St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-10-23

talk individually as friend with friend,
the pastor who would do his part III
| Christian culture will aim at absolute
sincerity in dealing with children. he
will not talk down to them-Sooner or
later they will find it out if he does; be
will not use a line OF argument which
would seem incomplete or unworthy to
a grown person; be will not be senti-
mental or make any undue appeal to
childish feeling he will never take ad-
vantage Of childish inexperience. He will
cultivate simplicity, sincerity, directness,
kindness, personal interest-and he Will
find sooner or later that this sort OF
dealing will tell
suppose that ought to add a word
about catechetical instruction. 1t ought
most certainly to have place-a gener-
Gus place in every mans plans for the
children of his church. There is a little
danger Just now that it will become
fad, and that men will get the notion
that there is some magic efficacy in
tripartite compound OF child, minister,
and catechism. But the revival of inter-
est in systematic instruction in Chris
tian doctrine and p act,ce is an entirely
healthul and hopeful sign. How shall
we do it? Certainly not by increased
organization il we can help it. Ii you
aleadv have Sunday school, Young
Peoples Society, and very likely Mis-
sion Circle or a Boys Guild try not to
add any thing else. incline to the opin-
ion that the best way in which to bring
the opportunity about in most OF our
Churches is by making place Tor it in the
Sunday school. But not by superadding
it to the study of the regular lesson. A
tentative plan would be this. Let each
class ia its progress rom the infant de-
par ment to the adult Bible class have
three periods of catechetical instruction,
each covering a quarter or a halt year.
Let one period come at the age OF nine or
ten-une three years lat,r-One three
years later yet. Let the regular lessons
90 during this period. There will be
some loss but it will not be irreparable.
Let the pastor do as much of this work
as he can himself, bon owing a class OF
its regular teacher tor three months and,
meeting it in a room by itself if possible.
| There are good many advantages about
his method 1t lnsures first hand con.
tact with the children. 1t brings init
mate acquaintance in its train. 1t pre-
sens the Children 0 their pastor in such
| small groups that tie teaching can be
! kept upon a natural and conversational
| plane. The children are generally pretty
nearly OF an age. They are already well
acquainted. The hour is one which they
exp ct to give to some exercise of this
| RI nd how or bpr Z he tv
| OF the CateChetlCal class than otherwise.
have been trying this plan in my
Sunday school of late with q class of
boys who had just come from the inter
mediate into the senior department.
! The average age is about - or 13-an
age at which it is difficult to S, cure regu.
lar attendance upon any week dav after
ternOon. They have attended my class
regularly on Sunday noon, and have
given respectful and intelligent attention
The teaching has not been very formal
perhaps not formal enough But it
has been progressive and definite in plan.
| have used catechism which | do not
name because it is not sufficiently adapt
ed to its purpose to justify recommend
alton. Yet have found it useful and
am convinced that the plan is a good
one. pass it on to you Tor further ex.
pertinent, and | shall be glad to answer
questions about it.
Yet in making this practical appica,
ton of my general theme, | repeat that
the solution of our problem does not
rest in any method. Ii rests in the pa
tient, affectionate, intelligent and persis
tent application Of ministers of the Cos.
pei to the special problem presented by
the families and children of each parish,
in the light of such wisdom as the Spirit
of all Truth and Grace can shed upon it.