Editorial January 15, 1916 Issue

Teaching the Children

Archibald McLellan

From time to time we have given space, particularly in the Sentinel, to articles dealing with practical experiences in teaching in the Sunday school, for the reason that the many letters received at headquarters, requesting information as to the right way to carry on the work of the Sunday school, indicate that the subject is of wide-spread interest. It is also evident that there is not only an intention on the part of those who are most intimately connected with and responsible for the conduct of this work to put into it their best efforts, but there is a general desire that these efforts shall be rightly directed. This spirit is commendable, since what is said and done in this school for the Christian education of the young should always be in keeping with Mrs. Eddy's intent in establishing this important department.

Our Leader has made careful provision for the welfare of these lambs of the flock, and as fundamental authority on the subject of teaching the children we have the organic law of the church as contained in Article XX of the Church Manual (p. 62 of the present edition). It seems very clear, from a careful study of this by-law, that it was intended to define therein fully and specifically the scope of the subjects to be taught the children. In fact, it is couched in such definite language that there can be no question or difference of opinion as to just what our Leader considered fundamentally essential in teaching them Christian Science.

It is important to note, however, that the by-law does not say the teaching shall be confined to the mere letter of the commandments and the other subjects named. In a letter by Mrs. Eddy's secretary and which had her approval (Sentinel, March 3, 1906), it is stated that "it was not her [Mrs. Eddy's] intention to limit Sunday school instruction to the routine of memorizing the letter of the designated portions of the Scripture," but that "the children should be taught the meaning of the Ten Commandments," etc. From what view-point this teaching shall be given is plainly stated in the closing sentence of Section 3 of the by-law referred to; viz., "The instruction given by the children's teachers must not deviate from the absolute Christian Science contained in their text-book." This seems to make it quite clear that the instruction given the children should be along the line of the spiritual meaning and import of the Scriptures, rather than upon the basis of the material history of a race of people or a nation, useful as this history oftentimes may be in providing illustrations in point.

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