The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-23

sion of divine truth as revealed through the
statements of our doctrine.
Our identity must not be Lost. How shall
it be preserved? Can more efficient means
be used than the training of children and
youth in our Sunday schools? Training them
in such way that the principles of our faith
will become the tissue and essence % every
act and thought of their lives. Training In
such way that they will be prepared to take
up, sustain, and defend the cause, moved by
the strength of their love for it, when it will
fall to their lot to fill the places made vacant
by our death. -
| We plead for this, that lives may become
more beautiful in the practice of brotherly
love, mercy, charity, humility, and in such
trustful faith that fear cannot enter, and
that it shall have no part nor lot as motive.
We plead for it that life's entity may be-
come broadened and uplifted from out of its
literal into its spiritual and diviner signiti-
canoe, to become Invested of narrow selfish
ness which dwarfs and corrodes the soul,
compelling it to sap the foundations of its
own being for sufficient sustenance to keep
become invested with a more sensitive con-
seriousness of individual responsibility and
accountability for moral, intellectual and
physical faculties and powers possessed.
We are now brought to a point where it is
legitimate to ask question, fraught with
significance and importance that seriously
affects the most vital issues of our being as
distinct denomination, when survey of the
not very distant future is taken.
And this is the question: Are we doing that
which is for the best, and in the very best
way, to stamp into the consciousness of the
rising generation the doctrines of Univers-
alism, SO as to irresistibly draw it within
the folds of the church, that itmay strengthen
and adorn the spiritual edifce with lives that
shall emit the steady light of a fixed star, and
reflect the genial warmth of the king of day?
My answer to this question must be in the
negative, and is based on the belief that our
teaching under the Helper plan does not, and
cannot, cover the ground which should be
encompassed by Sunday-school teaching.
1t is too much historical and chronological,
and is SO infinitely detailed in the printed
lessons, that the teacher feels relieved of the
necessity for preparation, and too little
responsibility is felt to be required beyond
what is therein literally implied. To child
such an array of facts are so dry and uninter-
esting, and it is so hard for the child-mind to
grasp their significance, that no real live
interest can be awakened by anything that is
intrinsic in the lessons. Consequently very
soon all that can keep the semblance of life
in the Sunday-school is the library, the fes-
tival, the picnic or something else of the
same nature.
The consequence is, if it is possible to keep
tbs children in the school, they grow up with
very limited knowledge of the beautiful
truths of Universalism, and no very strong
attachment to the church. do not say the
Helper shall be abandoned, but l do say it
should in a measure give place to a carefully
devised and prepared catechism or manual or
compendium of the text book doctrines of
our faith and belief l care not by what
name it is called. Such a work, believe,
would fortify the Helper or any other plan of
lessons, instead of having the effect to dis
place them.
A portion of the time of every Sunday
school session should be occupied with
lesson from this work in which the whole
school as one class should take part, with the
superintendent as teacher. Then, too, in the
preparation of classes for confirmation, this
work should be used, and its thorough analy-
teal mastery be the test of merit and
acceptance. Who can measure the gain to
our cause if all the mothers and the fathers
of the future could graduate out of a thorough
training such as has been suggested. Then,
too, it would supply the first and greatest
need of all Sunday schools; namely, thor
oughly equipped teachers.
AS means of carrying this into effect
thoroughly, 1 will suggest that on our
preachers rests responsibility as weighty as
any duty involved in the pastoral relation.