Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

Road. The gifts consisted of bead necklaces, knitted and sewed work, toys, button girdles, broaches, and other ornaments, dishes, mirrors, dresses, tools, pocket knives, handkerchiefs, tops and peeries, marbles, &c., &c.; in fact, everything which the boys and girls of the meetings could imagine would prove acceptable gifts to the heathen boys and girls of Tanna.

These articles were tastefully arranged upon twenty Christmas trees; and the hall was also draped with evergreens, intermingled with bright coloured cloth, (purchased with the contents of the missionary boxes;) the decorations being the work of volunteer detachments from each of the meetings, and occupying them during the whole of the previous evening. The spacious Drill Hall was freely given by the officers of the Regiment; and the trees were the gifts of various gentlemen in the city. Many hundreds of Sabbath school children, besides the boys and girls of the Society, visited this interesting exhibition; and at intervals during each day, they were called together to the seats in the centre of the hall, and addressed by various gentlemen on missionary topics. On New-Year's day evening a missionary soiree of the working boys and girls of the Society was held in the same place, when upwards of 800 sat down to tea. Among the speeches, stories, songs, and a dissolving-lantern exhibition of Biblical scenes, the missionary statement of the past year was made by the treasurer, and seemed to afford great satisfaction to all the young people. There had been collected for missions, during 1869, the sum of £87-distributed among such schemes as the Efik Testament for Calabar, Fijii Missions, George Müller's Orphanage, the Penny Gospel in Spain, and Tanna Mission, which alternated monthly with the Society's Evangelistic meeting collection. There had besides been sold 2,800 hymn books, 1,600 Bibles and Testaments, 800 of the Pilgrim's Progress, &c. Intimation was also made of the objects fixed upon for the collections during the next two months,-viz., in January, the Moravian Missions in Greenland, and in February, the provision of beds in the Infirmary for sick cases occurring in the Society; both being received with much evident satisfaction. The gifts exhibited in the hall were valued at about £25; and there is also a box of clothing on the way to Tanna, from one of the South-side meetings, containing dresses for 80 persons, and valued at £10.

The very deep interest felt by the young people in the progress of the Gospel at home and abroad, as evidenced by this exhibition of gifts, and statement of collections, is one of the most encouraging aspects of these two days' proceedings, and to that we would briefly draw attention. How has such an amount of interest been stirred up among the boys and girls, and brought to so pleasant a climax? The scheme of collection carried on in the meetings—viz., a little box to each pew or seat-so closely resembles our Sabbath class arrangements, that the result should not be attributed to that plan. But one main cause of keeping up an ever-fresh interest in missions, is the placing of a new scheme before the boys and girls each month, and giving explanations and stories concerning it, which

will lead them to think about it, and to pray about it; thus implanting an intelligent interest in the state of the heathen, and a desire for the spread of the "glad tidings." There is a very great difference between this and what is usually termed "continual dunning." With all this, however, great care must ever be taken not to give any poor little ones cause to leave the school or meeting, because they are unable to put any money into the missionary box. This will be avoided, if the moneygiving is left, as it ought to be, to free-will offerings. Assume that they desire to know, and that they will rejoice in all information regarding missionary success; lead them sincerely to join in the petition, "Thy kingdom come;" and the result assuredly will be, a great increase in the number of "cheerful givers," and a considerable diminution in the amount spent in the Sabbath-breaking shops. And therefore let there be an opportunity every Sabbath to contribute, as some may have a little on one day, and others on another. It is also good to let the contribution be on the early part of the day. This not only removes a temptation to spend the money-in many cases a temptation, the strength of which we too lightly estimate; but it also consecrates the Sabbath day as one on which they have made a sacrifice, sometimes a very great sacrifice, to the God of the Sabbath. It is this reflex influence of missionary contributing which should be the aim of all mission collections in our schools and meetings. The amount must, at the greatest, always be small; and were we to disregard the value of this reflex influence, we might say that the same labour spent elsewhere would bring in much more money. But to lead the boys and girls of our city to love God's cause so much, that they very often think about the poor heathen, and the self-sacrificing missionaries in far off lands, and often pray that the glorious Gospel which has gladdened their young hearts, may soon be felt in all its saving power, even in the temples among the priests and worshippers of idol gods; this, first and chiefly, should be the aim of the "missionary box." The money is of very minor importance in comparison to this. Our Lord's teaching, in reference to higher matters, may be of use in this also: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

THE FUTURE OF RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

[IN the present and one or two following communications, a correspondent proposes to look into the prospects of religious teaching in this country, with a view to the duty incumbent upon the friends of religious education, and especially Sabbath school teachers. The manuscript is too bulky for our limited space; but, in reducing its dimensions, we shall endeavour to preserve its spirit and practical purpose.]

