a large group of persons in social games.
I know the responsibilities of a person
who is president of a Parent-Teacher Asso-
ciation and other small organizations.
In shadowy times of my life I have more
than once reclined upon that long, hard
table and heard a hushed voice at my head
saying, ‘Now, take a good deep breath.”
I know what it 1s to awaken in a room
filled with flowers sent by friends who
represent the different periods of my life.
In every troubled hour there were always
faithful friends who gave me courage to go
on with the song:
“For, we know, not every morrow
Can be sad;
So, forgetting all the sorrow
We have had,
Let us fold away our fears,
And put by our foolish tears,
And through all the coming years
Just be glad.”
Above any other thing I have known and
still know is faith in an all-kind, all-wise
God who answers prayer, and who more
than makes up to those who trust Him for
anything that they have missed.
Landmarks of a Nation
(Continued from page 13)
Though he may lead men to ignore its
teachings and repudiate its principles, and
thus imperil their own souls, the Bible will
stand as the supreme word of God as long
as the earth remains.
The church and religious institutions
everywhere need the devotion and protec-
tion of loyal citizens now as never before in
the history of the nation. Here was the
bulwark of the fathers of our country. They
believed in God and in prayer, and con-
sidered their religious duties of prime 1m-
portance. They considered the Bible as the
foundation of faith, the source of wisdom,
and the charter of liberty. Those first rude
churches built in America by the Pilgrim
Fathers even before they erected homes for
themselves, were literally landmarks in a
new and dangerous land. Some of the old
churches which were built in the early days
by the devoted pioneers are still standing,
notably the Old North Church, built in
1723, on whose spire were hung the lanterns
of Paul Revere.
It is true that our nation still has its
churches, rich and fashionable ones as well
as these less pretentious, but they have
somehow lost the vital compelling force
that once led men and women to their
doors. Modern science and teaching
obscures and destroys the earnest, sincere
faith of the Christian in a loving heavenly
Father, and thereby the church has lost
much of its power.
Truly the safety and well-being of our
nation lies in heeding the command given
to Israel so long ago, ‘Remove not the
ancient landmark, which thy fathers have
set.” These are the only stabilizing influ-
ences in our changing and superficial
civilization today, and they must not be
removed.
OCTOBER, 1942
SOCIAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED
By Arthur W. Spalding
Guarding the Home Front
The rat-a-tat-tat of machine guns and the
cries of combatants in mortal strife echo
around our house from morn to eve, broken
only by dinner and lunch and the occasvonal
diversions I am able to make by inventing
errands. It's the boys, my boys and the neigh-
bors’ boys, fighting the ghostly battles of their
counlry, wn far Chungking, or where the
saboteurs meet the beach, or just anywhere,
thank you! It may be all right because we are
wm war; but tt makes me wonder just where
these precious youngsters are going to land
before they reach the army age.
Precious is right, with no ironic touch,
mother. These boys and their sisters are
what we are fighting for; and if the home
front is lost, no victories overseas or on the
seas are going to save America, democracy,
or liberty. It’s no wonder, of course, that
boys today have their minds filled with
battle. They hear it over the radio, they
see it in the newspapers, especially in the
funnies, and they live in an atmosphere of
feverish activity that has to do with killing.
And do you think that makes them want
to feed the lambs in the green pastures, or
to comb little sister’s hair? The most
horrible part of war is the destruction of
child character. It is like a canker that eats
the tender buds before they half unfold.
We in America don’t yet know what war 1s.
Pray God our eyes shall never see what war
can do to childhood under bursting skies
and in dens and holes of the earth! But
we parents and teachers have got to do
something more and something else than
put our fingers in our ears and humorously
lament the trend of boyish play.
Juvenile delinquency has increased by
leaps and bounds since we entered the war.
That is the testimony of J. Edgar Hoover,
head of the FBI, and of other law enforce-
ment agents. Crime, both juvenile and
adolescent, is terribly worse in the war-
scarred lands. For the most part it 1s a
subject buried under the agonizing pressure
of the war effort, but occasionally it comes
to the surface. And it is what we In
America are headed for.
The all-too-common practice of Ameri-
can parents of turning the children loose to
flock around the movies, the funnies, and
the radio, and then to dramatize the crimes
they see and hear, is nicely calculated to
send them to hell. This policy and practice
are not new; they were in operation long
before the war struck us. I unqualifiedly
condemn the misnamed funnies and the
movies and the great bulk of radio broad-
casts for children. Let their sponsors and
apologists hurl the charge of Puritanism
and bigotry. I answer that they are damn-
ing the children of America, and parents
are their accessories and abettors. If there
are any of you who believe me and want to
know what to do, I will tell you. It may be
too stiff a dose; but unless it works, the
patients will die.
First, get out into the country. You
ought to have done this years ago, before
your children were born; but it may work
yet. Put them to work,—inspiring, produc-
tive work,—in gardens, in grounds, In con-
struction. Work with them. Make it play.
Make it pay; for reward is due to honest
effort. Learn to understand and love
God’s handiwork, and interpret its mighty
lessons to your children. |
Second, fill their minds with stories.
Don’t say you can’t; you must. The devil’s
machine-gun nests of movie and funny and
radio are barking death. The best defense
is a vigorous offensive. Pre-empt the
ground; “git thar fustest with the mostest
men.” Stories are everywhere. The Bible
is filled with them. History books are full
of both good and bad; select the good.
There are plenty of books filled with pre-
pared stories from history and current
human experience. Don’t throw the books
at your children. Digest them and tell the
stories, or at least read with your children.
The realm of nature provides innumerable
stories with the deepest lessons. Take away
the atmosphere of fear and terror. Teach
courage and faith and trust in God.
Third, make music. Don’t be carried
away with the craze of war songs emanating
from “Tin Pan Alley.” Sing patriotic
songs, yes, like “America the Beautiful,”
“My Country, "Tis of Thee,” or “God Save
the King” if you are over the border. And
happy children’s songs of light and joy and
praise and thanksgiving,—sing them. Make
the home atmosphere one of song.
Fourth, build up your children’s health.
Serve good food, well selected and properly
prepared. Prepare a balanced diet,—plenty
of it,—with no extra sweets and no munch-
ing between meals. Exercise,—plenty of it
in work and play! Water inside and out in
abundance! Rest, and, since the times call
for it, more rest! Give them nine to twelve
hours’ sleep, according to age, and see to it
that their rest is not invaded and broken by
dreams of horrors induced by their daytime
experience. Burn the funny papers, boy-
cott the movie theater, censor your radio.
But all this will be futile and indeed 1m-
possible unless you give chief attention to
the constructive side of this program, fur-
nishing much more good in place of the
evil you would remove. Keep your own
nerves healthy and steady, and maintain a
cheerful atmosphere about the children.
Page SEVENTEEN