RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20070, 9 April 1927, Page 5

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

By Aupliub “ A heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, and a' tench that never hurts.”— Dickens. There is a likelihood of the immediate establishment of a Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Council of Religious Education. This Mas reported to the last meeting of Presbytery by the convener of its Youth Committee. * The Dunedin Presbytery expressed its pleasure at the decision of Mr Robin Adair to go to America to further equip himself aa\a leader .in religious education, and it also\ expressed the hope that in due course he may find a suitable sphere in this land to make use of the special knowledgc he has gained. SPECIAL LECTURE. The special lecture in connection with the Otago School of Religious Education will take the form of a symposium with the theme: “How Youth May Help in Developing a Christian Citizenship." a. “What is the Church to Expect of Her Young People?” Rev. R. G. M'Dowell, M.A. b. “What are the Young People to Expect of the Church?” Allan T. M'Naughton, M.A. A hearty invitation is extended to all interested in a subject which is vital to all facing the new day. Will ministers, superintendents, and Bible class leaders bring this matter before the attention of their respective groups? The lecture will be delivered in Stuart Hall, Frederick street. CHILDREN’S DIVISION ASSOCIATION. The Children’s Division Association will meet in Hanover Street Baptist Sunday School. Mrs Robert Blair, M.R.E., will address the combined meeting on ‘The Children’s Division.” The devotional period will bo a beginners’ vVorship service, and in the sectional meetings the subject of the preparation of the story will be dealt with. It is hoped that there will be a large attendance and that every school will bo represented. SCHOOL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. GOVERNING BODY AND TEACHERS. The Otago School of Religious Education is a major interest of the Otago Council of Sunday School Unions, which “is an interdenominational body composed of representatives from tho Church of England, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Congregational, Church ■of Christ, and Salvation Army Sunday School Unions, tpgether with delegates from the various Church Courts. ’ It is regrettable that a number of the denominations seem to be merely nominally connected and that representatives from the various church courts do not appear to have functioned at all in any thoroughgoing way; so that our statement represents an ideal that has been aimed at rather than an actuality, and consequently the vital ivork of the school and of religious education as expressed by it has been greatly hindered. When we jook_ at tho Advisory Board, however, which is directly responsible to the Otago Council for operating the school, we are at once impressed with its balance and strength. This board is chosen Irrespective of denominational affiliation, because of tho special fitness of individual members to make a significant contribution in this field, and tho school has been fortunate indeed in its “steering team.” , The names appearing on page 2 of our 1927 calendar speak for themselves, and are n guarantee to tho community and the world of efficiency and sniritual dynamic. Any city that can marshall such a force is fortunate indeed. Tho teachers are divided into two main groups: (a) Tho staff, as such. This >opresents wide experience in many fields, and a fine blending of theory, practice, and general culture. The addition of our ow.n product to tho teaching force is likely to give an added coherence and vitality to the work, (h) Special lecturers number some 25 in all, and comprise as fine a teaching force as could be found in any city 't similar size in the world. .Fortunate, indeed. are the potential leaders to have at. their disposal such a variety of gifts and graces. ... At nrosent the organisation and administration of religious education_ and social service in*New Zealand is an acute transition stage, and it is hoped. s lhat with the functioning of a National Council of Religious Education embracing all major denominations and social religious organisations, together with National Denominational Councils of Religious Education all in the hands of a vital effeient prophetic leadership, a new day will dawn. Such a leadership is being produced as quickly as resources will permit, and scholarships and; fellowships to this end are tho most pressing need. Those willing and able to help in smaller or larger ways are invited to confer with the .Council’s Executive: the secretary of the Advisory Board, Mr J. D. Salmond, Knox College; or the director of. the Otago School of Religious Education 28 Kcnmure road, Roslyn. ‘ PRESBYTERIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. At a recent meeting of the Presbyterian Sunday School Union the subject set down for discussion was “How to Introduce More Teachers from the Bible Class into Any Department of the Sunday School. Miss M. Drysdale opened with the question, “What is a Sunday school teacher? A Sunday school teacher must have (1) a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. (2) a personal love for Jesus Christ. Now, if we have a love for Jesus Christ then we will have a love for service for others in Jesus’ name. This will lead to formation of character. When we ask a young Bible class member to ■ teach in Sunday school we are asking him to grow in wisdom and truth and to direct and help the children to do likewise. A Sunday school teacher should help a mother to rear a child. A mother’s duty is to nourish a child bodily and spiritually. The teacher is to co-operate in this task. Bible class leaders are in sympathy with the Sunday school teachers in their work, and when a young Bible class member joins the Sunday school staff Sunday school officers and teachers must offer help, sympathy, and friendship. This can best be done through the preparation classes during the week. This point was specially emphasised by the speaker. It implies a trained efficient leadership in all departments of the Sunday school. No Sunday school teacher should ask any Bible class member to teach in Sunday school if he or she is not prepared to help the new teacher. In the discussion following Mr George Robertson referred to Christ’s words, “Ask and ye shall receive,” and said that a Christian must have absolute belief in this saying. Otherwise hie religion was foundationlcss. A definite ideal must be introduced very strongly into a child’s heart and soul if he was to be won for Jesus Christ. Not only must this be done in tho Sunday school, but it must ’be continued in the Bible class when at the age of 17 or 18 a youth or girl is old enough to think for himself or herself and so choose a course of life. The Bible classes, to the speaker's mind, do not really adequately cater for their young people. Mr Robertson and Miss Drysdale were warmly thanked for their addresses. Others took part in the discussion, and it was decided that at next meeting, to be held on .May 23. in First Church classroom, a cordial invitation be extended to all Bible class leaders and members, ns well as the Sunday school superintendents, teachers, secretaries, librarians, etc. The District Committees of the Young Men's and Young Women's Unions arc being asked to send delegates _to uphold" the Bible class side of the subject. THE HYMN FOR THE GROUP. Frequently a familiar hymn acquires fresh meaning through added information about circumstances connected with it. “In the Cross of Christ I Glory” becomes more meaningful when one knows that Sir John Bowring wrote it after coming upon a ruined church in inland China, of which only a ruined wall with a cross upon the peak survived to tell the story of some heroic missionary in days long forgotten. How many of our hymns have stanzas which are not merely words upon a Christian theme, but true prayers, addressed to the Almighty! We should not think for a moment of speaking a prayer at the tops of our voices, yet how seldom wc sing a prayer stanza prayerfully! Why should M*e not?—Journal of Religious Education.

