River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-05-31
GODS OWN GARDEN
The Field of Religious EDUCATION

How tenderly the young plants in
our garden are being watched over
and cared for these sping days.
With what joyful anticipation the
gardner notes each bud of promise.
Yes, with what faith he works.
like to think of the childhood of
the human race as does d.. Gilkey of
Chicago, as our Masters Garden
More and more we are coming to
realize that in the life each boy and
girl are implanted certain God-given
instincts and impulses which must be
protected and developed through
Christian nature. For this Ieacon
there is needed in every community
a program of Religious Education
whereby everything in society may be
made to work toward the Christian
nature of the child. Some things in
such program appear to us I'M
surmountable, but let us remember
that the One for whom we are work
ing would not have us face the great
problems alone. | am reminded here
of the story of Sam Higginbottom.
Going to India as a missionary he
found that the immediate need was to
enable those hungry people to in
crease the productivity of their land.
After careful consideration of the
matter he put to the prominent men
in education and in the government
this question: SHOULD we not teach
these people of India how to get more
out of their SOIL" He was met every
where by the objection that although
theoretically it was very good thing
to do, practically it was to difficult
and expensive a task. What did
Sam Higgenbottom do about it?
With faith in God he came to Amer
lea, secured his degree i'll the school
of agriculture of one of our leading
universities, secured such financial
assistance as he needed, and accom-
panied by two strong Christian young
men he returned to India. Today on
his large farm and in his agricultural
school the people of India are not
only learning the secrets of success
in agriculture but they are bcin won
to Jesus Christ and trained for
Christian service. We find here ex-
emplified great love for humanity,
faith in God and in his fellow men,
conservation to great task.
We, too, have a great task before
us, the possibilities of which we are
just beginning to realize. "Ask,
and We shall find; knock, and it shall
be opened unto YOU" With these
words of our Master in mind let US
consider together small portion of
this program of Religious Education
remembering that We are to take but
one step at a time. What will be our
first step? What is our present
vantage point?
Vacation days are near at hand.
However eagerly the children hail
the last days of school they have
soon explored every nook of their
neighborhood, played the old games,
ard do not know what to do with
themselves. Boys and girls are sur
charged with activity. Shall this
activity be guided by Christian people
or neglected and given over to evil in
flunces?
The Church School was organized
to meet the needs of boys and girls
in vacation time. It's rapid growth
proves that there is a real need in
every community for work of this
kird. The whole program is built to
fit the life of boys and girls and
bring them real joy Much is made
of the devotional part of the program.
Instruction is given entirely through
stories, either told or dramatized.
There are no textbooks; songs and
Scripture are memorized. Every
child loves to make things. In the
school they are taught to make
many things neatly and accurately.
In all their work they are taught the
simple art of working together as
Christians. Each week there is
picnic or outing of some kind. These
are only few of The outstanding
characteristics of Vacation School.
Do you not think that It is worth
while?
One who is deeply interested.