RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22422, 17 November 1934, Page 23

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

By Amplius. OUR QUEST. I asked for joy! Life led me to a street, And had me hear the cries Of wayward souls who waited to be freed. I asked for words. Life led me to a wood, Set me in solitude, Where speech is still and wisdom come by prayer. “ I asked for love.” Life led me to a hill, And bound me to a cross to bear And lift and to be hanged upon. METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOLS. The last quarterly meeting for 1934 of the Otago Methodist Sunday School Union was held at Cargill road, the president (the Rev. H. E. Bellhouse) occupying the chair. After a brief devotional period, the usual business was transacted, delegates from Roslyn School were welcomed to the union, and a vote of thanks was passed to the Cargill Road staff for their, hospitality. Miss G. H. Kane, one of the school visitors, gave a full report of her activities during the past quarter. Sister Lenua then gave a few suggestions as to how the work of the union could be extended, and stated the necessity for getting in touch with families in the country, and also organising a system of teacher training. The chairman then introduced the speaker for the evening, Mr C. Virtue, who has just returned from two years’ travel through the United Kingdom, Unitwd States of America, and the Continent of Europe. Mr Virtue gave a very interesting account of some of his travelling experiences. He dealt briefly with Sunday school work in England, where they had a service both morning and afternoon, and in the United States of America and Canada, where the methods are very much alike. He then gave several impressive illustrations of Christian witnessing for Jesus Christ, and stressed the need for teachers to know Christ themselves before attempting to pass the knowledge on to the children under their care. At the close of the address the chairman thanked Mr Virtue on behalf of all members present. A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. The Otago School of Religious Education has completed its twelfth year of teacher and leadership training, and has maintained its high standard of work in all courses. This year saw a record number of students enrolled, 58, and their keenness and enthusiasm for their studies were an outstanding feature. The two closing functions fittingly brought the 1934 session to a finish. The thanksgiving service was held in Knox Church, the Rev. D. C. Herron preaching an able and inspiring sermon on religion and education. After paying a tribute to the work of the school, and its influence in raising the standard of teaching and leading throughout the district, the preacher stressed the need for putting religion in its rightful place in any system of education. The qualifications and equipment of Christian leaders were stressed, and some fine suggestions given for the maintaining of the teacher’s own spiritual life. The service throughout, with its fine devotional and reverent atmosphere, made a beautiful finish to the studies of the year. The closing social, held in Knox Church School Buildings, saw both lecturer and student in festive mood, with books and examinations well trust into the background. Games, competitions, and items made the time pass all too quickly. To see a very reverend and dignified profssor admirably acting the part of Father Bear in an impromptu dramatisation, and to hear him growling most realistically were laughter provoking; his performance being equalled by that of another lecturer who acted the part 1 of the prince in Cinderella, with fine effect. The theme of the social was “ Our Quest,” the speeches being based on the poem of the same name, the speakers being Miss Cathie Weir, Miss Una Ferry, and Mr Simpson, who each took the verse allotted and gave us all some very fine thoughts. This concluded the social part of the function, and an adjournment was made to Stuart Hall, where the recognition service was held, Misses Jessie Douglas and Noelene Finnic having gained the diploma -of the school. The beautiful worship service, with its challenge to- the graduates to further consecrated service, made a deep impression on all, which was increased as the studente rose to get their diplomas, presented by the school director, Mr A, L. Haddon, and to make their commitment. Dr S. F. Hunter's address was based on the vision and call of the young man, Isaiah, and brought out that there must first be the vision—“ I saw the Lord high and lifted up’’—then a sense of our own unworthiness, “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips,” then the Divine cleansing, and then, and only then, came the challenge, “ Whom shall I send ? ” and the answer, “ Here am 1, send me,"—the service. Supper was served at the close of the service, and thus ended a full but happy year of fellowship and study among the various young people of our churches. THE DOCTOR AND THE ARABS. Go where you will through the Moslem world, you will discover everywhere that loyalty centres round a person. The leader who succeeds in capturing the imagination can command. The picture comes back to the mind of a missionary doctor at work in Mesopotamia. The life of a young Arab was at stake- He could only be saved by transfusion of blood from a healthy man. The doctor told the youth’s family, and asked, from which of them he could take the blood. Father, brothers, cousins, all refused to be lanced to give their blood even for their own kin. The white doctor saw one way only of saving the life. He took that way. He lanced his own body and gave his blood to save the young Arab. A window opened in the spirit of those watching Arabs. New light poured in. They were amazed. This was something that had never come into their lives before. From that day that doctor has been able to do what he will with those Arabs, and no man dare harm a hair of his head. “He is our brother now,” they say of the doctor to one another. “ His blood is in our veins.” What was it that made that doctor able and willling.to give what they would not give even for their own brother? It was not the doctor simply, but Christ in him, giving His blood again for man. The difference between the refusal of the Arabs and the readiness of the white man to pour out his blood for them was not the difference of race. It was the difference of lordship. It was the difference between Mohammed and Jesus Christ.—Basil Matthews.