THE CHURCH AND THE CHILDREN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81916, 14 January 1907, Page 2

THE CHURCH AND THE CHILDREN.

il'j- Church and the Children" was mt tie of a most interesting address Air \arney at the Queen street (-liurcli on Friday night. 'y Jr v . lrm ,;. "1 "l lh ju c-liilUivn's work, ijnot. 1 the remark of a tittle chap who s.ud he was "the stun" that men were l";", 01 ;', ,' «'e *<>» day-schools K-y had to deal with the stulf that tiio men and women of the future ; VUV hvw ". »'!'. Jlcavc. wrote a ;«'"|»* wntor, came close to children in th.ni- inlancy. Tin: speaker found mult with the very general method of approaching children. aml (|llut , d U)t , Sunday-school superintendent who -aned an a.ldrcss i„ (his mshion: *>">* mid girls, 1 illu h, rc lo , nl you ironi going to j|el|.» .Sundavscliool teachers were privileged t„ train the moral and spiritual nature of the clnh.rcn, and to hand them across the small space that separated them from ''»<]■ The lirst duty of the Church, Mini j[r \ aruey, was to mind the little ones. Christ had said, "Feed my "inlis.' The gardener spent most of l"s time, not with the old trees and plants, but with the joung trees and .seedlings, thus getting the greater results or his labour. So with th-, ehildrcn: if the Church took a proper interest in them it would be Heller for tlie Church m the days to come. Too often, however, the Sunday-school was looked upon as a mere appendage linked on to the Church and supported by an annual collection. It should be placed on the platform with the mill ister in the eyes of tlie Cliurch. Jie regretted very much that no children's .servile had been arranged during the present conference, and hoped something might yet be done, iiegar.ling die method of .forking, .Mr V:„ruey ex" pressed the opinion that Sunday-school work should be evangelical even more than educational, the creation of a goodly atmosphere, an atmosphere of Worship. Undoubtedly the teacher ■was the key to success. He or she should be as nearly as possible a resemblance of Christ's character, which .would earn the children's love and iv, sped, as did the Arnold of '-Tom I'oown's Schooldays," striving against all things mean, unmanly and un. righteous. The teacher 'must ha v. enthusiasm for the, Cospel. and this involved iaith; must believe what he is talking about, or how eould he expect to be taken seriously; Teachers 11111,1 retain the '•boy'' and 'girl" spirit, must pisse.-s the imagination necessary for the drawing of attractive word pictures, and possess inlinite tact, patience and forbearance. That was his ideal teacher. |„ regretting the small attendance of children at church the speaker deplored the loss of 'he old family pew, now a thing of the pasl Ho believed Mint ministers were doin" more harm than good bv dnvolin" live minutes' talk to children at the church services, for children liked io be treat cd as their elders were. J.'vcry Simday morning sermon, ave. and'every sermon, should, be so 'delivered that the young might derive benelit ami oblairta lesson. Instead of this some of the ministers'were "111 tlie clouds'' lrom the time they delivered their text to the '•Amen" at the close of the discourse. In concluding, lie appealed to all parents to bring the children to church regularly and often. It v.oiini not mailer ii' the little ones slept, for some of the rao'lvi-s and fathers did that. (Laughter.) \„d he urged .Sunday-school teacher* to go 011 with the work They might not see the result of their work here, "but when the morning breaks, and thev sland before the throne, Christ may he able to say to you that by your labours ami by ||i s death this little one or that was brought to Heaven"' Hie ministers were appealed to for he.p. even as Christ had said •\Suller lie children to come unto me, and for bid them not, t„ r of such is the Kin"doin of Heaven." °