"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)

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