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The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour dtre reproduites en un seul clichd sont filmdes d partir de Tangle sup6rieure gauche, de gauche d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Le diagramme suivant iltustre la mdthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. DEVOTED TO JUNIOR LEAGUE METHODS OF WORK. Compiled, Arranged, and Written by REV. S. T. BARTLETT, Superintendent of Junior Leayues in the Bay of Quinte Conference. {AUTHORIZED BY THE GENERAL EPWORTH LEAGUE BOARD.) TORONTO: WILLIAM BRIGGS, Wesley Buildings. Montreal : C. W. COATES. Halifax : S. F. HUESTIS. 1897. r INTRODUCTION. Mr. Bartlett is one of the most erticiciit Junior workers connected with our Church, and thoroughly (i[Urk and i is no imittee e, and Article IV". Members of the Junior League shall be boys and girls under fourteen years, except as may be otherwise deter- mined as to age by each local branch of the Junior League for itself. After organization, persons shall become members by a majority vote at any regular meeting of the League. Article V. The earnest co-operation of the parents shall be so- licited, and, where practicable, obtained. Meetings may be held Saturday afternoons or otherwise, as may be found convenient, for instruction in the Holy Scriptures, in our catechisms, doctrines, history and biography, in moral movements and temperance reform, in all the spirit, manners and practices of the Christian life and intercourse, and in such other subjects as the pastor may choose and direct. Article VI. Any Junior Epworth League may adopt what depart- ments of the ordinary Epworth League work it prefers ; but must maintain those departments covering the ground contemplated in the disciplinary catechumen classes and the exercises necessary to give effect to the instruction there set forth. 14 THE JUNIOR LEACiUK HAND-BOOK. Article VII. The officers of the Junior League shall be the Superin- tendent, as provided in Article II., who shall also be the Honorary President of the Junior League, and have oversight of the work and all its affairs ; as many Assistant Superintendents (Honorary Vice-Presidents) as there are deinirtnients at work, following ^.he model of the Epworth League ; a President, Vice-President, Sec- retary and a Treasurer ; these officers, with the pastor, and under his presidency, shall form the executive com- mittee of the League. The officers, except those appointed, shall be elected annually by the members of the League at a regular meeting, shall assist the pastor in his provision for the leadership of the catechumen classes, and maintain the efficiency of their respective departments to the best of their ability. Article VIII. To meet expenses, voluntary collections may be taken in the League. Article IX. Modification of this constitution may be made by the Executive Committee in any locality to meet its special needs. BY-LAV/S. These By-laws are by no means arbitrary ; but whatever part or parts of them may be changed to suit local con- ditions of work, the Active Member's Pledge should never be altered. Article I. This Society shall be called the Junior Epworth League of of II. Its object shall be to win the boys and girls to accept Christ, to train them to work for Him everywhere and at all times, and to guide them in the formation of Christian character. Tl/E JUNIOR LEAOUE CONSTITUTION. 16 III. Its active members atiall be thobe between .... and.... years who shall show that they are trying to live a Christian life, and who sign the following Pledge, provided that none shall be retained in membership who are over sixteen years of age : " Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I promise Him that I will try to do whatever He would like to have me do ; that I will pray and read the Bible every day ; and that just so far as I know how, I will try to lead a Christian life. I will be present at every meet- ing of the Society when I can, and will take some part in every meeting." Name I am willing that should sign this Pledge, and will do all I can to help keep it. Parent's Name Residence IV. Associate members shall be those who wish to attend, and promise to keep good order when at the meeting. These shall have their nnmes on the roll, and sign the following Pledge, but not serve as leaders for the meeting : " I do hereby promise, with the help of God, to try always to do right ; to read in the Bible daily ; to come to every meeting of the Society when I can ; and to be attentive and orderly while present." Name I am willing that should sign this Pledge, and will do all I can to help keep it. Parent's Name Residence V. The officers cf the Society shall be a Superintendent, Assistant Superintendents, President and Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. There shall ))e a Lookout Committee, and such other committees as may be needed. i m 16 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. Vr. The Superintendent, shall have full control of the Society, and be its Honorary President. The Assiatant Superintendents shall aid the Superin- tendent in the work. The Assistant shall take care of the funds of the Society during the time between the meetings. There shall be as many Assistant Superin- tendents (Honorary Presidents) as departments at work. The President, shall conduct the business njoetings, under the direction of the Superintendent, and see that the different committees perform the duties devolving upon them. The Vice- President shall act in the a))sence of the Presi- dent. The Secretary shall keep a correct list of the members, tiike the minutes of the business meetings, and call the roll at each meeting. The Treasurer shall take up the collections, enter the amount in the account-book, and turn over the money to the Assistant Superintendent, and also enter all expendi- tures as directed by the Superintendent. VII. The Superintendent and Assistants shall be appointed by the Pastor, or by the senior Society (if one exists) with the approval of the Past(jr. The other officers and committees shall be nominated by the Super- intendent and Assistant, and elected by the Society. All officers shall be chosen once in six months. VIII. A prayer-meeting shall be held once every week. A consecration meeting shall be held once a month, at which the pledge shall be read and the roll called, and the responses of the members shall be con- sidered a renewal of the Pledg** of the Society. If any member is absent from three consecutive consecration meetings without excuse, his name shall be dropped from the list of members. IX. Part of the hour of the weekly meeting shall, if deemed best, be used by the Pastor or Superintendent of the Society for instruction, or for other exercises which they may approve. THK JUNiOR LEAUIJE CONSTITUTION. 17 X. The coiiiniitceen and their duties shall be as follows : The Loohnit Committee shall bring new mombers into the Society, and atlVctionately look pfter and reclaim any who seem indilierent to their pledge. The Ptunjer-Mritiiifj Cotnmitteo shall select topics, assign leaders, and do what it can to secure faithfulness to the prayer-meeting pledge. The Social Committee shall welcome the children to the meetings and introduce them to the other members of the Society. They may also arrange for occasional sociables. The Temperance Coumiittee shall arrange for an occasional temperance meeting and circulate the following temperance pledge among the members : / do herehy plcdije myself to abstain from the vse of all alcoholic liquors as a bcreraije, from the use of tobacco in any form., from the use of profane language^ the reading of bad books and. papers, and to earnest efforts to secure the prohibition of the liqnor traffic. The Sunday School Committee shall secure the names of children who do not attend Sunday School and invite them to become members of the Sunday School. The Missiomiry Committee shall try to interest the members in home and foreign mission work and arrange for occasional missionary meetings. The Musical and Literary Committee shall endeavor to make the singing a success, provide for occasional literary meetings, and, where possible, try to carry on some definite plan of Bible study, or other reading course. The Visit inq Committee should call on strangers, visit the sick, try to render relief to the needy, distribute flowers and perform such other "deeds of mercy and help " as they can. All committees should meet at least once a month for consultation with the Superintendent, in regard to their work. Other committees may be added, according to the needs of local societies, and duties defined. 18 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. XI. The Junior Society, being a part of the Senior, should have all possible aid and support the latter cvn give it ; and it is expected that when the members of the Junior have reached the ago limit, they will enter the Senior Society as Active members. XII. Miscellaneous sections : 1. The regular meetings shall be held every .... from .... to The last meeting of each month shall bo a consecration meeting, and should be led by one of the superintendents. The iirct meeting of each .... shall be a business meeting. 2. The oflicers shall be elected and committees ap- pointed in .... and 3. A voluntary collection shall be taken at each conse- cration meeting, to help meet expenses of the Society. 4. Special meetings may be called by the Superin- tendent at any time. 5. All expenditures shall be made under the direction of the superintendents. 6. The By-laws may be altered or amended any time the superintendents and Executive Committee of the Senior Society find it necessary. CHAPTER III. JUNIOR LEAGUE POSSIBILITIES. From an Address by the Author. There is no department of our Epworth League so full of promise as the work among the Juniors, and there is none of greater moment or of graver concern. There are connected with children problems so deep, profound and far-reaching, that were it not for faith and hope, I do not see how anyone could look upon a ch'ld without a feeling of sadness. The interests surrounding them and JUNIOK LEAiSUE P08HIBILITIEH. 19 centred in them are tremendous, ho mncli so, indeed, that a pr(){)or solution of the multiplex o88ibilitioH thuii open up ! You save the child for its own soul's saku, you train him for the sako of hia powor in reachinj^ and saving other houIs, you do hotli for Olirint's sake, and so the Church in augmented, extended, and fuUiis her divinely appointed miHsion auumg men. Look into the upturned face of that child, and as you think of the priceless worth of his soul you say : " God made thee in Mis image, wcmdrous thought ! Endowed thee with a reason like His own ; Gave thee a soul eternal, (Jod-like wrought, And Htirred thy heart with love-throha from His throne. Provided thee a Christ to guide thy course, Self-sacrificing Way and Truth and Life ; Jesus, to banish sorrow, still remorse And give thee peace 'mid peril, pain and strife." And so far you have spoken the truth. Jesus is the children's Saviour. But you have not said all of that child when you have spoken of its own salvation. Say again : '* But, blessed child, these gifts why showered on thee ? Why joined in thee, past, present, future, all ? For this : that God revealed in thee might bo — That thine own soul might heed its lofty call. A call in Jesus' stead again to lead The way of sacrificial \v ^ Yea, when Thou seast their awful sinlnlness and needf Thyself to be a very Christ for men." And now you have completed it ! Christ for the chil- dren. The children for Christ. Christ through the children for others. And how may this be? The Junior League says, " Our converted children must first have a downward growth, they must reach down into the soil of the divine Word that therein they may obtain their nourishment for an upward growth." And herein lies one point of danger. An unhealthy upward growth, a too rapid development of leaf and bud, and a consequent I. THE .TUNIOH LEAOUE HAND-BOOK. il! failure to roach maturity results. Let us not endeavor to produce h rapid top-growtli or we niiiy ruin the whole. And I Hui afraid HotnetiiiiuH, that wu arj in too great a hurry to see resultH in our Juniors, and so lack in genuineness. Go slowly. Do not sacrifice thoroughness forspeed, and you shall see illustrated what Paul referred to in writing t') the Christians at Ci)h)sse when ho said, "rooted and built up in lliuj, an ill ties of Junior ivork are dependent on the thoroHtjhnetis of Junior nmrkera in develop- ing the Socic.tif alontf the principles annonitced. "Thoroughness " is the word that needs to bo empha- sized to-day. You take a boy and teach him to observe certain things, refrain from certain other things, to speak and sing and pray, and do a measure of commendable work, and say ho is a Christian. But beware ! That boy may be a sincere Christian, but he is at best tender and immature ; and if he does not make a healthy growth he will soon become premature in many things, and that to his own hurt. He has to be developed. Watch him, pray for him, guard him, guide him, nurture him. Do not think your work is done. He is to grow, and that growth should be as the tree grows, from the heart out. Do not fall into the popular error that you can make a Christian easily. You cannot make character by tacking on a piece here, another there, and so step by step, as a carpenter puts up a house, build up a Christian. Char- acter must grow to be strong and abiding. " First the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear." And it is your work, and should be your delight, Junior worker, to feed that growing child. Here comes in the supreme importance of thorough Scripture training. "That from a child thou hast known the Holy Scrip- tures," said Paul to Timothy ; and if our Juniors are to JUNIOR LKAdlE I'OHHIIIIMTIKS. 