The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-03
RELIGION FOR CHILDREN.
Rev. 4. e.. ROwlisOn Discusses Their
Education Along This Line.

The Rev. G. c. Rowlison. pastor of the
Third Christian Church, preached to a
large congregation yesterday morning OF
THE Religious Education of Children"
He said in part
THE fundamental element i'm the COM
mission given TO His disciples by our risen
Lord is Teach all nations. During the
first few centuries of the history of the
Christian Church she gave herself almost
wholly to teaching, preaching in the sense
we now speak of it being as foreign to
apostolic practice as was infant baptism.
During most of the history of the Chris
tian Church teaching has been a very
sential element in her work, of which we
remnants in the parochial schools
I'm breaking away from the theological
and ecclesiastical systems of the past the
independent churches have also dropped
away from not "A few excellent old customs.
Especially have our Western people in
avoiding the union of church and state,
shown this weakness, until our American
boys and girls are left without any thor
ough- going knowledge of religion In say
ing this. | do not accuse the Sunday school
Of failure. ] know of no institution which
has done and Is doing so much good in the
time at its disposal is the Sunday school.
Its business il not so much to instruct al
To inspire; il is the children's hour of wor-
ship; every teacher is rather a preacher,
and every lesson is a text for a sermon
This work is of nestimabe value. and he
who speaks lightly of it should inform him
self. But it is impossible, i'm few min
utes on Sunday morning, to give sys-
tematic. complete instruction.
Yet this fuller knowledge is absolutely
required The community, which supports
the church. has right to demand it, The
church for her own sake must educate.
First. there must be systematic instruc-
ton in the Bible. Its history is as Signifi-
cant to the progress of the world is the
history of Rome England; its literature
is equal to Dante Shakespeare and Homer,
thorough way. And II this is So the re-
ligion taught in the Scriptures is simply
incomprehensible and indispensable.
In the second place, a knowledge OF
the history of the dispicles of Christ and
of what they mean to the religious life
of the world Is as important to our boys
and girls as is a knowledge of the history
of the State of Indiana. Acquaintance
with the religious beliefs and activities OF
American churches is as necessary to the
complete culture of Christian man and
woman as is acquaintance with principles
OF political economy and the political par
ties OF America. An understanding Of the
principles and purposes of the kingdom of
heaven. and the meaning of citizenship
therein is OF quite as much Importance to
the true man as such an understanding OF
the Republic of the United States.
I'm the third place, nothing is more de-
sirable than knowledge OF the expansive
policy of the church 1t is quite as inn
nortant To know the story of the acquisi-
ton of the Hawaiian islands by the church
as their later acquisition by our country:
to know of the Christian abandon that led
TO the establishment or missions IN Burmah
ard India as to learn the incidents of the
acouisition of Louisiana in 1903. to follow
the campaign Of Livingstone I'm opening AZ
RIGA to the gospel as i'm following General
Scott and the other influences which made
California a part OF the Union; TO become
acquainted with the story OF missions i'm
China-that most fascinating chapter of
religious history-as with the events cius-
tering around the Spanish American war
L.. all these things IL Is not sentiment
about the Bible. sentiment about our re-
lisious movement. sentiment about mis-
siens that is needed. but systematic knowl-
edge
.sSuch religious training here indi-
Gated has always been given to the Jews
and that Is one reason why IL is so diff
cult IN convert him. All are acquainted
too with the educational effect upon Ro-
man Catholic children. On the other hand
il Is largely because Of a lack OF such
knowledee that so many are led away from
Protestant churches after the vagaries OF
Christian Science. DowieiSm. etc. almost
al infnitum certainly ad nauseam.
Il cannot take time to-day TO describe
in detail what such school should be.
but the demand is heavily upon the church
10 provide It, IL must have graded syS
tenn OF instruction. based upon our psyche
cgical knowledge. with suitable text
books and handbooks. IL Is as foolish 10
teach tho 1'wenty-third Psalm and the
Epistle TO the Romans 10 all grades alike
as II would be to teach Hiawatha and Her
| bert Spencer's First Principles 10 all
! grades OF public school pupils.
AT least one hour week ought TO be