Give These Children A Chance
It is approaching that time of the year when the thoughts of most people turn homeward. As a religious festival "Christmas" is a pagan ritual having no significance at all to the true Christian. But as a time of happy memories, home-comings and family reunions, it is one of the brightest seasons of the year. Children with their toys, their wide-eyed delight in shiny playthings, gloves, sweaters, balls, bicycles and dolls — all the sweet and wholesome pleasures of "home" make these days the happiest of all.
With a particularly poignant touch against such a seasonal background comes this letter from Kentucky:
Brother Tant: We have a problem here that I believe you may be able to help us with. About a month ago a lady over at Irvine, Kentucky, obeyed the gospel. She is a very fine woman with five children ranging in age from five to twelve. Although she is doing fine spiritually, she is in a critical condition physically. She has a rare lung disease. One lung is completely gone and the other will not last long. The doctors have told her she can live only a very short while. The father of the children, her husband, is serving a life sentence in the penitentiary. Of course neither she nor the children were in any way involved in the crime for which he is imprisoned. This fine Christian woman is anxious to make arrangements for her children to be reared in some Christian home, or homes, before she is taken from them. If at all possible, she would like to see them kept together; but realizes that this will not likely be possible to arrange. She wants them reared in Christian homes where they can know the loving care of a father and mother rather than in some institution.
Can you help?
Brotherly, Houston Gateley
Box 171 Berea, Kentucky
Is there a reader of these lines who will be willing to take all five of these children, providing the loving care and Christian home, the emotional security, the happy, healthy, and normal upbringing which are soon to be denied them? They have already suffered grievously in the shame and disgrace growing out of their father's crime. Are they now going to have the inevitable grief of the death of a loving mother added to that, only then to be shunted off to some institution where the tender caress of a mother's hand and the protective shelter of a father's arm will never be their lot? Are there not families among our readers who will provide for these children the truly Christian care and love which they ought to have?
If so, write Brother Gateley immediately. Arrange, if possible to go by and talk with him, and investigate the situation. If you were in the desperate plight of this mother, facing a certain and swift approaching death, how much happier you would be to know that your little ones would have the love and care of a Christian father and mother than to know they would be knocked about from pillar to post in the uncertain, impersonal, and often inadequate custody of an institution. No institution on this earth is the equivalent of a Christian home for the rearing of children. The home is God's plan; the benevolent institutions are substitutes that men have devised to take over and do work God designed to be done by homes. Far from showing love for orphaned children, the very existence of these institutions is evidence of a lack of love!
These five children, ranging in age from five to twelve, are all boys. What a lovely family that would make for some husband and wife who are financially able to provide for children, but who have been denied the joy of children of their own! What better "Christmas" gift could one make to hapless children than the gift of a home? This mother loves her children; she wants for them the best that can be provided, naturally. They will always be grateful to her, and cherish her memory in their hearts. She wants to leave them a parting gift, the certainty of a home where love and affection — and above all reverence for God's will — are the ruling influences.
Now, let us see what response this notice brings forth. All you scores of people who have written us during the past few years wanting our help in securing children — did you want those children only to satisfy your own emotional hunger, or is there in your heart also the deep, compassionate regard for the hapless children? Your response to this appeal will testify. We ask that you write Brother Gateley if you are interested. Any letters that come to us will be forwarded to him; but you will reach him quicker by sending direct to Box 171, Berea, Kentucky.