SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 19197, 13 March 1926, Page 24

SUNDAY SCHOOL NOTES

[By Forward.]

Items of interest—short, bright of news, comments on thesti hu|ui % difficulties —will be welcomed by rorwani. They’re here! , Just for a single hour theywc here One single hour of all the busy week; Their hearts attune to noble thoughts and aims, May minds ho eager, ( living truth to seek. They’re here! The children of to-day; the leafless men And gracious women of the years to be. , . , O Master Teacher, make me wise to use „ . This one brief hour, my Oppot lutt ity !

The registrar (All - A. If., flood, <l.l Jetty street) reports that registrations for 'the big conference continue to steadily arrive Irom all parts ol the dominion, quite a tew having been received from as far north as Auckland. The committee has under preparation an illustrated souvenir note hook ami syllabus, which, it is hoped, will bo available for sale next week. _ On outside cover is a beaiitilnl photo, of the Exhibition dome by night. Inside cover is devoted to general information, such as times of meals, etc., and hints to members. On the first page is the list of executive officers, followed on the next page by photos of Knox Church and Sunday school, the conference headquarters. Both these photos have been specially taken for tho purpose. The booklet contains the amended syllabus, followed by a number of blank pages for notes and autographs, and a recent photo, of Dunedin taken from Signal Hill, depicting the Exhibition in the foreground. On the inside of tho back cover is a plan nt the Exhibition lay-out, with a red line pointing the way to the Court of Religious Education. The whole production, which will bo sold for the modest price of (kl, should, when filled with notes and autographs, make a most interesting souvenir of the happy and profitable time which the committee hopes will bo enjoyed by all members at Easter. EXHIBITION JOTTINGS. Tho cradle roll sendee is usually, held either in the beginners’ or primary department. Those most interested in the study of tho relationship of the young child to church and church school are. being led to acquaint the whole church of its responsibility by placing tho cradle roll periodically in each department and class as well as in the vestibule of the church.

Attention is drawn by pulpit reference or by conducting the service when the groups are in session. The Presbyterians this week show the programme of such a service held in the church in the afternoon with the minister presiding, the congregation consisting of parents of the C.li. children, personally invited by the C.ll. superintendent, visitors, and the beginners and primary children with their teachers and leaders. In the department the church is indicated by a poster showing families entering a church demand the text “Enter His gates with praise and thanksgiving.” The younger portion, keenly interested,in the babies, add their praise to the service. Four were baptised, others were enrolled. The O.E. superintendent told of the passing away of one of the children, and placed a gold star beside the child’s name on the roll. The attendance of fathers and mothers must have rewarded the guardian of the roll for the time and energy well spent. The careful preparation for the missionary lesson to beginners is seen in a study -of the programme followed by the Methodist leader. It must bo remembered that the young child is unable to concentrate for any length of time, therefore eye, ear, hands, feet, voice must all be employed. The aim of the lesson is “to know the Japanese children,” The opening service includes marching in. placing love gifts on floor, leader’s welcome, ‘ Good Afternoon ’ song, one verse of ‘ All Things Bright and Beautiful,’ and a short prayer of thanks led by the leader. Anticipation is on tip-100 at suggestion or birthdav greetings. The child who has had a birthday since last Sunday puts the hands of the birthday clock to the number of years and the month. 1 Happy Birthday ’ is sung, followed by a short prayer. The Circle Talk is directed from our home to the picture of a Japanese mother and child in the home. A Japanese doll, flowers, sunshade, cup and saucer supplement the picture. ‘ Little Brown Sister ’ is the offering hymn; the children march, and the love gifts are dedicated. Quiet music produces the story atmosphere for ‘A Flower in Japan,’ adapted to the young child. (The children sit on the carpet, Japanese fashion, to hear the story.) Soon papers are covered with attempts at expression. ‘ I Want to Send a Whisper Song ’ is sung, and the prayer 'Dear, Loving Jesus’ (C.S. 2, 375) closes the hour.

The centra! thought in the primary lesson (Congregational), ‘ Moses, Prince and Shepherd ’ is “Certainly I will be with thee” in poster and expression. In the intermediate department the social life of the girl in the church is added to that of tho home and community. “ Through tho social life of tile church the girl develops her mind by creative activities, discussions, and studies and reading; her body by physical culture and athletics, social times; her spirit by the fellowship of the church, service for the church through care or poor, hospitals, etc., and help for foreign missions.” OTAGO SCHOOL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

It is not possible to publish tho whole of the annual report of tho school, as the major portion deals necessarily with the progress of tho individual students in the courses of instruction they have taken up; but there are certain clauses of general interest, and these are given below;— The staff has noted with great thankfulness an added earnestness and steady development on tho part of all who have approached the task seriously. In many cases the elements of leadership are clearly discernible, and this time next year should witness the first group of probably eight students receiving their diplomas. In addition to following their regular vocations and the work of the school, a large proportion of our students are serving upon various Exhibition committees.

I This Exhibition enterprise has been I closely related to the regular work of the school, and merely to mention the various committees at work should indicate something of its scope. In every ' case an honest effort has been made to ' distribute the work equally between the I seven co-operating churches. I Each group has numerous sub-com-mittees, the major divisions being:— Cradle roll department, beginners’ department, primary department, junior department, intermediate department, junior and senior Bible classes, Otago School of Religious Education, the community institues of religious education, and closely related are the Y.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A., Girls’ Friendly Society,_ and University Student Christian Union. , , We are honeful that out of tins effort will emerge two strong associa-tions-—i.e„ a children’s division association and a young people’s association. : The purposes of these associations would beChildren’s division : To provide for all students in the children s division an added means of inspiration, interest, professional growth, social nleasnre, and to serve the School of Religious Education and the churches in general in the work of the children’s division. Young peopie s division- (1) To units its members in a fine fellowship a.s “lovers of youth,”

and bind them closely and helpfully to the young people's specialists already in the held. (3) To act as a clearinghouse for the discussion of those problems that are of vital interest to all young people’s workers. {?>) To .secure information regarding the latest developments in held and the world-wide aspects of this work. Numbers of our mature studeuts have made significant contributions in connection with the institutes, and generally wo feel that the of the work is safe in their hands. would bespeak for those who are doing so valiantly “ the right hand of fellowship ” from the council and interested friends. Tho absence of men from the classes is still a matter for concern; we cannot do better here than rest,reus the statement made last year. _ Willi more concerted effort on the part of a much larger body of nimstors and leaders much more might have been accomplished, bub the breaking down of prejudice and apathy is an age-long problem, and requires patience! patience 1 patience! To all the encouragers we tender our heartfelt thanks, ami to the Groat King and Head of the Church wo tliankfullv renew our vows and seek in His strength to foot it bravely “On to the peak.”