Boundary Stones

Boundary Stones

Stones, again, are used as boundary marks of countries, towns, and parishes. Have you ever been present at the "beating of the bounds," and were you one of the small boys whose services were in request on that occasion? If so, you will remember it to this present moment. It used to be the custom to bump the small boys of the local charity-school against each and every boundary-stone and post in the parish. Then if any doubt or question should arise in after-years as to the boundaries of the parish, any one of the bumped bound-beaters would be able to bear witness and say, "I speak from experience, and am certain that so-and-so is the boundary."

It is a good old custom to teach children the Catechism: bump them against it again and again. Never mind whether it is interesting or not; bump them so that they may never forget it.

Farmer Jones has a field on his farm which joins Farmer Smith's "twenty acres" on one side. If the one grows peas on his side, and the other grows wheat, they will know the bounds by the cultivation of the ground. It seems to me that the boundaries of theology will be better marked by practical working than by anything else.