St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-10-30
Young Peoples Work and its RespOn-
sibiIitieS.

M. v. at OpIlukuGlu' W
The child study movement, which has
arrested and is now holding the attention
of the thinking mothers OF today, has
stamped the child of the twentieth cen
fury with a peculiar value. The many
questions which it carries regarding the
physical, moral and intellectual welfare
of children are of too much import to be
casually noted, especially is this true of
the Importance of early formative influ-
ences which may work for either good or
ill.
Some years since when the great Christ
ian Endeavor Convention met in San
Francisco, a red-faced and somewhat
besotted man met one OF the leaders on
the street and accosted him somewhat
as follows: II hear you expect to do
great things here-now take good look
at me, do look like a man whom you
can convert ?" mo, perhaps not" was
the quiet reply, "but we are after your
boy." How early in life should child's
education begin ?" is the question. with
his grandfather" is the answer. These
are familiar stories, but they 60 to esta-
blish the fact that this work among
young people to be enduring must be
begun at an early period in life. 1t has
become generally recognized that the
greater questions of the day. of educa-
lion, of temperance, OF morality, all, are
to be answered through the child ottoday
who is the man OF the next generation,
The child is the main factor in most Of
these, as yet unsolved problems. 1t rests
with the present generation to work out
patiently and untiringly, and it is to be
hoped, very wisely, many OF these vexed
and intricate questions which now face
US. Given an educated child and we
have an educated man, given a moral
child and we have a moral man, given
a temperate child and we have a
temperate man-these are plain facts
which our educators recognize and the
present generation OF children in our
public schools ought to make of the
next generation one OF culture and
morality. But where is the question of
child S relation to missions being met
Not in our public schools, surely-not in
many of our churches. Just now it seems
to be handled largely by the Womau's
Boards of our states by women. Do we
realise the Importance OF this work which
seems to be thrust into our charge?
|, We have found that the child repre-
sents the figures in these problems, not
the least OF which is that OF missions.
Figures never lie." They are as solid
and as sure as the rocks on our hills
; about US. Should they ever fail us then
perhaps we might find an excuse for oc-
casional encouragement for certainly
there is little inspiration in continually
working on sums which never seem to
come out with the right answers. But
: the fault is not with the figures. The
, sums may be solved if only we can have
patience. But the work demands inter-
est, intelligence, untirlng labor and
courageous outlook as to future results.
, We have found then at the outset that
we have at hand the best of material with
which to begin our structure OF young
peoples work. What is to be our first
move? II we were to build house
think we would sit down and look the
ground over carefully, make suitable
{ plans and count the cost of the same.
, A good deal OF serious thought would no
, doubt be expended before a stone was
= |
on hand and laid aside for future use
might wonder at the delay. Some peo-
, pie do not like to burn coal because they
: cannot see the blaze or hear the flame
roar up the chimney. This does not
5 prove that because it works quietly coal
: is not a good and reliable fuel. 1t will
paw us well to waste little time at first,
il it must be called waste, in noiseless
thinking and planning. Our work must
be we'll organized before much move can
A be successfully made. Each county must
/ have its directors among the young peo-
D. pc who shall have general oversight OF
: work in the churches of that county,
f Each local church should have its leader.
i The state secretary should have the whole
e work in general in charge, having every
d line under her own steady guidance.
0 Gong down town have passed this
y summer what has seemed heretofore
II an unattractive end of a cottage near
the street, with a window at the top
in the gable. This window is the only
break in the monotony of plain boards
which bear the marks of summers rain
y and sun. This spring there was planted
> along the edge a row of blossoming vines
= which were trained upon cords up to
u the window and fastened within. The
Il vines, as the summer has advanced
y y have elm bed to the top, mass OF greer
~ and bloom.
l. A train of thought is always awakened
>, in passing this place and noting tht
u transformation of what was once plai1
y object into one of interest. The window
: appears as hand holding in it's firm
, grasp these lines, every one OF which il
- entirely independent and yet each bears
5 certain relation to the others.
u one vine should straggle off by itself tn
n symmetry of the whole would be marred
~ Each vine is free to climb as fast as i
y chooses and to blossom asfreeIy as it may
:. - 1t is effective because of its freedom ant
. because OF its independence as well. S.
,o it should be with our lines of young pee
~ pies work. Each may be entirel
10 independent in it's movements and at th
same time it should consider itself nee
essary part of the state work as Who'll,
The leaders of young peoples work i
% local societies cannot be chosen too care
at fully. Not many years since the publ
n school teacher received her practical pr,
~ hminary training in the primary schoo
ht beginning at the lowest round Of the lac
I'd der and advancing step by step to,sth
rs position of high school teacher. Now "