The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-01
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS
THEY MAY BE GRADED TO SUIT ALL
AGES OF SCHOLARS.
Special Series of Lessons for Young
Children Is Now i'm Course
of Preparation.
to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, Nov. O.-For several years
the idea has been gaining ground among
Sunday school workers that graded lessons
were as essential to the permanent success
of Sunday school they are to that of
day school, and that the time has gone by
when one selection from the Scriptures is
as suitable for the study of the little chill
dren in the primary classes as for the
adults in Bible classes. Graded lessons
have. therefore. been prepared for several
of the denominations. although a general
series of the kind has not been adopted.
The International Sunday School Associa-
ton, the body which prepares the interna-
tionaI lessons. is now making plans to meet
the new demand, and a forward step will
be taken by it when. at its annual meeting
in Denver next June, a series of advanced
lessons for older students will be offered by
a subcommittee, of which the Rev. DR.. A.
f. Dunning. of Boston, is chairman. Sen
timent in the association is by no means
unanimous in favor of the adoption of this
special course of lessons. and strong oppo-
sitiOn is expected from some of the cOnser-
vative Southern members. but there is lit
tie doubt Of their ultimate adoption. Along
the same lines a special series of lessons
for young children is to be proposed to
cover one years study. The plans for
these were prepared by over fifty expert
teachers, and the system has been ar
ranged along the best peda gogical lines. All
the topics have not been decided upon, but
half of the total number of lessons are to
be from the old and half from the New
Testament. They will not be arranged
chronolOgically, will bring in some nature
study and will lead the children definitely
toward the two great church holidays,
Easter and Christmas.
Xxx
The prudential committee of the Ameri
can Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions have just issued statement to
the Congregational churches of the coun-
try, in which it asks for better financial
support. Attention is called to the fact that
the debt of Sl02,0 900, which was resting on
the board at the close of the last fiscal
year, was entirely wiped out at the annual
meeting in Hartford, the entire sum being
subscribed by about 500 people. While re-
Joicing in the removal of the debt, the COM
mittee asks that the feeling of security be
not permitted to cause a reduction in the
trary, these should be larger than before or
there will again be debt. 1t is stated that
expenses last year were diminished s15,-
900. but that the debt increased $4,000. Fur
Their retrenchment, says the committee is
impossible To properly carry on the work
OF the board, to give it's missionaries ade-
qUate support, and to increase appropria-
tions for native agencies in the proportion
warranted by the growth Of the work, will
require at least $4,000 this year, or ap-
proximately $4,000 more than was con-
tributed last year. Whether this additional
amount can be raised in tire churches is a
question, but in putting the case before
them at the beginning of the fiscal year
the committee hopes to avoid the necessity
of making special appeals at its close.
XXX
The Church Temperance Society, an Epis-
cOpal organization which plans to cover the
whole country, but whose main field of
work is in the vicinity of New York, has
just attracted the attention of the whole
country by the stand which it has taken on
the Sunday saloon opening question, just
now being agitated in that city 1t has
been stated by one of the officials of the
newly elected reform" administration in
New York that he will use his influence
toward the enactment of a new excise law
which will permit saloons to do business
on certain hours of Sundays. The Church
Temperance Society met shortly after this
declaration was made and after an ami
mated discussion adopted resolutions
strongly opposing the proposed liberal
laws. The president of the society, the Rt
Rev. DR.. William c. Doane, bishop of AL
bany, thereupon rendered his resignation,
stating that he was not in sympathy with
the societys position. Members of the So
ciety-sOme who were not present at the
meeting when the action was taken-are
talking about having it rescinded at the
next meeting, and Episcopal leaders are
divided on the subject. some holding with
the society and others believing with
Bishop Doane that excise laws are much
in need of Improvement, which may come
although not necessarily, in the form of
liberality.