OUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19198, 14 June 1924, Page 5

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS

Br Amplius.

He who forms the purposes of childhood fashions the future world., Sunday week, June 22, during the session of the great World's Sunday School Convention in Glasgow- is World’s Sunday School Sunday. The opportunity of linking each school with the. va-st movement of which it is a part should not be missed. Dr Percy R. Hayward suggests the following 14 point standard for a successful teacher of boys:—He is far-socing, broadminded, regular and faithful, more than punctual, willing to work, receptive, responsive, democratic, a good mixer, humorous, human, adaptable, holds service ideal, is humble and prayerful. With tho issue just to hand “Progress,” (ho manuscript magazine of Sunday School news published by Mr A. 11. Reed, has completed the second year of its existence. All who know it will bo glad to hear that the editor is mooting with encouraging response from readers and that there is no question of its discontinuance. It chiefly consists of choice and helpful extracts from a vorv wide field of current Sunday School literature and thus makes available in brief compass what could otherwise be gained only by considerable expenditure both of time and money. 'There is also a local and personal flavour about it that adds to its value. It is safe to sav that every Sunday School worker who peruses it no matter what his circumstances, will find something to interest and to help. “In every new- movement there is a time of indifference followed by a period of misunderstanding. confusion of thought, working at cross purposes; then acceptance. On tho matter of religions education the Protestant Church is just now passing over from the first of these stages to tho second: indifference and complacency are giving way to interest and concern, yet the now programme is far from practical realisation or even full approval. Much conflict of opinion and uncertainty still exists.”—George H. Betts. A CHEERING MESSAGE. Mr Robert Blair has just received a cheering message from Doan Walter S. Atheran. of the School of Religious Education and Social Service of Boston University. It serves to show what importance is attached even in a distant land to the work being carried on by the Otago .School of Religious Education. “Let mo express to yon,” writes Dean Athearn, “the groat joy that has come to all of your friends who have seen the announcement of your proposed work in Otago. I am placing your catalogue in the library for tho information of our students. I am sure you and Mrs Blair will render a very great contribution through tho work that yon are starting, and that it will be tho beginning of a larger work.” GROUP CONFERENCES. The third group conference, held in the St. Kilda Baptist Church last Sunday afternoon. was quite as successful as the preceding ones. There were almost 80 tenders and teachers piesent and keen interest was manifested. A high point in the proceedings was Mr S._ G. MacFarlane’s talk on “The major objectives in religious education.” The next conference will be held in the Roslyn Presbyterian Church to-morrow at 4 o’clock. The co-operation- schools will bo Roslyn Presbyterian, Salvation Army, St. John’s, and Russell Street. The prime object of these conferences is to reach as wide a periphery as possible and consequently all who are in any way connected with schools, Bible Classes, Endeavour Societies, clubs, or the like, are cordially invited to be present. PRACTICE PERIODS. About a dozen students from the three schools met with Mr Blair on Monday evening last, to discuss ways and means in connection with practical work in tho Young People’s Division. It was decided that the class should meet in Trinity schoolroom, Moray place, on Friday evenings at 6.15, commencing from Friday, Juno 13. All superintendents and leaders are earnestly invited to attend at that time Membership in the schools is not a condition to participation in the benefits of this course. Mr lllair outlined tho course which promises to be decidedly practical and calculated to meet immediate needs. On Monday evening, June 16, at 6.45. Mrs Blair will be glad to meet with all superintendents of the Children’s Division and others interested, with a view to living practical help in the daily tasks. It is here stressed that tho course will be open to general superintendents, departmental superintendents, social workers, and others in administrative nositions. The place of meeting is Trinity Young Men’s Bible Class room, Moray place. There is still opportunity for those who wish to do so to register in the north and south community schools. The wise will “observe the opportunity,” and lay the foundations for worthy leadership. A TEACHER’S HYMN. Tho following is a hymn written by Professor Richard Lawson, now of Dunedin. It has been sot to music by Canon Wheeler, of Geelong, Victoria, and is sung in several Teachers’ Colleges in Australia and., at Kandy College (Colombo), Ceylon. “ Pet There be Light.” Oh, ye teachers! from the future comes a message For your cars; It is fraught with supplication and with presage Hopes and fears; Is your rcrvlce consecrated ? Will man’s life be elevated Nearer hcavtn by your labours in the coming of the years? Have you scon the dawn that’s waking o’er the mountains Far away ? Seen the flood of radiance breaking from God’s fountains, Kay on ray ? Have yon seen the darkness dying? Have you seen the shadows flying? » Has the vision hurst upon’ you of a greater, brighter day ? Yes, Oh, yes, we’ve seen the flaming at the gateway Of the morn; And our ; pints in the future light arc straightway Newly born : With our faces lifted r.urtward, With our cry of ” Onward, onward!” We are marching, praying, working for humanity’s new dawn. Wc will fling th" gifts. ”-?o n ted, of the knowledge ■■ have gained. Till the dream of world-embracing College -e tho server is the better, And the giver is th-> getter. And Where man shall walk with God onoc more in Paradise Pegained, THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF COMMANDS. D°y s , pay attention !” is a command not infrequently heard in the Sunday school. At other times the teacher may entreat or exhort that attention be given. 'These methods are to bo classed with the uso of a bell or other external moans. All sich moans should bo regarded as mere makeshifts. Emergencies may arise in which it is necessary to compel involuntary attention, but it should be clearly understood that all such means attract at tent ion to the object used or to the teacher instead of to tho lesson. What tho teacher really desires is to get attention to what ho is attempting to teach, not to himself. Tho more a teacher asks for attention, the less skilful he shows himself to be.”—Wade Crawford Barclay, in “ The Principles in Religious Teaching.”