The Children in the Congregation.
THERE is no more beautiful sight than a congregation assembled in families—father, mother and children seated together in pews, and together united in divine worship. That this is a sight less common than it used to be or than it ought to be, few persons will deny. It is not infrequently the case that the young people of a household attend one sanctuary, while the older members of the same group go by themselves to another. The fervor of an eloquent minister attracts a grown-up son; the artistic perfection of the music in a certain church pleases a grown-up daughter; or there are social considerations which weave their spells around the young lady or gentleman; and so they cease to go with their parents to the old church, which they vote to be old-fashioned and slow. As to the little ones in the nursery, many parents think it hardly less than cruel to take them to church where they will be obliged to sit still, where they can understand only a small portion of the sermon, and where they shall be wearied by the irksome confinement. It is urged, too, that if children are compelled while little to go to church, they will acquire for it so great a dislike (not to say hatred) that as soon as they reach maturity they will cease to go at all, and, rushing to the opposite extreme, will spend the Sabbath in rioting, feasting and unhallowed pleasures. We question very much whether the children, and even the very little ones, have the disagreeable associations with church-going which are ascribed to them. Probably they enjoy it more than their mistaken elders suppose. At least, that is the uniform testimony to be obtained from tripping feet and beaming eyes and merry looks as they run to get ready. Very few children are not glad, and do not feel honored, when taken to the house of God.—Christian Intelligencer.