Thoughtful Momeñt

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 148, 29 August 1941, Page 2

Thoughtful Momeñt

THE CHILDREN'S SUNDAY A teacher tells me that the children of to-day arc often so tired and listless on a Monday morning that they can hardly settle to their lessons, and the reason, it seems, is that they have been motoring the whole of Sunday, or have been to an evening performance at the cinema. If a modern child is told of the kind of Sunday we older ones used to spend when we were little, it generally disclaims with horror, and in the latest slang at its command, expresses its belief in the superior ways of to-day. But are these ways so superior '? Whilst agreeing that Sundays may have been too rigidly kept by some people, in those far-off times, it would be interesting to know which was really tlie happier, the child who spends Sunday "doing something or the child who went to Church and Sunday School as a matter of course, and looked upor the day as something set apart from the rest of the weekLeaving, if one can, the moral aspect out of the question, which was the happier dayi for the young -> One can only quote one's own experience. When we were little, Sunday, was for us a pleasant day. It began a little later than the week days, and breakfast was a cheery and leisurely meal. Then we dressed in our best clothes (and at the risk of being thought frivolous, I believe that Sunday clothes have their value in increasing the dignity of the day), and set off for chapel. Here we knew everybody, and if strangers did appear, they were welcomed with a friendliness too often lacking in these days—a friendliness that did impress cn a child's mind the feeling of one big family meeting in the Father's House. I "won't say that ilie Jong service was altogether a pleasure, but looking back on it I do believe it was wholesome discipline for restless young bodies to be compelled to keep still for a definite time. Some of the little ones did fall asleep, and once we were upset and embarrassed by a small person exclaiming in a loud voice, "Oh, dear, hasn't he done yet?" But, on the whole it did not occur to us to regard the sermon as a hardship. Before and after it there were hymns in which we could join with loud, shrill voices, and the children's address was often both interesting and thrilling. After service we greeted our friends and trotted off home to our Sun-day dinner, rl'ter which we came back lo Sunday School. We loved

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE (Supplied by llie Whakatane Ministers' Association).

this, but truth compels me to own that some of the classes were not popular. Still, on the whole, my memories are of happy hours spent at bright services, singing hymns that went with a fine swing, and ; listening to the incomparable English of Bib'.e stories. What children do miss of their rightful British heritage who do not hear these stories when they are young ! Home again lo that great institution, Sunday tea, generally shared by friends or some lonely person we wanted to draw into the family circle. Afterwards there were happy hours spent, in summer, in the garden; in winter, better still, curled up close to Father's big chair, whilst he read aloud lo us. "Pilgrims Progress" was our favourite, and how eagerly we travelled with Christian, horrified by the dreadf illness of Appolyon, excited and rather alarmed by the lions in the path—what a relief it was to find they were chained !—and thrilled by the river through which Hopeful was helping Christian, pointing the while to the further shore where stood "two shining ones." When the older ones went to evening service, wc little ones had out own story books and games—special ones for Sunday, as our parents be lieved in making a real difference between that day and the rest of the week. We were neither dull nor bored. The day ended with very simple ancl brief family prayers, and the greatest impression that remains of them is that of my father talking earnestly and si.necrely to his Father. That was our Sunday. It might not appeal to a modern child, but it is very pleasant to look back upon. Will these motoring, cinema-go-ing, do-as-you-please children such sweet and fragrant memories when they are old? I wonder. J. S. Burrow. A NEW VERSION Get up, get up for Jesus, Ye soldiers of the Gross, A lazy Sunday morning Means certain harm and loss. The Church bell calls to worship, In duty be not slack ; You cannot fight the good fight B}' lying on your back. Get up, get us for Jesus, It's not too much to ask, He might with every reason Demand a heavier task ; If Christians on a week-day Begin their work at seven They surely could on Sunday Start worship at eleven. (W r hite Ribbon)