23 grow Bturdy ftiid strong to withstiiiul the winds of adver- sity, tiiid ruinaiii iinslwikon Hinidst the stunn» of tunipta- tion and tho howling toinpoKts of sir., thoy niUHt ^row us Iho pine has grown, that lifts its stiaii,'lit and lordly form into the air till its head towers l»iuh ahove its fellows, and with its roots far downaiireadinu; in solid old mother- earth, says to wind and rain, mid sunnner's heat and winter's snow, " I stand unmoved I " It is si.ch Chris- tianity that ooth Church and world need to-day. This is more than Lhe average ordinary Christian can show. Without it cannot he known that serene confidence that never comes save from a sense of a well-grounded life in the hlessed Master. We are now prepared for a third statement, namely • Tlie poHsihiiitics of Junior work are dcpetulent on the intcUi'icnt (ti^^iphition of appropriate Junior methods. The highest develoi)ment, the most desirable growth, are possible only in a suitable environment. Here is seen the wise elasticity of Junior methods and plans of work. There is abundant room for all under the careful supervision of the devoted superintendent. The scope and variety of committee work afford a suitable and sutticient sphere of work for Lhe varying talents of the Juniors. The wise superintendent seeks to so adapt methods to the children and the children to the work that all may grow healthily. There are differences in children as there are in seeds. Two persons will buy seeds from the seedsman and grow them, each in his own way and according to his own plan ; but with widely different results. The one, by intelligent treatment, produces blossoms mammoth in size, gorgeous in coloring, and fragrant in sweetness ; the other condemns both se'^ds and seedsman as unre- liable and unworthy. No ii digent florist will treat all seeds alike, or give uniform treatment to various grow- ing plants. And so with our boys and girls. I well remember how an old farmer, who had been raimng the coarser grains all his life, failed with flowers. Ho was living in one of our lovely Ontario villages in a comfort- able retirement, and having great admiration for the parsonage flower-garden, undertook to have one of his own. He built a hot-bed according to instructions ; we II' '^' 24 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. purchased our seed and sowed it. All went well till one day he complained to me that his seeds were no good. I said mine were, and could not see why his were not. On investigation, I found that he had given his hot-bed unusual treatment. He said, in reply to my queries, that he knew salt was good for the land ; so when his wife had soaked a salt ham in water previous to boiling it he had taken the brine and watered the tiny seedlings just beginning to peep above ground with it. Such treatment would effectually destroy all prospects of summer bloom. And yet his procedure was about as rational as that of many who have the all-important task of child culture in hand ; and it is too late to deplore results when the damage has been done. A nurse was instructed to give a babe a bath ; it was the first time the nurse had done so since being engaged. The mother gave clear and explicit instructions as to the temperature of the bath, and told the new nurse to be sure to test the water with the thermometer. Her reply was signifi- cant: " I kin tell without any thermomiter," said she. *' How ?" asked the mother. " Ef de chile turns blue, de water is too cole ; a,nd ef de chile turns red, de water am too hot." Efi'ectiveness and efficiency are not alto- gether synonymous terms. That is "effective" that is capable of producing effects; that alone is "efficient" which does produce the most desirable effects. So we may be effective without efficiency ; but we cannot be efficient without the highest type of effectiveness. The farmer's method with the seedlings, the nurse's method with the bath, were effective, but certainly not efficient. Again, Let iis see that the jyossibilltii's of Junior work are 'proportionate to our proper use of the highest cultural processes, and the Divine blessing on all. The agriculturalist may be thoughtful and intelligent in all his methods of work. He may be as thorough as man can be ; but after all, unless a kindly Providence smile upon his efforts and bless them, they will be unpro- ductive. The sun and rain are essential to impart the necessary heat and moisture for <^ermination, growth and fruitfulness. Well may Watts say : JUNIOR LEAGUE POSSIBILITIES. 25 " Sing to the Lord ; exalt Him high, Who spre.'ids His clouds along tlie sky, There He prepares the fruitful rain, Nor lets the drops descend in vain. " He makes the grass the hills adorn, And clothes the smiling fields wi corn ; The beasts with food His hands supply, And the young ravens when they cry." or Mrs. Flowerdew sing : " When in the bosom of the earth The sower hid the grain, Thy goodness marked its secret birth, And sent the early rain. " The spring's sweet influence, Lord, was thine ; The plants in beauty grew ; Thou gav'st refulgent suns to shine. And the refreshing dew." We must secure the divine blessing on our work. And, we wrtj/ enjoy God's benediction in our efforts among His little ones. By prayerful entreaty at His throne of grace, let us implore His presence and aid, for none need more grace and wisdom than they who labor among the children. May the bjiptism of His Spirit rest on all our growing youth. And now in closing, let me remind you that these glorious j)ossibiiifies of our Jiniior irork are hounded only by tlie unmeasnred horizon of the eoer-exjMindinijlife of the child. We cannot predict results, or foresee just what the exact future of the individual shall be ; but this we know : we sow the seeds of harvests yet to be, and when we per- chance are no longer here, others shall have taken our places who have been in some small degree by our influ- ence made better Christians, more efficient workers for Christ, more truly loyal citizens of this glorious land than they would have been without us. So let no Junior 26 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. worker go to this work with a discouraged heart. If your faith be strong, ycjur hope briL,'ht, your work the best you can do, your influence shall be good, and your effects abiding. You cannot fail, you must not even think of failure, and your children shall yet rise up and call you blessed. In your moments of doubt remember *' Not all who seem to fail have failed indeed. Not all who fail have therefore worked in vain, For all our acts to many issues lead ; And out of earnest purpose pure and plain, Enforced by honest toil of hand and brain, The Lord will fashion in His own good time — Be this the laborer's proudly humble creed — Such ends as to His wisdom fittest chime With His vast love's eternal harmonies. There is no failure for the good and wise. What though thy seed should fall by the wayside ? And the birds snatch it ; Yet the birds are fed ; Or they may bear it far across the tide. To give rich harvests after thou art dead." For you and all your Juniors, I pray a growing know- ledge of the unlimited possibilities of this blessed work. CHAPTER ly. FOR JUNIOR V/ORKERS. By Miss Brooking, Cobourg. Mr, Wesley named the Sunday tS'^hool "the nursery of the Church ;" we may surely call the Junior Epworth League its "drill shed." In the former, we strive to teach right thinking, and to apply right principles to right living ; in the latter, we both educate and exercise, train and drill. One of the underlying principles of the "new education " is to give experience, to educate by FOR JUNIOR WORKERS. 27 action. So in Junior League work, the main objects are : (1) To build up character, so that the child will Hnd his happiness in right-doing and unseltish living ; and (2) to train him to do his sh ire of work in the Christian Church, The best home influences do not meet every require- ment of the child, for there, especially in a small family, the sense of community is not fully developed. In any organization of children, the influence of the whole body on individual members is a most important factor. The force of companionship, either for good or ill, is mighty, and to do his part faithfully and un- selfishly in a community, is a very necessary branch of the child's education. Neither is the Sunday afternoon hour sufhcient. There is not room in Sabbath School work to educate by action — to learn to do by dointj. In discussing the peculiar province of the Junior League and its special influence in character-building, let us consider, first the worker, then the methods. Children aro natural imitators, and they will in- voluntarily copy those in authority over them. No influence is ever so powerful as that exerted over a child by every act, word, almost every look of his seniors. Follow that thought for one moment, Junior worker : Your every word, look and deed are strengthening some soul in good or ill. Well may we tremblingly exclaim, " Who is sufficient for these things ? " Yet even in our weakness we may answer, "lean do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." The having Christ within, taking up His abode in the soul, is the first essential qualification for all Junior work. Having that foundation-stone, all the other essentials of organization, discipline, drilling, teaching, not in the sense of merely telluKjy but of making the thing taught a part of the lives of those who are taught, may be gained by patient study and practical application. In undertaking any work involving the training of a child, the aim should be definite, the work planned. Tha successful architect will tell you that he can see by mental vision the finished building, complete in all its lines, angles and curves, before he puts one stroke on I ill ! I I i!; I !i! ! \ 28 THE JUNIOR LEAfJUE HAND-BOOK. his paper. The Father has given us our leal character, the Man Christ Jesus, who pleased not himself, who went about doing good, who was obedient unto death. Let us labor to bring the lambs of the flock to follow this glorious example, not by a hap-hazard, disorderly system, but by carefully, prayerfully planning our work, and faithfully carrying out that plan. Now as to the methods best suited to the child- nature. In organizing, you must proceed according to the ancient receipt for cooking a hare, " First catch your hare." This being interpreted, means, meet each child on his own platform, that you may elevate him to a higher. The child, in his three-fold being, physical, mental and spiritual, comes under your care. The prob- abilities are that you will have to use a diflerent key to unlock each nature. One may be best reached through the spiritual, another by the mental, and still another through the physical side of his being. Show your interest in that in which he is interested ; let him com- mence operations by doing something he feels he can do, and, presto, you have caught your hare ! From the known to the unknown is the law of development. When the child has shown you what he can do, and do well, you are on the first wrung of the ladder. But remember, *' We build the ladder by which we climb ; " so be willing to go slowly, and do not force childish steps to become strides. When you have planned the work you are to aim at accomplishing, and have placed each child in the niche which he may fill with advantage to himself and the Church — for your Junior League is the Church in embryo — with the arrangement of minor details, your organization ought to be effective. In discipline remember much, very much, depends upon your manner. Be calm, be firm, be gentle, be loving. Don't be nervous, excitable, irritable and changeable. Your own moods will react on the chil- dren and make them easier to manage, or exactly the re- verse. Insist on truthfulness, purity, reverence, obedi- ence, kindness and politeness, but do not "nag" about little things. Instead of pulling up the tmy weeds by force, try to crowd them out by an abundant sowing of FOK JUNIOR VVOKKER8. 29 liaracter, elf, who ,o death. How this J system, ork, and le child- )rding to itch your ich child him to a physical, Che prob- it key to \ through 1 another low your him com- le can do, From the slopment. 0, and do ier. But climb ; " 3 childish to aim at the niche and the hurch in ails, 'your depends gentle, be ;able and the chil- tly the re- ce, obedi- Hsr" about weeds by sowing of good seed. Make wrong seem mean, and good, noble. Give the idea of real enemies to overcome and real battles to win ; the enemies, their faults, their besettuig sins, may stand for giants to be conciuered. Many a boy will delight in being a moral Jack the Giant- Killer, who would scorn a less valiant role. If it is necessary to reprimand, speak in a lower instead of a louder tone, and the more severe the ciise, the lower the tone, is a fair rule. Sometimes a moment or two of absolute silence, or a LOOK^ spelled with capitals, and showing a variety of emotions according to the nature of the offender, will do wonders. The sorrowful pained look, the look expressing a judicious amount of disgust, as if the offence were too mean to be mentioned ; the "bull- dog" look, that means "no surrender"; the look of loving approbation or encouragement, all have a very prominent place in League or Sunday School discipline. Often a private word when no others are present to embolden the offender, will help to subdue. If punish- ment is absolutely necessary, let it be as far as possible a natural result of the offence. " Whatsoever a man (or cliild) soweth, that shall he also reap " is a perfect rule in child training. This kind of natural-consequence punishment will appeal to the child's sense of justice, will impress itself on his memory and be less likely to harden his nature than any other. For example, a child who repeatedly persists in annoying the others, may be removed to a seat at some distance where he will be alone — he annoys his companions, therefore he must lose their society. A little thought will suggest many effective »vays of following out the idea of reaping the direct conse- quences of the misdeed. In considering how you will teach, take again that good old rule, "from the known to the unknown," always remembering that the "known" to these child minds will differ very widely from the known to your own mind. Be careful of your phraseology, for what seems perfectly simple to your accustomed mind, may be an insurmountable stumbling-block to the understanding less trained. For years of my childhood the phrase used in family worship, "We promise in this sacred hour for God to live and for God to die," was Greek to me. I 30 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. iiHi reasoned, " How was it possible to promise ' for God to die,' when I had heen taught that He was the Everlast- ing ? " It is possible to be too babyish in our teaching, but not possible to be too clear. Be sure you have attention, and if one method does not secure it, try another. A question will sometimes recall a wandering mind, an anecdote, a rapi 1 change of manner, a call for action, however simple — anything that will reach that three-fold nature. Do not try to give too many thoughts at once, but hammer each one well in ! and apply each truth over and over in as many ways as you can — ten to one the children will think of as many more. Welcome these interruptions with joy, for they show that the child is learning to apply for himself, that a bridge is being built between the lesson and the life, and only when that is accomplished will the teaching be of any avail. As to the children's work — the drill in action — be sure that the work you give them is right for them to do. Solomon says, "Train up a child in the way /jc should go," not in the way someone else should go I Set before them pure motives. Teach them to do right because it is right and pleasing in God's sight, and not for a mere reward. In whatever you do, apj)eal to the highest authority — do this or cease doing that, not because I bid you, but because it is right — because God commands you. This will give you a rock to lean against, marching orders which very few children will dare to gainsay. Let their work, whatever it is, be to develop their nature — physical, mental and spiritual. Let it be inter- esting but also elevating, and do not be satisfied with "scamped" work. That is a fatal habit, and one most easily acquired. " He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much " should be a daily motto in Junior work. Do not discourage the most imperfect effort, but stimidato to better things. In all your train- ing strive to overcome the evil and develop the good in each individual character. And for yourself, dear worker, whether you be mother or teacher or Junior League ofhcer, always remember that it is " Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." HOW TO ORGANIZE A JUNIOR LEAGUE. 