1 Samuel 3:1

"... the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli.." 1 Samuel 3:1 .

Have children been recognised properly by the Church? Have we not supposed that wisdom, experience, great maturity of character were all necessary for the ministration of the sanctuary? There is a sense, of course, in which that is perfectly true: there is, however, another aspect which ought not to be disregarded by those who would assist in the organisation of a complete and effective Church. Where are the children? Is not the service of God made a weariness to them? Are they not placed in the most awkward and undesirable positions in religious buildings? Is one definite thought given to them, or one special prayer offered for them, or are they called to any form of service in the Church? It is vain to say that children do not understand, for who really can understand all the word of the Lord in its proper range and meaning? Understanding, in any case, is a relative term. We have no right to put too much upon a child, and we have no right to withhold from a child whatever duty it can execute. The child who cannot turn a millstone may pluck a flower. The little one who cannot enter into grammatical controversies may repeat its own sweet verse or hymn, and out of the mouths of babes and sucklings God may ordain praise. Never are children spoken to in a congregation in a loving and intelligent manner without adults being also profited. Whoever can simplify the truth, so as to bring any portion of it within the comprehension of a child does an essential benefit even to men of advanced years. There is no lovelier picture on all the earth than a ministering child whether it minister in things distinctively religious, whether it take its place in the Christian choir, or whether it be called upon to do some deed of love in the family; its very littleness, youthfulness, weakness, entitle it to attention, and constrain the heart so as to affect the whole soul with the purest emotions. Whilst children ought not to be unduly urged forward, they should be lovingly recognised as having some part in the utterance of the music which alone can express the love of God.