In order the better to observe some logical arrangement in our remarks, we shall adopt three divisions,-viz., 1. "Reasons why we should consider the future of religious instruction for the young;" 2. "Some doctrines and tendencies to be combated in our teaching;" and 3. 66 Plans and prospects for the future."

1. Reasons why we should consider the future of religious instruction

for the young.-It is all but certain that, in a year or two, religious instruction will be abolished in our day-schools, subsidized by Government. The very foundations of our present education system are likely to be shaken; and it becomes us, as members of the Christian Church, to see that in the subsequent state of things the religious education of children is not neglected. Day-schools will doubtless hereafter be secular in their character and aim. In them, if a moral truth or Scripture quotation be introduced in the course of the lessons, it must be “sotto voce"-dragged in like an unwelcome guest, in place of being, as it is, never-dying Gospel truth. Is it, therefore, not appropriate for us to consider what provision must be made for the religious necessities of the young, thus unceremoniously jostled to a side by the State? It is quite true that the Church has been attending in the past to this, and will most likely give increased attention to the duty in days to come. But all available agencies are required for the work, and so we must regret that one of the most influential and successful of these is about to be abrogated-viz., the day-school Bible lesson.

Other reasons for our looking into this matter are to be found if we consider the extraordinary characteristics of the times in which we live. The tendencies of our age are greatly materialistic; men do not wish to acknowledge the existence of spiritual things which they cannot fathom. They must get to the bottom of everything they are asked to believe; and if the matters be too deep for finite minds to comprehend, (as many Gospel doctrines are,) our philosophers often quietly ignore them. Neither will some of them admit the possibility of anything supernatural occurring, for everything must, with them, be accounted for by natural laws within the knowledge of man. From this habit of considering things, whether spiritual or natural, visible and tangible, or the reverse, by the rule-of-three system, we have such reasonings presented to us as those advanced by the French pedant, Renan, in his Life of Christ. In this biography we have certainly something novel presented to us. A Christ who was not the Son of God, about whose life and death there was nothing vicarious; a man somewhat better, to be sure, than the most of men, but who, at the very best, was but an amiable impostor. It is thus seemingly utterly impossible for such natural philosophers to exercise faith towards anything which they do not personally know. They, not having heard by their own ears the voice from heaven testifying, "This is my beloved Son, hear ye Him," will do nothing so unintelligent as receive on trust the witness of four obscure evangelists. And so Renan and his disciples, who are legion, build up a theory conforming to their own light of reason. They laud the sufficiency of reason to guide man aright, enabling him to find virtue's paths, and leading him to a better land. But the Bible, if it shews anything, shews that it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps aright. Yet this doctrine of man's completeness in himself is widely spread; it throws faith aside, and scoffs at it as a weakness which should be foreign to the tone of civilization in the advanced nineteenth century. And if this belief were to be generally adopted in our country, it would, to our mind, pave the way for a downfall and ruin as complete as classic Greece and patrician Rome, in spite of their culture, experienced in days of yore.

The same philosophy which would systematize everything, and lay everything in its bearings open to the eyes of man, is observable in Darwinism. This doctrine would set it aside as improbable and unlikely that God would, by a stroke of His power, at once create a man erect and complete, as the Bible has it," a living soul;" but would rather seek to trace the gradual rise and progress of what are now men and women, through untold generations of lizards and apes.