31 CHAPTER V. HOW TO ORGANIZE A JUNIOR LEAGUE. The followini^ is the method we have found most suc- cessful. Of course, local circumstances may make some variation from this plan desirable ; but the main points will be found applicable to most places where a Junior Society is practicable. Let the interest of the children of the congregation and Sunday School be first aroused by announcements made by the Pastor and the Superintendent, calling the in- terested ones together at some suitable time and place. At this first gathering of the children many will probably attend out of curiosity to see and hear this " new thing." Wisely explain as much of the operations of the League as you think desirable. If the prospective Junior Super- intendent is not prepared to do this, the thought of having a Junior Society at all had better be at once dropped till she is. Start out with the definite under- standing with yourself that you are going to have a good League, and let nothing hinder the realization of your plans. Having at this preliminary meeting outlined the plan of the society as far as you intend to work it, send to each family represented in the meeting a copy of the Junior League Constitution, which may be procured from the Book-Room. If you can prepare them, send also a note to every mother whose children desire to unite with the League. This will bring the parents into practical touch with the work you intend to do among their children. During the week let these constitutions be carefully studied at home, and at your second meeting you will be able to ascertain how many of the children 32 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. and their parents are heartily in favor of your plan of work. At this second nieetinj^ explain the pledj^e, and give a copy of it to each of the children. This is to be taken home and submitted to the mothers for their approval, for remember there is a place for the mother's signature to the pledge as well as the child's, and the ideal pledge involves fidelity on the parent's part as well as th;it of the child. If you intend following some systematic plan of topic-study, which is eminently desirable, be prepared at this meeting to outline and illustrate this to the meeting. By the third meeting, you will be in a position to begin your roll. Do not be in any haste here, or you will likely have a good deal of weeding out to do in a few weeks. Let there be no doubt in your mind, as Superintendent of the League, that each member you enroll is really desirous of intelli- gently kee])ing the pledge. There is no trouble of en- rolling children in any new society ; but there is often difficulty in getting them to fulfil their obligations, therefore move slowly in this matter of enrolment. At your f.)urth meeting you will be prepared to elect olHcers and organize at least some of your committees. Do not try to form more committees than you can really work, and see that all you form are worked. The idea of merely forming committees for the sake of having them, or of giving the children a place on some committee, is often more liarmful than helpful. After carefully elect- ing your ofhcers, appointing the desired conunittees, let the first committees to get to work be the Prayer-meeting and Lookout. The former will select a number of the members to take the weekly topic in order, and the latter will advise with the Superintendent as to the best means of getting new members into the League, and helping those who are members to faithfully keep their pledge. In time the Missionary, Sunday Scliool, Social and other comn)ittees may be formed. But be careful to let your League be a (irou'th. Do not try to have at once every- thing you have heard of, or you will overburden yourself with machinery that will not be workable, and must con- sequently be injurious. The one point to be avoided in organization is haste, and the one to be observed is caution. Go slowly, and your society will always have now TO ORGANIZE A JUNIOR LEA(}UE. 33 something ahead to which it reaches out. Go hastily and you will have a lot to undo that has never been properly done. If in six weeks from the start your League is in running order, and your members have a fairly clear idea of the aims and objects thereof, you have done well. Continue as you have begun, and you will accomplish the hardest part of all, viz., keep (loimj heUer. As axi illustration of how the League may thus grow along Virions lines of work, we quote the following from a letter received from th* Rev. Dr. Maclean, pastor of the church in Port Arthur : "About three years ago we began on Sunday after- noons children's services, consisting altogether of devo- tional exercises, and after a short time the meeting was changed to Friday afternoons, when the same order was proceeded with, except that the pastor, who was the superintendent, gave short addresses on subjects of interest to the members of the League. During one service, which was 'Missionary Day,' the young folk were asked what plan they could suggest for helping on the missionary cause. Some suggested prayer, others the giving of their private money, others suggested various other plans ; but the one leading thought was the suggestion made by one of the girls that the League should make garments for the Indian children. The following week, without any suggestion on the part of the superintendent, the young people brought scrap- pictures, needles and thread, and remnants of dress goods, and after the devotional exercises were over, they sat down and began work themselves. Gradually the interest deepened, and the League, without any plan whatever, (jreiii. Then we took advantage of the sug- gestions thrown out by the young people and incorpora- ted them as we went along. The boys made scrap-books, sewed balls, and did various other kinds of work ; the girls were formed into classes according to their al)ility to sew, knit, etc., with good teachers and a lady super- intendent. The interest became so widespread that, whilst the League was for Methodist children only, we found children from every denomination in town, in- cluding Roman Catholics, begging to become members of the League. The idea of making the garments for the children of the Missions was ultimately laid aside 3 34 THE JUNIOR LKA(iUK HANI»-IUM)K, owing to the expense of Hhipniont, and the nienihors of the League have indulged their taste in regard t(j the work done, from the plainest kind of Hewing to the most V)eautiful fancy work in which they delight to excel ; consequently there has never been any need for a Look- out Committee. "Several times during the winter literary and social gatherings are held by the League, and the ])rogrannne is gotten up altogether by the members themselves. At these gatherings there is always a sales-table where the goods which have been made are oflered at rcasona}>le rates. "The officers of the League are all taken from the mem!)ership. The meetings are opened with half an hour's devotional exercise c(mducted l)y the pastor, as honorary superintendent, and an hour is spent in the sewing classes. The teachers of these classes as well as the members, sit in circles, and as they are sewing tell stories and chat together, and 1 have })oen delighted when I have listened to the stories which have been told, showing that under the supervision of the faithful teacher mucli good may be done. " I find the Junior League most helpful to the Church and Sunday School, the officers of the League being trained to become workers in the Church, and there is a loyalty amongst our young members that is very help- ful to us ; besides, there has been <|uite an in-gathering into the Church which, in a great measure, has resulted from the League and its efficient laborers, and our workers in the Sunday School. "The success of the League has depended in a great measure from the fact that the work has been done by the young people themselves, and they have thrown out suggestions that have been taken up by the Superintend- ent, and the plans of the League, as well as its develop- ment, have not been laid down before beginning work, but are rather the onhjiowih of experience, the Superin- tendent and teachers using the knowledge which has been gathered as the League developed. "We may say of the Port Arthur Junior League in relation to its growth, that without constitution in the beginning or any plan laid down, it is simply like * Topsy ' — it ' was not born, but growed.' " REQUISITES FOR SUCCESSFUL WORK. 85 CHAPTER VT. REQUISITES FOR SUCCESSFUL WORK. The FLHiuisites for h successful .Fuiiior League arc sug- gested rather than described by the following blackl)oard exercise used by the author in a conference of Junior workers. Junior Su|)erintendent8 will grasp its meaning after studying the outline and working it out step by step. - EMBERS ATERIALS ETHODS YSELF GET— All yon can enroll. . KEEP— All vou can use. rrUAlN All for aotivo servke Room, Origan, Mlackhoard, Wall Pledge, Hibh'H, MapH, I'apei-a, Honor Roll, etc., Be yourself. Study Adaptability. /'BRAiNH...MuHt Know? MuHt Know Ilow I ' Hkart ...Sympathy, CheerfulncBs, etc. i^G RACK.... Patience, Tact, etc. Use your own! He original ! The following additional blackboard drill hps been also used with good advantage. It will repay study. IN ALL OUR LEAGUES THE GREAT END TO BE ATTAINED IS Efficiency. Three hnpnr. tant paintH are. : LOYALTY TO I CAOIIC nRINCIPLES. ) ABORFOR LtllUUt IROSPERITY. . ^• OVE " FOR CHRIST AND THE CHURCH." ) How to QET it. CONSECRATED in Life. \ ONSERVATIVE in Doctrine and Teaching. - "• AREFUL FOR COMMITTEES J HowtoEEEPit. NTERFRISE- Undertake more an , . IL^l^ 36 THE JUNIOR FiEAdUK IIANU-IJOOK. The Epwortlj League, whether Junior, Intermediate or Adult, that oinhodies in its organization and operations the points in the ab<»ve outline will not l)o inrjficicnt. And every League may do so in greater or less degree. On this point the following are suggested by Rev. O. W. Cobbledick, B.D., aa SOMK KSSKNTIALS TO SU(JCE.SSKUL JrNIOU WoHK. Materidl. — In gathering .his it is well to "begin low and go slow," moulding your members as they are re- ceived. TooIh. — The best helps should ])e freely used, but they will not do the work. It recjuires "the human touch." Skilled Worhrs. — These are never found idle, but when appointed to this, they should be largely relieved of work in other departments of the church and allowed to make Junior work a specialty. Workshop. — The most cheerful and best-equipped room available. Nothing is too good for the Juniors. To the ordinary furnishings should be added, blackboard, sandboard, maps, charts, etc. Fat tons. — Church, parents and Senior Society all in hearty sympathy. Motto: — All for Jesus. Speaking of what the Junior League ought to be, the Rev. E. N. Baker, B.D., says : *' The Junior League ought to be : *' 1. A place for boys and girls from six to sixteen years of age. If there is an Intermediate League (and there ought to be if possible), the ages of the Juniors would bo from six to ten years, and of the Intermediates from ten to sixteen years. "2. It ought to be interesting in all its meetings. The music, prayers, talks, Bible studies, all should be attrac- tive and bright. This is the only way to draw the young, and the only way to keep them quiet when they are present. "3. It ought to be religious. It should never degen- gUALITlEH OF THK .lUNIOlt MU1'E1UNTKNI>ENT. 37 orate into a pla< for more entertain inont. There may be (layH and time or play. There Hhouhl bo schemea to (lovolop tho social naturoH of the mombora ; but they will be so conducted that the whole shall conserve the highest religious culture. *' 4. Its meetinj^s ujust be reverent. The League members should be taugiit to walk in reverently, to bow their heads in silent prayer, to conduct tiiemsolve.s as in the immediate presence of God. Bettor hav » no .Junior League than not have tliis. Irreverence is one of tho sins of the age, and one that the Junior League must endeavor to cure. "5. It ought to be a place for Bible study, for relig- ious reading. Wherever possible have a small reading circle in the League. "(J. It ought to be a school for the culture of all the graces, especially that of ))enovolence. This should be fundamental in all the oporatic^ns of the Socioty. " 7. It ought to bo a place wlioro tho Christ-life is over held before tho Juniois, and where the Christ-spirit over rules and inspires. " 8. To sum up, the Junio" League ought to bo a place whore tho boys and girls will bo cultivated physically, intellectually, morally, socially ; but pre-eniinently spirit- ually. To this end every meeting should tend, and for this every committee should work." CHAPTER VIL QUALITIES OF THE JUNIOR SUPERINTENDENT. Much has been written on this important subject, but none should be discouraged. If one loves children there will be little trouble ; but working with them will be dis- tasteful and hard where only stern dntu compels. To the mind of the writer, if a Junior worker having love for the little ones, goes at J unior work in the spirit of the 38 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. six following words, there will be little danger of failure. These six words are : Piety, Patience, Promptness, Pleasantness, Perseverance, PrOGRESSIVEN ESS. What is there essential to success that is not included in them, and who is there of our workers but has each in greater or less degree ? Miss May Madden, Prince Albert, herself a very suc- cessful Junior worker, thus enumerates the (j[ualificationa of a good Junior Superintendent. She says : 1. A knowledge of Christ as a personal friend. Christ must be so real, and His presence so near, that com- munion with Him will be part of the daily life, and a constant watchfulness against a stubborn, wilful spirit will be habitual. The children soon know how real our relig- ion is, and value our example and teaching accordingly. 2. A iteady cdrnestnefis. because this will lead to a realization of the importance of the work. If we really believed that " the child is the father of the man," there would be more work among the children. The young men who should be, but are not workers in the Church, were not gathered in when they were boys. Knowing the need, how can we be other than earnest ? And this spirit must not cease when the novelty of the work wears away. The burdens of the work will come, and may press heavily ; but let us not drop the labor then when it is most full of promise. 3. Tact. Place yourself as far as possible in the child's place. Some will reply that tact is a natural gift. True, but it may be largely acquired by an earnest endeavor to enter into the child's life and feeling, and dealing with that child as you would like to be dealt with were you a child again. This will promote, 4. A well thought-out variety of exercises. When the Juniors get restless do not frown, but change the exer- cises, and so regain and maintain their attention and interest. This will necessitate that the Superintendent QUALITIES OP THK .JUNIOR SUrERINTENDENT. 39 finds suitable vork for all the members of the League. Let tongue, hands, feet, mind, all be used for God in active enterprise. If possible, utilize the children's oimi plans of work. It is surprising how fertile their brains are of new methods. 5. The Superintendent should use the hhickhoard and cultivate its use by the Juniors themselves. This is not nearly so difficult as some imagine. . . She further adds : "If the Superintendent can sing well, so much the better. Good, hearty, bright singing is indispensable, and if the leader cannot sing herself, let her enlist some- one who can. But however attentive to methods, remember you must have the League in your heart — you must live in and for the League. Thus being in earnest always, you Ttivst succeed." Another busy worker, Miss A. Sherin, Barrie, tersely says : "It is all important that a Junior Superintendent should be adapted to Junior work. The essential ([uali- ties to be possessed are : " 1. Ample and accurate knouiedge of what he or she intends to impart to the League. " 2. Preliminary pt'eparatUm for each meeting. "3. Cheerfidness in the company of the Juniors. "4. A ({uick perception of 'what should come next,* so as to keep all interested and busy. " 5. Sympathy with the child's aims and the incidental discouragements arising in realizing them. "(). Power of imrratiny and describing every incident taught. " 7. Above all, a (jood life, and so good example for the Juniors." Speaking at a convention, Miss Keith, of Newmarket, Superintei ent of Junior Leagues in Toronto Conference, said of a Model Superintendent : "In the first place he or she should be a Christian that reflects Christ in daily life — a mirror through which the boys and girls can look and see the Christian life in all its beauty — one who next to Christ loves little children and wins their love in return — not only those that come from Christian homes and are well dressed and carefully trained, but ai., ever remembering that each child is a gem to be polished for 40 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. the Master's use and the jewels that need most polishing will perhaps shine brightest at last. Tact and jjatience are needed, together with sanctified common-sense. Do not imagine that because boys and girls are Christians they should not take any pleasure in anything but prayer- meetings, like a woman who said she did not believe a little boy was converted because she saw him playing ball. You need patience because you will not always have good meetings and perfect order. Be firm, yet kind and sym- pathetic. Take an interest in all their plans for either pleasure or work. When they are sick, visit them. The ideal superintendent will be punctual and regular in attendance, will not think it necessary to make a speech at each meeting, will be personally acquainted with each member of the Society, will have method and order in all the work, will always have a smile and kind word for each one. We do not want to give the Juniors the im- pression that religion is a gloomy thing, because their Superintendent's face reminds them of a cloudy morning. Perhaps my ideal may seem high and hard to attain to, but as we never rise above our designs we should aim high. I am reminded of a remark made by Rev. T. A. Moore at the convention in Toronto last winter. He ««airl he believed if Christ was on earth now He would be General Superintendent ot Juniui' work. Dear friends, as it is, is He not our great General Superintendents and in Him have we not a perfect model ? " CHAPTER VIII. AN ATTRACTIVE JUNIOR MEETING By Miss Nicholls, Vancouver, B.C. Have you ever sat still and watched a magnet attract to itself things that you would have never thought could be made to move by themselves. Have you not wondered to see the most unlikely things drawn to the magnet by a force you could not explain ? Well ; such a magnet the Junior meeting ought to be, attracting and holding boys AN ATTKACTIVE JUNIOR MEETING. 41 ))oys and girls by an irresis*^'ble force. How arc we to make it so? There are six points that go to make up the answer to this question ; six S's that you must have to make the Model Junior meeting. These are essential to its success. They are : 1. Shm-t. Did you ever know of any Juniors, boys especially, who liked long meetings, or long services of any kind ? I nevtir did. If the Junior meeting is too long the boys and girls will let you know that they think so. But not often by words ; they will not say anything. They will simply stay away ; that is all. And if they stay away, success is at an end. That is why I have i)ufc this point first, because it is the most important. Every- thing should be short ; the Bible reading, the prayers (having sentence prayers as much as pos-^iible), the talk on the topic by the leaders, remarks by those who are not leading, everything, in fact, excepo the singing. The meeting should start promptly on lime. It is difficult to say exactly how long it should last ; that depends on whether it is held on Sunday afternoon after school, or on an afternoon or evening in the week. It depends too on the kind of meeting — a bright Song Service will hold them longer tlian a prayer-meeting— but even that should be short, for it is better to send them away wanting more than weary with having had too much. 2. Spicy. " Variety is the spice of life'' — it certainly is the spice of the Junior meeting. Meetings for boys and girls that are always conducted in the same way are apt to get monotonous, and they will tire of them just as they would tire of eating food day after day without any flavor. Try to have something different every time — something fresh and novel. Stories on the topic are good, but they lose their flavor if read at every meeting. Bible references are good also, but they should not be given at all times. Make the meeting as spicy as you can by having plenty of variety. Try to get the Juniors to plan new schemes for missionary meetings, song ser- vices, flower services, motto meetings, etc. Vary the singing too, and get instruments besides the piano or organ if you can, as that will attract the boys. 3. SimsJiiny. Someone has said that children are the sunniest people on earth. At any rate they thrive best, 42 THE JUNIOK LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. just as plants do, in sunshine — it seems to be their native clement. A meeting, therefore, that would draw and hold them must be very bright. No gloomy face or manner should be found in it, and Junior workers should try to make it the pleasantest hour of all the week to the chil- dren. Even when things are most discouraging is the time to look your xery brightest, lest the discourage- ment you feel should spread and chill their enthusiasm. 4. Simple. Have the topic explained in every-day language, and illustrated in practical ways that will tit the needs of the Juniors in their home life, at school, or wherever they may be in the week. 5. Social. You cannot make the meeting too home- like. If possible, arrange the chairs in a large circle around the leaders, and let no one sit outside except any grown-up people who may be there. Make it like a home circle, and let the taking part be free and easy and conversational, as it would be in a social gathering. 6. Spiritual. Though last, this is one of our most important points. People often think that boys and girls dislike spiritual meetings and talks, and only listen when they are obliged to. This is a mistake. It is true they will shun gloomy, long faces, long words, and long, dull meetings in which the singing drags, and the prayers never seem to come to an end ; but show them what a happy thing the religion of Jesus Christ is, tell them how even the youngest can work for Him, and you will find that they will respond, as children always do, to what touches their hearts. Let the meetings be always earnest, always spiritual, and the Juniors will enjoy and be attracted to them in a sense that will have a greater influence on their future lives than if you have debates and literary meetings with a very little religion thrown in between. Then let there be in every church a Junior meeting that will ))e magnetic in being short, spicy, sunshiny, simple, social, and spiritual. The same lady tells how to make the Junior meeting instructive, as follows : " What is the true aim and purpose of the Junior meet- ing ? Is it to study the Bible ? No ; for the Sunday School has that for its chief object. "Is it principally for instruction in church matters, or AN ATTRACTIVE JUNIOR MEETIN(i. 43 for teaching the Juniors how to conduct debates and socials ? No ; most decidedly not. There will always be plenty of opportunities for them to learn these things as they grow older. " What is the aim, then, of the Junior meeting ? Not Bible study, even, first, though that will not be left out ; nor yet instruction, as it is generally understood. There are two sorts of Junior meetings ; one follows the method of the primary Sunday School class, the other the method adopted in the Christian Endeavor and senior Epworth League prayer-meetings. There has existed, sometimes, another kind still — the meeting that does not keep the spiritual part uppermost, and where the prayer-meeting is only held once a fortnight. *'Now, it seems to us that the right model is the one which adopts the plan of the Christian Endeavor prayer- meeting. This is quite different from the Sunday School method, in this, that it teaches the Juniors to do religious work for themselves, while Bible instruction is only a secondary matter ; in the Sunday School, on the con- trary, instruction in the Bible is the principal object, as of course it should be. " But while the Junior meeting does not make instruc- tion the first thing, it ought always to be instructive. At every meeting the Juniors should feel that they are learning something fresh — new ways of using the Bible to help every-day life and conduct, new beauties in their daily Bible reading at home. They should choose their motto to live by and act up to at the monthly roll-call, or perhaps at every meeting, and should become familiar with verses bearing on special subjects, and quick at finding them. An occasional hymn service is very instruc- tive, and at the same time very interesting, when all the songs are taken from certain hymn-writers, and their lives read by the Juniors. Perhaps the best method of giving instruction in the Junior meetings is the black- board talk. It can be used in so many ways to illustrate the topic, and the Juniors rhemselves will lea. i to give and explain these illustrations very clearly. " Missionary meetings should be held at least once a month, and then the lives of missionaries should be studied and something definite learned about countries, 44 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. customs, and mission work at home and abroad. In our Homer Street Junior League we are forming a mission band, and dividing it into five companies. One com- pany called ' Read ' will undertake to study missionary literature, and read up all the latest news about missions. They will then hand over the result to the 'Talk' company, who are to make use of it at the meeting in the way they think best. Thus a great deal of information will be stored up, and the result of our missionary meet- ings will be more lasting and definite. " A temperance brigade also, which would take charge of the temperance meeting and see that it is packed full of facts — temperance facts, that the Juniors can never forget — will soon gather valuable information, and the temperance meetings will cease to be stale and un- practical. Lastly, if the Junior meeting is to be instructive in the best way, the Junior worker will need to plan and work behind the scenes, and spare neither time nor pains to bring about the needed results." She also well writes regarding the devotional character of the meetings, a point with which many superintend- ents find trouble : "It is not really difficult to make the meeting thoroughly devotional and at the same time thoroughly attractive. I will enumerate a few ways in which we have learned by experience the meeting may be devotional and yet interesting : '*1. Get practical topics. The topic and daily verse book, with topics for every meeting in the year and daily verses bearing on the topics, should be given to every one who attends the Junior