Principles of Religious Education: A Course of Lectures Delivered Under the Auspices of the ...

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Introduction

The occasion for the Lectures gathered in this volume is one with which thoughtful men and women can hardly fail to sympathize. No one who takes into account the f6rces that make for the best, whether in character or conduct, can be insensible to the pre-eminent value, in their development, of the influences that touch the deepest springs, and find their sources in the highest inspirations. That, I suppose, is the object of what we call education. We have, in a child's mind, something ductile, fluent, impressionable. His earliest perceptions and aj^ehensions are apt to be its deepest, most determinative, if not always its most enduring ; and if so, nothing can transcend the importance of the conditions, agencies, and instruments by which these are made.

In this view it must be owned that the modern Church .has not adequately recognised its responsibilities nor improved its opportunities, as a teacher of the young. There have been ages when that office belonged almost exclusively to it, and when its failures were due, not perhaps to its want of zeal,

but to its want of wisdom. To-day the conditions

ix

X INTRODUCTION.

are quite diflerent. Under republican institutions, and with us in the United States, the functions of the State as a religious teacher through an established religion, have as most of us I presume believe, wisely ceased. That fact ought undoubtedly to have awakened and stimulated the Church to increased endeavours to supply what a Christian man must hold to be fundamental to a right education, and which, now, the Church or the family alone can give. Our American situation, in other words, has lifted the Sunday-school into a position of preeminent importance which, we must acknowledge has been but feebly and imperfectly recognised.

Under these circumstances, the pages that follow are opportune, and, I think they will be found, pertinent and helpful. They are the fruit of various and earnest thought, of large experience, and of a high purpose. I am glad to believe that they will lift the office of the Sunday-school to a higher plane in the estimate of thoughtful people, and will open its aims and methods to the more appreciative sympathy of all who, whether as pastors, parents, or teachers, are in ' any way responsible, to use an old phrase, for ** godliness and good learning '* in the young.

Henry C. Potter.

Contents

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION AND ITS RELATION TO EDUCATION.

By Nicholas Murray Butler, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy and Education in Columbia University.

PACE

II. The Educational Work Of The Christian Church

By the Rt. Rev. .William Ckoswkll Doanb, DD., LL.D.,

Bishop of Albany.

Christ's Prophetic, Priestly, and Kingly offices the three functions of the Church. — The Prophetic function illustrated by the Sermon on the Motmt. — This mission that of the Church to-day. — The Apostles' work of imparting the Faith 23

** Teaching," in relation to rules of Faith and Lifie, defined. — This teaching the great Apostolic Mandate. — St. Paul's laboiu's. — The Church the great religious teacher to-day. — Early Christian

Schools and their Influence 24

Extent of true Christion education.— Scott ifoUand on the old

CONTENTS. xiu

rxGB

Greek masters of theology. — The Church foremost in educati<m in the Middle Ages. — The Church's work to-day inadequate.— Contrasts and contradictions in the Universities. — Not so irreligious as depicted 27

Modem theologians' weakness not the result of weakness in the Faith itself.-— The great Verities of the Faith beyond all investigation. — Never in antagonism with science, reason, or philosophy. — No real conflict of Classroom and Chapel 31

Attitude of Church toward education a difficult problem. — State schools secular from necessity. — ^Parochial schools inadequate. — Broad associations best for the student for later social environment 34 Problem met by Church Halls in Universities. — How the Church Hall would teach. — Correlation of Science and Religion, Philosophy and Faith. — The teachings of history^ geography, and literature 36

The Church's existing machinery chiefly the Sunday-schooL— A modem makeshift replacing neglect of home and parents. — The Catechism the Church's basis of instruction. — Duty of the Clergy to train teachers. — ^< Society for Home Study of the Holy

Scriptures " 39

The Pulpit as a Church organ for education. — Not eloquence needed, but teaching of Faith and Life — The Old Word in modem phrases 41

III. Rbligious Instruction In England, Francs, Germany

AND THE UNITED STATES.

By Chaklbs Db Gakmo, Ph.D., Profetflor of the Science and Art of Education in Cornell Univenity.

