"AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TR
SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.”—John viii, 36
CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY;, APRIL 19, 1928.
DEVELOPING A PROGRAM OF YOUNG
PEOPLE’S AGHVITIES
(Paper prepared for the Missionaries’ Conference held at Selden
Institute, Brunswick, Ga., February 7-10.)
By George R. Marsh, Sabbath School Missionary
It is a great thing to be young.
It is more invigorating to look
forward than to look backward.
In youth, one’s structure is to
be built. The materials are at
hand. The plan remains to be
chosen and the work to be done.
The style of life is continually
changing, dangers and tempta
tions appear under new forms,
and it has become necessary to
adapt our teaching to the actu
al emergency. The infidelity of
the day is not what it was twen
ty years ago. The mode of do
ing business is not the same;
the popular amusements are
different. The current literature
has been essentially modified.
Some things have been changed
for the best, some for the worst,
but I know of no social improve
ments which have made the
world, upon a whole, any safer
place for the young or old.
In view of these things,
Christian leaders are attempting
to promote a program for young
people, with regard to their in
terests, characteristics and
needs; a program that, if fol
lowed, will prepare them for
the experiences and life relation
ships of adult manhood and
womanhood.
The activities of the earlier
years must be enriched and ex
panded to form personalities
capable of fine leadership. If
the opportunities for this expan
sion are missed in these critical
— years, they are exceedingly dif
ficult, if not impossible, to re
cover.
Young people are asking one
question with great persistence:
“Is it really possible to follow
Christ in our day?” A religion
confined to certain times or to
certain places of worship can not
possibly satisfy the young peo
ple of" the present time. They
face an extremely difficult sit
uation) as they take up their full
share in the life of Che world
today. The Church should not
be satisfied without pouring out
its best for them Chat they
may have all the light and
guidance possible. Does not
Christ call His followers to take
Him seriously in all things and
put the whole strength of their
lives into the advancement of
His kingdom? J
Our great aim is to help the
young people accept and carry
out their share of responsibility
for the promotion of Christ’s
cause. The world is calling for
Christians who know how to put
their religion into practice; for,
if the cause of Christ is to tri
umph, there must be a genera
tion of Christians who can apply
His spirit and principles in the
home, in social life, in business
and industry, and in politics and
public life.
For some years there has been
recognized a ringing challenge
to certain young people to ac
j J>t Christ’s purpose for their
"I lives and to enlist as ministers
I or missionaries. Too often this
has been assumed as a peculiar
kind of call and that it would
not be experienced by those in
ordinary walks of life.
Surely there have been few
greater mistakes. Christ calls
every Christian to share His
great purpose for mankind.
Young people should early be
taught to serve. The Christ
whom young people are to follow
came to serve. He proclaimed
that, “He who would be greatest
must be servant of all.” He
went about doing good. So
young people must be enlisted in
actual service for Christ and
his fellowmen.
Worship is one of the basic
eluents in the young people’s
program—worship which means
sRy
man’s attitude toward God and
his feeling toward his fellowmen.
This is the original spring of
life. It is the motivation of ser
vice, for though we speak with
the tongues of men and of an
gels; if we have the gift of
prophecy; if we know all myste
ries and all knowledge; if we
have faith to remove mountains;
and though we give all of our
goods to feed the poor and give
our bodies to be burned and have
not love we are nothing.
Young People’s worship in
clpde hymns, prayer,' Scripture
reading, offering and messages.
The last may take such form as
a tajk^ story, or a selection from
devotional literature.
/Young people Should give at
tention to good religious music
if they are to worship well.
The hymns selected should ex
press real religious thought and
feeling. The music must not be
limited to three or four hymns
already worn thread bare. The
number and variety of hymns
that can be sung well should be
constantly increased. This will
require study and every group
o*f young people Should make a
study of the great hymns. A
good musician might be asked
to lead the group in a study of
hymnology, making clear the
beauty and worth of hymns.
In young people’s services of
worship and in their own lives,
prayer should have a large
place. No one can, exaggerate
the value and importance of
prayer—that which unites
hearts with God and seeks to
know His will. Prayer is the
greatest resource for fine living
and for all Christian service.
More careful thought should be
given to prayer than is usually
given. Both for public and pri
vate prayer one should do very
serious thinking, for cooperative
thinking may develop some pray
ers that really express spiritual
aspirations and help in drawing
near to uoa.