meeting. They (the Juniors) should be urged to read these daily verses, and bring their thoughts upon them to the meeting. "2. The leaders should work for their meeting before- hand, and get several to promise to take part. This they can be asked to do in various ways. Some will promise to pray, others to speak on a certain verse, others to say a word or two about the hymns as they are given out. Others will read a short story on the topic, or tell it in their own words. Another can write ques- tions on the blackboard for the rest to answer, or explain the blackboard illustration. i HOW TO GET AND KEEP BOYS. 45 *' 3. A very eflfective way of making the meeting devo- tional is the use of key words that describe the subject of the meeting. One meeting, for instance, can be called a 'Promise meeting.' To this the children can bring their favorite promise, giving the reason why it is the favorite. They ^vill respond to this very heartily, and the meeting will leave a definite impression. A 'Memory meeting,' in which all the songs, verses of Scripture, repetition of the pledge, etc., given without the aid of any books, can be made very devotional and very helpful. A 'Motto meeting,' in which each com- mittee chooses a verse of Scripture or of a hymn as its working motto for the next month ; a ' Pledge meet- ing,' when the Juniors promise to speak on the different clauses of the pledge, or tell in the meeting in a few simple words how the pledge has helped them, and which part they find most difiicult to keep ; a ' Sunday School meeting,' in which all the prayers and talks shall be on that subject, and the Juniors asked each to suggest ways in which the League can help the teachers and scholars; a 'Sunshine meeting,' a * Mite-box meeting' — all these may be in the highest sense devotional, because they will assume one practical form to the Juniors, and one definite thought will run through them thus teaching thenx to apply religion to every-day life." CHAPTER IX. HOW TO GET AND KEEP BOYS. This is a question that often puzzles many of our workers. The Rev. K. Taylor, Newcastle, makes the following wise suggestions : ''Onr boys!" (I like the term better than ''The boys.") The first thing to do is to get them into the League. This may not be very difficult as boys are gen- 46 THE JITNTOR LEACIUE IIAND-llOOK. IP li^i: erally open for something new, Jind conseciuently are apt to be on hand at the time appointed for the organization of the League. But the great problem is, How can we keep our boy.s ? To all who are asking this ([uestion I would say : 1. Keep your League up to that status which will cause every boy to be pro\(d of it, and not ashamed that he is a member of it. If a boy only thinks that he belongs to the very best institution in the community, or in the world, he will not be very apt to go back on it, and there is no reason why he should not righteously have such an opinion of the League. To confirm him in this idea let all the meetings bo made both interesting and edifying to such an extent that he will want to be present at every one. Then it is well to keep the standard of the League so high that the parents and the public generally will think and speak well of it. This will greatly strengthen the l)oy in his ideas. In order to secure the co-operation of parents, etc., it would be well to speak to them on the subject, and to hold open meetings occasionally in which the lads take an impor- tant part. These may be held in the evening when the public can be present, and should always be of such a character that they will meet with general, if not uni- versal, favor. At such meetings a review might be given of the work done in the League during the past two or Shree months, as the case may be, and combined with this suitable music, addresses, recitations, etc, by the members thereof. Better hold such meetings seldom and have them good, than often and not so good. Then as the praises of the League and its work are in the mouths of the people our boys will feel as though they have some part and lot in this matter, and will want to stand by the institution. 2. Honor every hoi/s individuality. Give him to understand that ho is just as good as a girl is, and worthy of just as much recognition. Josiah Allen's wife, in an article, entitled "One Standard for Both Sexes," says respecting her boy, Thomas Jefferson, "I have brought him up to think that purity and virtue are both feminine and masculine, and that God's angels are not necessarily all she ones." The language is not perhaps as elegant as HOW TO OKT AND KKKI HOYS. 47 y are apt Ionization V can we iestion I hich will nied that that he lunity, or fcck on it, ^hteously in him in iteresting ant to be keep the s and the it. This In order would be lold open in ini[)or- when the of Huch a not uni- i be given at two or ined with by the ;» .seldom .d. Then re in the )iigh thoy 1 want to him to id worthy '^ife, in an ces," says e brought I feminine iccessarily elegant as some might desire, but the thought is a good one, and the sooner the boys know that tliis is the opinion of the Superintendent of the League the better it will be for all concerned. ( )ne great ditiiculty is tliat a boy is checked and curbed for things which would be overlooked if done l)y a member of the opposite sex. The fine feeling of the bitter would be wounded if crossed, but what about that of the former ? Has a boy nothing Hne in his make- up at all 1 Too many act as though they think so, but by so doing they act unwisely. 3. Give the lutya pkniy of ifork. D(m't put girls in all the important offices, but give the boys their share. Place them upon committees. Have them {)reside at public meetings. It will do them good and will please the people. Have them take up the collection and do everything else in connection with the affair which needs to be done, and then give them as much praise as you conscientiously can for the manner in which they have performed their duty. In short, give the boys to feel that the League is their institution, and they will be a[)t to get so thoroughly wrapped up in it that they will not want to leave it nor forsake it." One boy suggests some good ideas from his standpoint thus : *' We boys can never keep (juiet and good When the meeting is dry and long ; But plenty of singing will suit us ireli If it's sweet and hearty and strong. t( And then just give us all work to do, And teach us to do it well ; Work for our friends and for all around - Its influence, who can tell ? " • Mrs. W. H. Gordon, of the Belleville Tabernacle Junior League, who has more than the average attend- ance of boys in her weekly meetings thus tells how it is done. Is not *' love " the magic word ? "In answer to youv question. How I get and keep the boys 'i 1 think the main reason for their presence is in being urged to come, and by impressing on them our 48 TIIK JUNIOR LKACJUE IIAND-ISOOK. great need of their assistance. You know boys like to feel their importance in the worhl, and also that others are depending on them for help, especially if that other is a lady. I think this is one reason why ladies are generally more successful teachers of boys than men. After all, the principal reason for success is that our Leaj^ue meeting is on Sabbath morning, and there is no other attraction to entice them, so they naturally turn to the League. As for keeping them, I put them in positions of trust and continually urge them to be present, and the Lookout Committee are fully impressed with their work from Sabbath to Sabbath. 1 have also tried to show them all (both boys and girls) that the success of fhi-ir League depends on them individually and not on their leader. I also try to keep track through my eye of any that have been absent, and tell them 1 am glad to see them in their places again. I also make a point when the roll is being called, if a boy or girl is absent and a brother or sister i)resent, to inquire the cause of their absence and send word by them for the absent one to try and be present the next Sabbath, and also tell the one present that it is their work for the League t(> invite and urge the absent one as well, to do their duty, according to their pledge. The Junior Superintendent must lort' her boys and make them feel that she does. Do not look for perfection but i)ut thetn all on their honor, and in all pray for the success of the League." It is a debatable (piestion whetlier the formation of auxiliary societies for boys, such as Boys' Brigades, swimming clubs, and such attractions that apf)eal to the spectacular or merely athletic element, are desirable. The writer thought they were till he tried them. For two years he had a flourishing Boys' Brigade in connec- tion with one of his churches, and while there were some features of it which certainly made it popular, he found that the tendency was very strongly against devotional attendance at the more strictly religious services of the League. It is well to unite the varied phases of the boy nature in one harmonious development wherever pos- sible ; but the danger is that the least desirable will be abnormally developed, and the more desirable features of his training neglected. TIIK JUNIOR LKAOUK AND TIIK I'ASTOIl. 49 It is said that boys must have fun. Well and good ! Lot thom have it ; but do not allow the "fun " olomont to usurp the time and attention of the League. The writer has had social evenings of various churHcters, and the attendance at such has always been in excess of any other. His practice ])ecame to alhjw none to attend the social evening who did not regularly attend the other meetings. Manual exercise is good in moderation ; but when the whole attention gets absorbed in the practice of military drill there is sure to be a relaxation from the more necessary work of soul-culture, and the League that allows that to take a secondary place is not doing good work, no matter how Nourishing it may appear to be in point of numbers. If you can form a reading club among the boys, and in connection therewith have a room of your church set apart for their use, you will do well. Whether a gymnasium in connection with the church would help to hold the boys, is a very d<)ul)tful matter to my mind. There is only one way to do effective and lasting work with lads, as well as with girls, and that is by getting them interested in the League as having for its aim their salvation, through and through. Boys hate shams, and will not long be held by chaff. To try to sandwich a minimum of religion in between a maximum of "fun " is to do poor work. Let the boys meet alone occasionally, and make the meeting especially for them. This will help. Again, let me emphasize that "love " is the secret of success. CHAPTER X. THE JUNIOR LEAGUE AND THE PASTOR. The Pastor is the Superintendent of the Circuit on which the League is in existence. As Superintendent of the Circuit, of course, he is the official head of the League, and nothing should be done in the League, or 4 50 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-HOOK. by tho League, tliat would not meet with his approval ; but this takes it for gnuited that tho Pastor's ripproval has first been given Lu the League Constitution, and that he is in hearty sympathy with the aims of tho League. We regret that some .lunior League superintendents have failed to C(m8ult the Pastor, or invite him to the meetings of the League ; but wo regret more that there are pastors who care little for the League, and we respectfully express the conviction that no Pastor should wait to be invited to attend the meetings of the League. The relation of the Pastor to the League, and the League's assistance of the Pastor, are so well stated in a letter received from the Rev. H. S. Matthews, that we repro- duce his words in full. lie says : *' Whether the League be a benefit or otherwise depends largely on the minister. Every minister ought, in my judgment, to attend regularly and assist in.dirtjct- ing the League. By a little tact ho can bring it so fully under his influence as to materially assist him in his work. The Leagues in connection with the churches of which I have had charge greatly assisted me in my work. The active member's pledge cannot be better. It is not too strong. It ought to be committed to memory, and repeated in concert once a month. Such a course would keep it directly before the mind all the time. The Look- out Committee is of the greatest possible service in look- ing up people who move into town, as well as careless church and League attendants. On my charges the Leagues ha-^e })een feeders to the classes, and of great help in ( work. We have an active, aggressive LeagU( ' iOCtion with my church at Alliston, and as a roF aave a live, active church. I would not like to do iiout the League." One way I followed for months in order to interest the children to attend the Sabbath morning service is ex- plained by the following card. The cards were dis- tributed by some of my best boys during the regular offering. The boys followed the stewards through the church, and delivered a card to each child present. I have hundreds of these cards that have been correctly filled up and returned. After the children got into the habit of coming, the "children's talk" was sufficient. RELATIONHHII' OP .TUNIOR TO HKNIOR SOCIK't'Y. 61 and the cards were dropped off gradually. The plan will work anywhere, and any pastor can follow it. Ktnd $1. mcthodisj CDurcb, Cobourg, Onfario. Gatmiw tmc Childwcn." Dkar Yoiinq Friknd : I am pleased to see you at church this morning', and shull hope to have ^ou reffularlv as one of my conKrejration. I nhall try to tell you Honiethin^f every Sabbath mornint; that you will like to know. I want you to fill up the spacres below, and when vou have ten of these cprds ready, if you will return them to n»e I will know that you have been present at Sunday morning service ten times without inixxin;!, and I shall be pleased to present you with a beautiful Certificate of Churt^h Attendance, that I am sure you will like. Ilopiii,' you will not miss unleHs you are sick, I am, Your Pastor, S. T. BARTLETT. The children's talk ims about The regular text wan / wait present on Sunday morning (date) Name Ps. 34 : 11, Prov. 8 : 32, Joel 1 : 8, Mark 10 : 13-16, 1 John 2 : 12. Come to our Junior League meeting next Friday afternoon at 4. 