The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-09-16

ttszeEflt 49, ~ xl.I which there Is
practical agree.
ment, 1t is the failure everywhere to
measure up to the ideal of teacher
aud pupil concerning Bible study.
No one doubts that the present sys-
tematic study of the Book Is a vast
improvement over the catechism, and
question and answer "helps," of half
century ago Nevertheless the pIea-
eut is but the chrysalis stage of the
study, and the christian world is be
ginning to stir uneasily in its shell
preparatory to breaking forth into
new and larger life. Since the inter
national lesson system was inausu-
rated teachers and pupils have worn
rut of so-called study through the
Bible from Genesis to Revelation, so
that if the teachers library has been
equipped with lesson help" he finds
himself to-day going over precisely
the same ground that he has travelled
three or four times previously, chap.
ter for chapter and verse for verse.
lie follows a woll-beaten trail biaZcd
for him thirty or forty years ago. ard
reclts not OF the vast uneXp,oced
world OF enlightenment, instruction
and pleasure lying all around him. 1t
is q world in which the traveller clIEs
to the stage coach in preference to
the Pullman car, pre.crring crude and
primitive ways OF living to habitations
of modern improvements.
OF course, it is practically impossi-
bic for individual schools, or teachers
OF individual classes to break away
from the procession and start on
new Path OF exploration for theu-
selves. To do that would break mp
uniformity OF study, in many ways
most desirable and introduce a chaotic
state generally, but the protest, lons
and loud and iEsstent can, at least
be made until the international com
mlLtee is compelled to heed popular
opinion and provide for il. We may
lot refuse to keep sep longer in the
endless belt line to the same old tunes
that were ground ont in our childhood,
we owe something OF reverence 20
antiquities and to customs that have
long become obsolete. but we can
march under protest and be ready to
hail deliyerance from whatever quar-
ter it comes.
Brighter Outlook.
Meanwhile evidences accumulate
that things are frightening to better
day. Theological seminaries are TAX
ing up the training of ministers for
Sunday school leadership; universi-
ties are Offering Bible courses, and
extensions; training schools for Sun.
day school teachers have been opened
and summer schools multiply; corre-
spondence systems have been
evolved; a plan of graded lessons
has been approved and committee
is at work preparing them. This is
the most hopeful sign of the times in
Sunday school work. If these graded
lessons are prepared by men instead
of fossils, if those who are engaged
In the task are more interested in
the warm-blooded youth of to-day
than the mummies of Egyptian and
Assyrian catacombs, if they do not in
sist upon the use OF portions OF the
Bible for children Of any age Hbso.
lutely incomprehensible to the ma
turest minds, then we shall have
renaissance of Bible study epochal
and prophetic of future good
New Methods Needed,
1t Is in this sense that we need a
new Bible new teachers and new
methods. Given these conditions the
Sunday school OF the .uture will be
q vast Improvement over the past
The teachers of the future will not
be callow boys and girls, whose ig
norance is dense, whose ability to in
struct is minus quantity. They
will be trained instructors, qualified
TO bring forth from the treasury OF
the word, things new and CID We
shall no more think of putting an is.
nOrant person to teach a Sunday
school class than we should set
blind man to lead the blind. The
Sunday school will be school, not
an aggregation of classes. Glasses
will be composed OF students, not a
mutual admiration society. Attend
ance will be regular. not hapha2ard,
Teachers, possibly will be paid for
their work not drafted on account OF
their good looks or influence or con
nectlon with the best families. We
shall initiate nature which grades
children by eye, capacity, home en-
yironment, future prospects. There
will be classes in good citizenship and
roc!al service. In word, the Sunday
school 0. tie future will be the church
at study, being trained to rightly di-
vide the word of life, that each may
have his portion in due season.
Such Sunday school will have no
need for doubtful measures to draw
pupils. They will come to it as hun
Ely men to a banquet when there IL
enCuCh a-d 10 sEare