&mik
VOL. XLVII.
‘AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.”—John viii, 32.
CHARLOTTE, N. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20,1925
WHY WE SHOULD HAVE THE DEPARTMENT
AL GRADED LESSONS IN THE SUN
DAY SCHOOL
By Prof. J. Riley Dungee, Sr.
The tendency of the times is
toward advancement and im
provement. This is notably true
in educational activities. While
the quantity and the quality of
educational literature annually
offered for popular adoption is
undoubtedly due in part to the
cupidity of publishers, it is also
due ixi part to an honest effort
to improve upon that already in
use.
Whatever activity may be
called to mind, it would be rash
to reckon that the limit had been
reached either in the extent or
in the method of its pursuit. ,
In mechanics there is a con
stant effort to invent new im
plements or to remodel and per
fect those in use. Devices once
regarded as the last word in ef
ficiency have been supplanted by
those acknowledged to be a still
later word. y
So m pedagogical practice, no
educator would risk his reputa
tion upon the assumption that
the acme had been attained. As
a single illustration of the ad
vance in educational processes,
witness the evolution of the old
a-b-c method to the word meth
od, and that to the sentence
method and their various combi
nations.
What is regarded as one of
the most forward-looking feat
ures of present-day pedagogics
is the study of comparative men
tality, the effort to standardize
the measurement of the mind,
to ascertain its relative capacity,
and to adapt the requirement to
-♦-.Jmi imposed .to th«» capability
manifested.
In secular pedagogics it is
found that the most efficient
methods are those that distin
guish mental characteristics
most accurately and accommo
date them most exactly. It is a
common present-day practice to
group pupils of the same age and
grade according to their intel
lectual inequalities, and to exact
of the brightest a maximum ac
complishment, while the dullest
are expected to master only the
minimum essentials. /
Not only is it undertaken to
accommodate the mind in the
amount of matter to be mas
tered, but also in the manner of
its presentation: For example,
if a pupil is unable to absorb a
subject abstractly, it must be
demonstrated to him objectively.
Now, if it is necessary to ac
commodate procedure to the dif
ferent mentalities of the same
age and grade, how much more
is it necessary to accommodate
it to the differences in adult And
Among the fundamental prin
ciples of teaching are these:
that the subject matter shall be
within the understanding of the
learner, that it shall appeal to
his interest, and that it shall an
swer a conscious need.
In consistence with these prin
ciples it is manifestly unpeda
gogical to expect all ages andPinj
telleets to accommodate thenw
selves either to the same mat
ter, or to the same method of
imparting it. Neither will be
satisfied with, or benefitted by
that which satisfies or benefits
the other.
juvenile mentalities.
Any discussion oi tne relative
merits of the old uniform sys
tem of Sunday school literature
and the newer departmental
graded literature that does not
take into consideration the ped
agogical principles involved, is
illogical, irrelevant and inconse
quential. J
Those who are familiar with
the history of the Sunday
school are aware of the changes
which it has undergone and of
the conflict of opinion that at
tended those changes. Indeed,
the Sunday school itself was
originally the subject of contro
versy. As conducted by its
founder, its purpose included the
imparting of secular instruction.
We learn that the Presbyteri
ans of Scotland and the Congre
gationalists of America were
among its prominent opponents,
and that they founded their ob
jections upon the alleged impro
priety of giving secular instruc
tion upon the Sabbath.
Accordingly, the first change
effected in the institution con
sisted in restricting its instruc
tion to the subject of religion.
With this change effected, the
institution grew in popularity
interdenominationally and terri
torially, until the promiscuity of
its method suggested the second
change, which resulted, in 1873,
in the introduction of the well
known uniform lesson system.
This change also had its op
ponents, due, presumably, to the
fear that sectarian interests
might come into collision. With
the gradual subsidence of this
objection, the uniform system
became first national, then inter
national.
In process of time various ex
positions of the texts came into
vogue. Peloubet, Snowden, Tar
bell and Torrey are familiar
names to the users of the uni
form system.
Such was the satisfaction with
this system of literature, that to
some it seemed perfection had
been reached. However, as the
outside of an oak may show ev
ery indication of health while
the inside is decayed, so it was
discovered that the uniform les
son literature concealed a fatal
imperfection. WfiST fouffifto
violate the fundamental psy
chological and pedagogicaLf
principle that instruction shalf
be adapted to the interest, capac
ity and needs of the learner. By
way of obviating this imperfec
tion the departmental graded lit
erature was introduced.