VGroups and individuals ought
to make a study of prayer and
those who are to lead in prayer
in young people’s meetings
should be asked considerably in
advance. A number of choice
prayers on various subjects may
be collected. Many persons and
causes need * our prayers: viz.,
friends, institutions, those in
authority, the nation, the
Church, those doing Christian
vork, and many others.
^ A brief study of Christ’s life
will show that He lived in the
atmosphere of communion with
God, and prayed long and ear
nestly before making all great
decisions.
Perhaps no other means of
worship has been so badly mis
used as Scripture reading. Too
often the Scripture is hastily se
lected and read without force or
appreciation. A great opportu
nity is lost when the Bible is
read carelessly, and in such a
manner as to hide from others
the boundless wealth which it
holds. Man may enter into the
truths of God and share the
spiritual vision of the greatest
souls of the ages by reading and
hearing the Scriptures aright.
Responsive and unison read
ing should be well done with
everyone taking a part.
Very important in thb young
people’s program is theNoffering.
Giving is too often considered a
formality or a matter-of-fact
business to be slipped in some
where when the opportunity
presents itself. Young people
frequently fail to recognize giv
ing as a part of worship. It is.
one of the most beautiful parts.
It 'is a means of pouring out
one’s self to God, the return to
Him of His own, and the partic
ipation of the individual in the
work of the kingdom.
No offering should be taken
carelessly or as a matter of
course. Everyone should know
for what purpose gifts are in
tended. The manner of giving
the offering may Jjelp to make it
worshipful. Let nothing irrev
erent or careless be done. The
spirit of the service should not
be broken.
During the taking of the offer
ing, instrumental music may be
had or the stanza of a prayer
hymn be said, or a prayer of
cpnsecration may follow. Many
services of worship may include
a [spoken message. Probably it
will carry, the theme of the ser
vice more than any other part.
Different methods are available.
There may be a well prepared
talk on the topic by some one,
or several very short talks by
different persons, or an appro
priate and effective story well
told. The wealth of devotional
literature found in the writing
of those who have lived close to
God and learned the secrets of
the'spiritual life, offers a treas
ury from which selection may
be made for this part of the ser
vice. .
Every young person should
desire to make his life be of
real significance jboth' immedi
ately and in the future. He can
not tell where his life will be
placed or in what capacity it. will
be used. Therefore he should
learn to live tnd to labor that
his years of service may be a
direct and unquestionable con
tribution to the welfare of men
and to the advancement of
Christ’s kingdom. /
;Next in importance in the
is to help young people find and
develop Christian friendship and
fellowship, to guide them in ap
plying Christian principles and
purpose to their social life and
to assist them in maintaining
their lives on the highest possi
ble plain. In order to attain
this aini many churches and
leaders of young people should
broaden their ideas in regard to
recreation and give the term new
content. Today the word recre
ation is used to'denote all those
activities which help for finer
and better living: Those things
which young people do, not be
cause they must, ibut! because
they choose; those activities in
which they participate with a
feeling of Toy and freedom from
routine; those experiences from
which they emerge cheerful
when they have 'been discour
aged, relaxed when they have
been under nervous tension and
stimulated when they reached a
ooint of lassitude.
There are group experiences,
such'as games, music, dramatics,
athletics and the fellowship
with other young men and wom
t an, growing out of these events.
There are family experiences, as
avenings at home, when all en
joy a good time together. There
are individual experiences, such
as reading and the pursuit of
various hobbies. All these are
classed as recreational.
The result obtained from re
ar eational features are:
1. The Activity Produces
Physical Renewal—that is, the
development of muscular
strength, bodily skill and physi
cal poise.
2. It will Provide Mental
Stimulus—that is, spur the im
agination, quicken the reason,
and sharpen the perceptions of
young people. It will help them
to acquire good taste, and open
up to them new fields of inter
est.
3. It Results in Social
Broadening. There will be a
widening of friendship circles, a
new understanding of comrade
ship between young men and
women and higher standards of
relations between them.
Appreciation of other people
be increased which includes
le of different social status
people of different, nation
's and races. ......
