The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-09-19
THE DUTY OF THE PUPIL TO
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
By MARY EDITH LONG.

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arises among enthusiastic church work.
rs,-"What duties shall the pupil per-
form toward the Sunday school that
the church may prosper"
Regular Attendance.
Most assuredly, the first duty is regu
lar attendance. More depends upon
good attendance than one can easily
imagine. A student accomplishes very
little. indeed. if he does not attend
school regularly, and exactly the same
principle applies to the Bible student.
Church attendance is another import
ant duty and as it has a wonderful edu
eating influence, all pupils should be
anxious to hear the Bible readings,
beautiful hymns and good sermons
which constitute the many church SER
vices.
And, by all means, be pleasant to visi.
tors. Courtesy and hospitality cost
nothing except little Christian feeling
on your behalf, but they will gain more
than you will ever know.
Bring your own friends and show to
them that your Sunday school is just
as promising and industrious as theirs.
Do not be afraid to bring your friends
because your Sunday school is small.
Some day it may be one of the largest
and most influential. Bring people who
have no Sunday school of their own and
who feel as if they we're forgotten in
this great panorama of life. Bring them;
let them see how much they miss by
staying away; let them learn that Jesus
is just as much their Saviour as he is
yours. By your own conduct and inter-
est. teach them to reverence the Sun
day-school, and to aid in it's purpose.
You ask what the true aim of Sunday
school work is. Some one has truly said
that the aim of Sunday.school work is
to establish principles of right thought,
right action and right feeling in the
minds of young people. Ask yourself
if you are doing everything within your
power to aid in this noble work of up
building character. If not. you have
yet the main duty to perform toward
the Sunday school.
Be cheerful and scatter sunshine all
along your way" Be happy and sympa-
thetic and do not give people the idea
that religion is gloomy, for it is not. 1t
is not dark cloud, but instead it is
Gods bright rainbow in the dark clouds
of our lives.
Let the outside world see that you
practice the teachings of your Sunday
school by sympathizing with the op-
pressed, by being kind and gentle to
every living creature, and by so doing
you will be aiding in the upbuilding of
the church.
Study the Bible.
Another important duty is the study
of the Bible. 1t should. however, be
thought of not as duty, but as pleas
IRE. In his article, "How to study the
Bible" DR.. James Stalker says, 1.-The
best preparation for the successful study
of the Bible is deep devotion to him who
is it's author. and to the Saviour of whom
it speaks. But only second to this is a
good method of study, which will con-
duct the mind naturally into the sub
ject, and lead it on from attainment to
attainment. Without love to God the
Bible has little chance of being much
read; but without an intelligent method
a nascent love for it may be arrested or
even extinguished. Love quickens study;
and study. pursued in the right way. in
creases love-"
In your study of the lesson if you read
a passage you do not understand ask
your teacher to explain. Study the pas
sage yourself, and remember that any
thing that is worth doing at all is worth
doing well. Study every lesson as well
as you can. Use the Quarterly after
you have studied for yourself. When
you see difficult question, do not leave
it until you can answer it. Some noted
Sunday school teacher in telling pupil
how to study. said, "Dig, search. read
compare, pray and be faithful and true
to all your duties and pledges
When you go to Sunday school bring
your penny if you possibly can. No
school or church can prosper without
the aid OF money. Ifyou cannot give a
penny see if you cannot spend less for
ice cream soda, fruit and candy. Soon
you will see that pennies are invariably
ready to enter the Sunday. school or
church basket.
Personal Responsibility.
When you are in the Sunday school
class. having feeling of personal re-
sponsibility will be your most important
duty. Think of the sacredness of the
privilege which is yours when you sit
down with other Bible students. Feel
responsible to your lesson to your fellow
students, to your teacher, to your class,
to your Sunday school, to yourself and,
above ALTO your God. Do not call
yourself a Sunday-school scholar"
That is mockery. Ityou notice you will
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