Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-11-14


ing service of the church" These are
not sufficient statements; they are
not centered in persons. Teaching
the Bible in the school is a means to
an end, not the end itself. Without
question We will teach the Bible, but
we shall do SO because its lessons sur
pass all others In developing the spir-
! ritual life CT the pupil. Building tue
church through the school is meals,
not an end. The one supreme end OF
the Sunday school Is the development
and training Of boys and girls, men
and women, in Christian character
, and service. ri. -..- -.z> ill.,.
| "A head master of a famous school
was once asked, What do you teach in
your sehool?' We teach boys was
, his wise reply This is the business
! Ct the Sunday school. Its aim is to
create Christlike lives. Its purpose Is
identical with that of the Master, who
said, / am come that they might have
J life, that they might have it more
abundantiy. Nothing less than this
can be accepted as sufficient state
ment of the purpose of the Sunday
school. II does not exist for the sake
CT book-we say 1t reyerently not
even for the sake Of the Book OF books,
| Ii exists for the sake of boys and
girls, in order to make them such men
and women as were the great charac-
tiers with which the Bible acquaints
us. Its primary and controlling inter-
est is in the development Of a race of
God-inspired men and women. In
achieving its purpose 1t uses the Bible
because the Bible has demonstrated
in multitudes OF lives its power to in
spire and to accomplish this develop
ment CT Christian character"
Let me call up another authority,
DR.. Luther A. Weigle, professor Of
philosophy in Carleton College, whose
recent book, "The Pupil and the
Teacher" has been officially recog-
nized as textbook by the Interna-
tional Sunday School Association and
which DR.. B. s. Winchester of the
Congregational Sunday School and
Publishing Society of Boston recon-
mended to me most heartily as the
best book ION the subject of teacher
training. DR.. Weigle says, What is
your aim as a Sunday school teacher?
What is the work that you are set to-
do? You must do more than instruct.
You must do more than train your
pupils In the right habits of action.
Your aim is to develop a personality.
You Want your pupil not simply to
know, but to live Christianity. You
want him not merely to do right deeds
but to do them of his soYR free will,
knowing what he IS doing and why he
Is doing It There is but Que real
test Of a teachers work. God and
men alike will ask you that one ques-
ten. 1t issnot what have YOU taught
your pupil to know scE What have
you trained him to dor but What
sort Of person have you helped him to
beeomer
From the words which have been
quoted from DR.. Vincent. Mr.. Oliver,
DR., Pell, Mr. Barclay and DR.. Weigle,
we can form a very lofty idea as to
the real purpose of the Sunday school,.
Pared down to the smallest possible
phrase, it may be stated that the pur-
pose of the school Is to develop Chris
ton character. II any higher motive
exists for the work Of the school
than this, / am unaware of it. Surely
this is a wonderful work in which to
be engaged. one worthy of all our
strength and most loyal service, name
~, to develop the personalities of the
young people entrusted to our care
along the lines Of the Christian life
in all its richness and fullness.i
Having such a noble and lofty pur-
pose and ideal before US as we work
on, 1t will not be difficult for us to
see. at glance that there are many
needs and deficiencies among the
schools of Honolulu which must be
met and supplied before it may be
said that our schools are up to high
standard It Is ever the way. In life
that as we progress towards the goal.
there seem to be many things still
undOne. many mistakes to be rectifed,
many improvements that ought to be
introduced into our enterprises. This
Is true of the great enterprise Of the
church We term the Sunday school.
It takes but little observation of
conditions as they exist among our
schools toscome to the conclusion that
our Sunday schools lack enthusiasm,
definite purpose and aim. touch with
real life, the support OF all the church
members, steadfastness. the prayerful
spirit, the spirit Of worship and deyo-
ton, consecrated teachers who are
trained In the knowledge Of the Bible
and OF methods, definite program OF |
expansion among mono Christians. suf- |
hcient time for study OF the Bible,
regular attendance of pupils and loyal |
support of the teachers, vigorous
Christian life during the week, and
many other things. Now, this long
list does not mean that an OF our
schools are lacking in all of these
things. but 1t does Indicate some of |
the things in which our schools are to |
q more or less extent deficient. If we
are sound, in some of these respects,
we fail in others.
It is sometimes a splendid thing for
us to take stock and see wherein we
are strong and wherein we are weak.
Introspecticn will not harm us. but
rather be q good thing for us, it as 4 |
result CT looking within ourselves we
see the mistakes and deficiencies and