Newspaper Page Text
.-4 THE P
devoted a great deal of time to the
work of organizing the men and boys
of tho congregation for definite Christian
service, lie has shown exceptional
gifts in getting hold of hoys and enlisting
their permanent interest and he commands
the respect of men by his sound
judgment and manly type of Christianity.
I lis pastor. Dr. Egbert W. Smith, says of
him: "I believe Mr. Davis is admirably
A notable feature of the development
of the life of the Church of the present
day is the attention being given by all
denominations to the training of the
young people in Christian activity.
Our Assembly adopted in 1S91 a definite
plan for the encouragement and
direction of the work of our young people
and outlined principles for the govern
"i MAifin'h, a lid adopted i lie nam
Westminster League as the official
GROUP OF MOUNTAIN BOY
At a Sabbath
designation for our young peoples organizations.
In the development of the work it was
found desirable in many cases to have
separate organizations for the boys anil
girls, and the boys' organizations were
called "Convenanter Companies" and the
girls' divisions were called "Miriam
Chapters."
In many of cur churches the plan of
the Assembly has not been followed, and
there are hundreds of societies which
have their own form of organization and
a local name. Many of these societies
are doing a fine work, but until the. Assembly
plan is adopted, there will be
lacking that unity of purpose and definiteness
of aim which grows out of unified
organization.
The chief lines of work suggested are,
Bible Study. Prayer. Christian Culture
and Christian Activity. I'nder Bible Study
distinct and sustained efforts are being
RESBYTERI AN OF THE SOUTH.
suited for Covenanter and Brotherhood
work, in the former of which, especially,
he has had remarkable success in our
churgh. He is a man of character and
consecration a diligent Bible student, of
affable manners, gifted with common
sense and an attractiveness for boys,
and certain, I think, to develop into a
very effective speaker."
The Committee feels that the Church
m:i<le tr< indiifo iho
. j v/uii?> iirirva iu
form the habit of reading and studying
the Word of God daily. They are stimulated
to better work in the Sunday
schools. Here and there they undertake
special studies as societies. In the
matter of prayer, much is being done
to encourage the practice of daily prayer,
and to encourage the young to lead in
prayer in their own meetings. In the
leading denominations more or less
S IN MITCHELL COUNTY. N. C.
School Institute
elaborate Christian Culture Courses have
been prepared, and introduced with
viper and wisdom. These courses cover
such subjects as denominational doctrine,
government and history and kindred
themes, and are advertised and explained
through well-edited papers. Under Christian
Activity, or, as the Scotch say.
"Works of Christian Usefulness," are
included the careful study of missions
along lines never attempted until recently;
social work, such as social evenings
and outings arranged for pleasure and
recreation of the nobler sort; the visitation
of the sick and strangers, and in
general, such use of the social instinct
as will draw the young to the Church and
help to hold them; extension, including
plans for extending the general work and
for bringing all the young people ot
proper age in the local church into the
societies; personal work for the salvation
of others, and various forms of local and
temporary work.
February 17, 1909.
is to be congratulated upon securing a
man of such promise for this important
department, and it is encouraging to find
consecrated laymen who are willing to
turn aside from business life and give
themselves to definite Christian work.
Requests for visits from Mr. Davis
should lie sent to Rev. A. E. Phillips,
Superintendent of Sunday schools. Richmond,
Ya.
The direction of the work of our
Young People's Societies was placed in
the hands of the Executive Committee of
Puhliesition :i 11 <I th?? tssomMv s?? \s....
1906, directed that the Constitution and
My-L?aws be revised to meet the en larged
and changing scope of the work.
Following this order, publications have
been issued, in which full directions are
given for the conduct of Young People's
Societies.
The publications are as follows:
Free samples will be sent to pastel s
or any one dcsirine to orsraniy-o n ?.wi?>iv
Order I'rimi Presbyterian Committee of
Publication, Richmond. Va.. or Tex
ark ana. Ark-Texas.
LITERATURE.
"The Sunday School in the Country.'
by Rev. John T. Paris. published in
Philadelphia by the Westminster' Press,
is a monograph on the country Sunday
School and shows what has been done
ny those superintendents who have refused
to be balked by the special obstacles
which confront the schools which
have no fine buildings, cement walks,
rooms for primary classes, and other ad
juncts nowadays deemed needful to the
successful conduct of a school. The
pamphlet is practically a collection of
experiences, and therefore represents
actual work and results.
The various religions represented by
the children in our public schools, notably
the Roman Catholic ,and the Hebrew,
render difficult of solution the
problem of ethical or moral instruction i
in me stnoois. un tnis question the discussion
is becoming .more and more acute
with the Increase of the Jewish
population and the insistence on the part
of Roman Catholics that the religious instruction
of their children shall he left
entirely to themselves. Oh the other
hand. Protestant America as strenuously
Insists that the Bible shall have a place
in the schools not for- ?i ?
__ , cue uicuicniiuii
of sectarian tenets, but to read, without
note and comment, if so decided, as the
Divine standard text book in ethical and
moral Instruction.
The Century Company publish the
autobiography of Helen Keller, given under
the title "The World I Live In."