Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-07-06
GOLDEN RULE MAY
AL WAYS Be TAUGHT
APPEARS IN RELIGION OF CHI.
NEsE BUDDHIST, MoHAMME-
DAN AND OTHERS
BEARING OF eRuDGEs. DIsoeEDl
ENcE AND MocKERY ADDED
TO DEcALoeuE.
Madison, July 2


The golden rule as it appears In
Chinese, Buddhist, Mohammedan and
other religions may be taught chill
dren as a direct means of cultivatlng
the religious spirit, said Mr. A. w.
Martin, associate leader of the New
York society of ethical culture in a
lecture yesterday afternoon at the
historical library. The subject was
A Childrens Church as Substitute
for a Sunday School.
Mr.. Martin criticized both orthodox
and unorthodox Sunday schools in
their lack of pedagogical methods,
and their forcing of incomprehensibie
subjects. He spoke of the absence of
any attempts at grading of subject
matter, such as is undertaken in the
public schools. Lessons ON Predes-
tination, The Unjust Steward and
The Sacrifice of Isaac were deemed
unsuitable to bring to the attention
of the child mind.
Even the ten commandments should
be expurgated for primary pupils
tempted neither to murder nor idol
worship.
Jesus and the Rich Young Man
and Paul and Festus were stories to
be closely related to contrasts in
character, thought Mr.. Martin. Not
until the high school age could some
of the necessary elements in the stor-
les of Adam and Eve be extracted.
The imperative necessity of normal
trained teachers was emphasized.
After twenty-four years of experience
Mr.. Martin regarded such prepare
ton, together with noble personality,
as indispensable.
In the correct estimation of charac-
ter in after life the pupil might be
assisted through the stories of strong
and beautiful characters as shown IL
art The Perry pictures were men
toned as affording many concrete ex-
amples of noble men and women
painted by the masters. Shutting
boys and giggling girls were electri-
fed by such methods of teaching .vir-
tue, magnanimity, industry and cour-
age. Many proverbs, too, were espe-
cially useful in instruction for chill
dren.
Carefully selected songs and spirit
ual hymns having no theological
terms were said to be helpful means
of indirect instruction. Among 9TH
ers were selected passages of great
literary productions and responsive
readings from the bibles of the great
religions. Indeed a children's version
of our bible was recommended.
Mr. Adler had selected and classi-
fed sixteen commandments for chill
dren. The bearing of grudges, DISC
bedience and mockery were among
the subjects included.
A distinction was to be made in
the selection of moral instruction for
children and youth. For the former
the deeper truths of the beatitudes
were not we'll understood. There was
believed to be great loss in giving
the same lessons to Sunday school
children and grown ups. Only por-
ton of these could assimilate finer
ethical distinctions as between anger
and indignation and the relations of
friendship and marriage.
Among the qualifications of the
teacher for gaining high and noble
responses, personality was foremost.
1t was sincerity, courtesy and a right
attitude toward life which generated
the marvellous powers of cOntagion in
the pure and good. No wearing of the
secration could suffice.