On the Training of Children.
By George I. Butler
I SEND the following excellent rules on this subject to the REVIEW for publication. I copied them from the Practical Cyclopedia. I think them most worthy of not only a careful perusal, but of being placed in some position to be read every day. It seems to me that if parents would strive conscientiously to carry all these rules into practice in their family government, it would result in great good to themselves and their children. It would result in making home a place of peace and love where angels would delight to dwell. It is a sad sight to see the condition of many families at the present day. In many of them there is no parental authority, no order, no reverence for anything sacred. In short, the spirit of Satan bears sway, and jealousy, hatred, insubordination, deceit, lust, and all kinds of depravity, follow in the train. This is an age when parental authority is at a discount; when “disobedience to parents” is the rule in the world, and good, wholesome discipline is the exception. Many of our sisters would be glad to do right, and train their children properly; but not having had proper training themselves in their youth, and being burdened with many cares, and not knowing how to set about the work, they make poor progress. If such will carefully study these rules, and prayerfully try to put them in practice, they will find them of real benefit. Some will try to do this. Others, I fear, and the very ones most needing them, will perhaps read them over once and never think of them again. What a fearful responsibility such parents take upon themselves in bringing children into the world, to grow up lawless and wicked, because of the want of proper training and instruction from their parents, to be a curse to the world, and to go to eternal ruin. Can such parents expect to have it said to themselves, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? How fearful will be their own fate. Here all parents can be workers, with an excellent opportunity placed before them to be the means of saving precious souls. But I did not intend to write an article on this subject; yet it is very suggestive of thought. Let all of us who are parents read these rules, and strive to practice them. GEO. I. BUTLER.