15 o'clock. We have good times. CHAPTER XI. RELATIONSHIP OF THE JUNIOR TO THE SENIOR SOCIETY. Miss Nina Sherin, Lakefield, writes : '* The Senior should bear the same relationship to the Junior societies that the older children do to the younger members of the family. While the mother and father are nominally the head, and train the children, the older ones can assist them and make their work much easier than it otherwise would be. 52 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. ** In Junior work there are and wilJbe many discourage - moiits, but these might be lessened to a great degree by members from the Senior societies dr1 *'To every meeting I will come Prepared to take my part, And show my comrades that I love His work with all my heart." The following by Miss Rodgers, Cobourg, is a pleasing Pledge Hymn. It is to be sung to the tune of " Onward Go." *' Trusting in my Saviour, Lord, I will try, I will try ; He has promised in His Word To be nigh, And to guide me all the way. If I ask Him every day, He will never answer nay To my cry. '* Trusting in my Saviour, Lord, I will do, I will do. What He bids me in His Word, I will do. I will read His Word each day, I will not forget to pray. To be in my work and play Kind and true. "Trusting in my Saviour, King, I will go, I will go. Every week unfaltering I will go. ^ I will go and take some part Tarrying with Christ apart, Sing or pray with loving heart, I will go. *' As my Saviour wills I should, T will live, I will live. Striving to be true and good, I will give Willing service unto Him, Who redeemed me from all sin, Striving souls for Christ to win, I will give." 62 THE JUNIOR LEAOUE HAND-BOOK. Pledge Acrostics maybe worked out on the blackboard with good effect. For instance, your Juniors will easily tell you that "Pledge" means "Promise," and if they keep their "Promise" as a League yc.i can easily let them see how and what would result. So you may get an Acrostic like this : P romise. L ook to Christ. E very day read His Word and pray. D o what He would like. O o to League regularly. E very body take part. Or you might as easily get this result : P ray without ceasing. * ^ L ove one another. E vermore praise Him. D o right. G row in Grace. E arnestly do His Will. In all such exercises it is well to let the children do the thinking, while the Superintendent guides the expression of the words. Great care should be taken to make the Juniors feel the importance of the Pledge before signing it, and when it is signed every effort will bo necessary to encourage them to keep it faithfully. The writer has found it help- ful to have a Pledge book, in which the active members enroll themselves. This is, of course, in addition to the Pledge cards which the members keep at home. If pos- sible, get your Pastor to explain the Pledge from the pulpit, and so keep it before the parents as well as the children themselves. Do not be disappointed if some seem to forget it sometimes. Remember that you have not always kept your promises made to God, and your Juniors may be trying as hard as you ever did. Encourage, never discourage ! The following is a simple form of Pledge service which I have prepared for those who have no better : Have your Wall Pledge in full view of all. TIIK JUNIOR LKAAllH ANI» ()IJ.IK(;T TKACHINO. 7ft Sprouted snod, sHy, of com. Show how the tiny root- let {^row8 Uitimiranl first. Thus nature ninkes provision for the H )port •)f the growing grain. The cliild niusL grow downward into the Hoil of Ood's word, etc., then up into the sunlight and air for hlo.ssom and fruit, etc. Hyacinth bulb rotted at the heart. Looks as well as the companion i>ulb which is sound ; but the former will never grow, while the latter both grows and blooms. We must have life within if we are to grow. Two eggs, one blown the other freshly laid. Both look the same, but when broken see the ditl'erence. It is not a{)])earance only we need, but genuineness. Many look well, but are as empty of good life as the empty egg-shell. Stir a little alcohol in the glass with the newly-laid egg and show how it cooks it right away. Teach thus a striking temperance lesson to the boys. The alcohol dries up the moisture of the brain, blood, etc. Crooked twig that has been turned out of its proper course by another limb to show how easily boys and girls may be made grow crooked morally. Petrified piece of wood to show how the heart becomes hardened by the continued rejection of truth till it is really turned to stone. Drop ink into a glass of water to show how easily one's morals may become cont^iminated. Little by little the water becomes blackened. Who can make it white and clear again ? Small candle lit and placed under a two-quart Gem- jar to show the force of selHshness. The boy or girl who lives to himself or herself has a small world all alone ; but as the air is soon exhausted in the jar, so the selfish- ness soon burns up the life and the light becomes dark- ness. Plated knife from which the silver is worn, and a solid silver one to show how, unless we are through and through genuine, the outside will soon wear oil' and show our real nature as base. Fine salt and sugar to show how closely one thing may resemble another and yet be different. Let several choose, and it is very likely the most of them will choose the salt ana make a wry face on first tasting it. Many 80 TIIK .HNFOll hKA(}i;K HANF)-IUK)K. .funiors are deceived in life — ^eb salt for sugar. Ha})its of reading, ainuseinents, compaiiioushipa, etc, A ])ird'H nest to show how carefully and syHteniatically it is built, and how many lessons hoys and girls may learn from the birds. Sand. Show that every grain Ih a small stone. Chil- dren are little men and women. The lin* particles together are very useful, «.f/., building, on rail-tracks, r.iaking glass, etc. So children. Work a simple sum in addition or multiplication on the board, making a mistake early in the solution, to show how the whole result is allected. So life goes wrong if we make a mistake in the start. Apply. Small loaves of bread, some of which are hollowed out, and inside placed such as chaH', money, pipe and cards, stone, etc., to represent the facts that niany people live for these things and prefer them to the true IJread of Life, which you represent by the /rrtHoaf. . . . Many lessons here. Different kinds of tnips, e.(f., mouse-traps, fly-traps, rat-tra[)8, mink -traps, etc., tc represent the way the world, the flesh and the devil ensnare the boys and girls. All difl'erent, yet ail for the same purpose, and all baited to catch the unwary prey. . . . I3ad books, cards, cigars, wine, evil company, etc., arc all traps set to catch and destroy the youth. Lamps with blackened chimney, poor wick, no oil, defective burner, etc., to show the need of a thorough e ANb <)1J.IK(JT TKAOJIINIJ. SI Ha})its atically Is may Chil- ifir tides -tracks, I on the show rroiig if /ad out, il cards, pie live ►read of . Many y-trapH, vay the fid girls. 1 baited , cards, to catch no oil, horough )roi)erly hole in set ruins ent cor- God's discord uned to ng to be rds and Siriall sweet orange and large bitter one. Which ? Size not always desiral)lc, etc. Many such simple illustrative objects will readily occur to the wide-awake Junior worker. In all your work, remember that your own is preferable to any that may bo given to you by others. If you receive a sugges- tion from another, work it out for y(turself. Do not try to ape anyone. lie yourself. Miss IJrooking, herself a skilled kindergartner, makes the following suggestions as to the simple preparation and use of ohjectH in U'nchiiuj the Juniorn : For Easter lessons, on the Resurrection. Ist lesson. — Objects — (Jhrysalis and Butterfly — Chry- salis can be found on almost any fence, late in the fall, .and an advertising card, or card-board butterfly, will illustrate the great change. 2nd lesson. — Objects — Oni(m, hyacinth bulb, and picture of blooming hyacinths, cut from floral catalogue. The two bulbs look much alike non\ but the [)icture will illustrate the "resurrection of the just," and most children will long for the "/«|/actHo dono l)y one of the regular committees as referred to in this hook, liut w hat- ever you have, rememher to l)e tlioroiujh if you would succeed. The Lookout Committee. Tlie members of this committee sliouhl comprise tlie most intelligent, earnest and devoted of yn to absent ones, giving a hearty invita- tion to attend, or if the Junior is out of town to corre- spond with the absentee, reminding him of the pledge, etc., and assuring him of the continued afl'ection of the League. In this way, during the holidays, it is )sentees that will afford to all a pleasant time J" d keep all the members in touch with one another. The Lookout Committee and the Pastor should always be in heartiest accord, for the .Juniors fre(iuently lind out the new-comers first. To lot the Pastor know who these are, or to inform him of any who are sick or in distress, would materially aid his work. The Lookout Committee should, too, as its name im- plies, be continually awake to any new idans of work in any department of the League's operations that they may hear of, and rojiort the same to the Superintendent at once, or arrange with some of the other committees to surprise the Superintendent by an occasiinial entire change of form of service. No Superintendent would object to this, I am sure. It is not only, therefore, for 88 THE JUNIOR LKACJUK HAND-BOOK. nil persons, bub phmti that tho wideawake comniitteo is on the "lookout," and the better the work is done the greater the progress the League will make. In rejxjrting to the Society monthly, let tho nv.mhers rather than the nK. Otliorwiso it will bo a cjiho of " pliyHiciaii houl thyHolf." OccHHionully tho inoinhurH of tliJH corniiiittec may arraiif^c witli tho MuHic Coinniitto and tho Hii|ierintoiuluiit to liohl a Hhort prayor Horvice at tho homo of aome agod or inlinii mombor of tho community, and tlius do a groat doal of good. Or in tho Hummor timo mootings may bo arranged for "out-of-doors" in hoiiio favorable i)laco, thuH varying tho order of Horvicoas much as poHsible. Tho Committoo should always stand ready to till any pause in tho ser- vices, and HO back up tho superintendent in all her work in tho League. While it is desirable that all tho committoos, as else- wheie intimated, shouhl occaHionally meet for consul- tation at tho homo of tho superintendent, it is e.spocially necessary that for the most etlicient work, the Prayer- meoting and Lookcmt committees should so moot. Tho careful Suporinttmdont will in this way l)o able to draw out tho members to realize their duty much more than in the regular meeting of the League, and ])y mutual consultation there will bo advanced ideas that will in tiieir execution profit all. At these commitl-ee nusetings pm\l('f sliinih/ (Uicdi/s form n lavifc purl, of llir rxfrclscs, for here, better than anywhere else, can the Superinten- dent give needed instruct^ionand njake best arrangements for the carrying out of the plan proposed among tho Conniiittoo. i. I III ■ii» 111 I'M iii| i . Himiaffi '1. 1 1 i K ■■'■ MM ; i '. The Music Committee* As already intimated, this committee should meet in conjunction with tho Prayor-meeting Committee, in arranging nuisic for tho regular meetings of tho Society. In other cases, that of special meetings, such as open ontortainments, socials, etc., it will, of course, have a prominent part to jday in attending to tho musical ])art of the exorcises. Its members should be more or less prolicient in music. The organist or pianist of tho League should })o chfx lan of the (Committee, and should be responsible at every meeting for the ])roper list of hymns being [daced in the hands of the leader of the mooting. Instrumental music at the connnencemont or at the close of tho meeting is eminently fitting. It is COMMITTKK WORK IN TIIK .ll'NIOU LKAdlK. 91 wJHo, too, in my jiidf^niuiit, to oiicoiinigo a niiiiibur of your .liinioi'B to loam hoIoh, duotts, jwirt-clioruaoH, and such other appropriate inuHical HclectioiiH an will make the Hiii^'iii;^of the meotingH bright and inspiring. Nothing is so diH()iriting as dull music in the meeting. Your committee shoiUd over bo on the lookout, therefore, for new HongH, choruses, etc., that those may bo duly learned by 8(une of the mombers ])etweon nuictingH. OccaHionally hold a " Hong-service," at which the topic m dealt with rather by singing Hclected by the Committee, than by any one person talking on it. This for variety. Hold an occasional "mu.sical half-hour" in your regular meotingH, and so train and develop whatever talent you may have in the League. If you have a .Junior choir, let it always be under the control of the Superintendent. The Missionary Gimmittcc* This is undoubtedly the most important department of the League work. In proportion as the Juniors are encouraged to live for others will they emulate the Master's exam[)le, " wh<» went about doing good." The following wise suggestions are largely made by Mrs. A. M. Phillips, of Montreal : MKETirffiS. The first meeting under the direction of the Missionary Committee has a subject chosen, such as to make the individual members of the Society feel that it is not only a duty, but a pleasant j)rivilege, to assist in carrying on this work, by systematic contributions, and in any other way Thti chairman of this conunittee occupies the same relation to the .Junior League as the president of a mis- sion band. It will also be necessary to have a secretary and a treasurer for the Missionary Committee. The secretary should have a book in which to enter the names of all who desire to contribute systematically, whether it be weekly or monthly. Probably the best method for this is that employed by our own Church in the "Advance Movement," known as the "2 Cents a Week a» i Daily Prayer" Band. Full particulars may i 4 II IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. ^^ ,;^4g. 1.0 I.I 1.25 |S0 "■» i^ ■^ 1^ III 2.2 1.6 lb itt 1.4 V] ■ The Flower Committee* The refining influence of floriculture is admitted by all. Too much cannot be said in praise of flowers as an educator of the beautiful, both in nature and character. The members of the Flower Committee should certainly be those who not only " like flowers," but who show some natural adaptation for the culture and care thereof. The work of the Committee becomes one of love, when such congenial spirits comprise its membership. The adult League's Flower Committee will willingly share the privi- lege of decorating the church with the Juniors, or the two may co-operate and make a more Ijeautiful decoration than either could if working alone. Or the conmiittees may take turns in furnishing the church with flowers, and thus a friendly rivalry i)e established with nothing but good results. The Flower Committee should also carefully distribute the flowers in suitable bou(iuets among the sick and absent ones of the congreecation, at the close of the evening service. In the winter when abundance of cut-flowers is unattainable, a few pots of hyacinths, narcissus, freesias or other seasonable bulbs, will greatly brighten the table of the church. These should be prepared in the fall and distributed among the Committee for care and growth. If intelligently and systematically arranged, a succession of bloom may be obtained, commencing with the early Roman hyacinths and running through the season till the stately Liliuni Harissi (Easter Lily) usher in the spring-time. A few pots of allium will bloom for weeks and give a beautiful mass of white blossoms. These hardy winter bulbs even when in full bloom, may all be safely taken to the church and home again in very cold weather, and if kept at home during the week in a very cool place, will last a consider- able time. In this way I have kept a succession of blooms all through our long Canadian winters. In the spring, the Juniors may be interested in the culture of flower- beds. Let this be done at home first, and in course of a season or two, you will find some of them efticient enough to take charjje of a few beds around the church property. In many places there is abundance of waste space that liliir COMMITTEE WORK IN THE JUNIOR LEACJITE. 