As was the case in the two
preceding changes, this third
and latest change promptly ar
rayed the Sunday school constit
uency into opposing and defend
ing camps. Opponents criticise
the use of different lessons for
the different grades, and laud
the facility with which the uni
form literature allows everyone
everywhere to study the same
lesson iney fail to show, how
ever, wherein the adaptation of
the lesson to the learner takes
anything away from the graded
literature, or why the adapta
tion of the learner to the lesson
adds anything to the value of
the uniform literature.
They fail to make clear why
a system universially employed
in secular pedagogics should not
be adaptable to religious peda
gogics, or why a system univer
sally rejected in secular schools
should be exclusively applicable
in Sunday schools.
They fail to show why the pe
culiar advantage attending the
simultaneous study of the same
lesson in the Bible should not at
tend the simultaneous study of
the same lesson in botany or bi
ology.
Opponents of the graded liter
ature urge the second objection
that it does not admit of a gen
eral review by the superinten
dent.
Defenders ask whether there
is any more advantage in a re
view at the close of the period
by the superintendent of the
Sunday school than there is in
a similar review at the close of
the period by the principal in
the secural school. They vol
unteer the added suggestion
that while the review is being
adapted to one age or group the
others are being ignored and
more than likely bored.
The third and strongest con
tention of opponents of the grad
ed literature is that the teacher
of the uniform literature having
prepared a lesson for any class
0 LONE AND SDM MOUNTAIN
HEIGHTS
By Rev. Yorke Jondfc D. D.
Author “Gold and
0 fellow-soul to soul of mine,
Thou art a book fast sealed
To many, many souls that elljow thee.
Why, fellow-soul to soul of
Why, but for thy God, art thoi|§o lone,
Though not alone, but oft, 0
Art jostled by the babbling throng?
n
List thou, 0 fellow-soul to so
List thou to what a voice
Doth answer thee, O soul:
of mine—
111 i r
“On heaven-kissing mountain heights
There, is thy habitat, O soul;ill
For up there wast thou born!
TV H
AV . /if
“And so, O soul, thy lot ltj if
To dwell upon the sparsely per
Rugged heights of cool and silji
Where paths be rugged and
Where those who travel oft must flimb,—
Must often break a hard-won^ way;
Where asking, eager, reverent «yes
Do sweep the boundless reached of the blue,
At dewy dawn and gloaming eye,
And noon and star-gemmed n%ht. -
“So then, 0 soul, except for |>thers born
Upon thy native altitudes, I j
To breathe the rarer mountain air,—
To scale the steeps, to make'a way
Where never, never was a trail*—
And but for God, who dwelletfy not afar,
Though multitudes do elbow'thee,
O fellow-soul to soul of mine!, >
Thou must needs oft be lone!,1”!
/£
y
is more <
it.to am
or less prepared to teach
ik«u any other class?- - ry.~
/Defenders graciously ac
knowledge this contention and
counter with the equally evident
claim that a cook may prepare
a soup or a salad for any person
and as readily serve it to
any other person. They do not
acknowledge, however, that the
other person is necessarily go
ing to enjoy the soup or digest
the salad. If the food suits
neither the appetite nor the di
gestion it makes no difference
how good it is or how fastidious
ly it is served.
So, if the lesson is not edify
ing to the learner, it matters not
what may be its literary value
or what may be the skill with
which it is imparted. Defenders
of the departmental graded les
sons claim for it superiority of
adaptability to the learner’s
needs. It is the last word, so
far, in the attainment of that
indispensable qualification.
They see the same inconsist
ency in attempting to interest
Sunday school beginners in Post
Exile Hebrew History as it does
in attempting to interest secu
lar school beginners in the bi
nomial theorem,—the same in
congruity in offering Sunday
school adults Biblical baby sto
ries as it does in offering secular
school adults paper folding and
sand modeling.
No thinking theologue will
expect to edify children with a
sermon on the theory of evolu
tion. No practical /pedagogue
will hope to help Adults with
melodies from Mother Goose.
The uniform lessons under
take the unscientific task of
adapting the same lesson to all
capacities and all capacities to
the same lesson.
/ The graded lessons make the
psychologically sound attempt to
accommodate themselves to the
different interests, needs and ca
pacities of different learners.
It is not claimed that the
graded lessons are perfect, but
it is claimed that they are the
best yet introduced.
Norfolk, Va.
