The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-16


is need of an aroused conviction on this
subject. We are not in playroom: the
business is serious, vast, important.
Impressions for the development Of
character indicate no trivial matter,
when it is understood that the hundreds
OF thousands in the Sunday school to-
day, in the next ten or fifteen years will
be the men and women carrying on the
drama OF the world.
May speak just one word as to SELF
sacrifice? Is there not too little of the
spirit which lies back of this in our
Sunday school work? Yet what is more
essential il we are endeavoring to build
character? The following incident is
full of encouragement, for it suggests
that this spirit may be more prevalent
than we suspect. During the past sum
mer l was entertained one night at the
home of the most prominent merchant
in the town where l was stopping. 1t
was delightful family that made up
that home, cultured. happy. consecrated.
A young lady about eighteen years of
age spoke to me incidentally of Sunday
school work. On inquiry, found she
was teacher of class OF young ladies
about her own age. Seeing she was
keenly alive to the subject, l engaged in
earnest conversation on the matter for
half-hour. All unwittingly, she dis
nj 70 hn 70 hof oh lr ho
spirit of self sacrifice. Touching on
amusements. she said she found it best
for her to give up dancing, not because
she considered this pleasure sinful in
itself, but because her "girls," as she
called them, could not go into the same
refinement of society as she. and con-
sequently, because they did go to the
mixed, promiscuous assemblages of the
town, she feared for them. She was
aware if she continued her enjoyment,
she could not induce them to give up
theirs. She gave up hers first, then
talked to them. and was successful in
moment. You may call this little
matter: it struck me as being great.
Give us this spirit in our schools, and
we will build characters noble, colossal,
holy.
3. 1t is the function, too, of the Sun
| day-school to exalt the religious life.
| The hour has come to sound the call for
religious activity in every part Of Zion.
The Sunday school must be rebaptized,
and with increased spiritual fervor go on
with its blessed work. Only by 80 do
ing can it take its true place in the
Church of God. l have looked the field
over with as careful scrutiny as / could
| give it. and the conviction is emphasized
in my heart that what all our churches
yours and mine-need more than any
other thing is a profound sense of the
complete supremacy of the religious life.
To get this, the young must be quick
ened spiritually. There has been SO
much fear of cant and mock pietv tina.
liberal Christians have removed them
selves largely from the genuine as we'll.
The humble and contrite heart is known
little Of; more is the pity. A cold intel
lectualism will never take the place OF
heart fervor. l am not afraid of intel.
lect: the more, the better; but | want
also the holy fire of conservation and
love. You may teach children in the
Sunday school conclusions of mere in.
tellectuality until doomsday. and there
will be no result unless it be the ele.
ments of doubt. or positive disbelief Of
the spiritual will fasten upon the mind
and chill the heart. The affections, the
emotions, piety, reverence, alteration
worship. love, these must be possessed
and fed, or else in the near future you
may look for closed doors and empty
seats.
A conservation of our Sunday schools
real, genuine conservation, is not that
the needful thing. to the end that the
worship of God and the power of right.
eousness be really the possession and
practice of those within their gates? So
shall the Sunday school be mighty aid
in the tabernacle of the Lord aud in the
life thereof.