The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-10-22
SUNDAY SCHOOL SERMON.
DELIVERED by DIR. HUTCHINs
SUNDAY.
Where Sunday Schools Were Started
Have They Divine Authorization
How They Work, Etc.


DIR. Hutchins preached upon this sub
ject, from Deut. 6:6 and Z.
Following is a synopsis of the dis
course:
1t is now IA years since Robert Raikes
in Gloucester, England, the city of
George Whitfeld's birth, gathered a
few ragged urchins into Sunday
School For the instruction of these
children he hired at the rate of a shilling
a day four poor women who had been
engaged in secular teaching. This small
beginning is generally regarded as the
source of the Sunday School movement.
Today millions in the aggregate, repre-
senting all the various religious denom-
nations and almost every country on
the face OF the earth, are bending to-
gether over the same passage of the
international Sunday School Lessons.
Moreover, the great Sunday School
assemblies, like that at Chautauqua, for
the improvement of Sunday School
methods and for the teaching Of biblical
geography, history, archaeology and phil
ology, have sprung from the movement.
Have Sunday School methods divine
authorization? Though no pattern
for the Sunday School were
shown us in the mount, if it is the
legitimate outgrowth of the principles
of Christianity, it must have the Divine
approval. The great fundamental
principles of Christianity must suffice
for all ages, but the methods of their
apple ltion must be frequently varied
to meet new conditions and exigencies.
AS in the creation of the world, God
anticipated and foreordained modern
civilization, as when He made sand He
foreordained the manufacture of glass;
as when He made the fine woods, He
foreordained palaces as when He Gre
ated healing herbs and minerals, and
the enquiring mind of man He fore.
ordained modern medical science, so at
the inception of Christianity He antici-
pated those allied organizations and
instrumentalities which are the natural
outgrowth of its principles.
The chatechetical instruction of the
young was very early practiced among
the Hebrews, and to every synagogue
was attached a school for the religious
training of the young Christ well
coined the children; took them in His
ln,1 nd hn, II
said: Suffer little children to come
unto me, and forbid them not: for of
such is the Kingdom of God" The
early Christians had classes of chate-
chumens. Luther established Sunday
schools for the young as early as 1929,
and Charles BIrromeo, Arch Bishop of
Milan, some thirty years afterwards
formed Sunday schools essentially like
hose of today throughout his diocese.
The special adaptations OF the S, n ay
School sufficiently commended it to our
regard. 1t is the ally OF the family, OF
society and of the State. 1t should not
be made substitute for the religious
training OF the home, for it can never
cease to be a parental duty to teach dill
gently unto the children the truths of
God. to talk OF them while sitting in the
house, while walking by the way, before
lying down to rest and before rising up
for labor. But in multitude OF homes
there are no Christian parents, and
therefore no religious instruction. To
such the Sunday School stands in the
place of the true parent. OF many
irreligious parents, it may be said, that
little child shall lead them. The
Christian literature OF the Sunday School
library, the Sunday School songs hum
med by the child in the home, the
Christian teachers visit, these not in
frequently bring the parent to recogni'
ton OF duty and into the kingdom Of
Christ. And whatever helps the family,
which is the rudiment OF the state, in
due time, helps the state itself. Ii re-
ligious teaching be ruled out of our pub
lie schools, SO much more must be the
need for the moral training OF the Sun
day School.
The Sunday School is also the ally OF
the church. 1t should never be said
however, that "the Sunday School is the
childrens church." for children who are
never taught to attend the services of the
sanctuary, when they graduate from the
Sunday School, having no ties with the
church, may betake themselves to the
-aloon. But it is true that the re
| Enforcement of the church must CONT
largely from the Sunday School. Here
the best trained and indoctrinated OF it
members must be found. Its minister
and its missionaries and its officers mus
tie chiefly drawn thence. Multitudes o
Sunday Schools in needy places have
blossomed into churches.
The Sunday school developes ant
utilizes the latent powers of The
church. 1t demands administrative
abilities, the aptitude for teaching
music i gifts, the visitation of the poor
the Dorcas work of making
garments for needy children. 1t pro
notes the systematic study of tn,
scriptures. 1t induces catholicity
bringing together Sunday schoo
workers of various denominations, il
city, county, state and national con
ventions. 1t fortifies the young agains
scepticism, by making them intelli
gently acquainted with the word O
God.
In view now OF the blessings whic
this institution is bringing to you
homes and TO society, will you not civ
it the Endorsement OF your presence, an
ii possible your personal cooperation
Remember what these teachers al
doing for your chill dren. Where els
,,,;n xat, fnI cuah on amnuuI nj WOT