99 ;ted by I us an racter. rtainly vv some . The n such s adult B privi- the two oration mittees flowers, nothing lid also ouquets ,tion, at >r when pots of bulbs, These ong the tly and may be y^acinths Lilium A few eautiful bs even church a,t home onsider- blooms spring, flower- irse of a enough operty. ice that might be well used for such a purpose, and a few choice and well-kept flower-beds add very much to the beauty and attractiveness of the church grounds. As far as pos- sible, encourage the Juniors to f/ro?/' their oint, ^oirers. This must help in developing habits of thrift, method and personal application, and the labor involved will be one of love and result in a larger measure of desirable self-culture. The Committee should see that the League room and, if nothing more, the Sabbath School Superintendent's desk or table, are regularly supplied with flowers. This may be done by dividing the work among sections of the Committee, each taking turns in the work. In the early summer, let the Committee gather wild- flowers. Great bunches of these are easily obtained, and the Juniors will vastly enjoy the search for them in the woods and tields. The Committee should, in conjunction with the Birth- day Committee, seek to provide a bouquet for the member whose birthday is being recognized. A simple bunch of flowers, coming thus fragrant with love, will be a blessing to all who receive it. Have you a jail, hospital, infirmary, or such institution near you ? Let your Juniors at least once in the summer visit such and distribute flowers among the inmates. The author will long remember a visit he paid with his Juniors to the county jail nearCobourg. A Floral Concert which had been given by the League in the church the evening previous was repeated in the jail chapel, and some forty or more bouquets distributed among the inmates. The Matron kindly "lunched "the company, and an hour's games finished a very profitable visit. All this work requires planning on the part of the Superintendent ; but it can be done if one icills to do it. Flower shows or festivals may be arranged for and held at some suitable season of the "ear. The writer has held such with profit and pleasure 3y distributing amo^ig the Juniors potted plants in the spring, and having the same returned at some stated time for competition and sale, success is assured. The ofiering of a few simple prizes will greatly stimulate the Juniors, and they will gain a practical knowledge of floriculture that will do 10() THE JUNIOR LEAOITE HANP-BOOK. thorn good. In the same way, potted hyacinths and other bulbs may be grown during the winter, and the profits from the sale thereof devoted to some good cause, or appropriated for missions, as suggested in the article on the Missionary Committee. These flower festivals should be of a floral character throughout. The exercises should all be harmonious, and the Committee will find wide scope for their powers, making the entertainment simple or elaborate according to circumstances and skill. Many such concert exercises can be procured already arranged ; but generally speak- ing, I would strongly recommend a local arrangement, using the best of whatever material you possess or can gather up. Always enlist as many as possible to take part. The Flower Committee, like the others, should report monthly. The Social G>mmittee* The work of the Social Department is (thus treated by Miss Maud Lambly, of Brooklin, Ont. She says : " Let no one think that the Social Department is unnecessary. Let it be carefully organized, thoughtfully, prayerfully and cheerfully carried on, and it will be found to be a most helpful branch of the League. Its aim is not only to hold socials, but to have all the members sociable both in and out of the League ; to see that there are no lonely and forlorn little faces and hearts, to cultivate the feeling that all are brothers and sisters, to carry smiling, happy faces, willing, ready hands and feet, in the League, in the home, in the sick-room ; in short, wherever the Juniors go. A Reception Committee at the door, to welcome members and make strangers feel at home, and so induce them to come again, will be a necessary feature in every moderately-sized or large League. Let this committee be earnest Christians, boys and girls who both know the timid ones and have shown a faculty of happily welcoming such. This committee can also help to main- tain order when necessary, by seating the younger Juniors as they enter, so that the mischief-lovmg and restless ones will not be in too close proximity to one C;OMMITTEK WORK IN THK .Tl'NIOR LKAiSUE. 101 i and d the cause, article .racter nious, owers, ording ercisea speak- jment, or can ,o take report kted by : "Let essary. erfuUy o be a ot only o both lonely feeling happy gue, in er the Dor, to le, and feature et this lo both lappily main- ounger ng and to one another. To keep the girls interested, sewing meetings have been helpful. While the girls are busy cutting and stitching, the boys can prepare scrap-books or make toys of various kinds, to l)o given to the poorer or sick chil- dren of the neighborliood. Some societies hold a social meeting once a month. At this meeting a miscellaneous programme of readings, recitations and ;nusic would furnish an enjoyable hour to all. They could here use pieces chosen hy themselves, that might not be as appro- priate for the regular weekly prayer-meetings. At these socials it is best to have the Juniors do most of the work and planning. Light refreshments may be passed. Vary these social evenings as nmch as possible. In summer have fruits — some kind friend will be glad to denote pears, apples, watermelons, etc. In winter, pop-corn, nuts, taffy, and sometimes cake will be very acceptable. If any members are sick and unable to attend, try to send them a little bag of refreshments with some kind words of remembrance. The Social Depart- ment must ever remember that our aim is not just to have a go(xl time ourselves, but to extend these good times as widely as possible, to scatter sunshine all over. In preparing for socials, we tind the members are inter- ested if asked to meet at the Superintendent's honi'? and make bags or baskets for holding refreshments. There they can also spend a little time in preparing the room, making it sociable in appearance, scattering plenty of flowers, etc. Union meetings with the Senior society are good. Let the Junior President take the chair and conduct the meeting. These meetings interest the mem- bers of the Senior society. Another way to interest older ones is to have a mothers' meeting. Let Juniors send invitations to all the mothers, receive them at the door, give a short programme, and pass light refreshments. Hold special public meetings at Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and other such days, giving an appropriate ser- vice of Scripture and song. During the summer have an occasional picnic, invite parents, have plenty of good games, set a long table and have all sit down together. It would be wise to hold many of the meetings in the fresh air during the warmer months. Bring benches and chairs out under the trees in the churchyard, or if there mT 102 THE JUNIOR L£A(}UE UAND-UOOK. ' ^W ' ( is none, ask some friend to lend her cool shady lawn for an hour. Then, during the fall a nutting expedition would attord much pleasure ; in winter, sleigh rides and coasting parties ; in the spring, who does not enjoy *' May-flowering"? One of the Toronto Junior Leagues had a "rainbow tea. " Each child had a Scripture card given it with a bow of ribbon fastened in the corner. The programme was about the rainbow, and he pastor gave a short talk. The tables were ready 8>. . in the school-room, and the members had to sit where they found the table decorated with their color. We have also heard of a bird concert. Have the room trimmed with evergreen, ferns, flowers. The members bring as many cages of birds as possible, also pictures of birds for the walls. Then a programme of kindergarten songs or motion songs on birds, also recitations, and last a talk on Bible birds. Once a year we might have a Crusade day as in the Woman's Missionary Society. Have the town or village divided into districts, and the Juniors visit every Methodist home and explain the object and workings of the Society, invite the boys and girls to join, and have Junior League leaflets. The next week a special meeting might be held to receive the ones thus brought in and introduce them to other League mem- bers. In every place there are sick ones, blind people and others who would very much appreciate a visit from the Juniors, who could sing to them some of the dear old gospel hymns so loved by them for their sweet memories and deep comfort, or read a favorite chapter for them. Or the Juniors could arrange to take charge of for a while and amuse some tired mother's baby, thus giving the little one fresh air and doing the mother good. As the cold winter days draw on, many of the old and delicate ones of the neighborhood are shut in for months. Let the Sunshine Committee under the direction of the Social Department, arrange to carry messages, bring the mail, tell them the Sunday morning text and all they can remember of the sermon, and in other ways make their lives comfortable. It might be but a little thing for the boys to do, but it would aflFord a great deal of comfort to m for dition )8 and enjoy inbow a bow e was ) talk, id the orated room imbers [ires of garten lid last have a >ociety. ,nd the in the ^ys and le next 10 ones 3 mem- ile and oiu the ear old niories them, while ng the As the elicate Let 3 Social e mail, ey can e their for the ifort to a COMMITTKK WOHK IN THE JUNIOR LKA(iUE. 103 the aged ones. If the Social Department can but start the Juniors out in the habit of being kind, loving, and thoughtful to all the people they meet, they will soon plan for themselves ways of working and means of making their plans effective. Encourage them to carry out the command, not merely in form, but in deed and in truth, " See that ye love one another out of a i)ure heart fer- vently." So shall they become a growing blessing to all. Little, if anything, need be added to this excellent treat- ment by Miss Lambly, but the writer would suggest that in all socials under the auspices of the Junior League the two thoughts of entertainment and profit bo always united. He has known some silly proceedings that in his thought do not conduce to the welfare of the League. Picnics, ball games, and all other forms of recreation are profitable only when made subordinate to the higher work of the League. He has found many members who were always ready for the social, picnic, etc., but who were by no means as regular in attendance at the devotional meeting. Hence he has observed the practice of inviting those only to the social evening who have been in attetidance at the regular meetings, and such others as were likely to attend them. Fun is natural to boys and girls, but they nmst ever be taught to be temperate in it, and not allow their fun-loving dispositions to run away with their moral and spiritual culture. A happy blending of the useful and the entertaining is wise, but the League that seeks to amuse only, pi-events iimsiny and fails to do all its work. The Sunshine G)nunittee« This committee is really a part of the Social Depart- ment, and its work can hardly be described, inasmuch as it depends largely on the character and surroundings of the League. It is, however, fittingly outlined in the very name of the Committee, "Sunshine." To scatter sunshine everywhere is the main object of the Committee. In one sense, all the members of the League ought to be on this committee, at least all should imbibe its spirit and emulate it everywhere. This being done, the lives of the Juniors at home would be especially brightened. 104 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. 11 :lJ iifi : 1 ; :»i *'Ic does me good to see how good-natured N. has be- come since he has been going to the League," said a mother of a large family to the writer. Where was the difference ? That boy had caught the " sunshine " spirit, and was scattering it around home with good results. On the playground, at school, it is easy enough for boys and girls to look darkly at one another, and act ill-tem- peredly ; but with the Sunshine Committee at work everywhere, this is reduced to a minimum. In many ways the local Superintendent can devise methods to spread this thought of scattering sunshine, and the Juniors will not be slow to respond. I would recommend wherever possible in connection with this department, in addition to what has appeared in connection with the article on the i?ocial work of the League, the formation of "Bands of Mercy," and the indoctrination of the Juniors with the spirit of kindness even to thy dumb animals they meet every day. This is a most interesting feature of the work, and an (occasional meeting held under the auspices of this "Band of Mercy " will greatly interest the little ones. