The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-09
URCESB|BLES FUR YOUNG PEOPLE
Declares Day Of Religious Education In Home Has
 Passed

An article by Rev Clarence H. Benson in the December Moody Bi- ble Institute Monthly illuminates the revolutionary change in regard to the religious education of children. that has taken place in America since the early colonial days. He says in part:
 "The Bible was used every day in the average colonial home. The father conducted. family worship and every member of the household was present. Bible reading and devo- tional exercises were 8 large part of the Sabbath program.
 "The Bible was used every day in the public school From contempo- rary sketches 1t Is ascertained that the Bible was generally read twice a day In the. upper classes and in many instances was the only reader used by the lower classes. The celebrated New England primer that held It's place as the leading textbook for 150 years. was almost entirely made up of selections and quotations from the Bible. Indeed the purpose of the district school appeared to be to edu- cate children sufficiently to enable them to read the Bible for them selves.
 But the days of religious educa- tion in the home and school are passed. It Is surprising then that recently they discovered in New York schools without any knowledge of the Bible? Is 1t astonishing that re- liable investigators announce that nearly one-half of our young chill dren are growing up without any re- ligious instruction whatever? Juven- ile courts have never had place In the history until the present gene ration, and now judges are appalled, at the constantly increasing stream of youthful offenders brought before them. They have said to the church. If you do not find a way to reach the children of America, and If you can find no methods for grounding them in religion and morality, the state must take over the task in the interests of preservation The responsibility of moral and spiritual development of the coming genera tion, then, is laid upon the Sunday school, and for this all important work there is allotted but one hour week. Cannot this be called the countability.
 Hour Weekly For Bible.
 "The average child spends 25 hours a week in school. 63 hours in sleep ing, seven hours in eating and 72 ing. Is the Sunday school prepared to give the child every chance in this one golden hour out of every 16S?
 "A total eclipse of the sun occurs on the earth every year, but even when found in an access sible spot, the path is narrow and the duration short. Months before po q the fq- vored portion of the earth and spend days and weeks in rehearsal so that when those brief six minutes of darkness at length arrive everything is in readiness to make the most of them. Can it be as truthfully said of pastors, superintendents and teachers that they have as fully planned. prepared and rehearsed to give the child his chance in these 60 diamond minutes?
 'Is the Sunday school as we'll pre- pared to give the Bible a chance in it's one hour a week as the public school with many more hours pro- Sunday school teachers mastered the Bible? Have they been prepared in the fundamentals of teaching? Has their school been properly graded so that when the pupils have finished the years work they may be pro- noted to advanced studies?
 "Surely there Is much to be accom- plished in the average Sunday school before it can adequately accomplish the tremendous task that is thrust upon it today. The salvation of the church and the safety of the nation depend largely upon Is work. It Is only a realization of the brevity of it's time and the preparation of its leaders that will enable 1t to accom- plish it's mission"