RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22742, 30 November 1935, Page 27

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

(By Amplius.) HOW HE CAME. When the golden evening gathered on the shores of Galilee, When the fishing boats lay quiet by the sea, Long ago the people wondered, though no sign was in the sky, For the glory of the Lord was passing by. Not in robes of purple splendour, not in silken softness shed, But in raiment worn with travel came their God. And the people knew His presence by the heart that ceased to sigh, When, the glory of the Lord was passing by. For He healed their sick at even, and He cured the leper’s sore,. And sinful men and women sinned no more, And the world grew mirthful-hearted, and forgot its misery When the glory of the Lord was passing by. Not in robes of purple splendour, but in lives that do Ills will, In patient acts of kindness He comes still; And the people cry with wonder, though no sign is in the sky, That the glory of the Lord is passing by. W. J. Dawson. ARE BOYS RELIGIOUS? The headmaster of Taunton School, England, answers this question from personal knowledge. The casual observer might easily say “ No,” for the boy is strangely reticent about his dgepest emotions and he often covers them with an assumption of indifference which might easily mislead the careless student of boy life. In fact, the boy’s religious sense is like the sensitive plant that closes up at a touch. It needs the utmost delicacy of handling, and I would deprecate most profoundly any attempt to force a boy’s spiritual life. He will open Out his soul only to a really sympathetic friend whom he trusts implicitly, and not too often even to such nn one. , , First, a few thoughts suggested by the general life of the school which I have the honour to direct—from the classroom, the school societies, etc. Let me first of all strike a note of warning—never indulge in sarcasm. It is a dreadful instrument of torture and very unfair to the boy as he can never repay in like coin, and it is also a boomerang that recoils and destroys the teacher’s influence. It may be that some of you have read lan Hay’s book, “ The Lighter Side of School Life.” If so, vou will remember that master -who rules by the lash of the tongue. Yes, ,he ruled, but_ I am sur.e that he was hated with a bitter hatred. One hasty gibe may poison relationship indefinitely. Curiously enough,, sheer abuse and a merciless dressing down seldom leave any such soreness behind, but even .this should be used spajinply -and there should seldom be need for it. One further ,word of warning—the boy has a lynx eye for inconsistencies. Any discrepancies between Sunday’s precept and Monday’s practice will be noted without faij. The teacher who preaches kindliness on Sunday and speaks harshly to an inferior on Monday will attain nothing of 'value. Christianity must permeate every. nook and cranny of our life—there mpst be no water-tight compartments in our make-up. So much for the note of warning. . . , Now for some of the boy’s positive qualities. The average boy is extraordinarily generous, ever ready to respond to a big appeal. Recently we have had collections for the National Playing Fielda Association for camping holidays tor-Lon-don boys, for Dr Barnado’fl Homes, for the Miners’ Relief Fund, for the training ship Arethusa, and the Shaftesbury Homes, and on each occasion the school collection has been something between £l6 and £2O, and frequently* a boy has given the whole of his week’s pocket money to the collection. This means real Next X would mention the boy’s power of appreciation. We arrange for each Saturday evening in the winter a lecture, recital, or concert, 'and it is extraordinary to find how boys appreciate, .the greatest art. Some time ago we arranged for the visit of a strong quartet. The programme consisted of quartet* by Haydn, Beethoven, and Debussy. An “ old boy,” who saw the programme said: “ Surely you never expect boys to appreciate that sort of programme.” Ho was invited to be present at the concert, and was amazed to find how ready the boys were to respond to .the appeal ot the highest in music. Similarly, I shall never forget the tenee silence in which the story of the Scott Expedition was recounted by Admiral Evans. The lecturer had a wonderful reception, which was a great tribute to lecturer and audience alike. , ,' , ■ Some little time back, we had a"lecture, on Flemish art. The lecturer Lad excellent matter, but he was rather inclined to speak in an art language, not easily understood by the average boy. Moreover, the delivery left something to be desired, and eo he lost touch with his audience. There was a certain amount of and coughing and then, quite suddenly, there was thrown on thq screen a elide of an early picture of the Crucifixion. At once there was instant silence —a reverence that could be felt. It was an absolutely startling .effect, almost uncanny. Surely thie was ,a wonderful proof of the boy’s instant rfesponee to the spiritual appeal . •.'< Some little time ago the boys were given a dramatic reading of the-play p ‘ Outward Bound.” You may remember the main idea of the play—some men and women on a ship l find that they are really dead and bound for the next world where they are to meet their judgment. As they await the approach of the examiner who is to inquire into their past lives, they become dreadfully anxious, and they appeal to the padre to pray for them. He explains that he has his own life to think of, and in any case he is in no fit mood to lead them in prayer, but they insist, and entreat him to pray for them. Quite suddenly the padre drops upon his knees and speaks the words. Gentle Jesus, meek and mild. Look upon_ a little child; Pity my simplicity, Suffer me to come to Thee. Again, there was the most tense silence and an almost awe-inspiring feeling of reverence. , . . . f And now a few thoughts rising out ot experiences in the college chapel. I would pay tribute to the innate sense of reverence of the average boy. Misbehaviour in the chapel is quite unknown, and this sense of reverence shows itself in a passionate dislike of any cheap humour or flippancy in the pulpit. , One must never play down to the boy. This is the most fatal of all mistakes. Furthermore, it is clear that the boy has a great love of simplicity. He has no use for rhetoric or display. What }ie asks for is simple, natural sincerity in a great appeal. T . A word as to choice of subject—-1 have often been asked by ministers _ What shall I take as my subject ? I have, often answered, “ First of all forget that your audience is young — give of your best —do not try to come down to the boy s [ evc l—.give of your best and they wib rise to your level.". Above all, the appeal that goes home is the heroic appeal to service—never ap peal to the boy’s self-interest. One of the greatest sermons heard in the college chapel started as discussing religion a ? a safe investment, as a means of obtaining immunity from punishment. _ Needless to say the preacher brushed aside with contempt such a conception. He quoted with great effect the test •“ Christ hath laid hold on me.” He told the boys that they could not foresee what the would be if they gave themselves to Christ.’ It might take a man from Harley street to find him work on the coast of Labrador. It might take a great musician away from his music and his history and deposit him in Central Africa. It might take a man from the fame of climbing Everest and introduce him to the work of a medica' missionary of the London Missionary Society. Such an heroic appeal never fails and the higher the appeal the greater the response. “ Day is Dying in the West." This is an evening hymn, written at the request of the Rev. D. J. Vincent, in the summer, of 1880. It is deservedly popular with all young people. The writer. Mary Artemisia Lathbury, was born in 1841, at Manchester, Ontario County, New York. She was the daughter of a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, two of her brothers being ministers of that communion. Art was her profession, but she contributed verses frequently to religious periodicals for children and young people, and she occupied for a time an editorial chair.

Everyone who knew her loved her. Naturallv religious, giving her young life in un selfish service to others, she was able to express her devotion in notable hymns, two of which —“ Day is Dying in the West ” and " Break Thou the Bread of Life ” —are loved by everyone. One day she seemed to hear a voice saying to her, “ Remember, my child, you have a gift for writing verses; consecrate this to Me, as you do your inmost spirit, and from the number of splendid hymns she has written, we see how sincerely she answered this call. She died in 1913.