The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-08


ground in this respect If it does no
good, it must do harm. If it does
not lead to Christ, it will lead the
other way. But it is inconceivable
that the constant presentation of the
highest moral and spiritual ideals,
such as are found in the Bible and
constitute the weekly lessons in the
Sunday-school-the constant presen-
tation of these ideals to the minds of
the young, while they are susceptible
and teachable,-it is inconceivable
that it should not make lasting i'm
preston, and influence for good the
entire future character and conduct.
1t would be miracle if it should
not.
Why is the rum hole the nursery of
the kirk of Antichrist? and the sa-
loon keepers, the active and efficient
ministers of the devil? 1t is because
their frequenters aud victims have
constantly before their minds the
basest ideals and examples. They
live in an atmosphere of moral cor
ruption and iniquity surrounded by
degrading and depraving influences.
There the worm dieth not and the
fire is not quenched, as it was in an
o;opt Gaboppo A r,or,1 oonta~;op
pervades all the air, as human ma
ture is susceptible to surrounding
influences, especially the young. No
wonder the rum hole constantly fur
nishes candidates for the penitentiary
and the gallows-a never-failing sup
ply of recruits for the army of Apol-
lion-that it is the nursery of hell.
But thank God, human nature, and
especially the young, are susceptible
to good influence as we'll as bad.
There is contagion of righteousness
as well as of iniquity. AS one can
not live in an impure atmosphere,
loaded with malaria, or the bacillus
of the plague, without mourning dis
ease, so corrupt moral atmosphere
will breed moral diseases the mi
crobes of sin. And as pure air gives
physical health and vigor, so pure
moral surroundings will give spiritual
tone and righteousness-the health
of the heart and soul of man. 1t is
impossible, then, that the Sunday
school should not lead to Christ and
heaven the nursery of the church,
practically.
Or if it does not in any instance, it
is because it is improperly conducted,
and is not worthy of the name. |
can, indeed, conceive of one so con-
Quoted as to do harm instead of good:
for instance, if entirely devoted to
teaching some false and pernicious
dogma. But this is not conceivable
of union Sunday school conscien-
ciously conducted. 1t follows that
our question must be answered en-
phatically in the affirmative. If the
school alone should not lead it's pu-
pills into an organized church, GER
tainly it largely helps to educate and
train up a class more susceptible to
Gospel influences than they other
wise would be, and from which
will be mainly drawn the recruits for
the church, by preaching and the in
fuence of the Holy Spirit. Ofcourse,
without the help of God we can do
nothing, as we are nothing; but he
will help those especially who help
themselves; and our great work in
the Sunday-school is to teach and
train the rising generation to do this,
that God may bless them-that the
spirit may lead them. 1t cannot be
that we fail in this.
But the extent to which we succeed
the measure of our success-de-
ponds of course upon the conduct of
the school. The better it is conducted,
the greater will be its success. 1t
must be made interesting, for one
thing. Much depends upon the su-
perintendent. He ought to be able
to bring things new and old out of
the lesson. No lesson, if properly
presented, can fail to interest most
minds, either young or old. But no
one man can do it all.
The superintendent must he assist
ed by faithful and earnest teachers,
and he ought to be seconded by the
presence, interest and help of every
Christian man and woman, and every
we'll wisher of the human race, or of
the cause of righteousness in the
neighborhood. Out-breaking sinners
may go their way, if they must, but
every good citizen should feel inter
est enough in the Sunday school to
induce him or her to attend regularly
every Lords day. 1t ought to be re-
garded as sacred duty, and never
omitted without adequate reason. If