Still further reasons might be found, drawn from the prevalence of loose doctrines of theology itself,—erroneous ones, such as Unitarian ideas and tenets, and last, but not least, from the progress of that monstrous_conglomeration of heresies and stupidities, the Romish Church. The latter, particularly, seems to be making strides among ourselves. It appears dreadful and unaccountable that, while His Holiness should be shaking in his shoes at home in his city of the seven hills, and when Spain, Austria, and Italy are flinging off his yoke, there should be so many poor deluded fools in our own favoured land who deliberately assume the Romish yoke. The reason of this course is, perhaps, not far to seek. Men who are engrossed with the world's business and pleasures care not to trouble themselves with examining tenets of theology in these times of dispute; and so, when they find a church so accommodating as to take all responsibility, as to thinking and acting, from its adherents, and, at the same time, make their salvation an accomplished fact, they just quietly take rest in its placid bosom. The Papacy is the sworn enemy of education and progress; and, in the face of the zeal exercised by its votaries in agitating for a university, founding Jesuitical colleges at our own doors, &c., we cannot but look anxiously forward to the future of the religious education of the young.

TEACHERS' WEEKLY PREPARATORY MEETINGS.

(To the Editor of the Sabbath School Magazine.)

SIR, I have read with interest the letter from Mr. Wellwood on the above subject, published in your Magazine last month, and agree in the opinion expressed by him, that the true reason of the prejudice which the most of teachers have to these meetings is, the want of properly qualified gentlemen to give an exposition on the lesson as the subject demands.

Were every Sunday school society in Glasgow to procure the services of a talented gentleman to devote his attention to the instruction of the teachers, especially the young and inexperienced, I am quite sure that the work would be more successful, and that both the teachers and scholars would derive greater benefit than they do at present. We would then see our scholars begin early to inquire after God, and resolve to devote themselves unreservedly to His service.

On a former occasion* I tried to direct the attention of the members of our Union to the want of a training class for teachers; and the remarks made by Mr. Wellwood prove that, in the absence of such a class, the

* See page 81, Vol. xxi.

teachers of Glasgow are denied a boon of no small value, which is enjoyed by their brethren in London and Edinburgh; and hence it is that properly qualified gentlemen cannot be found to conduct the weekly preparatory meetings. Now, I see no reason why Glasgow should be behind in such an important matter. Teaching is as difficult here as it is in other large cities; and if the Sunday schools are to be the medium of leading many of the lambs to the feet of the Great Shepherd, it is quite evident that those who engage in the work should be properly qualified to perform the duties of their office.

It must be admitted that a great number of young people, especially, have false notions of the duties binding upon Sunday school teachers, and with little thought, and less prayer, they engage in the work. They are, however, soon discouraged, and not finding the pleasure they expected, absent themselves from the schools, and abandon the work altogether. They imagine it to be a very easy thing to hear the children repeat their psalm and catechism, and read their Bible-lesson. And so it is. But it is not a simple thing to lay before their youthful charge, in a clear and distinct manner, the lessons taught by the subject; and this is the stone at which so many stumble, and give up in despair. My own notions of the work were, I must confess, somewhat similar. Five years ago, in answer to a call from the pulpit, I offered my services to the Sunday school. I considered it an easy matter to be a teacher, and never imagined that there was any labour connected with the office; but I was soon undeceived, and saw that without hard study it would be impossible to carry on the work. The only books I then had to assist me were my Bible, and the Notes on the Lessons published in your Magazine. I found the work tedious, and being disheartened, resolved once or twice to give it up. Being urged, however, by a few friends, to persevere, I continued at the work, adding to my library, from time to time, such books as I thought would assist me in my preparations. And now, after five years' experience, I do not consider Sunday school teaching an easy work. On the contrary, the more experience I gain, the more am I convinced that it is a work which should not be rashly entered upon, and a work in which, if any one would wish to be successful, he must study hard, pray often, and be careful to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The time once was when the schoolmaster taught religious as well as secular truth; but religion no longer holds the same important position in common education that it held some years since. The consequence is, that the Sunday schools are the only places where children can receive religious instruction; and as the time allotted to these schools is very limited, the teachers require to be well-trained, so as to make the best possible use of the time they have. And another reason why Sunday school teachers should go through a certain course of instruction previous to their entering upon the work, is that the most of children are accustomed to the tuition of intelligent teachers in the day school, and they will not listen to an inferior teacher in the Sunday school. Children, as well as grown-up people, do despise the very matter taught if it is not communicated in an intelligent and skilful manner. That such is the case no one will deny, for it is too well seen in the schools. There are

« ForrigeFortsett »