The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-28
TEACHERS FOR
SUNDAY SCHOOLS
Endowment Of an Institution for Their
Education.
GOOD TEACHERS BADLY NEEDED,
The Only Way i'm Which They Can BE
Supplied is by Some System OF
Compensation for the
Services Rendered.

institution for the education Of Sunday
School teachers is one that is to come
more and more before the public as the
years pass and it is certainly question
that is Of the most vital Importance
TO the Protestant churches of the country.
The recent definite presentation Of this
matter by Rev. Henry Motel, OF thu
| Church of the Holy Communion, New
| York City. In a sermon devoted 10 TINS
| subject and the ready response In the
! form Of a fund for this purpose has al
ready attracted widespread attention. II
this is required in a communion devoting
so much attention to the catechetical IN
struction of Children as the Episcopal
church the necessity may be more clear
ly marked i'm churches where no systema-
tic instruction is required or attempt
ed
\ startling statment was made only
a few days ago by an official represent
ing one % the largest denominations
in the country. He asserted that at least
three-Guarters of the sO-called teaching
I'm the Sunday school was not teaching
at all: that if there could be Photographic
record Of the conversation in Sunday
school classes the distinctive religious in
struction could hardly be discerned in
the remarks and questions having to do
with recent military parades, yacht races
and the latest styles Of millinery and
dress.
AS long as the teaching in Sunday
schools is voluntary and gratuitous this
cannot be controlled There Will be the
| most vigorous operations Of the pump
| handle. but there viii come no water.
Not even the regular attendance of the
teacher can be depended upon and the
kindest and most guarded censure or
criticism will be resented most vigorous
| ".
The only way by which the teachers
can be controlled by the superintendent
or pastor is by some system of cOmpen-
| sation. That the demand for efficiency
in the Sunday school teachers as they
will average in every school is immediate
and urgent is all too clearly seen in the
| barrenness of religious impression upon
children in so far as any dednate religi-
Gus experience IS concerned. Glasses for
confirmation. where confirmation is the
/ custom. and children who have come TO
years Of discretion where some indivi-
| dual expression Of experience is required
| by the rules of the church with painful
uniformity discloses appalling ignorance
| Of the first principle of Christianity and
of Bible knowledge.
QUESTION OF MOTIVES.
There can be no question as to unworthy
motives prompting teachers to under
take their work as paid assistants no
more than It can be charged against
ministers, missionaries and pastors that
| they are engaged in religious work simp-
| ~ for the sake Of the monetary consdera-
4 sion rooaftrod for fhofr Ia hOr Even when
1 the work Of the best and most conscien-
| tious teachers is considered II will be
| found uneven and lacking In continuity
I Of thought and purpose. This Is because
there is no account required Of any teach
| er, no adequate preparation and no re-
Cocnitiion where there is commendable
! efficiency.
In the case of teachers engaged in secu-
| lar education there are certain clearly
defined requirments and definite ideals
which develop in the best sense of the
word, professional pride
A paid Sunday school teacher could
only secure his position as any teacher
| secures such a position. by demonstrating
personal qualifications and fitness for the
work II this policy should be pursued
there would be as much a Sunday school
teachers atmosphere engendered as is
always manifest in a gathering Of secu-
| lar school teachers where each stimulates
the others 10 the fullest measure of eff
| fectiveness. and actual results are shown
/ by the progress Of the pupils.
Il is unreasonable 10 demand, IN the
present voluntary system OF Sunday
school instruction. that a stranger should
snend time and vitality in the develop
ment of the spiritual training Of children.
- Tao hut Iat
school teachers in Justice to themselves
and to those dependant upon them can
command the time for the faithful train
ing Of these little ones in the all-impor-
tant matter of first religious impress
sions and the instillng Of the funda-
mentals of the Christian religion Not
only is il requisite that much time be
given to preparation for actual class
work. but individual attention must be
devoted to each child.
TALPRESSIONABLE CHILDHOOD
ANY observer Of child life appreciates
| the fact that there is far more Of the
charm Of individuality in a little child than
| I'm the adult of marked versatility of
talent. Each child bears the imprint of
| the Creators thought IN its earliest years.
| The process of so-called education serves
| chiefly TO mar this divine impress and
to dissipate the beauty Of Gods own dis
tinct from all other beings to which He
| has ever impaired life.
In religious training the teacher may
be true TO the idea Of education, which
IS indicated by the very word itself
e-ducto. TO draw out. when you draw
out from a child you bring forth that
which the Creator implanted To do
| this the teacher must have an intimate
| acquaintance with each child's mind and
place in each childs heart. This can
only be secured by the establishment
/ of confidence by a sympathetic interest
/ I'm all the thoughts and unfolding of
| that individual child There is no nobler
work and none yielding larger returns
| than for any devout Christian man or
woman 70 give all thought or energy by
| personal contact. not only IN the class
| but through the week. with the dozen
/ or score of children under the teachers
| care 1t is simply impossible for anyone
| livelihood in professional or business
pursuits to make even a beginning at
| this work. which is indispensable for the
| fulfilling OF the province OF the Sunday
school teacher.
| MIR. MOTTETS PROPOSITION.
The proposition recently made by Rev.
| Henry Mottet may be impractical so
far as its full and immediate accomplish
| ment is most congregations is concerned
| lie proposes 10 raise 100000 to create
an endowment 10 pay educators entrusted
| with the spiritual education Of the chill
| dren and youth Of his parish. A begin
ming may he made however In mann,