Oxford eagle., 1918-02-07
COMMUNITY SERVICE
MONDAY NIGHT
Expressions From Many Leading Git
izens and Laymen on
Religion.
fliE CHRISTIAN MOTIVE
IN OIk HOME LIFE

EAeIA motive ls AN inMafu impulse
4ma, Nncn Christian, always moves
laom AItnln out. Ihe Christian mo
Ir.e Is never self-centered but, rather,
seeks TO serve. 1t originates IN a
sun..n neart qulckened INTO new lie
Dy the spirit of God 1t Is energize0
by, and Is the expression OF unseihsh-
ness ana love and sacrifice. Inspired
Dy such a motive, breathing such an
atmosphere, any home Is d heaven OH
earth In the very nature OF the case,
ii is bright and cheerful, hopeful and
happv peaceful and restful.
Unquestionably, the family as the
fundamental unit, the home as the
strategic point. IN both church ana
state. will give tone and color to re-
.igiou, and national life. As in the
homes, 50 the church and so the ma
ton. The Christian motive IN the
home life will surely manifest Itself
in others, imparting strength and VI
gor. Christian home is the nursery of
patriotism, the mother of gentle grac-
e. and strong virtues. Ii is the surest
safeguard for an enduring civilization.
its associations and its memories con-
stitute the best defense whenn tempta-
tions assail and dangers threaten.
Just TO the extent that the makers
o. home are actuated and controlled
bY high Christian ideals will II be
ue TO its great mission. Here Is a
sacred OBLIGATION no father or mother
can afford to shirk. If conspicuous
service to church or state necessitates
a r .a,,auu4~ 10
circumstances are most unusual, II l.
probable that personal ambition i
wearing mask and disguising itself
in the livery of heaven. The holiest
nission that motherhood can know Is
10 lead her little ones IN paths of
righteousness and peace. O, the
sanity of woman's life if her chief
JOY is not found in training for lives
Of usefulness and honor those to
y hom she has given birth, What
Derversion of function, what weakness
8l will OF hollowness Of profession,
what mockery of domestic life. when
4 wife and mother forsakes the Hing
tom of home where she is entitled to
reign as a queen. and bids for popular
Is and applause as a minion of men
and foolish vassal of fashionable so
-ieiy, Oh, the utter emptiness of
such course, Forgive me, If in my
zeal FOR the sacredness Of home life,
! appear to apply extreme and ex-
Iata@ant language TO those who seem
. teeat life as a trifle and count
home an unhollowed thing.
j naV be that among woman kind
eur favored land such faithless
anes are relatively few And Yet we
must be- on guard lest childhood lose
{ cradle and motherhood its crown.
ln this connection emphasis should he
ut upOn the fact that the husband
end father is the divinely appointed
read Of the household. and that ac-
ordlngly. il Is incumbant on him TO
'e spiritual leader there. Not often
toes he measure uD TO the scriptural
tsandand Of fatherhood Shall we not
lse 10 higher and iuSter conception
the meaning of parentage How
ltterlv worthless are the distinctions
earth II. in achieving is success and
winning its nrIzes. we lose our in
ulence over sons and daughtres and
80 them slipping awa~ from under
1ur own roof untouched bv the hand
hat should have guided them and IN
moved by the heart that should have
awakened eager and sympathetic re-
-ponse in their own. God help Us 20
make our homes thorouVhlv and gen
ainely Christian. for the sake of the
ehildren the church and the nation.
ALFRED HUME.