RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23221, 19 June 1937, Page 23

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

By Amplius

“Go out” replied the Master, “to the high roads and hedgerows, and compel the people to come in, so that My House may be filled.” “ We have treated our churches too much as schools of spiritual and moral culture, 100 little as the training grounds of an army bent on conquest. The time has come to close the book on tactics and gird on the sword,”—Dr Dawson YOUNG WOMEN’S BIBLE CLASSES A new and interesting feature at the monthly meeting of the Presbyterian Young Women’s Bible classes is the talk given by a well-known worker on some phase of Christian education, of particular interest to the women of the church. Miss Salmond, principal of the Women’s Training Institute, was the speaker at the last meeting, and took as her subject, “Women Workers,” illustrating her remarks from her observations and experiences abroad. After dealing with the place and work of the professional or official worker, the speaker said she wished to talk more particularly with lay or voluntary workers, who did by far the greatest part of all the work. In the Church of Scotland and elsewhere women’s guilds and sisterhoods wore doing magnificent work with little or no charge upon the church finances. These guilds were graded, having different badges and uniforms for each grade, and were the recognised channel from which workers were obtained, both for salaried and voluntary positions in church and State, not only for home, but for foreign work. In New Zealand the greatest voluntary organisations of women were our missionary unions and our Bible classes, and there were possible avenues of services which could well be developed along this voluntary or lay basis, as, for example, the establishment. in suitable places of a kindergarten, and relating this* to the home and cradle roll departments of the church. There was a tremendous challenge to the women and girls of today to become full-time Christian

workers, while pursuing their daily work and calling, without being a charge on the funds in any way. One interesting point was the comparison of status of the women workers in our churches here, and that of such workers in the National Church in China, India, Japan. In these countries women were working side by side with the men, in the eldership and government of the church, while in New Zealand that office was not yet opened to our women, although there was nothing in the New Testament against such an admission. A further opportunity of hearing Miss Salmond will be given next Tuesday night, when, under the auspices of the local branch council of Religious Education, she will speak on “ Women in the Church To-day.” SPIRITUAL PERSONALITIES What is the most-needed emphasis in present-day religious education? In my childhood Sunday school we had the uniform lessons and the Shorter Catechism, My teacher was very earnest and lovable, and her memory is precious to this clay. I learned a great store of Bible stories, with more or less understanding of their relation fo my life. 1 acquired a reverence for the Scriptures that abides. From the catechism I learned much concerning Gcd, His Son. and the doctrines of redemption and righteous living. 1 believe that with such a loved teacher as I had, most children would receive great values, as I did. from that sort of religious education

Many pupils in our Sunday schools still receive only such religious education as I have described. But I believe the present-day need of religious education is more than teaching our pupils the things we wish them to believe about the Bible and about doctrine. We need to help our pupils to become more than believing persons.

In my early teens a church of my parents’ "faith and order” was organised in our little town, and, of course I was transferred to its Sunday school. I began to hear much discussion of the reasons for organising another church in our small town. The character and the organisation of the church had thereafter a great place in my religious education. II was quite puzzling to me to try to understand how my beloved former Sunday school

teacher and the devout father of my playmate could go to heaven when they died, because they did not belong to the church of my parents. My religious education that had neon creedalised now became institutionalised. I thought of my religious life in terms of loyalty to the church which soon became my church by my public profession of faith and baptism. I learned to love the church. Its worship and its ordinances have been impressive to me since my childhood. The best hymns I know I learned in its simple worship. I would have all pupils in our Sunday schools carry into their lives my love for the Church. But I would not say that the mostneeded emphasis in present-day religious education is to be placed there. I know, nevertheless, that great communions organise their religious education around the Church, its ministry, and the sacraments.

As I think of the world and the Church of the present day I lay the emphasis as I have opportunity on the idea expressed by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians iv, 1-13. First of all, the apostle presents the Church as a very body of Christ, animated by His Spirit, and manifesting its unity in the seven “ ones ” of verses 4 and 5. In the next place, the apostle would have this living Church appreciate its rich endowment in its ministry at apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, as mentioned in verse 11. Such ministers are indeed the gift of Christ As we recall the days that are past, how deeply we arc indebted to such good men and women who were the glory of the Church. In the third place, i believe the most needed emphasis in nresenl-day religious education is for the living Church with its endowment of spiritual leaders to devote itself to what Paul suggests as the function of the Church inverses 12 and 13, the nurturing of all unto "a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Without such spiritual personality it is vain to labour to make pupils believing persons or well-be-having persons. I think of religious education as the nurture and the direction of spiritual personalities “ unto tiic measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”—Marion Stevenson.

AN INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF YOUTH The International Youth Rally, organised by the British Christian Council for International Friendship, one of the good things that came out of the war, was the outcome (during the past year) of close co-operation between the youth councils of the Anglican, Presbyterian, and Free Churches m over thirty countries. The place was the Albert Hall, London. Several days before the meeting was advertised to take place I applied for a ticket. My money, however, was duly returned with the secretary’s compliments. No seats at that price were now avauablo for booking! However, on arriving late I was successful in procuring a seat in the arena—perhaps the best nlace in the great hall and right m front of the platform, on which were such notables" as the Bishop of Croydon. who was the chairman, the Rev. Les ie Weatherhead, the Rev. W. Emslie. secretary of the Presbyterian Church of England. Prominent pmim workers, snd Professor Andie Philip* a member of the French Chamber of Deputies. The Rev. L. Weatherhead was the first speaker, and, unfortunately, I.arrived too late to hear him. In Professor Philip, France, and the Christian Church has a powerful advocate for peace. His handsome appearance, gesticulation, and vehement expressions arc typical of many of his countrymen. Though rather hard to follow at times, there was no mistaking his tremendous enthusiasm and sincerity, and the impression it had on the great audience assembled. In passing, let me just mention a phrase he used, one that gives much food lor thought, “ There is a difference between the man who really wants peace and the man who wants to be left in peace! ”

Mr Leslie Brice (Baptist Voulh Movement), in a very informative address, told of the various ways in which international friendship among youth is being cultivated He told stories to illustrate that pen friends (without stamp collecting the motive; and learning of languages were proving useful links in making friends with members of other nations. A particularly attractive speaker was a young American. Mr W. Clark, from fhc Hartford University, U.S.A. Following a frank and winsome confes-

sion of his love for Jesus Christ, this young kinsman from across the waters reminded us that Jesus said Love your enemies. ’ ‘All men are brothers, and the Christian must witness to the kingship of Christ over the whole world order.” Much _ laughter - wasevoked by his remark that m Hitler, Mussolini. Buchmamsm, and uncie Sam all is not bad." . The only speaker of the fair sex was Miss D. Watson, a young London Anglican and leading yemth worker, who told about international conferences for the younger generation, in closing, she said emphatically, it t really want peace, I pray for peace and work for peace, and then go home to-night and quarrel with my family, I will be a traitor to the cause of peace."—Dora Burchill, an Australian nurse at present in London.