RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Evening Star, Issue 20582, 6 September 1930, Page 24

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

[By Forward.] “ To educate a child in any particular is really to educate two people, the child himself and the man he y. ill grow up to be. This is especially lino in religious education, for it is concerned with both principles and practice of right conduct, and childhood is the best time to learn the habits of sound thought and right action. The Sabbath school, therefore, is at the very root of the religious life, with all its benefits to the individual and to the nation, and for those reasons 1 cordially commend all efforts to enlarge its field of usefulness.”—President Hoover. PERSONAL, Rev. Bernard R. Haines, travelling secretary of the Methodist Young Men's Bible Class Movement, has just completed his visit to Otago. During the past three weeks he has visited most of the city classes, and has made a complete tour of the country churches in the district. During the week-end August 23-24 a leaders’ retreat was held at Wesley Cottage, Purnkanui. Twelve , representatives were present from six of the city churches, and under the leadership of Revs. Haines and Penn three interesting dismissions on tho studies ‘ Jesus in Experience ’ took place. TORONTO CONVENTION (continued). The International Convention of Religious Education opened in Toronto on tho evening of June 23, and continued until Sunday evening, June 29. In general tho schedule was as follows:—9 a .m. to 12, conference and study groups; 2-4.30 p.m., general sessions; 7.45-9.30 p.m.. general sessions. Tho convention programme was built around four major questions : (1) What are tho objectives of religious education? (2) What is the present programme of religious education? f 3) What are the needs which arc not being met by the present programme? (4) What should ■ bo tho majqr emphases in religious education during the next quadrennium? On tho first two days, Alonday and Tuesday, tho objectives were dealt with. On the following ■ days tho general sessions dealt witli tho present programme and the needs unmet by it. The morning study groups dealt more informally and intimately with those same questions in the various age group urogrnmmes and areas of work. The convention wuis opened on Monday evening by Mr Russell Colgate, president, and tho opening address was given by Dr Hugh S. Magill, general secretary of tho International R.E., on the theme, * Facing Together the Supremo Task.’ In the course of his address Dr Magill said. ‘ The church must meet the increasing demand made upon it to provide moral and religious education to childhood and youth. Leaders in public ’ education are emphasising tho importance of character education, and are looking to the church to co-operate in order that satisfactory results may be obtained. The different denominations working separately cannot effectively meet this imperative need. There must bo tho impact of united effort. . . . We would not minimise the importance of the preaching ministry of the church, but we would magnify the supreme importance of its teaching ministry. ■ . . Wo believe that in the years that Ho ahead tho religious education of adults and their active participation in the teaching work of tho church should "iicl will receive ever-increasing emphasis.” On Tuesday afternoon the important question, ‘ What makes religious education Christian?’ was ably discussed by Dr Luther A. Weigle, Dean of Yale Divinity School. In answer to the question ho said that religious tducation is made Christian when it shares in the method of Jesus Christ, whose method was to give Himself unstintedly to fellowship with His pupils; when it shares tho ethical values of Jesus Christ, and accepts and practises tho principle of love, applying the principles of Jesus, not only to individual lives, but also to the whole body of human social relationships; when it shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and urges better evangelism through better religious education; and when it leads to the commitment of the pupil's life to Jesus Christ in faith, and to loyal “iilistment in His service. Dr George A. Coe addressed the convention on the subject, ‘ Building a Christian Social Order Through Religious Education,’ stressing tho importance of Christian education in tho whole social order. Dr Soares, of Chicago, discussed 1 Race Experience in RE.’ ‘ A Review of the Quadrcnnium,’ by Mr Paul Veith, and an address, 4 Leadership—the Basic Need,’ by Dr Ernest Tittle, were given on Wednesday morning, fit the afternoon Dr Bovard spoke on 4 The Churches in Co-operation.’ [jointing out lines along which tho churches could co-operate, sut'Ji as leadership and teacher training, supplemental schools such as vacation and week-day schools, curricula, and research. On Wednesday the unmet needs wore discussed, addresses being given on ‘ The Religious Education of tho Negro,’ by Mr James W Kichelberger, 1 The Church ami the Children.’ by Miss Mary Alice Jones, and. 4 A New Day in Adult Religious Education,’ by Dr Norman Rielgirdson. Miss Jones pointed out that it was at the last International Convention, held in Toronto twentyfive years ago, that the idea of graded lessons had been introduced. That idea had proved not the solution of all problems, but the opening up of other problems, and a great impetus had been given to the training of leaders and teachers, provision of suitable buildings and equipment, and graded worship. In order to bring this up to present requirements emphasis would need to bo placed not on what tho children could repeat, but on how far they hud come within a given period from where they were in their ability to live the Christian life. More activity on the part of tho pupil, a programme of learning rather than of listening, and perhaps changes in building and curricula were necessary. World reports and needs were dealt with at the evening session. Each evening a devotional address was given. On Friday the theme of the day was 1 Every Church a School in Christian Living,’ and addresses were given on ‘ Developing the Educational Consciousness of the Church,’ by Dr Beaven, and ‘ Expanding the Church School Programme,’ by Dr W. C. Bower. In tho evening session Dr W. C. Poole spoke on ‘Christ and the Children,’ and in his climax, 11 Go—teach,’' ho presented to every delegate a challenge to service that shall not soon bo forgotten. On Saturday the afternoon session was shortened to allow for the ceremony of unveiling the statue to Robert Raikes. Religious education from the point of view of the business man and religious education and citizenship were discussed. A most interesting part of tho convention was the ceremony in Queen’s Park, when tho statue to Robert Raikes, an exact replica of the

original erected in 1880 in Victoria Gardens, London, was nnvei led. A children’s choir added to the, significance of the occasion. Dr Robert M. Hopkins, in the dedicatory address, pictured vividly the growth of the Sunday school movement since that time, 150 years ago, when Robert Raikes organised bis first Sunday school. A parallel conference was being held in Toronto during the convention days, when leaders of youth met in the Christian Youth Council and Christian Youtn Conference, tho theme of their gatherings being ‘ Adventures in the Christian Quest.’ On Friday and Saturday this conference met to discuss vital matters concerning youth work, combining with the big convention on Saturday evening, when ‘ Youth and Religious Education’ was the subject of thought. The Sunday morning service was a devotional hour. In the afternoon an address was given entitled ‘ Forward Together,’ and the convention closed with a service ol worship and consecration in the evening. Workers interested in tho convention will await with eagerness_ tho September issue of the International Journal of 11. E., which will give further reports.