Article December 9, 1916 Issue

True Attraction

ETHEL M. MC CANDLESS

That children have to be amused in order to attract and hold their attention, is a time-worn belief to which we all have been in bondage more or less; and we find that this belief even tries to obtain a foothold in Christian Science Sunday schools, especially the smaller ones just starting in their work. It is often asked by those in charge of such organizations, if there is not some way or something to make the work more attractive to the little ones. Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 102), "There is but one real attraction, that of Spirit," and if those who have the sacred charge of teaching these little ones keep this truth constantly before them and daily strive to demonstrate it, they will find that the children quickly respond to Truth's silent attraction and manifest attention and obedience.

The writer has always been associated with children, being one of a large family and also having children of her own, and she has found that there is nothing so attractive to the child thought as the truth. Her little sons would ask her, when she was about to begin a story, if it were "a true one," and they would sometimes refuse to listen if it were merely imaginative, thus rebuking that sense which sought to entertain by appealing to the sentimental nature of the child.

In Article XX of the Manual of The Mother Church we find all that is necessary for us to know about Sunday school work, and if we carefully and prayerfully study this, all lingering doubts will be dispersed. The seventh commandment should often be pondered by every teacher in a Christian Science Sunday school, and God will guide every sincere and humble seeker in the way of unadulterated Christian Science. A teacher in one of our Sunday schools said it had been her experience that when she herself did all that was required of the pupils, and that when she learned the Golden Text, usually she found a wide awake, interested, and interesting class awaiting her on Sunday morning. There is much food for thought in this, and all who are engaged in Sunday school work will do well to adopt the same method.

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