TRAINING THE CHILD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 794, 15 October 1929, Page 9

TRAINING THE CHILD

DISCUSSION BY BAPTIST CONFERENCE DECREASE IN SUNDAY SCHOOL “The need was never greater than it is today for close co-operation in reaching the children of the Dominion before the many attractions of the world get a strong hold over them.” said Mr. W. 11. Newton, when the report of the young people’s department was presented at the Baptist Conference this morning. He emphasised the value of the Sunday School as a training ground for church membership, over half of the new members this year having been former Sunday School scholars. The report showed that there are 77 schools connected with the union, having 6,791 scholars, a decrease of 75. Teachers numbered 1,081, an increase of 11. Senior Bible Class figures also show a* decrease, the total being 1.475, or 44 less than last year. Junior Bible Class figures are included in the school returns. i During the year 220 scholars joined the church. There is an increase of members of the Christian Endeavour movement, of which Baptists are the mainstay and the strongest support-Fifty-one schools participated in the annual scripture examinations. The Baptist Union Shield was again won by the Manurewa Children's Home in spite of a special handicap. Regular Sunday school lessons were given last year by correspondence, and will be continued this year. scripture examinations. The Baptist Union Shield was again won by the Manurewa Children’s Home in spite of a special handicap. Regular Sunday School lessons were given last year by correspondence, and will be continued this year. The balance sheet showed a small credit balance considerably less than that of last year. Grants amounting to more than £6O were mitde to various schools. CATECHISM NOT WANTED Condemnation of the cathechistic method of .teaching was contained in a report by a committee set up to consider a proposal to issue a catechism suitable for use by Baptist Sunday Schools in New Zealand. It was held that this method of teaching was opposed to all educational methods and lead to formality in worship. Speakers considered that no form of catechism would be welcomed at the present time, and the draft catechism and report of the committee will be filed until needed. The need for missionary education in the Sunday School was stressed by i the Rev. C. S. Matthews and Miss