YOUNG PEOPLE’S DIVISION ASSOCIATION. The monthly meeting of the Young People's Division Association will be held next Monday in the Baptist Church School, Hanover street, at 7.30 p.m. Ihe first period will be devoted to a discussion on “The Part Religious Education Should Play in Producing Christian Citizenship, opened bv Mr R. Blair, B.R.E. The subject of the worship service is Ihe Conquering Messiah,” focussing the thoughts on the Easter season. In the intermediate sectional meeting Mr Blair will speak on “The Principles of Organisation, while in the junor and senior Bible class sections. Miss M. M. Nelson and Miss E. K. Maefie will open the discussion on “The Young People's Division in the Local Church.” _ , , These meetings are open to all general superintendents, intermediate superintendents and teachers, Bible class leaders and members, and others interested in youth. Too much emphasis cannot be laid upon the unique opportunity thus afforded for those who want to be, and to give, their best in the great work of serving youth. STUDENT ASSEMBLY. The annual meeting of the Student Assembly of the Otago School of Religious Education was held in Knox Church School on Tuesday evening, at the close of the lesson period. Miss E. K. Maefie (president) occupied the chair. The annual report dealt with the work of the year, stressing the importance of the establishment of the Children's and Young People’s Divisions Associations and the part that tbs diploma students especially had taken in these meetings. The need for more students was emphasised. In speaking to the report, the President pointed out that the year under review was an epoch-making one. as eight students had completed their studies for the school diploma and were now to bo engaged in spreading the “gospel of religious education,” not only in Dunedin, but further afield. This privilege carried with it increased responsibility, and constituted a challenge to each student to give of her very best and to follow Christ the King loyally and faithfully. A message was sent to Miss M- M. Nelson thanking her for the report and expressing sympathy in her illness. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President. Mies E. K. Macfie_ (reelected) ; vice-president. Miss G. H. Kane; secretary-treasurer. Miss A. M. Kirkwood: devotional convener, Miss A. de B. Hutton; social convener. Miss E. Hetherington. These officers, with the school librarian, Miss D. M. Moss, and the school pianist. Miss K. J. Earland, form the council for 1927.