The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-05-20
be injured by it. The boy would thus


teachings he received as child. 1t is
better to say to the child that it is the
safest plan to let liquor alone entirely,
and that small amount is likely to
create longing for more. No state
ment should be made to the child that
he will have reason to disbelieve in af
ter years. Evil and good things should
be stated as they are and neither ex-
aggerated nor understated.
Professor Hancock in response to the
toast, 'The Point of Contact in Sunday
School Teaching" emphasized the neces-
sity of inculcating the true spirit of re-
ligion into child. Care should be taken
to avoid the dry system of teaching
things merely by rote. Prof. Hancock
did not believe in requiring the child to
memorize catechism or verses of scrip
ture. In his own childhood days he had
learned all four gospels by heart. Now
there were no six consecutive verses in
any one of them that he could repeat.
The lessons that are selected from the
Bible should be adapted to the age of
the child. The younger children should
be taught the stories of the Old Tesla
ment. Interest in the doctrinal books of
the Bible could be properly stimulated
about the age of Is.
The POSTMASTER, as he called upon
Mrs. H. 1. Parry, remarked: "We can't
get along without the ladies, and per-
haps, if the truth were known, the ladies
could not do without U.S."
Mrs. Parry played her own accompani-
ment at the organ as she sang, "The
Plans of Peace" in the sweet, clear
tones, familiar to so many people of
Mankato and vicinity.
Mrs. N. M. Steele responded to the
toast, ''The Relation of the Pastor to the
Sunday School" The pastor should love
the children. Through the children he
can WELD mighty influence for good
upon the parents. To the boys he should
be an example of manhood that they
will be safe in initiating. Though not
actually doing the work of the Sunday
school he should nevertheless make his
influence felt there, and should be shep-
herd over all the children that attend.
The banqueters adjoined after singing
"Blest Be the Tie"
The complete success of the evenings
program is certainly in large measure
to be accredited to the ladies of the
Christian church, who served the guests
with delicious supper.
The institute also held session at
the church in the afternoon, beginning at
$3.50 o'clock. Song service and prayer
were led by Rev. j. X. Shellenberger,
pastor of the church. Rev. E. L. Heer-
nance, pastor of the Congregational
church, delivered paper on''The Financ-
ing of the Sunday School," the main
thought of which was that the Sunday
school should not be expected to be self
sustaining, but should be supported
from the general funds of the church.
Mrs. H. I. Parry read paper treating
of 'The Development of Music in the
Sunday School," advising the singing of
more sacred hymns and less jingle mu-
sic in the Sunday school. A solo was
sung by Mrs. H. A. Patterson. A thesis
by Miss Carrie Robbins on Evangelism
in the Sunday School, was read by Mrs.
Parry, as Miss Robbins could not be
present. The idea that this paper
brought out was that the work of the
Sunday school teacher should be evan
gelical as well as educational. He should
not only impart knowledge of fact, but
should endeavor to inculcate in the child
the true spirit of Christianity. Open
discussions took place on Qualifications
of Sunday School Secretary" led by
Mrs. j. B. Coy, and Sunday School
Literature" led by DR.. Ida Osborn.
The last half hour of the afternoon
was spent in social way.