None of us, except the heirs
of the rich, ever get anything
for nothing. In this world you
have to fight for what you get—
and then fight to keep it.—The
Type Metal Magazine.
ijapp:
IN LINCOLN
EK9.-~~ -
Bp Mrs. H. W. McNair
The
tery
presen
history
is
work in Lincoln Presby
more encouraging at
t than at any stage of its
Our nine churches are
all supplied; that is, eight have
pastors, and the ninth, the
church! recently taken over at
Bowlin g Green, has extended a
call to a very successful pastor
on another field and the indica
tions £ ,re that he is going to ac
cept. The church taken over
was j formerly a Cumberland
Presbyterian church and has
some very wealthy and loyal
meml srs. The church is a brick
struct jure, with a nice manse on
the salme site, and has about 50
members. Bowling Green is a
city o1? 25,000 and is a growing
city. We are looking forward to
a day, which seems to be very
near, when all of the Cumber
land churches in Kentucky will
come over to Lincoln Presbyte
ry. T he signs are encouraging.
This a dll give us a membership
of abc ut 4,000.
The Sabbath school conven
tion i nd Woman’s Presbyterial
have just closed a wonderful
meeti ig, one that will be long
remei ibered. Many helpful
plans were advanced for the
bettei ment of both organiza
tions. /We met in Hatcher, Ky.,
in on if of our rural churches.
Our 1 'lesbyterial was organized
by th ; writer six years ago. The
wome n have been interested in
missi ins and we have never
failed tc raise our apportion
ment as sent down by the Syn
xl of Kentucky and the General
A.ssei lbly. We are very happy
aver i new worker in our midst
in th< person of Mrs. P. J. Coxe,
who recently came to us and
who s Secretary of the Presby
terial : also Mrs. R. L. Hyde,
who s President of the Sunday
3cho< >1 Convention, is rendering
a grt at service. There are oth
er w< rkers whom space will not
germ it us to mention. Truly we
have “Hitched bur wagon to a
star.’
W4
D. V
the o
hftye just closed our first
. B. S., which was held on
^mpps of Fee Memorial In
iitu ;e, and we are not afraid to
ay ijbat our older schools would
Continued on page 3)
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CON
VENTION OF ATLANTIC ;
PRESBYTERY. 1*
- i'
The Sunday School Conven
tion of Atlantic Presbytet^ met
at Orangeburg, S. C., July 23-26,
and had a very successful ses
sion.
The Convention opened Thurs
day night with music by the
Church choir, with Mrs. J. M.
Maxwell at the piano. The pro
gram was as follows:
Welcome address in behalf of
the schools and colleges of the
city by Dr. R. S. Wilkinson,
President of State College.
Welcome address in behalf of
the churches and Sunday
schools of the city by Hon. J.
Moore, a colored lawyer.
Music by the choir, “Trying
to Walk in the Steps of the Sav
iour."
Welcome address in behalf of
the white citizens of the city by
Hon. W. H. Thompson.
Welcome in behalf of St. Luke
Sunday School by Miss Alleen
Harper.
The welcomes were respond
ed to by Rev. G. E. Henderson,
of Zion Presbyterian church, of
Charleston, S. C.
The program was then turned
over to the convention. Dr. T.
H. Ayers introduced the Presi
dent, Mrs. W. T. Frazier, who
in turn introduced the Vice
President, Prof. H. 0. Walker,
who presided.
The subject, “The Sunday
School’s Opportunity to Save
the Youth,y was discussed by
Rev. T. A. Robinson. He said
that the Sunday School should
get hold of the child in its in
fancy and it will be able to mold
its life as it sliould be, and it
would not be as easy to lose
him. He also said that tne
great problem of the Sunday ;
School tejoholdthejrwtfejfe.
ing the teen-age period.
Friday morning a short song
service was conducted by Miss
Alma Frasier. The President
then gave her annual address,
the subject of which was “Zeal.”
The next subject discussed
was “The Effect of Devotion.”
Misses Georgiana Phoenix and
Melissa Metz gave excellent pa
pers on this subject and the dis
cussion was very interesting and
instructive. Several other sub
jects were discussed and much
benefit was gotten from them.
The evening session began
with a discussion, “How to In
crease the Finance of the Sun
day School.” This was taken up
by the delegate from Walling
ford and closed by Dr. W. T.
Frasier.
The necessary committees
were appointed and the minutes
were read by the Secretary.
Friday night was given to the
popular meeting. The subject
for discussion was “Our Obliga
tion to the General Church.”
