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Gold, Silver, Precious Stones
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"Letter to Parents," The Gospel Messenger, reprinted in The Primitive Monitor vol. l no. 10 (Jan. 1895)
AUTHOR: | Rittenhouse, Ephraim |
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Dear Brother Respess: Your readers most likely remember that Bro. Mitchell, in your May number of the Messenger, addressed a message to parents, and in closing requested others whose minds might be so led (naming my name in said request) to follow him up on the same subject. If I had no other reason for so doing, a special request from him I should regard sufficient. I have raised quite a large family, now all grown up, but neither my experience nor my success have suggested to me the thought of attempting to counsel or admonish others. Mine own vineyard have I not kept as free from briers and thorns as might have been, still, I hope I have profited some, and have no objections to giving others the benefit of my observations and experience.
What I say I shall say not merely to parents as parents, but as parents professing to be disciples of Christ. The apostle Paul is authority for the sentiment that “he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law” towards him. That is: The law of Christ is a law of love, and if we are constrained in our conduct towards others by love to them and a desire for their profit: that love will lead us to act rightly; whether it be in the church, or in our outward intercourse. I do not say that we always do, or always will act rightly, even when we have love one to another; but nevertheless, love worketh no ill to his neighbor, and it never prompts us to act wrongfully. Those who love their children and love their church, we might suppose, would always see to it that their children accompany them to their meetings. There need be no constraint or coercion about it. Children will always love and respect their parents, unless they have reason to do otherwise. They will respect the profession of their parents, and that church to which their parents belong, unless that respect is destroyed, or impaired, by the conduct of their parents. I think it is eminently proper for children to be taken with their parents when quite small, and so accustomed to it that they will not be likely to think of, or expect anything else. Their acquaintances will then be there, and no social attachments likely to be formed elsewhere. To this end, they should always be dressed respectably, so as to appear as well to others of their own age, and not have a commendable pride of appearances mortified.
I know numbers of good brethren who attend meeting regularly, but never bring any children with them. We would never know, from their attendance at meeting, that they had any. They provide a comfortable carriage for themselves, and leave their children at home. The children are not provided with any way to go but to walk. They get no encouragement to even do that. It is thought to be too much trouble and expense to provide conveyance and suitable clothing for them. They are strangers at the meeting, and it need not be wondered at if they have no desire to go. In this section of the country, most of the churches have an extra meeting of two or three days, called an annual, or yearly meeting; at which time it is expected that more or less strangers will be present to do the preaching, and many visitors from neighboring churches. Besides these, we have the annual session of the Association. At these meetings there are numbers from abroad to be entertained. There is room for the children and servants all to share in the work and care of providing beforehand, and at the time and during the meeting to bestow that polite, thoughtful, and kind attention upon the visiting friends that will render their visit pleasant and satisfactory to all concerned. It is desirable, on every account, that the children should feel an interest in bestowing the attention necessary at such a time upon the visiting friends. They should feel that they have, or at least will have, their reward. As they become acquainted there will be attractions, and the response to these attractions will be delight and enjoyment. All this
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