It Aids in Spiritual
akening. As the three fore
changes take place in the
of young people they will
a new zest in living and
recognize that then* bodies
indeed the temples of God.
bir quickened minds will see
in the tasks of every day,
iif {the out doors, and in the
achievements of man. Their
ened social consciousness
help them to see God iin
others. They will start eagerly
yiNRA the adventure of discover
the best in life. They will
'f standards of recreation
ich they can apply wherever
may be.
fA careful survey would be ne
cessary to locate all the young
Reople in any church, but in
churches there are well
|wn places where they are
The first group is com
of those young people
ire church members and
the services of worship
?|the mid-week prayer meet
The second group is of
people of the Sunday
of which this is their only
ct with the church. The
group is made up of dif
|i|t societies, clubs, etc., of the
ch. Fourth, some Sunday
i\ teachers and leaders of
teties for younger boys and
(St
leretofore each of these or
lizations has had its own pro
im. The great purpose of the
lunch now is to build a unified
rogram for all young people in
lurch, .v
find the “Building with
program is the desire to
church and the fullest opportu
nity for developing a Christian
life. The main concern is that
the church be made available
for all young people, the wor
ship, instruction, service and re
2reation necessary and desirable
for Christian living and action.
“Build today, then, strong and
. sure,
^With firm and ample base;
And ascending and secure
Shall tomorrow find its place.”
COULTER ACADEMY,
CHERAW, S. C.
By M:ss M. L. Brewer.
Our church and school were
well represented at Fairfield
Presbytery which met in Winns
boro, S. C. Among those who
attended were Dr. Long, our
pastor, and Mrs. Long, who is
the Presbyterial President. Mrs.
A.lphonso Powe and Miss Odes
sa Cox were delegates from the
Women’s and Young People’s
Missionary Societies. Miss
Brewer represented our faculty.
Mr. Lewis Long, who is very
anxious to become a minister,
was taken under the care of the
Presbytery. , , ■
A district meeting was held
here April 2nd. Miss Barr, the
field representative of the Board
of National Missions, was the
?hief speaker of the day. Miss
Barr brought much information
and inspiration. Dr. C. J. Baker,
of Atlanta, Ga., also attended
this meeting and gave a very in
teresting and helpful address.
Last Friday morning the
members of the school and quite
a number of visitors were fa
vored with a rhetorical under
the supervision of Miss W. M.
Gillespie. After the program
we listened to some very encour
aging remarks by Mrs. Mary
Cotten.
Recently the Boys^ Dormitory
was partially destroyed by fire.
Several of the boys suffered
severe losses.
The Easter program was un
der the direction of Mrs. Spen
cer and Mrs. Cotten. Envelopes
(Continued on page 3)
NOTES PROM ST. LUKE,
ORANGEBURG, S C.
.Atlantic
Presbytery
in v our
TKe
which convened ' here w. um
church last week—April Tl-14—
was conceded to ,be one of the
best in a number of years. It
was well attended,, and interest
ing and harmonious to the eflfi,
Many issues vital to the Presby
tery and the Church at large
were discussed edifyingly. to the
delight of . all who heard them.
A number of. visitors dropped
in from time to time. . The im
pression made on the church and
the city at large was very favor
able indeed. •
The Presbytery opened? < with
an appropriate sermon by.the re
tiring Moderator, Rev. S. Hi
Scott, of John’s Island. Rev..
W. T. Frazier, D. D„ ,of/Charles
ton, was unanimously chosen
as Moderator and Rev.. G. E.
Henderson, of*the same city, as
temporary clerk.;. -
The Women's^ popular meet
ing was held on Thursday-night
with a varied program of music,
debate and? addresses; . A very
interesting feature was a debate
between Mr. Vesta Harper arid
Miss Cassandra Maxwell;'of the
local churchy The subject dis
cussed was X Resolved, That the
Girls are More Useful'* to the
Church Than the Boys.'
. Mrs. M. M. Jones,' of McCon
nellsville," riiade ;a firie address.
The collection realized was
good. " V7 '/
The welcome services' were
distributed Over two: nights—
Wednesday arid Friday'.1' Prof;
Philip Harris, a professor at the
State College, represented the
local church. Dr. J.' W. Ran
dolph, President of Claflin Uni
Ifibehablldi the
trmloHgf titterests;
go S. Sims, a leading attorney
of the city, represented the cit
izens at large. Rev. Hi M. Mc
Cord, pastor of the First Pres
byterian church, brought the
greetings of the churches and
expressions of harmonious inter
racial relationship.
Dr. R. S. Wilkefson, Presi
dent of the State College, made
an earnest plea for cooperation
between the forces of the church
and those of the educational in
terests throughout the State.
These splendid addresses were
responded to very appropriately
and earnestly by t>r. Wm. Metz,
of Edisto Island, and Rev. G. E.
Henderson, of Charleston.
Sabbath at 11^4.. M., Dr.
Frazier, the Modern jt, preached
a very able sermon on “The
Proper Treatment of One’s En
emies,” which made a profound
impression on the audience.
Notwithstanding the inclement
weather the services were well
attended. ...
