p. 18 | Decay of the Home

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 23, 1914

Decay of the Home

The following editorial appeared in the Religious Telescope, Feb. 26, 1913:—

"The home of today is not quite the same thing that it was thirty or even twenty years ago. To make such a suggestion is to run the risk of being labeled 'old-fashioned,' 'behind the times,' of being 'non-progressive,' which accusation, by the way, is supposed to carry with it especial contumely. But all the same, the home as an educator, as a character-forming institution, as a dwelling place, as a refuge against some of the ills of life, the stress, the fume, and the fret, is not held in such high esteem as formerly. One thing that is wanted is a renaissance of the home, of home life, — of all the sweet family and spiritual ties of the human circle; a belief in the potent power of human love and unselfishness as reflecting in some slight and imperfect measure the all-embracing love of God and the great and eternal sacrifice of his Son. From a renaissance of the home and home life might be

derived not a little impetus toward a renaissance of church life. At all events, the decay of the home is fraught with many dangers both to the church and to the state, the sum total of which only the years yet to be can show."

The home is the foundation of our young people's work, and no movement for the salvation of our youth can succeed, only as it succeeds in helping the home to save her children.