The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-09-11

| monongA1a county sunday SChGoi ConNcntiona
BY MISS RACHEL A. HASTINGS.
Every student of the Bible is familiar
with these words of our savior TO the
apostle Peter, Feed my Lambs nand the
same command comes to us to-day. Chill
dren are the Lords heritage lent us for
day, to be resumed whenever the Di-
vine owner pleases. With each OF them
God gives us an immortal soul t. nurse
for him, to train up in his fear and for
his service. Let us then be up and do
ing. Let us seek TO direct the dew of
heaven into their young hearts and lead
them to that Saviour who is still saving
even from Heaven, Suffer little chill
dren to come unto me and forbid them
not for VI such is the kingdom Of heav-
en- In the morning let us SOW our
seed, and in the evening withhold not
our hand, for We know not which shall
prosper, this or that, or wbethe they
both shall be alike good Truth inn
planted in the mind OF \ child may he
seed, which shall terminate in after
years. and eventuate in renewing the
heart by Divine grace, notwithstanding
the truth thus early lodged in the ;:iind
may have been followed by various
forms of the gfossest error.
Children had a art in the wonderful
events which marked Christ's stay on
earth. At the time of his triumphal en-
try into Jerusalem there were children
in the temple CRYING, "Hosanna to the
Son OF David" And now, as then. chill
dren may feel that the church is theirs.
A home without child lacks something.
If all the inmates Of household are OF
mature years, the household is destitute
OF the joyousness and life which come
only where there are children. The
church Of Jesus Christ is family on
large scale.
The word speaks of il under this title.
"Of whom the whole family in heaven
and earth is named.N And the children
have right to be considered as part
of this family. They were so regarded
by the head of the church, the Lord Je
sus Christ. He taught his disciples that
their angels "tlo always behold the face
of my Father, which is in heaven" and
that all who would have place in Gods
eternal home, must become like little
children, that is, in innocency and purity.
womanhood OLA child will be. But He
has given rule and guide by which,
that which is best in them may be de
veloped, and the trust Of child in it,
teacher will be a responsibility in the
years to come, which must be accounted
for TO the Oliver OF all things.
Children like to be led into the future
and told OF its possibilities. Even very
little children have an idea OF the future
in their minds. "What | am going to
do when | get big" is very frequent
thought. This lesson leads us naturally
from the childhood of Jesus and John 20
their young manhood. They spent their
youth in "getting ready" for Gods
work-John in the wilderness and Jesus
in the peaceful sleep of Nazareth. Let
us earnestly strive to impress the idea
that these days OF childhood are the
days OF 'getting ready"
What is the aim OF Sunday Schoul
teaching? Communication Of religious
instruction? Practically so, but only
partially. Rather the great ai;.t is this
the conversion, tie salvation of our
scholars, the BRINGING to their minds
and hearts the gospel of the life and
death of Christ.
That is what Sunday schools are for
and il they fail in that we believe tilat
whatever subordinate success they may
have they fail all round and the work
given and the time spent by thousands
Of teachers on Sundays is all vain uni
it results in the bringing of the Young
minds into such contact with Christs
death as will change the child's heart
and mould its character
In former years childhood religion
was not believed in by many. But the
day has passed away when il Wa.
thought that only those of mature years
had right to church membership, that
co 70 should hoya 10
the life and then efforts be made for their
conversion. Children need conversion,
but not in the same sense that a harden
ed sinner needs it. 1t is said to all, ''Ye
must be born again." but the new birth
is easier the sooner it occurs after the
natural birth. We often hear it said
that children do not understand CONVEX
sion. Well, who does2 We do not linn
it secular education to the things child
already understands, and why not take
some things for granted in the spiritual
world, as well as in the physical world.
We swallow food that is afterward as
simulated. So the truths of God are to
be received by children and exemplfied
in their lives, and studied throughout
eternity.
OF all the various methods OF teaching
that are being discussed by our foremost
educators none is so important, yet none
receives SO little attention as that most
vital object-teaching by example. In
this method We are all teachers and are
responsible for results to the great Mas
ter above, whether we recognize the re-
sponsibility or not. We can not preach
patience, gentleness and love to little
child, but our example will teach it force
fully.
1t is what we do rather than what t
say, which will influence the children.
Nay, it Is not what we do or say, So
much as what We are, and we should
endeavor by our lives as well as by our
teaching to represent to them that per-
feet pattern-Jesus Christ.
To do, it is necessary to be. One has
said that "the only way for a child to
know Christian is to see one" This
is true, and leads us to realize that the.
little people need models rather thai,
critics 20 let us be ever mindful that
"thc he.Sas; path is pointed out by the
and who if we tread less loftily may new
er look SO high again."
The formative and most impressive
period of childhood is spent in the home
and our heavenly Father has placed the
children here to be trained for his SER
vice. In infancy and childhood this is
the peculiar privilege of the mother
Well may we plead for the training aud
culture adequate for the duties Of her
high mission. What work-character
building She must not only teach, but
herself be living example and expo
nent OF what she teaches. In the phys
ical, mental and moral realm she mnst
be most vigilant, as this is the primary
foundation work. Next to the mother
comes the primary Sunday school teach
er, and whether men or women bold
this important position they should pos
sess motherly instincts, love, sympathy.
patience and simplicity, and stoop to the
level Of the child in language, action aid