A Lost Family Altar

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 18, 1902

A Lost Family Altar

Prairie Herald

ONE day a gentleman was riding on a Western prairie, and lost his way. Clouds arose in the sky, and not seeing the sun, he quite lost his reckoning. Night came on, and as he knew not which way to guide his horse, he let it take its own way. It was a Western horse, and was therefore likely to understand prairie life better than its rider, who was not a Western man. By and by a light glimmered in the distance, and it was not long before the faithful animal stopped before a log cabin. He found the family at supper — man, wife, and children; and a place was soon made for the stranger.

“Who’s there?” some one shouted from within.

“A benighted traveler,” answered the gentleman. “Can you give me a night’s lodging?”

“You’re welcome,” said the man, appearing at the door.

Some time in the evening the man asked: “Are you a minister of the gospel, sir?”

“No,” answered the gentleman; and seeing the man was disappointed, he asked him why he wished to know.

“Oh, sir,” answered the man, “I hoped a minister had come to help me build a family altar. I had one once, but I lost it coming over the Alleghanies; it was a great loss.”

“Perhaps I can help you build one, though I’m not a minister,” said the gentleman, who always had one himself; and after a little more talk the man handed him an old family Bible. He read, and they sang a psalm, and all knelt. The gentleman prayed first, then the man prayed, and the wife and children said, “Amen;” for it seemed as if each wanted to have a little part in building up the family altar.

“Sir,” said the man, when they arose, “there’s many an emigrant who loses his family altar before he gets here — and after, too; sir, it’s a great loss.”

Yes, many family altars are lost. Some are lost in politics, some in traveling, some in moving, some in the hurry of harvest, some at stores and shops; it is an unspeakable loss. Abraham never lost his, yet never family traveled farther or moved oftener than his. But wherever he pitched his tent, he set up his family altar, and called upon the Lord, and the Lord blessed him.

Children, as well as parents, have an interest in keeping the family altar. Don’t let it be lost. If father forgets, let the children gently and respectfully remind him: “Father, we have not yet thanked God for His goodness, or prayed to Him for forgiveness.” No father, I am sure, but will thank a child for thus helping him in his duties. It is good to sing and praise and pray around the family altar. “Blest be the tie that binds” a family altar! All are nearer to one another for being near to God.