
individual endowment This indi-
viduality is consequently developed
first through th1 child's experience.
and not by dogmatic teaching.
Through experience and observation,
the child mind gradually realizes the
continuity and oneness of nature, and
the One Infinite Personality who has
made all things. The story Of Orea-
ton brings Lhls al nome.
Primitive peoples have endesvored
to account for natural phenomena in
various ways with the result that
some beautiful legends and stories
have come down to US. In Froe bells
mother Plays" the story cf the
Wind Bird is charmingly told to
illustrate the powers and Junction of
the winI The child's idea Of God is
acquired from the child's estimate
of bis father 1t is best to teach
first the loving Fatherbood" divine.
rather than the majesty of God. "
Abstract ideas are noe understood by
a .hild until they are idtalized
"A brave boy" Is more readily
grasped by the mind than the quality
bravery" George Washington
stands as concrete ideal for young
and old, as a little boy cnce expressed
it, when told the story Of King George
III, and George Washington, he said
George Washington was a king in
side himself" The sense Of trust
and prayer is brought home tc the
very small child by closed eyes and
folded hands, az illustrated by the
picture Of little Samuel. Every
child has a capacity for reverence,
and many appreciate the practical
value of prayer, IS the little fellow
who prayed: 20 Lord, make me a
good boy; and if at first you don't sue
Gee, try, try again.
Mrs Wilson quoted several beauti
full prayers suited to young chilrdeD,
one Of which IL as follows:
Little hands bring, o Father,
Teach them loving things to do,
Eyes for seeing. ears for hearing.
Feet for willing service, too.
All ! have, dear Father, take,
Bless me now for Jesus sake"
Another great aid in religious de
velopment is the child's desire to
heir. Encourage this, however trif-
ing the service may seem. To hold
the towel, while mother battles baby,
promotes the child's usefulness. A
little fellow was once told by his
mother to keep quiet, as she had a
headache. All right, he said, let
me be your Watchdog" and be folded
bis hands under his chin and watched
till both mother and child fell asleep.
Upon the fathers return, the child
enthusiastically declared that he had
cured his mothers headache by
watching" This cooperation be.
tween mother and child is great
power in character growth.
Don't teach a religion of fear, but
of love. Let it be a heart religion
And make it Of present value, fol
daily use now. Simple Scripture
texts such as Keep the door Of m,
lips, " 81 will lift up my hands in thy
name, " Hold up my goings in thy
paths, that my footsteps slip not, .
are useful concrete petitions for the
child's memory.
An interesting discussion followed
the talk, chiefly bearing upon the sub.
jects Of truthfulness and the rsla.
tive value Of inheritance, environment
and home influence. II was decide,
that az next weeks. address will con
sist Of stories for little children, tn,
hour be changed 10 SIS O'Clock il
l tho nF4opuooo - o~Fav 49, - a., 49,.