their children, as they, in their turn, should delight to serve their parents. 

 Strength is the outcome of mutual service: whereas weakness is associated 

 with selfish (miscalled) independence. The old fable of the bundle of sticks 

 holds good to-day. If many sticks are firmly bound into one bundle, the 

 faggot cannot be broken: leave each stick separate, and a child can break 

 them across his knee. If we turn to the history of mankind we learn that 

 family life is the outcome of this experience the strength of combination, 

 the weakness of isolation. Duty calls us to serve our King and our country, 

 and to combine for our mutual advantage with our fellow-men. An added 

 motive for home service is found in love; which love finds pleasure in mutual 

 helpfulness i.e., in service. 



THE FUNCTIONS OF FAMILY LIFE. 



Just because there is this feeling of irritation among some young folk 

 against what they call the restrictions of home life, just because of the 

 importance to the Empire of preserving family life strong and pure, it is 

 helpful to recall what are its objects why family circles have existed so 

 many thousands of years. 



Family life fulfils four main functions : 



(1.) It protects children during their years of helplessness and shelters 

 old people when unable to continue self-supporting labour. Its first 

 object, therefore, is PROTECTION. 



Tho Homo of a Backwoodsman in British Columbia. 



(2.) It teaches children how to bear their part in life. From birth 

 onwards it gradually trains them in all kinds of useful habits and 

 teaches them how to benefit by the experience of their elders. The 

 second function of family life, therefore, is EDUCATION. 



(3.) Family life also provides opportunities, by example and precept, 

 for exercise and work suited to the age of each member of a house- 

 hold. Thus, the little one in its play, the older child in its daily 



