The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-02-15
SUNDAY
SCHOOL
TEACHERS
Their
Power
and
Privileges
Amelia E. Barr in Christian Herald.
is a tremendous living
power in this nation, Of which

II 10 u
power in this nation, OF which
political economists take no ac-
4 count. To them Sunday School
teachers meeting may not seem very
important national affair, but they
would think differently if they CON
sidered of whom IL consists, and what
are It's definite objects. For this
great body is an absolute spiritual and
moral force, working unanimously
with steady pressure in the region
which assures the strength and pros
peIity OF the whole nation. Immoral
Sunday School teachers could not. for
any length Of time, keep their office;
for thev are the teachers of morality,
and every one Of their associates are
sureties for their sincerity.
Though a voluntary association,
framing its own laws, and self-regu-
lated in its proceedings, is there any
legislative body in the world which
would make such an imposing appear
ance as all the Sunday School teachers
of the United States gathered tOgeth-
er in one Immense building? All! no
building could contain them, but one
from the hand Of the Divine Architect
some vast plain, with the mountains
in the background, and the sky for a
dome.
Very foolish. indeed, would be the
statesman who could rate such body,
in any sense, as an unimpOrtant one.
Even political statist, viewing them
a. mere educators and nal agents,
would be fool to ignore their worth
and influence. How many children
between the years of seven and four
teen owe all the religious and mental
training they ever receive to this vast
organization of voluntary teachers?
And in a country where every great
organization is almost certainly drawn
into some political party, it Is a
wonderful thing to find so vast body
sinking all questions of Democracy or
RepublcaDism in the one great quest
ion Of teaching the young IT, be good
citizens, independent Of party politics.
Another evidence of the deep and
great work they are doing, is the touch
ing confidence with which parents
surrender their children to the Sun
day School. They may have prejud.
ices about secular teachers. doubts and
dislikes about secular methods of
teaching, but they have an unlimited
confidence in the Sunday School.
Whether social economists notice this
fact or not, 1t is one OF the most ex
traordinary moral bonds existing in
the whole world And where there Is
SO much bigotry, and Jealousy, and
passionate feeling about creeds, and
and political parties, this
blessed neutral ground OF the SUNDAY
School is very truce OF God And
this confidence in the parents Is dup
great deal of affection
added thereto-ln the children. The
tie between Sunday School teacher.
and their scholars Is often a very near
and dear one; and IN great many
cases teachers NAV assure themselves
they have touched souls for good that
will answer to chat touch beyond this
life.
In addition, the Sunday School
teacher acquirers, ia contact with
a Keen and profound knowl
edge of character Those who mag
Inc children furnish no material Tor
The mark. And those who think light |
y of managing children, of winning |
the stubborn. interesting the stupid.
the vicious are still fur
Their wrong. 1t Is an Office that no one
can accept without fear and PRAYER;
Or il they do accept without these con-
1iticns, they only show forth the fact |
that they have more presumption than
piety. And they are soon discovered |
and judged; for nearly every child un
Ter such care sees very quickly the
teacher's weak points, and mentally |
them OF insincerity and inef-
iciency. For these little ones" are
great OWNERS Of character, and many |
If them know lntuitively what the
teacher only learns by patient ohser-
vdtion and experiment.
Children also are natural democrats. |
Any counting or concession will have
20 come from the teacher; and for |
earning how to win souls there is no
theological seminary equal to the Sun
lay School. But when the children |
ire won! who has such royal subjects? |
who has such fervent partisanSas the |
Sunday School teacher? Now as a
mere mental effort IL is a great thing
10 have fathOmed the hearts of half-a |
core snbtle-sensed boys and girls, and |
)y patient tact and love Subdued their |
will to his own.
Truly, then, the Sunday School is
mighty school, not only for the child
zen but for the men and women who
inter IL; for the ad antages Dointed |
nut here are only the n Ost obvious ones
here are Others more private and in
1iyidual, only known TO the solitary
experience, and to the grateful heart,
# every loving and conscientious
teacher Teachers Of this kind. as a
rule, do not trouble themselves much |
,bout creeds End dogmas; they say to
he children. "God is Lowell" ana on
INSTRUMENTATION they build Especial
" is this true OF women teachers: and
Keble was not far from the truth when
ne asked: