Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-11-21

We often hear the question asked these
days: Nv hat can we do for the chi!dren?"
The Saviour says: 'Suffer little children.
and forbid them not to come unto Me
for OF such Is the kingdom of Heaven"
The children are given us to care for and
train that they may be meet for the king
dom. Is 1t sufficient for us to send them
to he Sunday school for Il halfhour each
week for religious training and then con-
slider our duty done?
The boys and girls OF to-day are the
future hope OF the church, and IL they
are to be brought to Christ and become
active in His service, they must early be
taught from His word. My plea for them
then Is that they may be organized into
Junior societies and placed under the in
struction of some one, who can teach
them the word OF God, that they may be
brought to the Master, aud trained to all
round, effective service.
The object OF Junior societies is three
fold: To bring the boys and girls to
knowledge of Christ, to develop in them q
likeness to Christ, to train them in service
for Christ. Junior societies have existed
long enough for our leaders to have dis
covered that their purpose Is not to enter
tain merely.
There are plenty OF illustrations OF the
truth that Junior societies organized
motive come to a speedy and often
distressing end. The meetings are con-
Quoted with astereotyped programme con-
sisting OF songs, scripture reading, prayer,
"taik" by the leader, and testimonies.
The boys and girls are urged to "speak",
possibly are led to take pledge to do so.
Without suggestion to direct their
thoughts, they are expected to "reIate
their Christian experience long years
before they could reasonably be expected
to have any. The result will be either
q restless disorder, or an unnatural, un-
truthful, insincere ''speech". After few
months OF fiuctuating interest, the leader
feeling the hoiiowness of her effort.
gradually loses her enthusiasm in the
work. The boys and girls are not slow
feel<he change. THE meetings become
noisy and inharmonious; the attend
ance grows constantly less; the
inspiration of numbers is soon lost, and
the society ceases to exist. Nor should
any leader who has no definite end in
view at the beginning be surprised at such
an ending.
A mere children's prayer meeting, led
by child, is not our ideal for a Junior
meeting. The leader who makes a bible
course Of study prominent feature of her
work will have introduced into the Ju-
nior society an inspiration and a method
which will tide the organization over
many danger. Consider the aim and
results OF Tue STUDY Until you yOurseiI De-
lieve in 1t with all your heart and then
communicate your enthusiasm to the Ju-
niors. You will find that your confidence
in the results has not been misplaced.
They should be given a regular reading
for every day to form habit Of daily bi-
BILE reading. In this day when criticism
about the book IS rife, it is of the gravest
importance that our Juniors should BE-
thoroug hlygrounded in knowledge of the
book. IL leaders could realize how surely
the day Is coming when their Juniors vii
be assailed with doubts and fears regard
ing their religious faith, they would not
dare to neglect this opportunity so to for
tify them that their victory will be sure.
Nor would any effort to make the mem