The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-12-27
A PAPER ON ADULT BIBLE CLASSES.

request OF the Sunday Scnool Assoclatlon
Philadelphia, as basis for public discussion
The great Importance to the church o
Bible classes for youth and adults of botl
sexes is now being fully demonstrated il
many parishes.
1. By binding to the church the children
of the Sunday School as they approach ma
turity.
2. By drawing Christ.ward and church
ward very many of the large body of mer
and women, who too often from the neglect
of influential and intelligent Christians, be-
come weaned from public worship, growing
Indifferent to religion, and frequently are i'm
moral or skeptical.
3. By promoting the systematic study Of
the Bible, by providing the specific practical
instruction and thorough oversight absolutely
needed by large classes of our people, and by
cultivatiDg among the members of the Bible
class self help, mutual assistance, and social
intercourse.
First In many churches, before the for.
nation of Bible classes, comprising adults and
those approaching maturity, so large pro-
portion of the youth in the mission depart
ment of Sunday Schools, passed as they ap
preached maturity, beyond the influence of
the church and Christianity, that the results
Of Sunday Schools, were disheartening to
most ministers and teachers. In the same
parishes, after the formation of Bible classes
for the instruction of the older youth and
adults of both sexes, in religion and in the
usages of the church, so many of them have
become intelligent and stable Christians, that
the adult Bible class is in these parishes now
viewed as one of the most important agencies
of the church. The boys belonging to the
mission department. of the Sunday School
seldom have effective religious influence in
their homes, therefore they too often ape the
vices of manhood, becoming profane, and
absenting themselves from the Sunday School
and church. When such lads see large bodies
of men from their own condition of life band
ed together in Bible classes, they can the
more easily realize that it is manly to be an
avowed Christian and be induced to initiate
the example of good men, and to continue
under church influences. Sunday School
teachers and superintendent have the great
est difficulty in transferring the larger boys
from class to class, and in retaining them in
the school when the class is filled up with
smaller boys; but the transfer to Bible
class taught in separate room, is compar-
atively easy, as it seems to lad at that SEN
sisive period Of his life, like an approach to
manhood.
The need of adult Bible classes to give ef-
fectiveness to the mission department of the
Sunday School, has in some parishes been
realized for many years, but it is increasing
ly important now, for the apprentice system
has virtually ceased and children, by earning
wages, are becoming more and more indepen-
dent of parental control, and of the authority
exercised in the Sunday School.
Secondly. The success of Bible class teach
ers in seeking out and incorporating into the
Church, large bodies Of men and women, who
rarely or never attend any place of public
worship, has been greater than its most san
guine friends anticipated. 1t has revealed
the fact that there is less opposition on the
part of these people to religion than to the
inappropriate mode in which it had been pre-
sented or forced upon them. The diseased
in body are separately examined and treated
in our hospitals and special nourishment pro-
vided, and now through the agency of adult
Bible classes, those who are spiritually en-.
feebled or diseased are just as intelligently
considered, nourished and tended. Several
of these Bible classes comprise from one hun.
dred to one hundred and fifty men, whilst
others include an equal number of women.
Many of the hitherto neglected have become
stable members of the Church, and are &C
lively engaged in missionary work by assist
ing their teachers in seeking out others and
bringing them to the Bible class and to
church.
Thirdly. The systematic study of the Bible
can be better promoted in the Bible class
than in any other way that has yet been de-
viSed. In it those who are to be teachers
and visitors can become thoroughly ground
ed in Gods word and learn how to instruct
others. The teacher must, of course, be not
only Jealous Christian, but thorough
student of the Bible that each member of the
class may be interested and instructed at
every meeting.
The diversity in age, sex and condition at
public worship is 80 great that practical in
struction suited to the ascertained wants Of
the various classes of worshippers is impos-
sible, but it can be supplied by the teacher
who has, or should have, intimate knowledge
of the character and surroundings of each
member of the class. Constant oversight by
minister or Christian teacher is absolutely
necessary to counteract the evil effect of the
surroundings of those whose lot is labor, and
to afford them sympathy and encouragement
when discouraged byyielding to temptations
A judicious and experienced teacher, person
ally and by the help of the more stable mem
bers of the class can supply this need.
The mutual help thus afforded is of infinite
value, and skillful teachers lessen the power
] &C Laxa>La4:As L. Ala unata hla axd tha aInn.