The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-09


an evidence of the continuity of the
thought and plan of God, an illustration
of the order and advance of his work to
the perfection which awaits. The fora
may we'll depict his beauty. and the
teeming fields his bounty. This is le-
gitimate Supday-school instruction.
But. to go into secular instruction of an
ordinary day school. or extraordinary
for that matter, is to get away entirely
from real Sunday school work.
If the Bible is ever to be properly un-
derstood by the people, it would seem
the Sunday school must largely prepare
the way for that understanding. A SER
mon carefully prepared, or set OF such
sermons, can reach but a few; and a
majority of these retain but a moiety of
what is taught. Books are not read very
extensively which bear on this subject;
and, when they are. the absence of per
sonality leaves much to be desired. 1t
needs personal presence and interest to
press home the truths of this great
book. There is need of analytical, logi-
cal work with the historic method in
the foreground, also inspired, loving, re-
ligiously intelligent work. before we can
get the real worth of the Bible into the
understanding of the world. The radi-
cal is liable to sweep it out of court,
if he can, and the ultra conservative
swallow it whole as a Fetch, if one can
swallow fetch. Those on the middle
ground are more likely to get at the pith
of the matter. What is required need
not be as dry as dust or too difficult for
ordinary comprehension. Such work can
be freely illustrated. and should be. l
shall be glad when that day comes which
will usher out blind superstition and
bald atheism. and usher in reasonable
understanding of Scripture. That day is
coming, and it is the business of the
Sunday school to help its approach.
Is there any satisfactory work of this
kind being done? l trust in certain
quarters there is an approach to the sat-
isfactory. Unless your experience is diff
ferent from mine, you are doubtful if, in
large measure, the work one can heartily
commend is being accomplished. / have
been up and down Zion considerably
and usually travel with my eyes and ears
open; and / must say, with sorrow, the
Sunday school lamentably fails at this
point. Bible instruction has never been
intelligently or adequately done. At one
time it was overdone, for long time it
has been underdone, and in many cases
we m y suspect it has not even been put
into the oven of attempt, and the fire of
interest out entirely at that. The liberal
church should be alive to this matter.
1t has taken elaborate pains to show the
falsity of the old ideas of the Bible, and
has evidently enjoyed the business. Has
it been as alert to always put correct
ideas in the place of those destroyed?
Has it been as vigorously faithful in
building up as tearing down? Has it's
enjoyment of construction been as keen
as in destruction? Frankly, has it? The
former work was essential, the latter
more 30. Here is a vital need. We
should set ourselves to the task of bring.
ing Bible instruction in our schools up
to the highest grade, full of interest and
power. We should be soon led then to
prepare. also, statement of theology,
systematic. if you please. with reason
aud religion in it. To day we have none.
We must get at the brain and heart to-
gether in our religious importation of
knowledge.
'sLet knowledge grow from more to more,
But more of reverence in us dwell
That mind and soul, according well,
May make one music as before,
RDf VaStar -