Evening star., 1923-12-08
.LAMENTS DECLINE
IN NB|BLE EDUCATION
Clergyman Points Out Chill
dren Now Instructed Only
One Hour a Week.

An article by Rev. Clarence H. Ben
son IN the Moody Bible Institute
monshly 1lluminates the revolution
ary change in regard to the religious
education Of children, that has taken
place in America since the early COL
onlai days. He says in part:
The Bible was used every day in
the average colonial family. The
rather conducted family worship and
every member of the household was
present. Bible reading and devo-
tlonal exercises were a large part
or the Sabbath program.
Inc Bible was used every day in
the public school. From contem-
porary sketches it is ascertained that
the Bible was generally read twice
day In the upper classes and in
many instances was the only reader
used by the lower classes The cele-
Sra1ea New England Primer, that
held its place as the leading text
pook Tor one hundred and fifty years
was almost entirely made up of Sc
lections and quotations from the I3i-
PIE. PIE. indeed the purpose of the dis
tTiGt School appeared to be TO educa te
children sufficiently to enable them
10 read the Bible for themselves.
Use Now Given Up.
But the days of religious c,luca-
ton in the home and school are pass
ed. II is surprising then that re-
Gently they discovered in New York
schools without any knowledge OF the
Bible. 1t is astonishing that relia le
lnNeSu gators announce that nearly
one-half of our young children are
growing up without any religious in
struction whatever? Juvenile colrts
have never had a place in history un-
III the present generation, and now
judges are appalled, at the constantly
Tenders brought before them. They
have said TO the church, If you do
not fnd a way to reach the children
of America, and If you can find no
ion and morality, the state must
take over the task in the interests
of representation The responsi-
biltty of moral and spiritual develop
is laid upon the Sunday school, and
for this all important work there is
allotted but one hour week. Can
not this be called the golden hour OF
opportunity and accountabilitv2
The average child spends twenty
five hours week In school, sixty
three hours in sleeping. seven hours
in eating and seventy-two hours in
reading, working and playing. Is the
Sunday school prepared to give the
child every chance in this one golden
hour out of every one hundred and
siXty-eight?
Attitude of Pastors.
"a total eclipse of the sun occurs
somewhere on the earth every year,
but even when found in IN acceSsi-
bic spot, the path is narrow and the
duration short. Months beforehand
astronomers gather at the fagore
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 pas
tors. superintendent and teacf ers
that they have as fully planned. pre-
pared and rehearsed to give the child
his chance in these sixty diamond
minutes?
rs the Sunday school as well pre-
pared to give the Bible a chance in
its one hour a week as the public
school with many more hours di-
vided for secular studies? Have the
Sunday school teachers mastered the
Bible? Have they been prepared IN
the fundamentals of teaching? Has
their school been properly graded so
that when pupils have finished the
years work they may be promoted
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 its work. 1t
is only a realization of the breV1ty
of it's time and the preparation OF
it's leaders that will enable 1t to &C
complish its mission.