Children’s Work
Parochial work among children will always occupy an important place in the thought and interests of a clergyman’s life. A Scottish shepherd was once asked how he was able to produce so fine a breed of sheep, and he answered, ‘By taking care of the lambs.’
SECTION 1. DAY SCHOOLS.
If, and as long as, a day school is connected with a parish, the clergyman will be well advised to make the most he can of the opportunity afforded him to provide definite spiritual instruction. To this end he should cultivate the friendship of the teachers as far as possible and show them that he regards them as his fellow- workers. There are few opportunities in the Church of England fraught with such far-reaching results as a union of clergy and day school teachers who are all actuated with the one desire of influencing for God and good the children of the school. A Scripture class should be taken weekly by the Curate of the parish, and it will be well if the class is not always the same; one Standard may be taken for several weeks, and then another Standard, so as to provide the opportunity for the clergyman to get into touch with as many of the children as possible. In doing this work it is imperative for the young clergyman to know something of the art of teaching and school discipline. Theological Colleges of recent years have been laying stress on this as part of their curriculum, and it has been a very wise arrangement. There is scarcely anything that tends to make a trained teacher more indifferent to clerical help in his school than the consciousness that the clergy do not know how to teach. It is always advisable, if not necessary, to remove from the minds of such trained workers the idea that deacons and young clergymen, to use Bishop Wilberforce’s phrase, are among ’ the green things of the earth.’
The Incumbent, if he is at all interested in children and capable of dealing with them, will find it exceedingly useful to have a weekly gathering of all, or at any rate of the senior classes, in one room during the Scripture hour. Or failing this, he should hold a meeting for one school only, taking each department in rotation week by week. This meeting should consist mainly of a few brief prayers, and then a spiritual, personal address, though of course possessing some elements of suitable instruction. If such a meeting is properly arranged and well carried out, it will prove one of the most enjoyable opportunities of children’s work that falls to the Incumbent of a parish.
From time to time the clergy will naturally ’ drop in ’ during school hours when the ordinary work is proceeding, and both teachers and children will thus be enabled to feel that the clergyman takes a keen interest in the school and desires to be the friend and helper of all. Once again let it be said that opportunities of day school work should be cherished and treasured as among the finest and most valuable channels of influence.
SECTION 2. SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
It is most important that the clergy should become imbued with a strong conviction of the value and importance of Sunday School work, for apart from such convictions very little will be done. It is a great mistake to think that ’ anything will do ’ for Sunday Schools, and it is this attitude that leads many people to describe as ‘Sunday School ’ something that stands for what is essentially weak, poor, and almost worthless. As time goes on it would seem pretty certain that clerical work and influence in Day Schools will become less and less, and this in itself is a reason for making the most of Sunday Schools. Dissenting Churches have fully recognized this, especially because they have not given them selves to day school work, and the general equipment of Nonconformist Sunday Schools is, as a rule, infinitely superior to anything that we possess in the Church of England. This need not be, and ought not to be, if we are alive to the importance of the opportunity provided for us on Sunday.
The purpose of Sunday School work should be regarded as that of personal influence rather than education. A good deal of unfair criticism is directed against Sunday Schools because they do not teach and instruct, though a little thought should suggest that something like one hour a week, with many influences working in the opposite direction, would not be regarded by any educationist as adequate to the work of instruction. Let us by all means provide the very best intellectual opportunities we can obtain, but when everything has been said, Sunday School work will be largely that of personal impression and inspiration rather than that which is purely intellectual and educative.
Clerical association with Sunday Schools will necessarily take a variety of forms. First of all, the clergyman will endeavour to visit his Sunday Schools regularly, and see for himself what is going on. Superiijtendents and teachers will be glad to have the Incumbent or Curate to open or close the school, and to get into touch with the actual work. Then a clergyman will make a special point of knowing the Sunday School teachers and doing his utmost to work for them and with them. One special point of great importance is a weekly Preparation Class which should be regarded as the indispensable adjunct of all Sunday School work. If the clergyman is able to lead this himself so much the better, but such a class ought to be provided under any circumstances, and regarded as one of the essential features of the parochial organization. It may easily turn out that the post of superintendent is available for the clergyman, and if he is capable of filling it there are many reasons why he should do so. Of course if there is a competent layman to undertake this work there is no reason for the clergyman to become associated with it, but in the absence of any other qualified person there is much to be said for the personal influence of a clerical superintendency. It will mean a great deal of time and a large amount of hard work, but time and labour will be well spent on so valuable an adjunct to the Church.
