THE FAMILY HARMONY IN THE HOME Home is the nursery of the Infinite.-Channing. Edited by MYRTLE FILLMORE THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF THE CHILD BY ELIZABETH PETTINGER. To swing too far out of the beaten track of our Puritan forefathers is almost as bad, (if not quite as painful) as to follow in the rut of their teaching; in fact the rut oftimes bruises the feet less than the thorns and brambles of the too "Open Road." Some of us are apt to look back upon the religious training of our youth, and remember. the long hours spent in a dark dismal church, where we shivered in fright at the threats and imprecations hurled at us by the religious fanatic of the pulpit, and in our souls we almost desired eternal fire, to a region where "Congregations ne'er break up, and Sabbaths have no end." We remember the long hot Sunday afternoon in the sultry, close, airless front room, reading meaningless things from a book called "The Bible," when we were longing with all the passion of childhood to be out with the birds and the butterflies, skipping over the meadows or lying beneath orchard trees. We think with a shudder of the only story we knew of the Master's life, that of the crucifixion. We recall vividly the times the strap was laid across our back for some misdemeanor, such as fishing on Sunday, or forgetting to say our prayers, or leaving our hair uncombed for church, or singing some irreligious song on the "Holy Sabbath." We remember the strap and the motto that went with it, "Spare the rod etc. etc.,” and that both were a direct outcome of religion. Yes, we remember all this, and when we remember, we look at our own little children and with tears of self pity for our lost childhood, we say, "No religion for these children, I will protect them against such torture." Then we proceed to "protect" them by allowing them to grow up ignorant of that beautiful story of our Divine Lord; we "protect" them by depriving them of the companionship of the golden haired shepherd boy, David, who played such wonderful music that even a demented king must stop to listen. We, in our unreasoning "swinging out" process, fail to give to our children that sweetest of all life influences, a religious appreciation of the world in which we live. When these children are no longer babies, but have reached the thinking, reasoning age, they learn through association, what they have missed; and children are quick to resent. "Why," they ask, "did you neglect so important a part of my education? I have been robbed of part of my birthright." And they are apt to feel self pity for their childhood. Paul says, "Moderation in all things." Let us then use moderation in the religious training of our children. Let us lead them, not in the puritanical rut of our early days, nor yet, by the letting alone process, turn them into the uncleared wildwood, where the brambles and vines tear their flesh, and false paths lead them hither and thither; rather let us teach them the way, show them the "Open Road," and let them walk it according to their own LIGHT. Give them the knowledge of religious things, teach them Bible history, show them that right living and right thinking and religion are one and the same thing; acquaint them with the men and women of the Bible, and let their youthful minds be stirred with the heroic deeds of the Old and New Testament; then will you be showing them the "Open Road" that leads to wisdom and understanding. How may this be done? It is a long, not easy task; but nothing worth while is easy. First, answer truthfully and clearly every question asked by your children, -truthfully, so far as you know the truth. A question properly answered sets a child on the right road to knowledge, improperly answered, on the wrong road. Questions foolishly asked should, of course, be discouraged, but be careful how a question is rejected, for often a parent fails to recognize its true worth. Think well before answering, make sure you yourself know the answer, then tell your child the truth,-Never lie to him about ANYTHING. “But," you say, "suppose I don't know?" Then tell him you don't know, you will not lose his respect by such a confession, he will find out sooner or later that there are many things you don't know, and you might just as well 'fess up' now as later. Nothing brings a child and parent nearer together than this answer,— “I don't know, my son, but you and I will find out together."-They have now become companions, traveling along the road to knowledge, hand in hand, with mutual sympathies. Suppose he asks a question improper for his age? This is not often, for when a child is old enough to want to know a thing he is usually old enough to be told the truth. But suppose he ISN'T old enough? Tell him so; promise him you will tell him just as soon as he is old enough to understand. You will be surprised to find so much patience in a little child. Another way to instruct children along religious lines is by telling Bible stories with the same amount of interest as you tell those of Hans Anderson or Grimms. He will be just as fascinated with one as the other if you do your part, and then he will be learning Bible history at the same time. Get a child's Bible history, with colored pictures; hold the book upon your knee and as the little one turns the pages tell him the story of Adam, of Moses, of Job and Noah just as he turns to them. Soon each picture has a name for him and again you will be surprised to find how quickly the child has become acquainted with the characters, and their story; when you are too busy to hold the book he will say over the names to himself, and all this is religious education. Co-operation between father and mother will turn the family conversation onto ideals, principles, and standards of living, giving a chance to install into the little folk's minds the value of morals. There are many, many ways by which to instruct our children along these lines without keeping them in the rut, or leaving them ignorant, to stumble their way along untried paths before they are strong enough to endure the hardships of the 'trails;' there are many ways whereby we can make it possible for them to enter upon life, saying "Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, healthy, free, the world before me leading wherever I chose." When God had formed the universe he thought "My lesser self, the feminine of me, She will go forth throughout all time," quoth he, "For I am weary, having labored so, And for a cycle of repose would go Into that silence which but God may know. "Therefore I leave the rounding of my plan "She is the soil, the human mother-earth: She is the sun that calls the seed to birth: She is the gardener, who knows its worth. "From me all seed, of any kind, must spring. Divine the growth such seed and soil will bring, For all is me, and I am everything." Thus having spoken to himself aloud, His glorious face upon his breast he bowed Come forth, O God! Though great thy thought and good Lord, speak again; she has not understood. The centuries pass, the cycles roll along, The earth is peopled with a mighty throng; Yet men are fighting, and the world goes wrong. Lord, speak again, ere yet it be too late. Unloved, unwanted, souls come through earth's gate. Thy world progresses in all ways save one- Children are spawned like fishes in the sand. It is not all of motherhood to know And motherhood is not alone to breed The human race; it is to know, and heed, Its holiest purpose and its highest need. Lord, speak again, so woman shall be stirred |