Article September 23, 1911 Issue

FIRST LESSONS

REV. JAMES J. ROME.

IN Article XX of our Church Manual, we read that the first lessons which should be taught pupils in Sunday school are the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and its spiritual interpretation by Mrs. Eddy, and the sermon on the mount. There seems to be a misunderstanding or uncertainty on the part of some as to what is meant by "first lessons," and how these lessons are to be taught. One interpretation of the term seems to be that these lessons are to be taught only to the younger or primary classes; but this construction cannot be what was intended, for many pupils of the older classes in our Sunday schools have never had the privilege of such primary teaching. The term used must refer to something more than mere age or class grading.

These lessons are "first" inasmuch as they are the foundation or basis of all other lessons and are as necessary to one's progress toward perfect spiritual understanding as are the primary lessons and rules in arithmetic in the progress toward higher mathematics. We would never think that a student could understand the more complicated branches of mathematics without a thorough comprehension of the fundamentals. Without a knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, one could not be prepared to demonstrate problems in cube root or higher algebra; neither could he be excused from an acquaintance with these elementary rules and methods because he was well advanced in the study of geography, rhetoric, and history. It does not matter, likewise, how far a pupil in Sunday school may be advanced along other lines, his progress spiritually will depend largely upon his understanding of these first lessons.

It is important, then, that an acquaintance with and understanding of these lessons be considered the primary object in every Sunday school class. In teaching them it is necessary first to see that the letter is thoroughly learned, and by thoroughly is meant exactly, perfectly, for if the pupils are permitted to repeat the lessons in an indifferent, careless manner, it will be more difficult to impress them with the importance of the meaning and application. When this step has been attained, we may advance to the more careful consideration of the moral and spiritual signification, as it is expressed in Science and Health (p. 495): "Study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

WHEN DOCTORS DISAGREE