Article June 15, 1946 Issue

The Sacred Office of Sunday School Teacher

MYRTLE J. RAYCH

In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, states (p. 106): "God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience. Man is properly self-governed only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love." In establishing the Christian Science Sunday School, Mrs. Eddy provided the means whereby young people not over twenty years of age (Manual of The Mother Church, Art. XX, Sect. 1) may be taught the true nature of God and of man. Thus they early learn to claim man's sonship and to exercise true self-government.

As we realize how much depends upon this vital work of teaching, we see that the importance of the sacred office of teacher in our Sunday schools can scarcely be overestimated. Correct teaching rightly begins with and largely depends upon consecration and spiritualization of thought on the part of teachers. It is inconsistent to expect wholehearted interest in the Sunday schools by pupils if teachers give only halfhearted attention to the metaphysical work necessary to ensure the fulfillment of the purpose for which the Sunday school was established by our revered Leader.

The teacher will also do well to watch that he does not accept the argument that pupils are liable to be influenced by the isms or ologies of mortal mind and may, for a time at least, come under the mesmerism of material beliefs after they leave the Sunday school. To accept this argument is to break the commandment (Ex. 20:16), "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." If one concurs in the suggestion that sometime, somewhere, under some circumstances, evil can reverse and overthrow good, he is departing from the First Commandment (Ex. 20:3), "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

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On Being Wholehearted
June 15, 1946
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