Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-11-08

ticular need to give much larger
PLACE to microscopy prayer. Train
ing in this form Of prayer should
be given in the S. S. The extent OF
much prayer now offered in the aver
age S. S. is too limited. And is not
the volume of prayer for missions de-
plorably small? How often does the
pastor or the superintendent include
this subject in his petitions? AMI
when it is incluoed it is too often Of
a very general nature. 1t should be
prayer OF a definite character, intelli-
gent and concise. To engage in IN
telligent microscopy prayer for mis-
sions one must enlarge his mission
| airy knowledge. 1t must be remem-
bered that to pray for China, for eX-
ample, will never be as vital as to
pray for some particular person in
China, or some form Of work pre-
sented in some incident. Prayer for
missionaries Gf any are known by
the school they should be mentioned
by name), for native workers, for ma
tive Christians, for those just con-
sidering the Christian life, for the
foreigner in America and in the
community, for the children of the
city, for the members of the S. S.
that their hearts may be open to
Gods call to Christian service, and
that every need in the world may
find the response of a willing mind
and liberal gifts; prayer for these
and other definite objects is much
more effective than to pray God
save the heathsn." AT the same time
it is more suggestive for private de-
votion. A third great element in our
worship is singing. Why not use
some of the great missionary hymns
in the S. s.? Explain their meaning
and show their significance. Use
hymns that are favorites on the MIS-
sion fields. Tell why they are used
and thus new value will be given to
S nging. Besides missionary hymns
rany other hymus have broad mis-
sionary significance because of their
relation TO certain events in church
or mission history. To call atten-
ton to these incidents when an
lnouncing the ham will help the pu-
pills to enter into the situation, and,
therefore, to appreciate it's mission
airy bearing. Who can fail ever af-
lerward to associate this story con-
nected with "all hail the power CT
Jesus name" once it has been told?
George Grenfell was a missionary
! explorer on the Fongo in Africa from
1875 to 1906. One time while trav-
cling along one of the tributaries of
the Kongo at several of the landing
places he was welcomed by a choir
of pupils from the mission schools
with their teachers singing, "All
hail the power Of Jesus name" The
strains of the music floated across
the water before the engines of the
little vessel had stopped. AS Green
fell listened, his heart was filled with
gratitude to God, that these native
Africans redeemed by Christ were
now singing Crown him Lord of
all" Greenfell knew what scenes of
cruelty had been enacted on the
banks of this very river before the
gospel light had come. He had him
self seen there the smoking ruins
left by the Arab slave-traders. But
now better days had come. Do you
wonder that the missionary, thrilled
with emotion, joined with these con.
verified Africans in singing that Won
derful Coronation Hymn? Let us
imagine ourselves in Grenfell's com
pany in the heart of Africa today,
and stirred as was he, let our song
of praise to Christ ring out Grown
him Lord of all" One method of
missionary education thru giving is
that of Kingdom Day. That is the
Sunday in the year when the S. S.
takes its annual pledges for mission
airy offerings on the weekly or
monthly basis. 1t is important that
definite reports should be made FROM
time to time to the school regarding
the use of the money. The chief
difficulty in presenting the monthly
program in the average s. S. Is to
find material suited to the different
grades. Experience shows that the
best policy is to aim for the boys. II
they are interested most of the
adults will be interested also. A story
always interests boy or girl. Arti-
cles by missionaries which contain
the heroic element or show the char
Iacteristics of the people are easily
transformed into story form. Illus
tration adds much to the interest.
Maps, costumes, pictures, and mot
toes are all helpful. Stereoptican
views can be used to advantage if the
S. S. room can be darkened. A class
studying the life of a missionary
hero may prepare program from
their study. Missionary literature
gives an abundance of such material.
The Missionary Review of the
World is filled with incidents and
facts. The Junior Missionary Friend
is especially adapted for children.
Another magazine which is a COM
paratively new publication is the
World Outlook. In addition to the
other good things each number con-
tains special picture which can be
used in the S. 5. In one number Of
! the World Outlook this article at
tracted my attention: Cent-a-pay. II
each member and probationer of the
Methodist Episcopal church in the
U. S. would give a Cent-a-Day to
Foreign Missions, the annual total
would be S13,220,000. This amount
would enable us to evangelize our
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