Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 186, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1914 — Back to the Bible [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Back to the Bible

Applicative ol the Scriptures to the World Today as Seen hy Eminent Hen in Various Walks ol Lite

(Copyright. 191 L by Joeeph B. Bowles) RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN THE FAMILY. (By RT. REV. JOHN N. McCORMICK. _ D. D„ Bishop of the Protestant EpisL copal Church.) “The Bible steads alone In human literature tn Its elevated conception of manhood as to character and conduct It Is the invaluable training book ot the wp|ld.”— Henry Ward Beecher.

One of the pressing problems of the day is the religions education of the

young. The teaching pttheußlble to not officially permitted in the public schools. Paroch ia 1 day schools and Sunday schools cannot bear the whole burden. There most be religions instruction in the home; for the most formidable menace to the national life is education (so-called) apart from religion. If our children are not

to grow np godless, Ignorant of the uninstructed in the religious history of the race, and deprived of religious sanctions and stimuli in conduct and in character, then fathers and mothers must give time and attention to religious instruction and inspiration. v For thin the Bible speaks most strongly: “And these words which I command thee this -day shall be in thine heart, and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest In thine house and when thou w&lkeßt by the way and when thou llest down and when thou riseth up.” And we are told in the Book of Proverbs, “Traill up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from It” .

Instruction In the law and In the great tradition of the chosen people ■was part and parcel of Jewish home life. At twelve years of age Jesus Christ was able to converse intelligently with the doctors of the law, and he grew up as every child of Bible-loving parent should: “And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. • * * And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and In favor with God and man.” If we want the next generation of American citizens to he God-knowing and God-fearing men and women we must see to it that they learn the Bible stories and catch the Bible spirit at the mother’s knee and from the father’s lips and life. Happy Is the young man who can say, "For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words; keep my commandments and live.”