The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-13

istor to their wants. physically, mentally
and spiritually. They want TO help them
IN capacity, in attainment, In purpose, in
aspiration. in forming manly and womanly
characters, and in ali true growth In heart
and soul life; but they never find the time
These teachers, who have such a fine ideal
| in their minds, but who lack execution,
allow other claims to crowd this work Gus
and also. alas, 1t Is never done. Perhaps
their own enthusiasm is not sufficiently
strong to Tighten flame in the hearts OF
their pupils. | am afraid this class is
large in numbers and will be while human
aature is tho same and hungering and
thirsting after righteousness is SO rare
! There is another class of teachers who
are very learned. who give much OF their
time to the scholastic exposition OF tho les
son, who pay so much attention to the
chronology. geography. biography manners
and customs. institutions and prophecies
OF the lesson, that they do not have time
To make any practical applications; they
| fail TO keep In view all the time Christ,
the savior OF tho world, and especially
that He wishes to be the savior right at
| that moment OF every one In the
class They are never through the lesson
when the bell rings.
But in spite OF the imperfeotions and
shortcomings OF Christians, the weakness
| of human agencies and the fallings OF
teachers TO- come up TO their high ideals,
there are some teachers, may their num-
bers increase, who are faithful, prayerful.
wise loving and Jealous, who in an humble
manner are working for the conversion OF
souls aud the glory OF God. Such teachers
are wise Ia a knowledge of Gods word
alert active quick 10 seize every OPP
potteu.ty OF finding new avenues to the
hearts; prayerfu, seeking continually wis.
dom. grace and culture from on high and
keeping In spiritual exercise, knowledge,
zeal. hope and love- faithful honest and
cultured. for the highest culture Is to live
! the truth. These are ideal teachers Wa
may not know them, for they are humble
and unpretending. hut God knows them
! They are In daily communion with Him.
They have yielded up to Him all the beau
tful gifts and graces OF the mind, heart
and body, And who can calculate the good
they do? No one but God He viii say to
such a teacher, Thou hast been faithful
in a few things, l will make thee ruler
over many things"
Again, teachers differ not only in char
aoter and qualifications, but also In meth
DDS. There is the teacher who lectures 10
his class, never stopping to ind out what
any OF his pupils know, or giving them an
opportunity to say anything There, also.
is the teacher who reads off the set ques-
lions from lesson paper or book and
receives the mechanical answers. Some
are wen prepared. having a thorough
knowledge of the Bible. and a wide range
Of information, and understanding well
the principles OF teaching. both as Il
science and an art they seek to gain the
love and confidence of their classes trying
TO obtain a hold over them, gentle with
them, but firm TO restrain them from all
wrong doing. Helping their pupils 10 draw
practical truths from the lesson each sun
day, showing them the happiness OF a |
Christian lie, and the pleasures Of walk |
ing in the straight and narrow way that |
leads to life, striving to III their hearts
with a thirst for spiritual knowledge.
There are others who have not had such
good opportunities OF preparation, but they
feel that this il Gods work and they want
TO do their share OF IL, and their teaching
is perhaps more spiritual. With all its
difficulties, however, teaching In the sun
day school is n delightful work, and wo
teachers, imperfect as We are, have many
things to encourage US. IL Is the means Of
our growing In grace and knowledge. Think
what gifts stand ready for our use. Each
one OF us is the heritor Of the ages; SILENT |
ly about US on every hand stand the gifts
OF invention, of commence. Of music, poet
ry. research; free to us each tho great
civilization, the mastery over nature, the
accumulated and uncounted riches Of orr
race" Let us seize and use every golden
opportunity OF working for the Master
can not refrain from giving a few
encouraging words. There Is knowledge
in the realm of the spirit as well as belief,
and II comes In the way OF obedience to His
will. II 1t is the supreme desire the in
tense longing OF the Sunday school teacher
to work for the salvation ~ souls and 10
glorify God. he may know that his prayer
will be answered, that the seed sown viii
bring forth fruit an hundred fold, for no
has the promise OF God for It, The time
win como when the laureled winners Of
victories, the worlds garlanded heroes.
shall be the actual and ideal teachers that
have gone forth weeping bearing precious
seed, but now come with rejoicing, bring
ing their sheaves with them.