The Historical Development of the Book of Church Order

Chapter 63 : Christian Life in the Home

Paragraph 4 : Instruction of Children

63-4. Parents should instruct their children in the Word of God, and in the principles of our holy religion. The reading of devotional literature should be encouraged and every proper opportunity should be embraced for religious instruction.

[DIGEST: The current text dates to _____, with the removal of "and servants". Apart from that, it remains unchanged from that of PCA 1973, and dates to the PCUS revision of 1929.]

BACKGROUND & COMPARISON:
PCA 1975, Adopted text, DfW 17-4 [M3GA, 3-89, p. 99; cf. M1GA (1973), Appendix, p. 161]
Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text,

PCUS 1929, XVII-4 [§ 383]
Parents should instruct their children and servants in the Word of God, and in the principles of our holy religion. The reading of devotional literature should be encouraged and every proper opportunity should be embraced for religious instruction.

PCUS 1925, XIV-4 [§ 377]
and
PCUS 1894, XVI-4
The head of the family, who is to lead in this service, ought to be careful that all the members of his household duly attend; and that none withdraw themselves unnecessarily from
any part of family worship; and that all refrain from their common business while the Scriptures are read, and gravely attend to the same, no less than when prayer or praise is offered.

PCUSA 1789, XV-4
The head of the family, who is to lead in this service, ought to be careful that all the members of his household duly attend ; and that none withdraw themselves unnecessarily from any part of family worship ; and that all refrain from their common business while the Scriptures are read, and gravely attend to the same, no less than when prayer or praise is offered up.