Origin of religious instruction in English schools. — Lancaster's labours for the Dissenters. — Bell's Church of England work. —

Lancaster's scheme of paid and pupil teachers. — Its failure 49

Goremment grants for voluntary schools. — Failure of the systern. — Organization of Board schools. — Religious instruction made optionaL — Government inspection of secular education. — xiv CONTENTS.

FAGB

American schools unfavourably contrasted. — Rise of the Sunday, school system. — Two systems of religious instruction side by side 52 In France no religious instruction in public schools. — ^Weekly

holiday for denominational religious teaching 56

In Germany day-schools impart the religious teaching. — Thoroughness of the system. — Curriculum broad and complete. — Critical spirit in the Universities. — Difference in teaching for scholars and for the masses. — Religious feeling neglected. — New

curricula now being formulated 56

The United States compared with Europe. — Threefold purpose of religious instruction. — Deficiency of Christian knowledge compared with Europe. — Superiority over Europe in Christian spirit and Christian conduct. — Improvements suggested. — Better pedagogical system needed. — Arrangement of material for various ages. — Period of adolescence crucial. — ^Wrong treatment after

adolescence 62

Reaction in England favours subjective spiritual life. — Whitefield's and Wesley's systems of religious exercises. — Similar tendencies in America. — Need for wiser treatment. — Man's relation to his fellow men. — Universal conditions, not accidental circumstances, paramount. — Improvement of Sunday-schools 70

IV. The Content Of Religious Instruction

By the Very Reverend Gborgb Hodgss, D.D., Dean of the Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge, Mass.

Content of religious instruction determined by its purpose. — The

day-school, the private school, and the public school 79

Puri>ose of the Sunday-school to train Christians and Churchmen. — Parish work designed to build up Christian and Church

character 80

Content of religious instruction consists of Church material and Character material. — What constitutes Character material. — Church material. — The light of personality. — Church History. ... 81 The distribution of material, or order of teaching. — Found in the -

CONTENTS. XV

PAGB

Sunday-school and the Congregation. — The Sonday-school and

its grades. — Teaching in the Congregation « i,.., 85

The Infant School. — Small children have only memory and imagination. — Teach what may be partly understood. — ^Imagination best appealed to through Bible stories.-— Systematic and graphic

teaching. — Re-translation of Bible for children's minds 86

The Main School. — Course of Instruction. — The Catechism recited and explained. — The Bible. — The historical books. — Teaching both content and contents. — What may be omitted. — ^The Prayer Book taught by use. — Sample Service. — Special Services. — Stereopticon exhibitions ......•• 89'

The Congregation. — Sunday Services. — ^Need of systematic instruction. — Haphazard Preaching. — ^The Preacher's studies. — The Confirmation Class. — ^What the order of instruction should cover. — Mid-week Services. — The young Minister's experiment station. — Definite Bible-study. — Sunday evening Services. — Sermon or Lecture. — Requirements of a Lecture course 94

V. The Sunday-school And Its Course Of Study

By the Reverend Pascal Harsowbr, Chaimuui of the Sunday-School Commission, Diocese of New York.

Principle underlying the present course of lectures. — Church school educational. — Importance of education. — Object of the

Church school. — The school's work for civilization 105

History of the Church school. — The child the pivot of society. — The Jewish estimate of childhood. — Christ and the child. — ^The early Church and its ministry to children. — Mutual relations of preaching and teaching. — Martin Luther. — Archbishop Dupanloup. — ^The ministry of catechizing. — Pedagogical training of the

ministry 107

Preparation of a course of study. — Church school more than a Bible school. — Curriculum a problem for trained educators. — The

subject-matter, or lesson-material iii

The Church Catechism. — Errors in teaching • 1 13 wn coMitMfy,

geognphj 122

^ Tlie *< Free Clmicli'' Test Books. — The Qxted

Haaoab 123

youth with the worhL — Re^Kxmbilitj of the Church 124

The Prajer^Book and die Christian Year 125

CooclittioiL — ^The Church needs tiie aid of trained edncatan .. . 126