SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 18173, 13 January 1923, Page 14

SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES

[By Forward.]

(Items of interest—short, bright paragraphs of news, comments on these Notes, inquiries about difficulties—-will bo welcomed by “Forward.”]

WHAT THE CHURCH CAN DO FUR CHILDREN'S YEAR.

If the Church fails to seize the opportunity presented to it by children’s year, then she has denied the faith, and is worse than an inlaid. But wo arc persuaded of better things, and in this article I hope to show ways by which the best results may be secured. First, we must look to tbo church services. There ought to bo a distinct portion of (ho service for tho children—a hymn, a prayer, and' a short address. The Young Worshippers’ League i.s doing good work, but I do hope the reward element may not bo carried' too far. We must not ever train our children to do good for some reward. St. Andrew's Church, Dunedin, has a certificate on which is a picture of the church and spaces for tho percentage of attendance. This is better, though personally I incline to making tho attraction in the service itself. In some churches —St. John’s, Roslyn, and tho Roslyn Baptist—the children are allowed out about 12 o’clock. They file quietly out whilo tho organ plays. Of course, on special occasions tho children can stay to the end; but tho shorter service makes for better attendance, and thus childish- restlessness is absent during tho adult sermon. There could- be many a special day, such as Mothers’ Day, Children's Day, Workers’ Day, Empire Day, Anzao Day, etc. All these interest the parents and children alike, and create a bond of sympathy. I wish every minister had heard Miss Warner on special days. Li some districts which are away from tho regular church <a special morning service for children might bo started. This has -been done at Russell Street, Dunedin, and there must be many a district calling for such a service. Second comes tho Sunday school. It is tho teaching -arm of tho Church. You cannot do definite systematic teaching in tho morning service. Do you think it possible to give all tho routine leaching that is necessary in a five minutes’ address? We need time and place for definite systematic teaching on religious truths, on the structure of the Bible, and on tho various duties of life. The church service is inspirational, tho school is teaching, but Jet ns beware what wo mean by teaching. It must not consist of dull hearing of lessons and catechisms. Jrot us see how tho teaching arm, the 'Sunday school, and the parent body', the Church, can co-operate. Tho child comes to tho homo fi-csh from God. Next to the home circle tho Church should bo first to welcome the little newcomer. Trailing clouds of glory does it come from God, and surely God’s Church, His family on earth, should eagerly welcome it. Hero comes in tho cradle roll, which I have dealt with in a previous article. Pastor, elders, superintendent of cradle roll, leader of beginners’ •department, superintendent of Sunday school—all these become linked up to the baby. There should ho good literature to give parents on the dawn and development of the religious life of the child.

Oh, I do wish everyone had heard .Miss Warner on this vital theme!

Right at the source the Church should begin to direct the stream of life. The first five years of life are crucial, and the Church has been neglecting these years. ■See the care now being given by societies to the proper nurture of tho child physically. The Church must not neglect these years spiritually. Our big churches could have had day kindergartens where lessons suitable to the dovlopment would 1 be given. The earliest years would thus have centred round God. Tho Church must see to it that tho school is efficient in organisation, equipment, and staffing. I will deal with this again. But there is one thing I must deal with. The parent Church is absolutely responsible for the supply of teachers. How do wo get our teachers at present? Don’t ask me! To go back to the opening of tho school not knowing how many teachers are short, not knowing where to turn for recruits, to see fine classes without teachers —-this is the tragedy of our work. The work of providing teachers is not the superintendent’s. It is the direct work of the Church authorities. Tho school takes, equips, assigns work to tho teachers, but the Church must supply them. It is really time that tho ruling authorities understood that the teaching arm, the Sunday school, must bo manned by them. The neglect and prejudice of the adult is due to (lie failure of the Church in the schools. Two out of three children who enter our schools leave them at tho critical stage of thirteen or fourteen. In another article T will deal with other agencies which tho Church could 1 employ (0 win and to hold its young people. But, in closing, if must emphasise Dio pressing need for trained leadership. » train our ministers to do adult work : work among children is far more difficult, yet it is left to tho untrained, “It is entirely tho fault of tho Church—-not her misfortune, but her fault—that she allows nearly all the children who enter her schools to pass out again without being led to surrender their hearts and Jives to the Saviour.” Tho Church must fare her failure, review her duty, and penitently but resolutely face tho task. Slid must die cither on the Cross of self-surrender to God’s will, and that, will is “that none of these little ones should perish,” or she must die amidst the evidences of her sloth and disobedience. If the Church will, she can make 1923 a real children’s voar.