RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Evening Star, Issue 19800, 25 February 1928, Page 16

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

[By Forwakd.] “Religious teaching consists in taking a living, pulsating thought from one’s own mind and implanting it so that it will grow in tho living mind of another.” THE LI BRARY. The Religious Education Library, which is at the disposal of all church workers or students, is now open. A librarian may be consulted daily in the library, Reed’s Buildings, at hours which will be posted in tho room. Teachers and leaders are urged to make the most of this opportunity for reading books which will assist them in their work. Y.W.B.C. DISTRICT COMMITTEE. A meeting of the District Committee of the Presbyterian Young Women’s Bible Classes was held last Monday, when Mr A. T. M'Naughton, director of the Otago School of Religious Education, spoke to the leaders, secretaries, and members present on the aims of the school and the courses of studies offering, particularly stressing those helpful to workers in the Young People’s Division. The keen interest displayed by all augurs well for an increased enrolment of students from this committee. BRITISH SYRIAN MISSION. Tho British Syrian Mission, founded by Mrs Bowen Thompson in 1860 in response to the cry of 20,000 desolate Syrian widows and orphans “spared” by the Druses, has become a work of extraordinary strategic importance. “ If Islam in Syria can be penetrated and leavened in the coming years largely with the Gospel, the efforts are sure to spread far beyond Syrian limits; but even if Syria only. is in view, can anyone who believes in any degree in the prophetic plan of history indicated in the Scriptures fall fo sen the immense importance of the Gospei for Syria?” wrote the. late Bishop of Durham when referring to the work of this mission, and it is just because of its intense interest to all that no chance should be lost of knowing more about these movements in Syria. From small beginnings its activities to-day are industrial schools for blind men and girls, village schools in the Lebanon, a training college in Beyrut, and schools in Damascus. Mr Maitland Kinvan, the general secretary, who is tonring the dominion at his' own expense, is to be in Dunedin some time in March,. when an opportunity will bo given of becoming belter acquainted with the work being done in Christ's name among the women and children of the land in which He toiled and taught. THE CHURCH. AVhnt is the Church? Tho Christian | Church, founded directly by Jesus | Christ Himself, is t be. earthly embodiment of His divine life, in whoso midst He ever dwells. She. is not a voluntary association of like-minded people, who, having certain aims in common, founded a society. The Church was brought into being by the risen and glorified. Lord, drawing_ men. and l women into fellowship with Himself, and so leading them into fellowship with each other. “ The Church is tho Body of Christ, through which He expresses Himself; His eyes to see the needs of men; His feet by which Ho walks on errands of mercy; His lips by which He proclaims the goodness of redemption; His hands by which He performs deeds of love and mercy.” The members of tho Church are united in Jesus Christ, to one another by the one Divine life, circulating through the whole; so tho Church stands, in tho midst of busy humanity, for tho Unseen and Eternal, the Divine Home, the centre of worship.

What is her task? Her task was clearly sot forth in the Great Commission given by her Founder when He bade her “Go ye, therefore, and touch all nations, baptising them in I lie name of tho Father, and of the Bon. and of -the Holy- Ghost.” Himself nrimanly a teacher in spirit and inelimd, He built into this commission of the Cliurch (he I'niK'tion of (caching as (bo supreme task and method of the Church in ils efforts to carry on to completion tlie work of tho Kingdom of God, which He began, and to which He gave His life. To-day, because of tho separation of Church and State, the Church must assume the responsibility of providing an adequate programme of religious education that will put God into the consciousness of nil society, that will develop the religious aspect of tho child’s complete personality, and that will ensure tlie carrying on of her work. The fundamental function, then, is that of Christian education, adapted to the varying needs of her people from the youngest to the oldest. She seeks to present Josns Christ “ to the rising generation, so that every act of every- day of every person will be formed in harmony with His will” Now, to do this effectively she must have not .onto an adequate programme of worship, instruction, and expression, but an adequate system of moral and religions education which must he made available for all This means that she must be organised, so that all her forces and resources may bo used to the greatest and fullest extent if she would accomplish her great task. Let ns therefore briefly consider the organisation of the Church for religions education. „ The Church, is the one institution whose specific business is “ spiritualising the people,” and all her organisation and methods must serve this one end. . There are certain fundamental principles underlying all effective organisations, whether in the business world or in tlie Church ; whether for the large concern nr for the small, local effort. These may- be summed up as follow: (1) Unity of Purpose.—This is most important, for disunion means weak links and. gaps, and renders impossible the building of any structure at all. It does not mean autocracy, sameness, lack of originality, but a clearly-de-fined goal to. which all are working. Perhaps the idea is best expressed by Jesus Christ Himself when Ho said; “I and My Father arc One.” (2) Economy ami Simplicity of Working.—All waste, must bo eliminated and superfluous machinery discarded. . (3) Balance.—Everything will be taken into account, and all the different parts allotted a place in proportion to the whole. All the elements of the fourfold Hfo are in due, proportion with correctness and exactness of detail (4) Democracy of Control—ln those days of rule by the masses this principle cannot bo ignored. The individual member is the important factor, and the membership of the congregation is the real seat of authority, and should say what shall nr shall not he done. All organisation must rest down

in the individual and proceed from him. (5) Loyalty.—The spirit of lovalty is the biggest thing in life; it is the very heart of life, commencing with tlie home and extending to tho day school, community, country, nation, and empire; and to the class, department, church school, local church, denomination, and the church militant. These larger loyalties of life must bo created and fostered. (6) Purpose.—A clear-cut goal, obviating false starts and. waste,, while closely related to this prinicple is that of utility. . Does tlie organisation justify its existence, and is it the best possible? (7) Then not only must the principles of correlation of the programme hold good, but there must be comprehensiveness as well, where all the parts fit together and make a well-rounded whole, leaving no single unit, or person, outside its. workableness. (8) The effectiveness of the organisation must also be taken into account. Does it accomplish what it sets out to do? The last, but by no means the least important, principle is that of beauty in relation to all parts of the church—in buildings, equipment,, programme. The Aesthetic in religion is infinitely worth while. A Church organisation built on these principles must function in a fine spirit of Christian fellowship. It is left to another issue to indicate how this can bo accomplished.