A WORD TO PARENTS by Albert Stone

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 18, 1877

A WORD TO PARENTS.

By Albert Stone

There is something of greater importance than wealth to be bestowed upon our children. A right education, begun in early infancy, is needed above all other things. And such education it is the bounden duty of parents to bestow to the extent of their power. For neglecting this, there can be no reasonable excuse. “Train up a child in the way he should go,” is the solemn admonition of our Master in Heaven. Love of offspring, if of the right kind, will prompt to this imperative duty. Every consideration of duty and interest urges to faithfulness here.

Lamentable neglect and indifference are manifest on every hand. The work is found to be difficult and arduous, and is sometimes given up in discouragement, and children are left to come up as they will,—a source of perpetual sorrow and perplexity to parents, and a thankless gift to the world. State Prisons, Lunatic Asylums, and Houses of Correction, are to-day filled with subjects, many of whom are there because of neglect of early training. Thousands of fathers and mothers are weeping over the shame and disgrace of their fallen sons. Broken hearts, broken fortunes, and gloomy prospects for the world to come, are things that meet us at every turn. The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain, and a large share of it is owing to the lack of parental duty to children.

We deliberately express the opinion that this is the most fruitful source of evil to the world, politically, socially, and religiously, that exists. Think of it. This is the fountain from which proceeds almost everything in our world that is good or evil. If a panacea is to be given to quiet disturbances in families, in schools, in churches, to cure all manner of moral disease among the people, to honor God, to give present peace and comfort, and future eternal life to men, let it be administered for this one object, namely, to cure the present defects of family government. Nerves of sensation and influence go out from this point to every department of human interest.

A healthy tone in any given family reflects its own likeness on community, and the aggregate of family influence is what has governed the world in all time, and governs it still. If an intelligent foreigner, ignorant of this country, were informed of the great amount of crime committed here, and the state of morality and religion generally, he would be able, from this, to give a correct account of the state of family government in the country. If another stranger were informed of the state of family government here, he would at once be aware that crimes of every grade would be many.

Let no one think that the writer, by these remarks, is casting reflections upon any class of persons. God forbid. If there are any who have my sympathies, prayers, and pity, it is those parents who, in this time of evil influences, have little children they wish to train up for God and Heaven. They feel at times that their path is beset with impossibilities. The work is found to be great and arduous, requiring the most intense application of all their faculties. Patience, watchfulness, energy, and perseverance, mingled with mildness and affection, must each take a firm stand and work together.

This work should begin at an earlier period than many think it should. With the commencement of our being, we begin to form habits, and at the age of a few months the power of example has made its impress upon the mind, as seen in attempts to imitate.

At this stage the child’s education has begun, and the parents may rest assured that the character of the influences that surround it henceforward will be an exact prototype of the character developed.

This being so, the duty of parents is simple and plain. It is to control the surroundings of their children as far as in their power. At this tender age, the parents should look upon the child as the sculptor looks upon the rough block of marble from the quarry. Much labor and skill are required to bring out its valuable qualities.

Skill and labor, properly directed, to form the character of children is the most profitable investment that can be made. What sight is more pleasant than that of a family of dutiful children? See them drinking in pleasure in their unselfish, courteous behavior to each other. Their parent’s wish is their accepted law.

Such a state of things in any family is the fruit of well directed, persevering, parental labor. Such children are in a good way to be converted and saved in the kingdom of God. Let those who have the care of children strive to realize their great responsibility and do their duty.

ALBERT STONE.