The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-03-15
The Sunday School.

|
1t was an encouraging report concerning
the Sunday school that Bishop Thomas Mich
folsom presented to the annual meeting OF the
board OF Sunday schools of the Methodist
Episcopal church held in Chicago few days
ago. The bishop stated that the enrolment
/ in the Methodist Sunday schools OF the world
had increased more than fifty thousand during
the year, and that the total enrolment OF
students in Methodist Sunday schools in the
/ United States now was 100000. This is a
gratifying showing.
! Bishop Nicholson attributed the increased
enrolment in part to an enlarged interest IN
! Bible study awakened by the present method
of instruction This instruction is no longer
haphazard, but is in line with modern prac-
tees OF pedagogy, and the instructors are
qualified experts. Effort is directed toward
explaining Bible lessons and stories in way
that students can appreciate and understand.
| Charts and motion pictures are two OF the in
strumentalities employed to good purpose.
1t is not exaggeration to say that the Sun
day school is one of the most difficult prob
lens that presents itself to the church. The
Sunday school is vital to the life of the church
and to religion. The Sunday school is the re-
cruiting office of the church and of Christian
ity. The time for religious instruction is in
the unreasonable years of childhood and
youth. Train up child in the way he should
go, and when he is old he will not depart
from it." How to get not only children but
adults into the Sunday school and to keep
them there has been an ever-present and
| &c h1a
if it is not more difficult to get numbers and
enthusiasm into the Sunday school than into
the church service proper.
The Sunday school is in competition with
many agencies that operate to lure children
and youths away from it. These agencies
have multiplied in recent years and continue
to multiply as public regard for the sanctity
of the Sabbath relaxeS. The Discrimination Of
children, especially boys to receive religious
instruction and attend the Sunday school
long ago became proverbal. The problem of
the churches has been to discover methods
that will make the Sunday school attractive
and Bible study interesting as well as profit
able There is a way to the heart and mind
of youth, and once human wisdom has found
it the rest is easy.
The boy and the girl, the man and the wo-
man can find no better place for the culture
of the highest qualities of mind and soul than
the Sunday school. 1t is there that the great
fundamental truths of human experience are
studied. The atmosphere of the Sunday school
is uplifting and ennobling. One is certain to
be in good company in the Sunday school. No
one ever was hal med by anything that is
taught in the Sunday school, on the contrary,
it is not possible to go away from the Sunday
school and not carry therefrom some impulse
to nober and higher living.
The chief need of the Sunday school is a
larger enrolment, more students; and next
in importance is the need of capable instruct
ors. To be called to service as an instructor
is to be enlisted in consecrated service. A
multitude of men and women the country
over is engaged in this noble work, but the
call ever is for additional aborers, for the
harvest is great and the opportunity limitless.
The Sunday school is not only an agency
for promoting Christian belief and practice.
but is one of the most effective agencies for
the perfecting of good citizenship.