The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-18

| Wnlcn naQ caught nlmSeu. In the | for the son upon the altar.
 From. this old and familiar story in the Bible wish to draw some practical lessons concrening father and son. May I remind you, father, that you have a son.. The public school is looking after his secular education ;fhe Sunday school is looking after his religious ed- ucation; the moving picture is giving him the world, the flesh and the devil ]; he is getting his meals at the restaur- ant and slipping in and out of the house between times. Ever and anon father gets glimpse of his boy.
 | Sometimes ago a man said to boy i at the funeral of his father: Your father was a good and noble man." The | boy replied, T have heard people say that; never saw much of him my self; he was very busy man." A father at the bedside of dying boy said to the doctor, 'This is my only boy. will give you all have if you will save his life" The doctor repeated this to a friend and added, "He has invested very little in the salvation of his boys soul. l wonder if it would not be better for the boy have died. in. youth than to follow his fathers example,"
 The brief text gives the picture of a father alone with his boy in an hour of crisis, Abraham built no cities, established no governments, fought no great battles. He raised one boy. There are 15,000000 Jews in. the world to- day' following the steps of Abraham and Isaac. In raising this boy he gave him his fathers God, his fathers faith, his fathers religion, and his fathers principles.
 A young man was asked to indulge in questionable practise. He declined saying, "1 cannot do that. My father would not approve" But you are 21." That is true; these years have taught me the wisdom of my fathers judg- ment." In Abraham's' days the house was a tent; the home a bulwark. In many cases today the house is palace and the home is a fabric. In those days days the home was built in this order :: First, marriage for life; second, God i; third, children; fourth, duty; fifth, business; sixth, social life. Today we have reversed the order. When mar- riages occur today the first question. Where Shall we find the most desira- ble place 10 liyey Second, 1How shall we find the best position to make the most money ?" Third, Flow shah we be able to secure the largest amount ot Iuxury!" Then social distinction, then Where shall we get the greatest amount of pleasure?"'
 Some years ago I formed the ac- quaintance of a happy little family consisting of husband, wife and two children. They lived in comfortable little bungalow in the suburbs. They had COW, some chickens, and a collie dog. The children were their largest asset. Later l found this family in a city in crowded apartment. The explan- tlon was given of the change. "We were very happy in our suburban place but we had very few opportunities for Pleasure. Since we have moved into the city we have access to the club, to the theatres and have many more adyan- tages for pleasure" A year or so later l found the husband boarding. On in- quiry 1 found that the two children were with his mother in distant city, His wife was married to another man. wondered if they were having more pleasure.
 The present day order of life is first, buslnCss E second, luxuries; third, so- cipline fails, when father and mother as an insurance against the fires of the future. God for sickness, God for trouble and God for death but every thing else for this wotld. Abraham put God first. His supreme authority was his God; his only job was raising boy. l don't know how many cattle Abraham had 1; I don't know how many sheep he had I don't know how many camels or servants he had-I know he had boy. find him alone with that hoy: l find bim walking in Gods law with that boy. I find him building m altar with that boy. I find him Tn the seyerest hour of discipline mas ter of the situation. Father speaks. son obeySi
 Thousands of homes are going to wreck Tn the hour of crisis when dis clpllne fails, when father and moher io:" control, lose power, lose influ- en's There comes a time in the home the saddest hour ever Q; erienced by parent-when father and mother wake up to the fact that they are no longer Tn control; their laws are not Obeyed; their commands are not ex- ecuted; their desires are not followed :: thetr wishes are not cons 'lered. They are face to face with. T rehellions boy n rebelhous girl. This is not the result of a single day or hour; it IS the result of years of discipline. l knew parents who would give all they possess if they could be put in absolute control of their children; could realize that their command is supreme, that their desire is the child's highest stand ard of action, the obedience to their will and order the supreme ambition, and the contribution to the happiness. of father and mother their supremest de- sire.
 should like to have seen Abraham and Issac going out weekly to offer their sacrifice. l should like to have seen them together build the altar out in the open field. I should like to have seen them as the lamb was placed upon it; should like >to have heard his childish questions and the fathers answer. Father, why do you kill this little lamb? Why do you burn it upon this altar? Why do you come every few days to this lonely spot with lamb? Father, who is God; where is GOd"' The child pushes through his