Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-21
CONVENTION IS
IN FULL SWING
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IuiCSo vi ne importance OI Tue SuH
day school during the evening session
which was listened to with consider
able attention. The we'll known OF
tumwan spoke at length and discussed
the church school in its various phases
criticising former methods and en-
phasizing the things that should and
are being done to make 1t more effect
I've as force for the salvation of
souls. Dr. LaForce In his address
spoke In part as follows:
First, the modern efficient Bible or
church school in its organization and
field Of work has the greatest oppor-
tunity for advancing the kingdom OF
God on earth. and of any department
of the Christian church. ...
Second, Sunday school wark is es-
pecially suitable for the Christian lay
men. .... .-...
When I say that the Sunday school
| is the most important work of the
| church, realize that am taking very
advanced ground. Possibly there is
no other person in the audience who
believes 1t. Surely there are not
many who do so. Some may think
that am almost sacrilegious when
place the work of the Sunday school
as more important than the preach
Ing services or the general evangelical
revival meetings.
All the educational factors and
agencies in connection with the church
are related such as study courses of
the missionary societies, Epworth
Leagues, and the Sunday school les
sons
There Is a general educational COM
mittee composed of representatives
from all these various educational
agencies in the church. This COM
mittee has general charge Of all these
study courses, systematizes and cor
relates them SO that we speak of a
church school instead of limiting it
TO- the term Sunday school or even
bible school
Since 1t is the church school and
classes, meet on other days of the
week such as:
A Mothers class meeting some
afternoon.
A Mems class meeting some even.
ing.
Pupils from the high schools. or
even from the grade schools dismissed
from the day school at certain
time who go to their own separate
churches to be taught by their own
pastors or other competent teachers,
the pupils receiving credit in their
public schools course for work done
in the church school,
During the long summer vacation,
the lp-to-date church school maintains
weekday school in the forenoons for
several weeks. giving more or less
definite religious instruction and
training. Three of our churches in
!Ottumwa conducted such schools this
summer with marked success.
With the broadening Of the work of
the church school, as thus indicated,
the educational work is so comprehen.
sive that many churches have EN-.
ployed an educational expert to de.
vote most or all of his time as direct.
or OF religious education. Such a
position is new one in the church.
Ten>years ago. very few II any of our
theological seminaries offered courses
in the subject of religious pedagogy.
Consequently, almost none of our min.
listers had any special training along
the line Of religious teaching. 49,
Then the graded Sunday school les.
sons have been great factor in edu-
cational evangelism.
ORGANIZATION and system are power
full ideas characteristic of this present
age. Evangelism through education is
an effort to proceed Systematically.
The child IS led step by step in his
knowledge of Gods goodness. his love,
his mercy, of mans need of savior,
and how Gods plan meets his need.
With such knowledge it is natural
for the child to want to accept Christ
and become Christian Practically
every child does have this desire If he
is taught and trained.
| Just here is where our old time
methods for the revival failed in large
measure in winning the children.
1t is also just here that the graded
system of lessons is great help to the
child, for the lessons are so graded
and arranged with the definite aim of
not only giving the children this
knowledge and training, but Of secur-
ing his definite acceptance of Christ,
| that of his Savior, in the last year or
IWO W LuO JulAlOA Iduc, tlldl Is, at JlS
age Of 10 to II.
The church is manifesting, probably
more than ever before, appreciation Of
the value of conservation in spiritu-
al things. 1t is beginning to appreci-
ate more and more Christ's claim that
the little children belong to the king
dom of heaven. In past ages, the
church has admitted that Christ said
so and then has proceeded either to
! damn them, or to act as though it be-
! lieved these precious souls must
through neglect or voluntary choice
first go to the devil before they could
| come to Christ. That they must be-
come lost before they can be saved.
! There has been marked reaction
within the church from this view with
in the last few decades. 1t is along
| this line Of conservation. 1t believes
; and is acting upon the idea that it is
the duty and high privilege of the
church to feed it's lambs, to keep the
children always in the fold and never
allow them to be lost from the king
dom. -
! The church is BEGINNING to GOO tho