CHILDREN'S CATECHISM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20076, 13 October 1928, Page 15

CHILDREN'S CATECHISM

NEW BOOK FOR THE CHURCH.

NEEDS IN EARLY TEACHING.

IMPORTANT STEP BY SYNOD. A proposal brought forward by Canon Pcrcival James to provide a supplementary catechism for use in the Auckland Uioceso was adopted by the Synod last evening after lengthy discussion. Speakers referred to the measure as one of the most vital that had been placed before the Church for a considerable time and, while it was admitted its adoption would mean the sounding of the deathknell of the present catechism for all practical purposes, it was held the new and simplified book would at last enablo children to understand what they were called upon to believe. Archbishop Averill expressed his complete agreement with the scheme and a special commission will compile the new catechism for his approval. Canon James said one of the greatest questions confronting the Church was that of educating the young, but tho great difficulty among children was the lack of definite knowledge of what tho actual teachings of tho Church were. A great part of the adherents of the Church did not know what they should believe and why they should believo certain things. Simple and Direct Wording.

The catechism formed tho foundation of the Church's teaching of young people, yet to them it was vague and lacked significance. It was to overcome this difficulty that ho had brought forward his suggestions. He proposed that a new catechism should comprise about 150 questions arid answers, simple and direct, which could be used for early training. Tho learning of tho Commandments by rote was cited by Canon James as an instance of the present system of instruction. Tho Commandments were all right for children in many respects, but there were passages which ho did not think were . desirable or even necessary. Be certainly did not think it necessary to teach children that tho sins of the fathers would bo "visited upon the third and fourth generations." Nor could ho understand why, in tho Tenth Commandment, it should bo found necessary at the conclusion to class a man's wife with his ox and his ass and his other worldly possessions. Many people who went to church for years did not know the meaning of words they heard week after week. The significance of such words as grace, salvation, absolution, catholic and sanctification were almost entirely lost. Words should also be directed more closely to modern needs and conditions in the matter of Christian practice. The Rule of Sunday.

•" Nothing is more important at the present' moment than that people should ho given definite teaching about Sunday," Canon James said. "We complain that our cfiurch people cannot be relied upon to keep the rule of Sunday. I am certain that in many cases it is, because they do not know the rule. For one thing, we need to explain how the Christian Sunday transcends tho Jewish Sabbath" In tho first place, Sunday was a day of worship, and every confirmed person should attend worship at least once on that day. Secondly, it was a day of rest, and the great idea of rest was recreation.

It had been suggested they should wait for a lead 'in such an important matter from England, but immediate action was ! necessary. England had been "debating the question since 1886, and had got no further ahead. There was no greater duty before the Church than the education of the young. It was no small matter for the Church. It was its very life. The Rev. 11. T. Steele, of Whangarei, who seconded the motion, said one of tho greatest needs of the Church to-day was reality. Children were taught many things in Sunday schools which had no direct relationship with the life they were called upon to lead. Archdeacon G. Mac Murray said there was evory justification for Canon James' plea for a Christian interpretation of Hip Commandments. Ho himself had not understood the deeper meaning of tho catechism when a child. Wide Adoption Hopedl For.

Mr. Norman Burton said tho adoption of the schemo would mean the death and burial of tho present Catechism now in the Prayer Book. lie agreed with the suggestion as providing a means to educate children along far simpler lines than at present. The Rev. J. G. Castle, headmaster of King's School, said ho never would use the present catechism for tho education of children. The list of questions and answers was absurd for tho teaching of children of.five or six. The present proposals would bring greater rationality into tho early teachings of the Church. Archbishop Averill said it was not intended the old catechism should bo revised, oven wero it possible to do go. It was merely desired to make the catechism intelligible. It would bo agreed it was not so at tho moment. He was hopeful tho suggestion of tho diocese would bo taken up throughout the country, and that the new book would bo used in every part. • Canon James said that although ho was sounding the death-knell of the present catechism for all practical purposes, it would still remain to be taught to children when they could understand it properly. Tho need of a new catechism was shewn by tho use at present being made of so many unauthorised books. The resolution was adopted amid applause.