New Britain herald., 1922-09-18
WHAT KIND OF A
 FATHER ARE Y0U?
Know Your Own Son, Rev. Davis
 Urges E. B. C. Members

The greatest of all the problems of life Is the boy problem" said Rev John l.. Davis to the 560 members of ] the Everymans Bible class who were present at the weekly services in the Methodist church yesterday. The subject, What Kind of Father Are You?" was one that held interest for every man. The fact that so few fathers really know their boys was the one emphasized by Mir, Davis and he said that one of the greatest ways to know a boy is to play with him, to join him In his games and to be his companion.
 Why Is there such problem :? Why is there such a conflict between father and son? One reason is that men and women who are not mental ly. physically or morally fitted for parenthood are allowed to marry. The day will come when man who is not fitted to produce strong and suitable citizen will not be allowed to marry, Children cannot choose their parents, but parents can, in a way, select the kind of children they will have.
 We are very careful in selecting | cattle. horses or other animals, to choose those of good ancestry and those which are best fitted for the work they are to do. If we are to desire a race horse, we choose one which comes from long line of race horses But when it comes to chill dren, matter of much greater i'm portance, we allow anyone to become father or mother without regard to their physical, mental or moral standard
 Tt is sad fact that some of the wealthiest and best homes in the country have turned out some of the 1 most worthless sons"
 | Another fact emphasized by MT Davis in his talk is that many parents are shirking this boy problem, and this also has to do with girls The | parents are placing the children in the care of help--governesses nurses. and others are given the job of bring ing up the children, work which the mother and father are shirking The magic success of summer camps and summer schools is testimony to the fact that parents are shirking their duty
 There are many fathers who would be extremely miserable if they were thrown into the company of their sons for any length of time They do not seem to realize that they are three times as old as the sons and the fath. CTS are not interested in their boys because the little fellows of 12 tnd 13 cannot talk of books, business or f. nance., And it was here that Mir. Davis said that. "the greatest way to know a boy is to play with him" He cited personal experience of his one time when he was playing tennis with his son. He said that in that game of tennis with his boy he gained an in sight into the boys character which he would never have received bad he not joined him in his sport.
 The finest thing a man can give his son is the record of a clean life" was another thought brought out by Mir. Davis in the course of his talk.
 Another thing: There will always be conflict between father and son un- less they are both considerate of the
 
 will want his son to get an education; the boy will not want to. The father will wart the boy to enter one branch of business; the boy may wish 70 en- ter another. The father wants the boy to marry one girl, the boy wants to marry another. And so there is this eternal conflict, which can only be solved when both father and son are considerate of the other. he said
 "The history of the world has been a conflict between democracy and autocracy. Democracy has won out in nearly every instance But the last two places that democracy enters into are industry and the home. Many men think that others are on the earth just to minister to their comfort and many fathers are very autocratc regarding their sons. insulting fear instead of love into their hearts.
 The only just punishment for such man is that he spend his last days alone" said Mir. Davis. Your boy has more than body. You must give him thoughts and cause love and respect to enter his heart" In clos ing MT Davis read very appropriate poem Are you a Good Dad?'
 R. B Skinner. president of the class, announced that the meeting will begin at 9:3o o'clock. standard time. next Sunday.
 There were visitors present from as far south as Florida and as far west as Buffalo, Sunday.