The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-09-06

tians indeed, and are possessed by a Christian
love of the young natures committed to their
keeping and leading, they will never rest
until, by all practical means, they have en-
deavored to lead them to the adoption of
that life which is the highest placed before
the choice of humanity The best minds
and finest spirits of church ought always
to be in the Sunday School. The highest
office Of this age, or any age is that of
Christian teacher; and man who can look
with contempt upon the Office of Sunday
School teacher, or regard it as detracting in
any degree from his personal dignity, be-
trays inevitably the feebleness of his coucep-
tions and the shallowness of his piety. How
many churches are there in which there are
not men and women who look upon Sunday
School teaching as a burden and bore !?
How many Sunday Schools are there in
which there are not teachers who stand week
after week before their classes, refusing
themselves to receive and profess the re-
Ggion whose truths they undertake to i'm
part?
With such VIC as these-stated or in
dicated-the readers of SCRIBNER will con-
clude that we have not very favorable
opinion of much of the machinery used in
Sunday School. The children are not to
blame for demanding excitement and amuse-
ment because these have been the means
resorted to for bringing them into Sunday
School and keeping them there. Indeed
the impression is quite prevalent among the
children Of some schools that they are con.
ferring great favor on superintendent and
teachers by their attendance. If they can
not get funny books, or premiums, or hear
funny stories, or have picnics, or Christina;
presents, or some visible reward, they
threaten to leave the school, either to stay
out entirely, or 90 to some other schoo
where they can obtain what they demand
So all sorts of means are resorted to, to keeE
up excitement, aud, in the mean time, they
get no religious Impression whatever. The
tunes they sing amuse them, but nurse nc
spirit of devotion. The books. they reaC
and the stories they hear interest them
but leave no result except hunger for more
excitement of the same kind. The premiums
they win inspire their pride in sort of ex
cellence which spares little room for Chris
tan humility. In one way aud another, tn,
opportunities of making deep and gooc
impression upon character aud life are frit
tered away, and the children are no bette
prepared to enter upon life and the resist
ance of its multiplied temptations to evi
than if they had never seen Sunday School
In our judgment there is vast amour
of machinery instituted by professional Sun
day School men that is the veriest humbug
They have complicated that which is un
speakably simple They have undertake.
to do that by artificial process and by in
ious contrivances which can only be don
ugh the irstincts of loving hear
ed zeal. The touch o
exhibition of a persona
is worth ten THOUSAND
most elaborate exposi
Bible a. on black board. l
,atendents and teachers possess com
mon sense, and know exactly what they wisl
to do, and wish first and most to make Chris
tians of their children, let them follow thei
own methods, and leave the professional
methods to those who need them-Dr. +. G
Holland, IN Se9j6ner's for September