The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-05-20

iesesz - nature that its
various relations are used as the SYM
bols of mans relation to God. God
has chosen to call himself our ga
Their" and he speaks of his people as
his "children."
The family has in 1t the germ of
every social and political problem.
There are n few basic principles
which If thoroughly inculcated in the
home would solve all our complicated
social problems. These are (1) re-
spect for rightful authority, (2) prop
er regard for the rights of others, (3)
duties of helpfulness to the weak and
unfortunate, (4) industry coupled
with economy, (5) fear of God.
In the first place, home is the place
TO teach respect for authority and the
principles of obedience. Parents stand
for ultimate authority over their
children, and while this authority
should never be exercised in an arbi-
trary manner, 1t is vitality necessary to
the character of the child, to the in
tegrity of the home, TO the security of
the social system. that n child from
his earliest days should be taught TO
recognize the authority vested in his
parents, and to obey without question.
In the second place. the family re-
lationships furnish opportunity for
teaching the first lessons regarding
the rights of others. If family life is
properly ordered, parents will recog-
nize the rights that exist between
them and their children, and children
will be taught to respect the rights Of
their parents and Of their brothers and
sisters. Selfshness and self-seeking
will not be permitted domineering
habits of thought and action, over
reaching and overriding the rights
and privileges of others in the same
little community, will not be permit
ted, and being required to observe
these proper relationships within the
home will make 1t reasonably certain
that they will not disregard proper
relationships out in the world.
! In the third place, the presence of
younger ones or of the weak, sick or
unfortunate ones in the home could
be used for developing sense of duty
toward all such as they are found in
society generally.
Again, common home tasks and the
living plans Of every household fur
nish opportunity TO teach lessons of
industry and economy to the young
which may be Of very great value to
them all their lives. Today our whole
system is cursed with incompetency,
unreliability, laziness, extravaganza,
wastefulness. habits of life which have
come from the failure of the home to
inculcate the right principles of in
dustry and economy.
But the last named of the general
principles is of the greatest import
ance OF all, the teaching of the fear of
God. I speak Of It as the "fear of
God" because that is the root idea of
all morality and religion. There is no
substantial foundation for moral
training outside Of religion. Precepts
never secure performance. IF we can
not offer something by way Of mo-
tive, stronger and better than to say,
do right because II is right" we shall
accomplish nothing in the way OF
moral education. IF the child is
taught to honor the law of God as
represented in the authority Of par
ents and in his written Word, as a
man he will not complicate any social
problem.
Every consideration OF individual
and social welfare points TO the neces-
sity of teaching children religion: not
the mere facts about religion, but the
teaching of religious experience and
that from earliest childhood at home.
II is Gods way. who said concerning
his ancient laws, Thou shalt teach
them diligently unto thy children and
thou shalt talk with them when thou
sittest In thy house"
Saving the home must be n matter
Of religion. the religion Of Jesus
Christ lived and taught as set forth
In the Christian Scriptures. In the
everyday life Of parents. and made
part of that life of the home, so that
II becomes also the experience Of the
children. This alone can save in any
considerable measure the life Of the
coming generation for God and native
land.
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