The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-11-15

In the effort to discuss something
of the work the Sunday School is do
ing, am reminded of certain dea-
con who was to deliver an address
in the lecture room of a church, and
the advertisement read: Deacon
Blank will deliver a lecture in the
Congregational Lecture Room on
Tuesday night at eight o'clock, Sub
ject: The Universe. Time limited to
one hour.
So, in the short time allotted for
the discussion of this subject, shall
endeavor to speak more of the origin
purpose and influence of the Sunday
School, rather than of what 1t is do
ing in general way.
Jesus Christ came into the world
to establish His kingdom. His di-
ciples continued the work, under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit. by band
ing themselves together in churches
for the purpose of worship and evan
gelization.
In their meetings they worshipped
by prayer, praise, gifts to the Lords
work, teaching and preaching.
In the years Immediately following
the death of the apostles, as well as
during their lifetime, teaching was
an important part of church work.
Early in the history of Christianity
the Catechetical School became recog-
nized as a factor in both eyangeli-
cation and training.
Now the meeting for worship, in
which teaching is the distinguishes
characteristic, is called a Sunday
School.
! The modern awakening in Sunday
School work dates its origin back to
July, 1880. The story is familiar
how Mr.. Robert Raikes, journal-
ist of some renown, member of the
Church of England, and man OF kind
ly nature, having been engaged for
years in work among prisoners, and
the criminal classes of England, con-
ceived the idea that prevention was
lbetter than cure, so he set about the
task of preventing boys and girls
from going astray, rather than vainly
attempting to reform them after they
had gone astray.
He secured a house and employed
-four women at twenty-five cents per
Sunday to teach the school.
The church was in no way respon-
Fsible for the enterprise, and it was
in no sense a church meeting for the
study of the Scripture. The idea OF
teaching the Scripture seemed not to
have been thought Of for many years
after.
The movement developed, howev-
er, and the Bible was introduced as
textbook, and invitation extended
to all persons to attend the school,
teachers volunteered their services,
and step by step the modern Sunday
School developed.
The movement spread and covered
all England, and has pushed its way
into all parts of America, penetrat-
ing even the heather lands. The
/ days of the paid teachers soon passed
and there were organizations for the
promotion of Sunday school work on
the volunteer plan.
When teachers began to volunteer
their services there was an increased
demand for new Sunday Schools.
The schools resulting from the
Robert Raikes movement were near
ly all union schools. The first
Baptist Sunday School of which there
is an available record, was that of
the second Baptist Church, Balti-
more, Md, organized in 1904.
The Bible is the Sunday-School
School textbook. To implant the
word in the hearts of the people is
the great objective of all Sunday
School work.
The gross ignorance with regard to
the Book, at least in our part of the
country is appalling.
K Most of our people are like vast
Saharas where no blade of refreshing
grass grows and no spring of sweet
water is found.
In order to impart knowledge OF
the Book to the individual, one must
know the Book and something OF the
nature of the individual. 1t is also
important to know the how and the
why. Moreover, one must know the
various adjuncts that are most es-
sential to the imparting of know
ledge to the Individual.
We we know these things. then by
the help of the Holy Spirit (without
which there is no success) shall sue
cess be attained. Hence the modern
helps for teachers.
Since the great purpose of the
Sunday School is to teach the Word
and thereby win souls to Christ. 1t
becomes necessary for the teacher to
listen for and recognize the great
themes of the Bible. In the Word OF
God there are certain great themes
(which will be found running through
I'the whole revelation.
Sometimes they are sung in the
major scale, sometimes in the minor
l-sometimes they are clearly dis
cernible because Of the run OF his
tory; but in eevry book Of the Old
Testament If we listen carefully we
will hear the one great theme,
"Christ will come.
The theme changes, however. In
the gospels, and on Bethlehem's plain
won hear the chorus of angels not
Iinow saying ''He will come. but He
Mas come". Unto you is born this