Our College
391
Parents do not always move wisely. Many are very exacting in
wishing to bring others to their ideas, and become impatient and
overbearing if they cannot do this; but when their own children are
required to observe rules and regulations at school, and these children
fret under the necessary restraint, too often their parents, who profess
to love and fear God, join with the children instead of reproving them
and correcting their faults. This often proves the turning point in the
character of their children. Rules and order are broken down, and
discipline is trampled underfoot. The children despise restraint and are
allowed to speak disparagingly of the institutions at Battle Creek. If
parents would only reflect, they would see the evil result of the course
they are pursuing. It would indeed be a most wonderful thing if, in a
school of four hundred students, managed by men and women subject
to the frailties of humanity, every move should be so perfect, so exact,
as to challenge criticism.
[429]
If parents would place themselves in the position of the teachers
and see how difficult it must necessarily be to manage and discipline a
school of hundreds of students of every grade and class of minds, they
might upon reflection see things differently. They should consider that
some children have never been disciplined at home. Having always
been indulged and never trained to obedience, it would be greatly
for their advantage to be removed from their injudicious parents and
placed under as severe regulations and drilling as soldiers in an army.
Unless something shall be done for these children who have been so
sadly neglected by unfaithful parents, they will never be accepted of
Jesus; unless some power of control shall be brought to bear upon
them, they will be worthless in this life and will have no part in the
future life.
In heaven there is perfect order, perfect obedience, perfect peace
and harmony. Those who have had no respect for order or discipline
in this life would have no respect for the order which is observed in
heaven. They can never be admitted into heaven, for all worthy of an
entrance there will love order and respect discipline. The characters
formed in this life will determine the future destiny. When Christ shall
come, He will not change the character of any individual. Precious,
probationary time is given to be improved in washing our robes of
character and making them white in the blood of the Lamb. To remove
the stains of sin requires the work of a lifetime. Every day renewed