A Good Foundation by MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 10, 1916

A Good Foundation

By MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE

MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE

In order to have a good building, it is absolutely necessary to have a good foundation. It is not of very much moment whether the paint is white or black, or whether the decorations are of the latest pattern. The rooms may be large or small. But whether the building be cottage or palace, unless it stands upon a good foundation, it is worthless; yes, it is really dangerous.

Across the street, less than a year ago, three cottages were erected, whose foundation walls were condemned and pronounced quite unsafe even before they were completed. For some cause, the architect or owner unwisely insisted upon taking the risk, and the cottages were built. But it took only a few weeks of soaking rains and continued bad weather to ruin the walls and completely to undermine the foundations. Then the bad workmanship began to show, and the poor material which had entered into the walls could no longer be hidden. The only alternative, of course, was the expensive one of tearing down the original foundations, laboriously removing the débris, and employing honest workmen to rebuild.

As I watched this, I fell to moralizing, and I said: 'If the poor workmanship and bad material cannot endure the test of time in the building, and are not only discovered, but make direful trouble in the end, how much more certain it is that in character building, like causes will produce like effects; if it is disastrous to use poor material in the first case, it is doubly so in the second.'

When a young lad so far forgets himself as to use discourteous and rude language to his mother and sisters; when he chooses and enjoys the company of wild and profane boys; when he loves to imitate the swaggering gait and boisterous manners of street loafers; and worse than all, when he finds himself enjoying and even craving the nauseating fumes of the deadly cigarette,—by any of these signs, he may know of a certainty that he is voluntarily putting poor material into his character building.

The other day a young man came to me in sore trouble. He had professed conversion and united with the church. But he had indulged in the cigarette habit since childhood, until his will-power was weakened and his moral sense dulled; and now he was finding to his dismay that the material which he had used in his character building was not able to stand the test of circumstances. He had been thrown into the company of old associates, and had found to his shame that he was unable, or at least lacked the moral courage, to resist temptation.

The power of the Almighty alone can give victory; but unless we coöperate with divine agencies, unless we become 'workers together with him,' how can we expect him to work for us? We must not voluntarily indulge in habits which weaken the will and pervert the moral sense. Christ asks us to coöperate with him; then it matters not how far we may have plunged into the black mire of sin, he will give us strength and healing and victory.

I appeal to parents and teachers to instil into the young heart the great truth that it is a wonderful thing to be able in the strength of the Lord to build a noble, symmetrical character. Let the foundation stones be carefully laid with prayer and study of the Word. Let the Holy Spirit aid in the selection of material that is fitting, and let the wise Master Builder instruct and dictate.

When Mollie comes in from her play impatient and rude, the wise mother will not add fuel to the fire by using language fully as unkind and rude as that of the child. Children are great imitators. A large part of their education consists in following the example set them by their elders.

Happy is the child whose parents daily seek the wisdom which comes from above, that they may be able to instruct and aid their little ones in selecting good material for their character building.