OUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19802, 29 May 1926, Page 5

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

By AuPLroa.

Teach positively rather than negatively. The latest issue of Progress, the monthly journal of religious education published by Mr A H. Reed. truc o iU title has progressed to the distinction of a’suitable and substantial outer cover. The widelv varied matter in Progrc i is always well chosen from the best sources in current Sunday school literature, and is of nterest and f al V“ c to everyone concerned m religious educaHon in important feature begmnniß with this number is a senes for on organisation and teaching methods foi New Zealand Sunday schools by Sir Lawrence Rogers, the superintendent of Knox Church Sunday School. “I am the battle-ground in the field of religious education for the next decade will not be in the field of organisation and methodology, but in the field of educational theorj. Dean Athearn. “If religions education is to be truly Christian, it must keep hold of some essential things. It must, of course, teach the things concerning Christ. But l U " uls be taught not merely as a Fi lend, a Teacher, a Master, a Leadei, a Helper, a Savious; bat as ‘The Onb’Begottcuboi, our Lord and Christ.’ ’’—Marion Stevenson. A tentative constitution of the Young People’s Division Association has been drawn up and circulated among members of the committee and others for free discussion and frank constructive criticism. The proposed constitution in its mended form should be ready for presentation at the opening meeting, to he held in the Trinity Methodist Buildings on Monday, June 14, at 7.30. Youth workers will he interested to know that at the Waikato Winter Show, June 1-5, eligious education is to oe represented by 33 sections ranging fiom cradle roll, through beginners, primary, junior, voung people’;, division, adult division, and special days to daily vacation Bible schools. Here is an example to be emulated by religious educators in all parts of the land. If it be true that “shows and exhibitions are the Linekeepers of progress, recording the worlds advancement and opening mighty stoichouses of information to all the people, then surely they should be capitalised to the full by the forces of Christianity. At short public notice Dunedin has done her best to be worthily represented at the world’s, greatest dairy show. * The faithful few” selected and despatched parcels of porters, maps, scrap-books, expression work charts, etc., and it is hoped that these will not only convoy our interest, but hold some suggestions for our northern co-workers. THE CHILDREN’S CHARTER. A document which has evoked widespread interest is a Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the Council of the League of Nations. This important deliverance, coming from so influential a body, has been aptly designated, ’ the Children's Charter.” It sets forth, in a series of five paragraphs, what the Council, after deliberation, believes to be the rightful inheritance of every child born into the world, whatever may be Ins country or class or colour. The test of this epoch-making declaration is given below. It will give fresh courage and enthusiasm to the noble army of workers lor child welfare to be assured that they have C support of a bo v which is bringing the most enlightened public opinion in all countries to bear upon the world problems which clamoui for a solution. Amongst these problems none surpass in importance those which affect the child of the human family. By the present Declaration of the Rights of the Child, commonly known as the “Declaration of Geneva,” men and women of all nations, rccogmsnw that mankind owes to the child the best that it has to give, declare ami accept it as their duty that regardless of all considerations of race, nationality, or creed: 1. The child must _ J given the means requisite for ifa normal development, both materially and spiritually. 2. The child that is hungry must be fed, the child that is sick must be nursed, the child that is jackward must be helped, the delinquent child must be reclaimed, and the orphan and the waif must be sheltered and succoured. 3. The child must be the first to receive relief in times of distress. 4. The child must be put in a position to earn a livelihood, and must be protected against every form of exploitation. 5. The child must be brought up in the consciousness that talents must be devoted to the service of its fel-low-men. Whereunto we have this day subscribed and set our signature. The Canadian Council on Child Welfare has printed the Children’s Charter on an attractive card, bearing the crest of the Council of the League of Nations.—The Teacher’s Monthly. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER GIVING LIFE. Teaching is not merely an intellectual process or correctness of pedagogical method; it is a sacrament, a communion, in which life is given away with all its enriching and redeeming powers. In other words, teaching is a life-giving process, and it shows others how to live ip the measure that it is a vital transaction. If teachers will be true to themselves, and are prepared in teaching and purpose to do God’s will, His great storehouse of spiritual power will not fail them. He who will give himself in service to the young will find his own life increasingly enriched by the abiding presence of God, who will make the teaching process a vital, soul-moving, characterbuilding transaction.—Bible School Worker. PROGRESS IN SPITE OF OBSTACLES IN CHINA. The China Sunday School Union, with Rev. E. G. Tewksbury, general secretary, is trying to make steady advance regardless of the banditry and others problems that tend to retard the work. Some times all plans have been well laid for an institute when a new disturbance forces a change in the Sunday school programme. Meanwhile there is one type of work that must always be cared for—namely, the preparation of the Sunday school lesson materials which are edited and published by the Chinn Sunday School Union. The associate Chinese secretary Professor Pan; is giving a large amount of time tc this work of lesson-writing. The present method is to write the lessons first in Chinese that they may be truly indigenous in character, and then translate them for the English periodical. Illustrations are more and more being prepared in Chinese style. The union regularly employs a Chinese /artist for this work. Preparations are now being made to offer, beginning with the fourth quarter. 192(5. a series of Bible pictures in heavy black lines for hanging on the walls. The coloured wall scrolls are too expensive for the small Sunday schools. Twelve sheets of four Bible cartoons each can be prepared that will bo sold for a quarter of the price of wall scrolls. These will be purchased for many homos. Later, it is hoped that the increased Sunday school growth will warrant issuing the coloured picture rolls in_ China. Now those must be bought in the United States, and they, of course, come in American-Oriental rather than Chinese style. At present there are only about 300 subscribers for these rolls in China, and it would require at least 2000 to make it possible to prepare such pictures in China.