Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-06-14
STUDY OF THE BIBLE.
Important Source Of Training That Is
Sadly Neglected.

Sadly Neglected.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer:
AS a teacher in our common schools
for more than ten years, we have had
forced upon us more than once, the
painful fact that a majority Of our
young people are grossly ignorant OF
Scripture. Not infrequently a pupil,
bright in other lines, will be densely
ignorant of the simplest teachings of
the Bible. Nor have they read 1t suf-
ficiently to have become familiar with
it's style, nor have its priceless pass
ages fixed themselves in their hearts
and memories. We have found them
utterly unable to distinguish familiar
proverb Of Solomon from popular say
ing Of Poor Richard, and often they
confound-a beautiful, widely-used pass
age Of Scripture with the writings OF
uninspired men. The ignorance OF
Scripture. Is widespread-it is appall-
ing-it is the crime Of the century. The
church must face this palpable, though
unpleasant fact, and in the grace and
wisdom OF God must solve this prob
lem Of the century.
Bible study should be the all import
ant study Of youth. Viewed merely
as a part Of liberal education, a
knowledge Of the Bible is necessity.
No man can lay claim to culture. who
has not made a systematic and thor
ough study Of the Scriptures Of God.
A thorough knowledge Of Gods Word
may not be essential to salvation, but
to get all the light God Is willing to
give us from Revelation Is our duty to
Him, to our fellowmen and to our
selves. A knowledge Of Scripture,
where It is the servant Of love and hu-
mility, honors God as its Divine au-
thor, enlarges our minds. strengthens
our convictions, makes our religion an
intelligent faith, instead Of blind su-
perstition, enables us to vindicate the
truth, when impugned, and Is indis-
pensable to a healthy religious life.
May not this ignorance Of Scripture
be the cause Of the low state of piety
in the church, the lethargy in evan
gelical work, the lack Of competent
consecrated teachers In the home and
in the Sabbath school, and the falling
away in the number Of candidates for
the ministry? In the days Of good
King Josiah, God blessed Israel be-
cause there was a revival Of the study
of the Book Of the Law. The hope OF
the church Is its youth, the hope Of the
youth Is it's faith in the Christ Of CAL
vary as revealed in the Scriptures OF
God. Our youth have no intelligent,
helpful, vital knowledge Of Scripture.
How shall this ignorance be combatted?
How shall a knowledge Of the Word
be made to cover the earth as the wa
ters cover the deep? The first and the
best place to teach the Scriptures Is IN
the home. Moses says, Thou shalt
teach them diligently unto thy chill
dren." Lois and Eunice taught the
child Timothy in the Holy Scriptures.
The command Of God and the vows OF
the church are upon US to train our
children in the knowledge Of His truth.
What are the facts? Parents do not
take time to give Scriptural instruction
to their children, or are wholly incom-
petent to do so. The child may be re-
ouired to read a chapter in the Bible
on Sabbath evening. Without any
guiding and encouraging help he does
this in a barren way. One hours list
less reading Of the Scriptures a week.
ffty-two a year will deepen but little
ones knowledge Of the Word.
Another means for teaching Scrip
lures Is through the Sabbath school.
This Is a church service for the criti-
cal and devotional study Of the Bible
for moral and religious instruction, and
for the worship of the true God. II Is
most excellent method Of training
the young and ignorant in the duties
we owe to God and to our neighbor.
We must not only read the Bible 10
get a knowledge of 1t, but we must
study it, and a good place to study 1t
is in the home and in the Sabbath
school. What are the facts? Possibly
on an average the Sabbath school meets
thirty times a year for Bible study
The average pupil spends forty-five
minutes in preparing and reciting the
lesson. In the course Of a Sabbath
school year he would be engaged in
Bible study 1850 minutes, or twenty
two and a half hours. Let me ask,
how much Latin or Algebra could be
learned by a study Of twenty-five and
a half hours a year?
Then the ordinary Sabbath school