One point connected with Sunday Schools has been raised frequently of recent years. Is it possible to associate the catechetical method known as that of St. Sulpice with the ordinary Anglican Sunday School? My own impression is that the two ideas are quite incompatible, and that if the Catechism is to be introduced it must be as something quite separate from the ordinary Sunday School work. My opinion on this is strongly confirmed by the wise and conclusive words on the subject written by the Bishop of Manchester in his Pastors and Teachers. The Method of the Catechism and the Method of the Sunday School are so entirely different that it seems quite impracticable to attempt to blend the two.
It will be found very useful, if not absolutely necessary, to disconnect the elder scholars from the Sunday School, when they leave the day school and go to work. The gap between the ages of thirteen and seventeen constitutes one of the greatest problems of the Church in regard to young life, and the boy or girl who has left school and commenced work does not like to be regarded as still associated with Sunday School. It will therefore be advisable to form the elder scholars into Bible Classes and have these in a separate building, though still regarded as an integral part of the Sunday School work. In my first Curacy we drafted these boys and girls into Bible Classes which were held in the church adjoining the school. The members met near the lectern for the opening and closing exercises, and then dispersed to different parts of the church for school work. The result was in every way admirable, and the proportion of young people in the congregation who were retained for those trying years was quite large and most encouraging.
Some books which have been found of the greatest possible use in work among children will be found in the list at the end of the book, but special attention is here called to the great value of the American Sunday School Times, a weekly paper which provides invaluable help of all kinds in connexion with work among children. Its Lesson Helps are by some of the foremost scholars on both sides of the Atlantic. Its Sunday School methods are suggested by some of the most experienced teachers; while its articles on the spiritual life, Bible study, and practical problems, make it of general service to all Chris tian workers. Not the least interesting and valuable part of the paper is the provision of anecdotes and illustrations week by week for the use of teachers and other Christian workers. If I may venture on a personal word of testimony, I would say that I possess the volumes of this paper for over thirty years, and would not part with them on any account. Dr. H. C. Trumbull, the late Editor, made the paper what it has become, and his work is worthily maintained by his son, the present Editor.
Once again, let it be thoroughly understood that work in and for the Sunday School should occupy a definite place in the plans of every clergyman.
SECTION 3. CHILDREN’S SERVICES.
From time to time during the year it will be wise and necessary to gather together the children in church for a Sunday Afternoon Service. On at least five special days this seems to be essential. These are the first Sunday of the New Year; Easter Day; Whit Sunday; the Sunday School Anniversary, and Harvest Thanksgiving. It is perhaps unadvisable to have Services much oftener than this, because of the interruption thereby caused to the series of Sunday School lessons, but on these special occasions there is a very great value in having a united gathering in church, if only to enable the children to realize the connexion between Sunday School and church, and the oneness of all efforts on behalf of young people. There are parishes where children who do not attend the ordinary Sunday School will need some weekly provision, and for them a weekly Children’s Service in church is sometimes arranged. On the special occasions above referred to, those who are in the habit of coming week by week will still be able to have their places in church, while the rest of the children occupy the other seats. It is on such occasions as these that sermons to children will be preached, to which reference has been made in an earlier chapter.
SECTION 4. WEEKDAY WORK.
Every one with experience of parish work knows well the difficulty attached to work among children on week days, and yet something must be done to link Sunday to Sunday, and also to provide an outlet for any personal influence which may result from day school work. One department frequently favoured is that of a Boys’ Brigade, or a Church Lads’ Brigade, though more recently this work has taken the form of the Boy Scouts’ Movement. It may be said concerning these aspects of work that almost everything will depend upon the chief officer. If he is spiritually keen as well as practically experienced the results will be encouraging, but it would be far better not to have any Brigade or Scout work unless we can make quite sure of the officer in command. I have often seen the most diverse results among the very same boys by reason of a change of officers.
Band of Hope work will naturally call for attention, and there is no doubt that when properly conducted a Children’s Band of Hope can be made one of the most valuable helps in parochial work. Here again, as else where, the personal element predominates, and the leader must be one who is not merely an enthusiastic temperance worker, but a man (or woman) who knows how to manage children. The great problem in connexion with Band of Hope work is variety and the absence of monotony, and this will need a good deal of patient thought and resourcefulness. If, however, the superintendent will associate with himself a few warmhearted temperance workers it will not be impossible to provide regular weekly programmes which will prove in every way fruitful for the highest purposes. No Band of Hope worker should fail to consult the Band of Hope, Chronicle, the organ of the United Kingdom Band of Hope Union, which, by means of suggested Outline Addresses and methods, will do much to keep a Band of Hope out of ruts, and enable it to go forward with vigour and blessing.
Reviewing the whole subject of Children’s Work it should be borne in mind that every endeavour must be made to obtain a clergyman with a gift with children and then to allow him a free hand to go his own way. Division of labour is never more keenly needed than in connexion with children’s work, and it will be found that the one who undertakes this will have to give to it a great part of his time and strength.