Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-02-21

posed that whatever the child desired
to do mast OF necessity be wrong, and
its only safety lay in absolute elimi-
nation of free agency and initiative.
The result I'm thousands Of cases was
a reaction that was all the more dis
astrous because 50 long repressed. At
tho present day we are inclined to the
other extreme. We depend too much
on child initiative and allow the young
to form habits of body and mind that
do violence TO our convictions of right,
and in later years find that their des-
tinies have grown beyond our control.
We cannot hope, when they have
reached the age Of responsibility, to
apply the CorreCtives that should have
been used in their tender years. Then,
like Ell. In our declining years we are
doomed to mourn and to suffer on aC-
count Of the Wayward lives Of those
whom We neglected to train in the
paths OF right living. The right way,
as the Bible teaches, Is between these
two extremes. The will and initiative
Of the child are God given and were
not intended to be crushed by sheer
authority but TO be lovingly guided
and directed in their proper channels.
Education, as the word indicates is a
leading out" a cultivation Of the nat
ural Instincts that they may be the
means Of bringing good results and
avoiding the bad. Yet such is human
nature, and the lack OF perfection even
In Innocent childhood, that there are
times and circumstances under which
nothing but the unconditional exercise
OF parental authority will reach the
case IL We always spare the rod" We
are pretty sure to spoil the child"
And then, after hcredity and early
education have had their turn, comes
the dreaded influence Of association,
tho unavoidable contact of the grow
ing mind with unmeasured influences
OF life among all sorts and conditions
Of human beings. II the child has
been brought up intelligently in the
nurture and admonitlon OF the Lord,
he Is well armed to meet the ups and
downs OF existence. Bring up n child
in the way he should go. and when he
is old he will not depart from it," He
may make mistakes, he may stumble
and fall, but some day the old influ-
ence will assert itself and he will rise
again. IL we, as parents, fail TO do
our duty, to teach, to show by eXam-
pie, and to exercise authority, we cam
not complain II our children prove
curse TO our declining years. "I
will judge his house forever for the
iniquity which he knoweth, because
his sons made themselves vile and he
restrained them not"
Gods Ways Are just.
The judgments OF the Lord are sure
and altogether Just. Like little chill
drcn, who cannot understand the rea-
son why parents require obedience In
matters that seem unjust and dis
tasteful TO them, 80 We cannot afford
TO set up our limited human under
standing In Judgment Of things divine.
But as children grown up can look
back and sec where their parents
were both wise and Just, when we
burst these bonds Of mortal clay and
achieve spiritual freedom and intelll-
gence, will realize that Gods purposes
are supremely Just and good. As we
are now, we must rely on faith in his
promise that all things shall work to-
gether for good TO them that love him. |
But we want 20 remember that we
have q duty to perform I'm the raising |
up OF children who will serve and obey |
the law OF the Lord. And we must not |
lose sight Of the fact that God requires |
of us sincere love and obedience that
comes from the heart, not a misguided |
seryility that seeks personal advantage |
by a foolish dependence on the out |
ward signs OF plety. BE we doers OF |
the word, and not hearers only. delud- |
ing your own selves