At three o’clock in the after
noon a - Model Sunday School
was conducted by Prof A. A.
Adier, ably assisted . b\r Prof.
W. C. Lewis, our Superinten
dent, and Prof,. J. W. Harper,
Assistant. The methods recom
mended for doing, successful
work and in impressing and
holding the interest of the
young people and in making
them a greater factor in the
Sunday school life, were most
excellent and will help our
young people greatly..
Sunday evening- at 8 o’clock
the closing sermon.-,was: preached
by Rev. S. H.: Scott,, .who em
phasized the .place of the Holy
Spirit in the life of the. ,Church
and the individual.
The principal- and alternate
ministerial commissioners to the
Genera! Assembly are»Rev. G.
E. /Henderson ancj Rev: IT. Hr.
Ayers; (lay''commissioners aa-e
Prof. A. H. Clement, of Charles
ton and Elder-Freeman of John’s:
Island in the order named.
Things iii: our church are mov
ing on harmoniously _itt every
way. Our people are on the
alert and fully alive to the en
tire program of tWEhUi'eh in all
of its departments and spheres.
. ■ 7
The various auxiliaries—the ?
Sunday school, the Christian
Endeavor and the Ladies' Mis
sionary Society—are function-,
ing and are contributing factors
to the life 'and services of our
church.
Our music, under the direction
of Mrs. Kate Maxwell, together
with her faithful and efficient
choir was a great source of in
spiration in aH^ the services of
the past week.
T. H. AYERS, Pastor.
Orangeburg, S. C., April 16.
THE SPRING MEETING OF
McClelland presby
TERY.
The Presbyfery of McClelland
held its Spring session with
Oak Grove Presbyterian church,
Slighs, S. C., April 4th through
the 6th. The retiring Modera
tor, Rev. J. M.Johnson, D.' D.,
preached a strong sermon from
St. Matthew 16: 18.
; %tev. C, W. Francis was chos
en Moderator and Rev. H% Y*
Kennedy was made clerk pro
tem.
Dr. B. F. McDowell and Rev.
E. A. , McCorkle ■ were elected
ministerial commissioners, prin
cipal and alternate, respectively,
to the next General Assembly,
and Elders. N. Smith and C. B„
Johnson were elected lay com
missioners, principal and alter
nate, respectively.
Drs. G. W. Long, G. T. Dillard
and Rev. D. T. Murray, Presby
tery of Fairfield; Dr. J. M. Miller,
Presbytery of Atlantic; Rev. N.
Bell, Presbytery of Catawba;
Revs. A. H. Reasoner, Presbyte
ry of Pittsburgh, arid P. A.
Flack, Presbytery of Rogers
ville, were granted seats of cor
responding members of the
privilege of
air anc
were granted
the floor.
Rev. D. S. Collier was given
permission to labor outside the
bounds of the Presbytery.
Messrs. Claude and Elliott
McAdams were examined as to
their Christian piety and mo
tives for entering the gospel
ministry. Their examination
was entirely satisfactory to the
Presbytery and they were taken
under the care oT thF Presbyte
ry and recommended to the
Board of Christian Education
for aid to pursue their course
at Johnson C. Smith University.
The reports from the church
es showed progress along vari
ous lines. There were evidences
of many additions by letters
and professions to the rolls.
These rolls have, nevertheless,
been generally kept down by
deaths and dismissals for vari
ous causes.
The clerks report to the Gen
eral Assembly of 1927 showed
a net total of 962 communicants.
This year’s report will show a .
net total of 887 communicants—
a decrease of 75.
Dr. C. M. Young, Chairman of
che Committee on Program and
Field Activities, still. wears a
broad smile since tRe Presbyte
ry rolled up its full quota, with a
surplus of $44.18. TKe Presby
tery electetT Dr. Young Benev
olence Treasurer for all the
churches of the Presbytery. All
moneys for benevolence, from
whatever source, are to be sent .
to -Dr. C. M. Young, Harbison'
College, Irmo,. S. C., and he in
turn will forward the same to .
the Boards and Agencies per
your designation. This is a
forward step taken by the Pres
bytery in the right direction. ,
This method will eliminate dis
crepancies in the final checking
up with the Boards and Presby
tery.
On Thursday evening, April
5th,; the Presbytery engaged in
a men’s popular meeting. The
following, subjects were dis
cussed with profit and interest:
Christian Education ’by Rev. 0.
M. McAdams and Prof. A. A.
Adair; Church Obligations by
(Continued on page 4)