Rev. Dr. W. T. Frasier gave
many reasons why we are obli
gated to the Church. One reas
on is because it has done so
much toward educating the peo
pie.
Rev. Dr. W. L. Metz gave a
very interesting history of the
Church showing why we are ob
ligated to it.
A very interesting sermon
was preached by Rev. G. E.
Henderson. I am sure, that all
who heard it were inspired by
it. After the sermon we were
favored with a very beautiful
solo, “The Holy City,” sung by
Mr. Sanders Pleasant.
In the afternoon we listened
to two very interesting talks on
the subject, “Why Young Peo
ple Are Not Interested in
Church Work“ by Miss Theodora
Percival and Mrs. J. W. Harper.
They stated that the best way
to interest children is to give
them something to do, and
that children will work better
if the parents show an interest
in their work and co-operate
with them.
The closing sermon was
preached Sunday by Rev. S. H.
Scott.
The Convention meets at Wal
lingford in Charleston next year.
MISS ALLEEN HARPER,
Cor. Secretary.
NOTICE — COMMITTEE ON
NATIONAL BOARD OF CA
* TAWBA SYNOD.
There will be a meeting of the
Catawba Synod’s Committee on
the National Board of Missions
at the Johnson C. Smith Uni
versity on Wednesday, Aug. 26,
1925, at some convenient hour,
not conflicting with program of
School of Methods, then in ses
sion. Every member of the
committee is asked to be present
and assist in making out the
program for the approaching
meeting of the Synod. How
ever, if any member finds that
he cannot be present, he will
greatly favor and assist by send
ing in a suggested program.
J. D. MARTIN, Chairman
Committee National Board, Ca
tawba Synod.
CEDAR GROVE COMMUN
ITY NOTES.
By Mrs. Hattie A. Russell
Sunday, August 9th, our pas
tor, Dr. L. J. Melton, preached
a very interesting sermon from
Daniel 6:25-26. He said Daniel’s
faith saved his own life and
brought salvation to all nations.
Those who attended the Sab
bath School Convention held at
Marion were Superintendent E.
F. Thompson, Mr. G. W. For
ney, Mrs. M. J. Alexander, Miss
Mary Sue Forney and Mr. J. S.
Russell. Each of them reports
a fine trip.
We were glad to have with
us on last Sunday Prof. I. M.
Martin, the Sabbath School Mis
sionary, who addressed us dur
ing the Sunday school hour.
We are proud to know that
Elder L. M. Davidson is able to
be out again.
■ Mrs Katie O. Alexander will ,
attend* the GrandSitting of the
^nvwie^in^Qi^lotte^^^^eek.
July 31st Mrs. M. J. Alexan
der royally entertained a num
ber of her friends at dinner in
honor of Mr. and Mrs. W. R.
Mayberry.
We are glad to have in our
community Mrs. Eunice White
and children of Detroit, Mich.
They will, spend the remainedr
of the summer here.
“The Trip Around the World”
which was carried out by the
Ladies’ Missionary Society was
quite a success. All are asking
us to please go again.
Those who will attend the Ca
tawba Presbyterial at Monroe
are Mrs. Katie 0. and Mrs. M.
J. Alexander, Mrs. Dora David
son, Mrs. Eliza Forney and Mrs.
Hattie Russell. Mrs. Carrie
Harris has been elected delegate
from our Society.
FROM McCONNELLSVILLE,
S. C.
We have just closed an eight
days’ revival at Bethlehem
First church. We had with us
Thursday and Friday nights,
July 30th and 31st, the Rev. J.
G. Porter, of Irmo, S. C., and on
Sunday, August 2nd, to Thurs
day, August 6th, the Rev. C. W.
Francis, of Anderson, S. C.
These brethren under God ren
dered us great service. Eight
precious young people professed
faith in Christ. Three united
with our church and two with
other churches. Three we hope
are to unite with our church on
next preaching day. Pray for
us.
A. A. JONES.
PRIESTS FOR COLORED
CATHOLICS.
(Columbian Press Bureau)
Baltimore.—For the purpose -
of attracting more young men
to work among the colored mis
sions, St. Joseph’s Catholic Sem
inary which trains young priests
for work among colored people,
is to be transferred from this
city to Washington. A building
to house the seminary will be
constructed on a tract of land
adjoining the Sisters’ College at
Catholic University. St. Jos
eph’s Seminary, which has an
average of 80 students, has been
located in Baltimore since 1892.