The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-16

School may be to him in the great work
he is engaged in-viz: the conversion and
edification of souls.
Next to godly and consecrated elder,
a devoted Sabbath School teacher may be
the most efficient helper of the minister.
The teacher may help the pastor by
making the scholar an object of prayer.
The salvation of single soul is beyond
the power of man. The soul that is dead
in trespasses and in sins, can come to life
and resurrection only by the miracle of
God. mot by might nor by power, but
by my Spirit, saith the Lord" If, how
ever, the Spirit is poured out only in re-
sponse to prayer-it is plain that pray
ing Sabbath School teacher will be aiding
the minister very vitally and effectively.
The teacher can also aid the pastor by
making the salvation of the scholar the
one aim of teaching. This is one of the
best answers to the great problem of how
the children are to be gotten to the
Church services? Aim at their imme-
diate salvation. Concert them from the
Sabbath School into the Church. When
conversion takes place delight is devel-
oped In all the institutions of Christianity.
The converted child will love the means
of grace and will not depart therefrom
lie Will not only cling to the school with
answering love-but also to the worship
of Gods house, and will grow up and fit
into 1t as polished stone-in all use and
beauty.
But what of those who are uncon-
verted? How shall they be gotten to
the church services? Our fathers had
rough way of answering that question
which 1t is questionable whether we have
yet improved on. They got the children
to Church just as they got them to learn
the catechism-by the exercise of author
ity. They felt that whether the services
were adapted or not to the capacities of
the children, that
The Habit of Going to Church was
Matter of Infinite Importance.
1t is true that restraint and imprison-
ment were too often endured by the chill
dren in the house of God. 1t is true that
prejudice and hatred, even, were excited
ln,the minds of some children against the
whole service to which they were COM
pulsorily led. We well remember our
selves counting the number of our fingers
hundred times during the dull service,
and numbering the panes of glass in all
directions, up and down, across and back
again. We well remember how the old
clock and the pulpit divided many wist-
tul glance between them, and how moth
ing sounded so much like the 'tidings of
great Joy as the apostolical benediction
All this is natural-but after all "by |
their fruits ye shall know them" The |
compulsory study of the catechism made
grand, strong, intelligent Christians, and
the compulsory method of getting the
children to the church developed a habit
OF church going to which we are strangers
in this age, and the absence of which is
threatening the continued power and in
Huence OF the Church more than any
other cause. 1t may be said that the
minister is to be blamed for overlooking
too much the childrens portion in the
Sabbath worship, but it is easy to over
look them when they are not there
True, he must preach with reference to
them and in adaptation to their wants.
But after all the Sabbath School teacher
has responsibility in this matter, and
can do much to rectify the wrong by
which SO large proportion of the young
people brought up in the Sabbath School
torsake the sanctuary upon attaining ma
ture life. Something yea great deal,
may be done by the teacher in fostering
in the minds of the young the duty Of
attending church. l repeat-duty-f
we have forgotten that largely, and have
been putting the emphasis on privilege.
In every family where the children above
five or SIX years old and in health do not
go to church at least once Sabbath, the
sense Of duty in reference to Gods house
must be lowered and needs building up
again. Perhaps the parents cannot be
reached, but the presence of the children
in the Sabbath School gives opportunity
so far as they are concerned. Let the
superintendent and each teacher allude !
more frequently to the subject of public
worship and the value Of the ministy of
the word-point out the benefits and the
duty of attendance upon it-emphasize
the evils of neglect and always take care
to enforce counsel in the matter by the
strong influence Of personal example.
The result would be very helpful to the
minister and would be more favorable
than that which is witnessed in the pre-
sent. The Sabbath School would become
the mightiest ally of the pulpit, and the
minister would be encouraged and fresh
ened by the presence Of the young.
l.. M. @.