Cultivation Of Children

CULTIVATION OF CHILDREN

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Rev. T. W. Young Speaks of the Little Ones

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THE ANNUAL ADDRESS

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Given at the Sunday School Township Convention Held at Chelsea Friday

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At the annual township Sunday school convention held at the Baptist church at Chelsea Friday evening, Rev, T. W. Young delivered the address. His subject was, "Seeking the Salvation of Children." He said in part:

" 'Let us live for our children' is the motto carved upon the tomb of Froebel, who laid the foundations and led the way in modern child-culture. The investment made in the children returns to us in the manhood and womanhood of tomorrow. An old woman crossing a London park was seen to pick up something, conceal it in her apron and hurry on. The policeman, supposing she had found some valuable package, overtook her and demanded to know what it was. She showed him pieces of broken glass, and said she just thought she would take them out of the way of the children's feet. There are things upon our streets that hurt the children worse than pieces of broken glass. Drunkennness, profanity, cigarette-smoking, bill-boards plastered with foul and obscene pictures - there seen and heard by the children impress the tender natures and too frequently give direction to their mental and moral natures. It does not pay to spend much time working to change those whose habits, ideas and prejudices are fixed. Let all reforming agencies leave there, and turn to the faithful cultivation of the field of childhood.

"Childhood is more and more receiving its just recognition. This is seen in the many institutes and conventions to consider child-improvement; in the growth and popularity of kindergartens; in the demand for competent teachers for children; in the merciful legislation limiting and restricting child-labor in factories; in the demand and supply of papers, magazines and books for children; in the appearance in modern fiction of children adequately represented. The pastmaster in opening up to the world this interesting mine was Charles Dickens. His dramatic portrayals of men and women in their bitter struggles is far surpassed by his picturesque delineations of childhood. It is Paul Dombey, Little Nell and Little Dorrit, above all his characters that makes his name familiar in the homes of England and America. His championship of the children gives him greatness in the ranks of genius. But he who first taught the world the meaning and value of childhood was Jesus, the Christ. He first gave the children their just recognition, and taking the cue from him every pure-minded man or woman now loves the child and rejoices in its sweet innocency. 

"A sweet bossom of humanity
Fresh fallen from God's own home,
To flower on the earth."

The rest of the program was made for the afternoon session as follows: Music; devotions, Rev. C. S. Jones; "Growing a Crop of Teachers," A. L. Turner; "Sunday School Library Methods," Miss Mabel Bacon; Solo, Mrs. Mary Depew; "The Home Department," H. O. Severance; A Synopsis of the Lessons of the Third and Fourth Quarters, 1902, Miss Nellie Hall; Music; Teacher's Meetings, E. E. Calkins; "What is the Sunday School worth to the Church," Rev. F. A. Stiles; Music; Primary Work. Miss Catherine Wurster; "A Successful Business Men's Class," E. G. Hoag."

The program for the evening consisted of: Music; Scripture reading, Rev. A. Schoen; prayer, Dr. E. Caster; solo, Mrs. F. S. Welch; address, "Seeking the Salvation of the Children," Dr. T. W. Young; solo. Floyd Ward; offering; music; benediction, Rev. C. S. Jones.