YOUTH WORKERS’ INSTITUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18850, 1 May 1923, Page 4

YOUTH WORKERS’ INSTITUTE.

SUCCESSFUL OPENING NIGHT. ( Tlie seventh annual Otago Youth Workers’ Institute opened with a large attendance' in the Wa'ddell Hall, Carroll street, last' evening. The institute is conducted under the auspices of tho Dunedin Presbytery, which has the co-operation of Miss I’. S. Warner, the agent of the Otago Council of Sunday School Unions. On either side of the hall was arranged a very comprehensive exhibit of Sunday school books and papers and material of every description displayed by the Sunday School Supply Stores. The object of the institute, which lasts for five evenjngs, is to provide definite instruction and inspiration to those engaged in Christian work among young people. 'I he Rev. G. H. Jupp presided and expressed pleasure that so many of the speakers were comparatively new to them. ij.o heartily congratulated one of thp speakers, the Rev. Dr S. F. • Hunter, on (he honour that had come to him in winning the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Dr i-umter, who is giving a series of five half-hour addresses on various aspects of the life of St. Paul, spoko on ‘‘Paul, the Boy, Student, and Pharisee.” To begin with, he outlined the scheme of the addresses he had prepared. Ho drew attention to the lineage from which Paul sprang, and to his early surroundings in' Tarsus, ttis training was distinctly Jewish, and his mind was stored with tales of his people’s heroes. The great city of Tarsus itself had a powerful influence on his mind in those formative years. He could imagine the wander-hunger growing and fermenting in the mind of tho boy Paul as ho frequented tho busy wharves of his city. At about 14 years of age Paul, who was destined to he a rabbi, went up to Jerusalem and studied under the great teacher Gamaliel. Tho speaker pictured tho intense feelings of proud patriotism and religious fervour that would bo aroused in Paul by all the associations of the Holy City toward which his young mind bad been so constantly directed. Jerusalem was the epitome of all Jewish history and religion. Ho described the great body of cumbersome learning that was the subject of Paul’s studies, and traced some of its obvious effects upon his mind. The closing part of tho address outlined the development of Paul’s conflict with Stephen and his persecuting zeal. Afterwards the institute divided into two sections, one for Sunday school workers and one for those specially interested in Bible class work. To the Sunday school section, which remained in tho Waddell Hall, Miss Dick gave a demonstration of a Primary teacher’s preparation class. With her class she occupied a table on the platform and studied and prepared a lesson on Peter and John healing the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of tho Temple. Tljo lesson was carefully planned out for the following Sunday, and (ho work of the past Sunday was helpfully reported upon. The demonstration concluded with a brief practice of an appropriate hymn and (he exhibition of posters and handwork for tho children.

Mr G. T. Palmer, who met Bible class workers upstairs, gave the first of a series of studios based on “The Teaching of Bible Classes, ' bv See, taking as his subject “The Art oT Presenting.” He showed that the vital clement in leaching is the teacher himself. What tho teacher is counts far more than what ho says. Horne teachers were naturally endowed for their work, but it was also rrue that teachers could bo made by study and training. A knowledge of the method of teaching enabled one to teach with confidence, but although such knowledge was good to have it was useless unless applied, Ha emphasised the importance of having a personal knowledge of tho members of the class and of their homes. By giving heed to the laws of teaching a great deni of unnecessary work and of disappointment was avoided. Prominent among the essential requisites in a teacher ho placed earnestness and uprightness of personal character. He advised his hearers to learn to study intelligently, to avoid burry, and lo ascertain tho relative importance of tho facts they wore dealing with. In conclusion, he expounded tho five Herbartian steps in teaching—the preparation of the pupil, presentation, association, generalisation, and application. For a final 10 minutes both sections reassembled for a concluding devotional session. ... The institute will bo continued tall Friday evening. The session will begin each evening with an address on Paul by tho Kev. IJr S, F. Hunter delivered to the whole institute. Thereafter it will divide into Sunday school and Bible class sections. The latter will be addressed each evening bv Mr G. T. Palmer on anmo phase of tho art of teaching. The chief speaker to the Sunday school section will bo Miss Warner, who in this institute is giving most of her attention to the Intermediate Department.