RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Evening Star, Issue 21820, 8 September 1934, Page 23

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

[By Forward.] OTAGO METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. The quarter!}' meeting of the Methodist Sunday School Union was held at Cavorsham, tho president (Rev. H. E. Bcllhouse, occuping the chair. After a short devotional period, routine business was transacted. The results of the annual Sunday school examination were presented by Mr W. Ashby, and a report on the papers was given by the examiner, the Rev. H. E, Bellhouse. The school visitors, Miss Hcthprmgton and Mr J. Grainger, gave a brief Uut encouraging account of their work during the past quarter, and in order that more schools could he visited. Miss G. If. Kane was appointed to assist them. Tho president, addressing the meeting from the chair, took lor his subject, " The Supreme Qualifications tor ’reaching.’ lie stressed the necessity for the teacher’s “ aptitude lor teaching, and “ a knowledge of child psychology,” but above all, nothing could be attained without devotion to Jesus Christ. At the conclusion of this inspiring and helpful message. Mr A. H. Reed proposed a vote of thanks to the Caversham staff for their hospitality, and the meeting was brought to a close, in tho usual manner. MAPS FOR TEACHERS. We have received two maps prepared by Mr A. W. Reed, which will prove of great use to all Sunday school teachers and Bible class leaders. One is a detailed map of Palestine in the time of Christ, a unique feature being the information which is marked beside the place where certain events occurred, together with sketches such as the Temple of Herod, views of towns, etc. The journeys of Jesus are also indicated, and the chief events of His ministry noted. The companion map is one of the journeys of. St. Paul, and includes also the journeys of the Israelites. This map will be particularly useful in a study of the Acts, for it shows not only the places, but the events which happened there, the letters written by St. Paul from these places, with etchings of various buildings of interest in the towns, and of tho kinds of boats which sailed the Mediterranean Sea iu those days, and in which Paul himself travelled with his companions. Both these maps contain a great deal of useful information and will repay careful study. They will make a living reality of the deeds recorded in the Gospels and in Acts of the Apostles. The maps are obtainable from Mr A. H. Reed, the publisher, from whom this copy comes. “ HERE’S AN IDEA!” Attendance was lagging and interest waning among the intermediates of a Sunday school. Seeking earnestly for the cause their superintendent found that while the regular Sunday school lessons were interesting and helpful, these young people had urgent personal problems which were not being adequately solved in the classroom. She felt that an open forum might bo a solution of the difficulty; but when the closing period was turned over to the pupils for this purpose they sat mute and embarrassed. Since this superintendent is a sympathetic and understanding person she realised that the questions were there, just aching for utterance, but that the boys and girls were shy about expressing themselves in public. She therefore placed a box on her desk, explaining that she was willing and anxious to help thorn settle their doubts and perplexities, and that all who cared to might write the questions that were bothering them and place them in the box; then she would do her very best to answer them fully and honestly on the following Sunday. The results were amazing. So many questions were submitted, and they showed such thought and insight, that tho superintendent was overwhelmed. Slie asked the minister for assistance, and the two of them arranged the questions iu as logical a sequence as possible, and made copies ot them. The next Sunday the first section was distributed.

The boys and girls took these questions home with them and tried to find the answers for themselves, but were assured that on the following Sunday they would be given help. The next Sunday found many new faces in the department, and many that bad long been missing. During the closing period a soul-satisfying discussion was bold. At tbc close of tbc meeting a new set of questions was distributed with the promise of help with them for the next week. And so for many weeks tho quest continued. Since this new type of dosing period has been in effect the attendance has shown a healthful increase; and the whole atmosphere has been changed from listless indifference to eager attention.

OTAGO METHODIST YOUNG WOMEN’S BIBLE CLASS UNION.

WEEK-END CELEBRATIONS. During the week-end of August 18 and 19 the Methodist Bible class girls assembled for the district members’ week-end celebrations. Bible class girls from Oamaru, Milton, Kaitangata, and Lawrence joined with those ot the city and suburbs, and with representatives of other denominations shared with us in one time of fellowship, and thanksgiving. On Saturday night a jolly lime was spent together. About one hundred and fifty girls attended the banquet held in Lake’s restaurant, and with the Rev. C. H. Olds as chairman, a happy social evening was spent. Speeches were of a very high standard, and items and ditties interspersed made a night of joyous fellowship. On Sunday afternoon the thanksgiving service was held in the Trinity Church. This was a time of real inspiration. At this service the Bible classes handed in their monetary gifts as a real thanksgiving to further the work of the Bible class movement. Our hearts were gladdened as we saw Trinity Church packed to its fullest capacity; youth in all its enthusiasm and keenness was represented there. After the call to worship, taken by the president, one _of our junior members gave the Scripture reading, and together we all joined On a responsive prayer. Fittingly did this lead up to the words that challenged us to rededication, when Miss Lynn, secretary of the Y.W.0.A., took us in thought to the vision that we must wait for. At the conclusion of an inspiring address (a resume of which will appear in a later issue) our gifts were dedicated on Cod’s altar, and as we joined in the true significance of the litany of thanksgiving, our hearts _ were strangely stirred, and expression ol our deep emotion found voice as we sang ‘Rise Up, O Youth of Cod.’ Sucli was the spirit of fellowship on such a memorable thanksgiving day. A happy tea together, followed by

an outstanding yout’n service, taken by Rev. C. -H. Olds in Trinity Church in the evening, left us inspired to more devoted - loyalty' and service through our Riblo class life and church'.