OCR Text |
Show Religion Class Convention Held A Very Interesting Paper Read by Mrs. I. P. Stewart The afternoon session of the Cache Sjpke Religion Class convention in the tabernacle Sunday was an Interesting Inter-esting one. Many valuable suggestions sugges-tions were given by ProL J, n. Kcmrt II. K. Merrill and Mrs. Rebecca Stewart Stew-art Prof. Kemp spoke at some length on home'lnfluences with children and emphasized the fact that there arc many parents who are not tit teachers of their children and said that all parents should live the lives that they wished their children to live. A paper by Mrs. Rebecca SJtewart on the relation of the Religion class teacher to the parent we consider well worth the perusal of every parent. It Is: In considering the subject of "The Relation of the Religion Class teacher to tho parent," I think we may all agree, that anything which has ever been said, regarding desirable and Ideal relations between the ordinary teacher and parent, Is certainly true, In a much emphasized manner, a much Increased degree, as applying to the relation which should exist, between be-tween the Religion class teacher and the parent. Again I believe, this organization is the youngest child of the church. As such, it needs a large share of the parents, tender and fosterlrg care. It weak, It must be supported ard strengthened; If timid, It must be encouraged; en-couraged; If fearful of its own lack of 1 power, It must be entrusted to the 'guidance of those, who are strong, courageous and full of faith. Are these means being adopted at pre-tnt, In 'regard to our Religion classes? I fear not to any marked degree. There are various reasons for this. '1 hese reasons are honest ones, and their ground can not be denied but, never-lhe-lebs, the facts of the case, show the Inevitable connection of cause and effect and the outcome In some wards Is discouraging to the members of the Hoard. While In many cases, we are glad to express our deep sense of appreciation and gratitude, for earnest and devoted devot-ed work still we cannot close our o)es to the fact, that the Stake Presidency, Blshoprlcks (crowded with their work) and last but by no means least the Parents do not alwajs give the support to this work, that Is being so nobly given to other church organizations Youngest, and necessarily weakest, It needs the most attention, and sometimes receives the least; lacking the self confidence, which comes from long and successful demonstration, It needs a constant inflow of strong invigorating faith, and It to often, receives discouraging words. Its very mission Is sometimes questioned. ques-tioned. The board Is sometimes met by such remarks as the following: "Oh I am not yet converted to that branch of work." Or even "I think my children learn meanness enough, without going there." Now we do not mean to say, that these answers (even the latter which is a direct quotation) arc not honest and well meant. But why should this bo so? Or, rather should this be so? If those, to whom has been committed com-mitted the Institution of church or-I or-I ganlzatlon have had borne In upon their souls, that such an organization organ-ization Is desirable and necessary Is It well for us to accept one and ouestlon another, according' to our i own Individual bias of opinion 'or impression? im-pression? 1 What cer, if our faith in tho ctllclenuyof the new and struggling organisation Is weak. We can at least say "Lord I believe. help thou mine unbelief." It Is easy enough to have faith in what time has thoroughly democ-strated democ-strated as forcxample the '-Mutual Improvement Association." Out can we not do a little better, and bring a little more faith to bear upon what perhaps still "remain to be proved." We believe that the Religion class, Is a most Important and far reachlog Infjuence In our church work; that It deserves the attention and serious Investigation In-vestigation of parents; the cheerful and enthuslastio care of good teachers; the heartiest support of those In authority. au-thority. That It lacks (to a marked degree) each and all of these elements of success Is evident; and It Is also evident evi-dent that, In the degree to which It lacks them, It falls short of Its Ideals. Shall we enumerate In tegular order these shoit-comlngs? Parents often doubt criticise neglect. neg-lect. Teachers are sometimes Incompetent, Incom-petent, sometimes very careless. In some of the wards, where there are ten reliable workers In auxiliary associations there may be, two, for the Religion class. Where this condition prevails, it Is keenly felt by Board members, who are often filled with discouragement. Hence, Bishops think often, that Board members are not alive to their duties. What can be done 'to remedy this mutual misunderstanding, this lack of understanding? First let us try to realize the great importance of this work. Let us try to make its aim more generally understood. Religion class work, as we understand under-stand It, is preparltory to the theological theologi-cal work in the church schools. To quote: The whole Religion class movement, Is part of the church school sjstem, and operates, in connection with the officers oftho latter, in both stake and ward activities. Hence, it Is not an auxiliary association in the st. use that the Primary or the Mutual Improvement Is, but a school, or better, bet-ter, a class. ilow should its work compare with that of other organizations say with the child in the publlo schools? We think that the work, along lines of spiritual development, should at least keep