The Pulaskian., 1915-03-19
Junior Church Plan Outlined
 by Pastor Byron HarweH


 is need for graded instruction and graded Christian service, is there not also need for graded worship? It is evident that, as a rule, the children are not attending the church service. Some one has conservatively estimat ed that eighty per cent of the children go home at the close of the study hour. This fact ought to lead us to the realization that the church ser vice as usually conducted is not suited to the child. The parent who compels the child to stay to church because "the children must learn the habit of going to church" will general ly find that as soon as the child is old enough to assert his choice in the matter, he will stay away from church As a matter of fact, the children have been learning the habit of staying away from church.
 Our Junior Church is organized and designed to remedy this evil It meets in the basement of the church at the eleven o'clock hour and is composed of the Primary, Junior and Lower h. termediate Departments. We have full order of worship, with hymns of real worth the apostles creed, re- sponsive reading, etc. It is not an adult service cut down to fit the child; we try to make it a real expression of the child's religious life. We allow more freedom and introduce more va riety that can well be had in an adult service.
 The chairs are arranged in two sec tions with an aisle between; the pr1- maries seated on one side and the Jul niors on another, with the smallest chairs in front The service is open ed with a short organ voluntary dur ing which quietude is obtained, fol- lowed by the doxology. Then a hymn, such as Safely Through Another Week. Come Thou Almighty God" or perhaps the music director uses q few minutes here to drill the children on some special song. After this the Apostles creed, followed by prayer and Lords Prayer, after which we sometimes have some special musical number, by one of the children, if pos sible.
 Then follows the Old Testament reading. Then the notices and church offering; after the offering has been taken, and while the ushers hold the collection plates before the altar, tuneful little prayer-verse of thanks giving is sung. Here follows rous-
 
 Whole Hearted" Onward Christian Soldiers" or "The Son of God Goes Forth to War;" during which some lit tie novelty pleasing to the child taste IS frequently introduced; one division sings the verse and all join on the chorus, or the girls and the boys are rivals in singing alternate verses, or the Juniors and Primaries sing re- sponsively the measures of a chorus, or perhaps the boys whistle the chorus while the girls sing. Then follows the sermon, and the service is closed by chanting the Mizpah Benediction
 The question, "How to Preach to Children,'' opens field of endless va riety and interest to the pastor of the Junior Church. While this subject has no place in this discussion, and whose adequate treatment would consume volumes, yet a few words as to the subjects and methods that have been found interesting to children will per. haps not be out of place Stories are given prominent place. And here is an opportunity to develop and utilize the talent of your church. discover and develop the story tellers among the young folk. The blackboard, of course, is given a prominent place in the Junior Church sermon. But the most popular method of "sermonIiing" for children is the object sermon. Among the most popular of our Junior congregation is "The Habit Sermon" illustrated by wrapping cord around boy; he easily breaks the cord when It is around him only few times, but after it is wrapped around him a num- Der of times, he is bound fast. Also the "hypocracy" sermon, illustrated by robbing the collection basket as the speaker makes beautiful talk on Honesty. And the sermon illustrated by coloring water with iodine and dropping in solution that changes it clear again.
 Our Junior Church is fully organ 1zed with seven stewards, nine trus- tees each board having it's chairman, secretary and treasurer with regular times for meeting. Director of music, organist, etc The ushers are appoint ed by the pastor each Sunday for the Sunday following. In this way more of the boys are kept busy, and thus in- terested. We use the duplex enve- lopes, and every child has box. As before stated, all children of the Prt- mary and Junior Departments are in GludQd in n Inn h1Iro fOoro hor.