National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-06-26
Reforms in the Modes Of Religious
Efforts,

The following suggestions made
in "a report to the recent Methodist
Conference at Chicago, will interest
the religious community at large, as
embracing thoughts of an impor
tant practical character:
!. As to the condition Of our
Sabbath Schools. These are sue
cessIui, perhaps beyond all the past,
vet are susceptible of great i'm
provemcnt, in more careful and
strict discipline, better prepared and
moro advanced text books, better
drilled and more critical teachers
for advanced classes, in order to re-
tain such in the schools and advance
them in Biblical learning. Two
growing evils are obvious in many,
or all our Sabbath schools. LIST.
The habit Of using question books
in classes not sufficiently advanced
for them, and thus displacing the
good old habit of committing Scrip
ture to memory. 2d. The use almost
exclusively of Sunday school read
ng of the narrative, or story kind,
thus moldng the taste of our chill
dren for nothing but light reading.
We recommend more careful SUI
pervi.ion of our Sabbath Schools
by the pastors and quarterly con-
terenCeS.
.. We urge upon the extended
membership of the Church greater
religious activity, particularly in the
social meeting and Sabbath schools.
Work is the law Of growth, spir.tu-
ally, as much az physically or men
tally. Were twice as many MEM
berJ now engaged as volunteer la
borers in our prayer meetings, class
meetings and Sunday schools, no
doubt the moral powerof the Church
to day would be twice as great.
3. We ask the pastors, parents
and Sabbath school teachers to give
more earnest attention to the sub
iect Of Temperance.
This is called for, first, in self de-
fence against the insidious and spe-
cious aggressons upon the Church
even and our best families, now that
intemperance has become the most
alarming evil of our age.
A new and simultaneous resort to
total abstinence pledges is now call
ed for on the part of old and young,
as the only safety for ourselves, and
those underour immediate influence ,
especially as it is now well known
that there is a large class of persons
who, if they commence drinking in
toxicating drinks at all, are sure to
20 on to drunkenness. Then let no
time be lost in saving one precious
youth, for it is easier to prevent u
hundred from rushing into intem-
pcrance than to rescue one.
4. Family religion and family gov.
ernment claim a moments notice.
We fear that parents have come to
feel that the Sabbath school and
church give sufficient religious in
struction to their children, and SO
excuse themselves This works ru-
in. Careful study of the Scriptures
in the family, strict observance of
the Sabbath, sacred regard for
truthtulucss ana integrity, with per-
sona religious conversation and
PRAYER in the household, cannot be
safely neglected by amy Christian
family. All this should he mingled
with firm and kind authority which
knows no yielding where aprincip!o
of submission or of right is involved,
or Christian parents even may look
for the early ruin Of their children
in these days OF lax discipline and
dissipation.
Greater efforts to supply suitable
rcadiug for our Christian families is
demanded. Our writers have the
chief responsibility Of forming the
literary taste Of the people. Wheth.
' cr that is being elevated, or cor
} rupted, iS n serious question. The
; pulpit, also, shares this IeSponSibii-
. ity. In our judgment, there is at
present a great lack Of just the right
: kind of reading among our people.
What il not too light, nor too heavy /;
, nor too high, nor too low, for those
who should and would read, provid-
ed something were fitted to their
! case. Here is an inviting field ol
: usefulness just now open to ON
: writer's Who will enter it With
:. careful discrimination and wide nc.
| uuaintance with the people, no field
Y promises greater reward.
II It is fact we are glad to put on