pace with that along lines of mental developement. . The subject matter has been chosen wholly with a view to providing practical prac-tical work for the natural activities of children of district school age. " 1'he keynote of Religion class work, Is the word, practical." That Is why it Is called by this name. It s a class; not a meeting, (In the ordinary sense,) and it teaches religion, not theology, IiuIiik the children In doing, not merely knowing. One bit of experience exper-ience is worth a thousand explanations. explana-tions. Acknowledging as we all must," that the work which Is for eternity, is Immeasureably inoie Important, ihan that which tits us, for the activities activi-ties of tills little mc Hal span, we come to the question, Is the Religion class a necessity, or can the child get the same results at other meetings? Does he get the Ideal results at the other meetings? We believe that many missionaries could contribute from their experience much to emphasize the desirability of the earnest work of Religion classes. Knowledge of manyt ordinances Is acquired late, when first undertaken In regular theological study. Such knowledge would be much more available and dependable, If developed de-veloped gradually from childbirth, through the practical work of the Religion Re-ligion class. Again, wlillc we do not Intend to detract irom the appreciation, which we feel, for the benefits to bo. derived from other meetings, we cannot fall to admit that much depend upon the spirit in which we, as ind.vlduals exhibit. ex-hibit. We' are responsible fur presenting ourselves In the right spirit for spirit ual help and uplimng. The child Is not supposed to be responsible re-sponsible that'ls not in the same degree. de-gree. The child's attitude toward spiritual spirit-ual truth Is largely a matter of heredity, hered-ity, temperament, environment, etc. How often Is a child blamed when he deserves only the tcndeiest pity Rnd most loving sympathy The soul Is the one great and divine possession which has been planted in each human being and which Isalwajs capable of responding to fostering Influence. In-fluence. How responsible then, are those who have (during the years of early childhood) child-hood) this prcclius charge In their keeping. How carefully and conscientiously should each step of development bo watched and guided and guarded. Given then the Interested and reccr-tlvo reccr-tlvo child mind, and the sympathetic and loving and competent teacher, what results may wo not hopo to achieve by presenting this practical work to our children In their early school lire. In doing this, we lay the foundation upon which tht child may, in future years, build a magnificent structure. And let us remember here thai tho early j i-arsof a child's life form the accumulation of material. His brain is a fresh, plastic surface readv for tho reception and retention of Imprints, Intellectual and spiritual. If wo fall to expose our braln.whlch Isthe functloner of the Intellect, to Impressions which may be made upon It we shall be Intellectually blind. If weclose our spiritual sight to things spiritual, we make ourselves spiritually spiritual-ly blind. This mortal life, with Its transitory struggles, is a brief span of years at best. The life to come Is endtess. Far better for us that we should neglect that which this world calls knowledge than to neglect the education of that Immortal part of us, the spirit, whose experience and development can constitute con-stitute our joy through the ages of eternity. We do not mean by this that it Is either necessary or advisable to neglect mental development. The great mistake that we are making mak-ing is In considering that Intellect and spirit are synenjmous terms; that the development of the former means the development ef the latter, that what cannot be proven by the Intellect,! Intel-lect,! superstition and cannot exist. We need to remember that God does not demand as the basis of his judgment judg-ment our degree of Intellectual development. devel-opment. Spiritual greatness may exist ex-ist In the soul of one who is absolutely unlearned. To recognize the existence of the little divine truth which Is presented by the Religion class teacher In her lesson (or as It Is called In our outline) 4 step, to surround It by an atmosphere atmos-phere of faith, to acknowlege In the plain simple testimony bearing, Its divine source, and by so doing help others do the same, constitute the child's first steps toward the higher spiritual life. A word In closing as to frequency or these Religion classes. Theoretically classes should be held as often as those of the publlo school, In order that the child may be as ready to take up the theological work of tho church school as he Is to gu on with the advanced worlrof the differeut departments de-partments of Instruction. And though It may be impossible at present to have these classes as often ai we could wish, parents can do much by encouraging and supporting the classes which we are able to maintain main-tain by the same zeal (In a wordjwhlch they exhibit In Insuring the attendance attend-ance of their children at the publlo school's, Thus showing their lively appreciation apprecia-tion of the fact that "Seeking first the Kingdom of God and nis righteousness, righteous-ness, all other thing- shall be added unto us " T Do not forget fTiat DeWitt's Little Enrly Risers are the best pills made. They are pleasant little lit-tle pills that are easy to take and are prompt and gentle. We sell and recommend them. Sold by Co-op Drug Co. , |