The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-05-29
Speaks of Supreme Importance
Of Right Training of the
Rising Genera
ton.
CHURCH ATTENDANCE LOW
Interesting Address at Annual Meet
ingNof Religious Education
Federation Last
Night.

The annual meeting OF the New
Haven branch Of the Religious Educa-
ton Federation was held at the chapel
of the United church last night. Pres
ident Charles i, Kent presided, and
there was good attendance OF teach
ers and others interested in the work
Of the Sunday schools. Prof Kent
read his annual report which contain
ed many interesting items regarding
the work of the federation The vari-
Gus committees also made their re-
ports, all OF which were considered
highly satisfactory. At the business
session the election OF directors took
place and resulted as follows:
For a term of three years, Rev.
Francis T. Brown, Rev. Theodore
Fischer, j, r. North, Dean E. l. Cur
It's and Thomas D. Jenkins.
Committees from the various de-
partments of the Sunday schools rec
commended the following graded
courses: kindergarten department.
course OF lessons by Prof Pease. for
primary department, Prof Pease's
course, was also adopted Junior de-
partment the International lesson
course with graded supplemental
work. intermediate department, the
following courses were recommended,
VIZ first year. Gates Life of Christi"
second year, Keedy's "Old Testament
Heroes" third year, Keedy's Heroes
of the Early Church," fourth year,
Gardeners Life Studies" and senior
department, Kent's Historical Bible"
President Kents report contained
many interesting recommendations
and suggestions Regarding the i'm
portance of training children for the
church he said:
With It's growing BODY u friends
and supporters. the federation should
be able during the coming year to COM
nland the best lecturers IN the country
on the general subjects of biblical In
depreciation and religious education, II
Is evident that one of the main aims OF
the organization will long continue 10
be the arousing OF the churches and tho
general public TO the appreciation OF
the supreme Importance OF the right
training Of the rising generation. Here
alone lies the ultimate solution OF our
political civic and social problems
| Here lies the great responsibility and
| opportunity OF the modern church
Professionalism has much 10 learn from
Its Roman Catholic ana Jewish breth-
rem Only IN the receptive years Of
childhood and adolescence can effective
citizens be trained for the work ot
church and state, The only true waS
to improve the spirit of worship In oui
| churches Is TO train the worshlpper
| The churches which arc enjoying th'
/ IL ma al IL
| discharging their obligations TO tho
community are those when arc en-
| phaszlng most strongly tho work II
! their Sunday schools. In 50 doing they
! are but foll!nwing the tried methods Of
the prophets and the grelt Teacher o.
| Nazareth
Continuing. Professor Kent said
Another task that lies before the Fed
Grafton is to cooperate with the irdi
!. vidual churches in co-ordinating tlcil
various activities At present there Il
much unnecessary duplication with thu
result that Sunday is a day Of arduouI
toll for the conscientious worker, an.
many Of the evenings and afternoons
of the week are filled with church en-
gagemente II would be n great rain
| If the regular Sunday morning servioj
and Sunday school session sould eacl
be so shortened ana blended that the!
would not as at present, In part dupli
cate each other. The one should rathe
constitute the introduction 10 the 9th
or, with the result that both old an
young would thus be enabled TO wor
ship and to study the Bible together
II also during the week as at presen
In certain churches. one evening coul
be set aside for the prayer meetin
and kindred services and another 10
the distinctlvely educational work o
the church, the interests of each line o
activity would be conserved, ms we'll a
the time and energies Of the indivldul
workers."