Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 293, 9 April 1941, Page 7

Thoughtful Moments

Ie Ministers' Association)

(Supplied by Hie Wliakattu

THE HOLY PAST "I saw again the holy past, happy days Avhen I Avas young." My hostess led me into a cosy bed- : room, and as she turned to go, smilingly pointed to a placard on the wall— "Forget thy self and all the Avorld. Put out each glaring light, The stars are Avatching oA r er head;, Sleep SAveetly, then, Good-night." In the bookcase beside the bed 1 for something to suit my mood. I found it in an old volume by F. B. Meyer. The inscription interested me A Gift to Help Us and Others. From J. to E. Christmas, 1896. ~l jtf. In the first chapter that great .pin. gave a glimpse into the days of his happy' childhood, particularly mentioning the influence of Sunday, a*., it AA T as observed in his home. To those of us Avho strive to send Kttt from our homes strong men and Tvomen, F, B. Meyer's tribute to his early days is of special interest. ' "As I look back on my boyhood, the days that stand out as the redletter days are the Sundays. Not the birthdays, or the public holidays: not Christmas or Easter —but the Sundays. It surely Avas a great art., though largely unconscious in its exercise, that enabled my parents to make, so lovely that day Avhich to myriads of children has been the dullest of the AA T eek .... "We miss the tenderest benediction of the rest day unless Ave Avithdraw from our usual business, lay aside ordinary engagements, and call it hol3 r of the Lord, and honourable. It is all-important that Ave should make as much a.s possible of

- the rest that God intended one da] f-in seven to bring . . . Man need; pause . . . The rest day soothes the nerves, calms an< quiets the rhythm of the heart ant slows down the speed. That is whei it is spent aright. But a great dea depends on that. To 101 lin be< ... to ignore the nobler spiri . Within us, and to distinguish tin day only by more sumptious food more fashionable dress, and mor< inane conversation, is surely as fool ish as it is wrong. "Very different was the Sunda: of my boyhood. The breakfast hou Ivas 8 a.m. ' No one was ever late if and there was no hurry or bustle The clean linen on the table; th< bread and butter that seemed sweet er than on the other days; the text said round the table after the eldes child had said grace—in all thesi xespects the day seemed to begii right. And the talk of the meal wa always rather different, as thougl ordinary subjects were by commoi consent tabooed; and yet there wa) seldom what might be termed di rectly religious conversation, de manding an un-natural silene<

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

among the children. These particu-

lars are referred to because it is so desirable that as far as possible there should be a distinction between the ordinary week day and the day of rest. It should stand as a mountain, rearing itself amid the country out of which it springs. "All day the distinction was maintained. in our home. The dinner, the joy of which Avas that the father AA r as there and the family circle complete; the early tea, Avith its hour of singing lirst, apd it's repetition of hymns; the light supper after Church, to share in Avhich ay as the coA r eted mark of growing up. It AA-as Sunday, aud there Avas a freshness and a iitness in everything Joeing different from the ordinary ''week day." Then the article goes on to speak of the mother gathering the little ones round her, Avhilc she read to them from "The Peep of Day" and "Line Upon Line," those Avell knoAvn books of childhood. It struck me as remarkable that F. B. Meyer's mother read those books to him. They are, I think, still in print, procurable at 'The Boolcroom. Christchurch. Grateful reference is made to Church Services.. "It Avould be impossible to exaggerate the. effect on my young heart of that crowded chapel, that resonant voice, tlioso prayers, and hymns and sermons." 1 Another striking passage says: "It is of the utmost importance, in selecting your residence to be Avithiu reach of a Minister that your children can respect and understand. I owe everything in my life to those experiences. "If parents avoulcl only exert themselves on their children's behalf, making the children's interests their first concern, there would be feAver gaps in the family circle, and feAver prodigals and heartbreaks than there are." With thoughts of this article in my mind, [ picked up a neAvspaper which had come by post that day. Turning to the children's page, I read some of the letters sent in by thf> little folk. One Avrote : "Last Sunday Ave Avent to Timaru for the day. It Avas a long journey, and terribly tiresome. I thought Ave Avould never get there. The Marine Parade Avas beautiful, but the beach was nothing but muddy sand, covered in tussocky grass. It seemed to be good ground for golf, for a number of people were playing. We played games on the laAvns round the Bay. We left Timaru about five, arriving home at 10 p-m.** Another little girl Avrote similarly about a Sunday spent at Brighton : "We went for a paddle in a canoe doAvn the river, Ave frolicked in the sand. After having a milk shake and some lollies, Ave caught the 5 o'clock bus home." What different backgrounds! And one would be safe in saying what different results !