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals freely circulate literature on this subject, and a note of inquiry addressed to Mr. Geo. T. Angell, 19 Milk Street, Boston, Mass., will bring all the needed information. Some appropriate topics for treatment at these occasional meetings are: "God's love and care for all His crea- tures," "What the Bible teaches about kindness," " What we learn from the Scriptures about being merci- ful," "Sacred associations of bird-life," "Bible study (or reading) about the Good Shepherd and the Lamb," taking up such passages as Psalm xxiii., Isaiah liii. 4-7, and John x. 1-18. A simple pledge might be introduced in this department, such as the following : "I will try to be kind to all living creatures, and will try to protect them from cruel usage." Having a number banded thus together, you might well unite the names Sunshine Committee and Band of Mercy into one, viz., "Sunshine Band," and so avoid an undesirable multiplication of names. Such "bands" are in existence in many pkjes, and the results on *he minds and habits of the children cannot be other than helpful. There ia needed very nr COMMITTEE WORK IN THE JUNIOR LEAtlUE. 105 crea- niuch among our Juniors the development of the spirit enjoined by one of the ])oets who said : *' 1 would not number 'mongst my list of friends A man, howe'er refined, yet lacking sensibility, Doth needlesslyset foot upon a worm." Such a band as is here suggested is as appropriate in a small country league as in the town or city, for this spirit of kindness needs to be universally taught and practised. Try it ! The Sunday School Gjmmittcc* There is perhaps no committee in the Junior League that can be of more real service to the local church than this, and it can be worked to advantage in every locality. There are in every neighborhood more or less children who either do not attend Sunday School at all or who attend irregularly. Among both these classes the Sun- day School Committee is calculated to do good work. It should be composed of some of the most energetic and methodical of your members, and though its members may be frequently changed, there should be always one or two experienced members kept on it. The Committee may be divided and do its work in sections, each under its own leader or chairman, and the reports of the sections be brought in either separately or amalgamated. Perhaps the simplest way for the Committee to keep track of absentees from the Sunday School is for the chairman of the Committee to wait on the secretary of the Sunday School and get from him the names of all the absentees, and divide these among the members to visit as early as possible in the week. If the Junior Committee take charge of the absentees of the Primary department of the school, and the Intermediate Com- mittee take the Intermediate classes of the school, the whole will be looked after systematically. This involves the weekly meeting of the Committee at the close of the Sabbath School session, and the co-operation of the secretary or his assistant. This will not be hard to secure, for these ofiiceia are generally very glad to have 106 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HANl»-R()OK. ! I h ... }■ the absentees looked up in addition to whatever visiting may be done by the teachers of the various classes. In the securing of new members for the school, the League may render valuable assistance. Children very quickly become acquainted with new-comers in the neighborhood, and if the Committee call on the children of these families and invite them to both the League and Sunday School, the probability is that they will come. The report of the work done by the Sunday School Committee may be made helpful to the League meeting in showing what may be done by this form of missionary work. It should be one of the most pronounced desires of the Junior League to support the Sunday School. Of course, every Junior will regularly attend the school, and should piidc himself in setting a good example of order, rever- ence and attention throughout the whole of the school exercises. The Superintendent ot the League should never have any cause to refer complainingly to the con- duct of any of the League members in the school, but all should be examples of good conduct to those who are not members of the League. The Chairman of the Sunday School Conmiittee should see that notice is regularly given in the Sunday School of the Junior meetings, and if there is anything special, call attention to the fact. The Committee may keep a record of the attendance of the mem})er8 at the Sunday School, and report the average at the monthly meeting, impressing on those who have been irregular in attendance the desirability of being present punctually and regularly. In some societies the Junior choir assist in the singing of the school ; but where this is done it should be under the guidance of the school musical director. In no way should there be the least confticfc of interests between the League and the school, and in a properly conducted society there will be none. The Superintendent might profitably attend the teach- ers' meeting of the school and report in what ways the League is helping the school, and ascertain in what other ways the Committee may further do so. The Primary teacher or teachers will, in all probability, be practically interested in the Junior work, and at the ll! COMMITTEE WORK IN THE JUNIOR LEA(}UE. 107 close of the school session a short conference of these teachers, the Sunday School Committee, and the League Superintendent might be held occasionally. In many ways that will suggest themselves to the thoughtful Superintendent, it may be proved that the desire and purpose of the Junior League is in no way to supplant the school, but in every way possible to supplement its work. ibility, at the The Birthday Committee* There are many way« that will occur to the wide-awake Superintendent in which this ctimmittee can be made of service to the League. Let the Committee be duly organized, and then be pro- vided with a Birthday Book, in which the names or all the members shall be entered with the dates of their respective birthdays. Start with the Pastor, and when his birthday comes around, honor it by some small token that will readily occur to the children. He might be 8{)ecially invited to the meeting of that week, and thereat I»resented with whatever may have been prepare i, or his birthday letter, prepared under the supervision of the Superintendent, might be carried to the parsonage and read to him by the chairman of the Committee. It may seem a small and to some a trivial thing ; but to the Juniors it will be anything but that, and unless the pastor be an exceptional man, it will give him pleasure. So the Committee might arrange for the birthday of the League Superintendent, and perhaps give her a little surprise too. It is pleasing to note the interest that the Juniors will take in this kind of work, and it all tends to the cultivation of the kind and loving spirit so n)uch needed everywhere to-day. At every meeting the Committee will be prepared to report to the Superintendent the names of any and all whose birthdays occ^r during the following week, and if the Superintendent be wise she will prepare, if nothing more, a short letter to be given to the Junior or Juniors at the next meeting. It is wonderful how the faces of the happy little ones will brighten up as the letters are 108 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. I n delivered. We have always had them take the letters home before reading them. These birthday letters need not be long ; but should be in simple words and contain some tho'ight that will encourage the child. Here are a couple of samples : Cv^BOURG, Jan. 27th, 1897. UtlitiQi- li! i Master. Dear Freddie You will please accept through me the best wishes of the Junior League on the return of your birthday. So you are reaily nine years old ! I notice how much you have grown since I first knew you. Indeed, you are getting (juite a big boy, and soon will be a young man. Dear me ! how soon the little boys grow up. Well, that is what you ought to do, isn't it ? Your mother would think it (jueer if you did not grow, although if she is like my mother was, I guess £5he wishes you would not grow so fast. But, after all, I know she is proud of her boy, and, Fred, I want you to keep her proud of you. If you are going to do this you will need to keep yourself clean. Not only your face and hands, your boots and clothes, but your heart. No matter how clean and shiny every- thing else may seem to be, if our hearts are unclean we can never be really and truly men. If we keep our hearts clean by loving God and doing what His Word tells us, we will have clean lives. No boy who loves God or tries to keep His word, swears, smokes or chews tobacco, goes where he would not want his mother to see him ; but always tries to keep good company and never break the fifth commandment. I am so glad to see that you are trying to do all this. Don't be discouraged if you find it hard sometimes. Always ask God to help you, and He will not let you ask in vain. I hope when your tenth birthday comes around you will be very glad to think that you are quite a lot bigger and better than you are now. Wishing you " many happy returns of the day," I am. Your afiectionate League Superintendent. H I, . COMMITTEE WORK IN THE JUNIOR LEAUUE. 109 Another m a sample of a letter to h little girl on her eighth birthday ; Miss. CoBOURO, Jan. 28th, 1897. Dear Effie : I was very glad to get your name from the Birthday Committee this week. 1 thought your birthday must surely soon come. And now it is here, and you will not be "seven" any more. I hope you will be seventy though. I suppose you think that will be a very long time yet. So it will ; but grar.dma would tell you that it does not seem very long since she was a little girl like you. But you know it does not matter so much how many years we are old as it does how good we are, and how much good we are trying to do while we grow. There are some ways in which even a little girl of ei,^lit can be useful, and I know you are trying to be good. Some little girls get tired very quickly and say they '* can't." I hope, Effie, that you will never use this word. Say '* I'll try," instead of " I can't," and I am very sure you will get along all right. Try to do all you know you ought to do, and do it with a happy face. It is worse to have a face black with bad temper than with dirt. So keep smiling, and you will help others to be happy too. Come to the meetings whenever you can. I am always glad to see you. Your loving League Superintendent. Besides the giving of the birthday letters the writer has found it very helpful to have a little talk occasionally on such subjects as, "How to grow beautiful," "How to grow strong," "How to grow happy," How to grow wise," etc., in the meeting. This is especially helpful if there are several (as in large Leagues there will be at times) whose birthdays come in the one v/eek. The sing- ing of an appropriate hymn, followed by a suitable prayer, will help to make the service impressive. It would not be inappropriate for the Birthday Com- mittee to make some special reference to the birthdays of the prominent personages of the church or nation. 110 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. !|i The birthday of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Governor-General, the Canadian Premier, the leading church officials, such as the General Superintendent, the General Secretary of Epworth Leagues and Sunday Schools, and others as may occur, of those now living, of John, Charles and Susannah Wesley and others among those who have passed away ; Init this, of course, must not be carried to an extreme. By a judicious observance of these hints a good deal of desirable know- ledge may be imparted in a way that will never be for- gotten by the children, and that can be made helpful to them learning to lead pure and happy lives. Missionary information may thus be nicely given. Some Leagues have a birthday box. In this the members, whose birth- days are being celebrated, are asked lo put as many coppers as they are years old, and the contents are emptied once a year and devoted to some worthy object. This birthday donation, however, is not always advisable and should never be made compulsory. If, however, the Junior can be encouraged to earn the necessary pennies, it will be of great benefit to him in the encouragement of the idea that birthdays are not times merely for yet- ting but for giving as well. It might be advisable to have a seat of honor for the children whose birthday is being kept. Among the smaller Juniors this would be popular— the larger ones might not so appreciate it. A chair or bench suitably decorated with ribbons or flowers might be set apart for this purpose, and aSbrd pleasant memories in after years. " Make a child happy, and you will make a man happy twenty years from now when he thinks of it," is the principle of it all. 11 in • I! The Scrap-Boofc Committee. This committee is not intended to keep the various scrap-books of the other committees in order. Every committee should be encouraged to keep a scrap-book of its own, in which book all clippings, suggc^stions, and other matters that may occasionally come under the notice of the Superintendent or the members of the Committee, should be pasted and so preserved for future COMMITTEE WORK IN THE JUNIOR LEAOUE. Ill use. But the Scrap-book Comrnittee is intended to do a work all its own. On it may be placed quite a large number of the Juniors, especially the smaller ones who may be incapable of serving on more important co"i- mittees. Let these little ones gather up all kinds o scrap pictures and clippings that would be of service in making scrap-books, and in due time when a sufficient number of such is accumulated, let them be made into books. The larger girls of the Intermediate League may well take charge of the manufacturing oi the books. These should be of som« ninterial stronger than paj)er. Cambric of various colors will do admiiably. Let the books be strongly made. Place stiff brown paper be- tween the leaves. Thus having the leaves double you will ensure strength. Make them of good size also, so that moderately large pictures may be used. U may take months before vou have a sufficient number of suit- able pictures gathered together, for trash should never be used. Have the Juniors bring their pictures with all printing cut off from them, and neatly trimmed, and so encourage a good deal of the work to be done at home and by the little ones themselves. When all is ready let the Committee come together in some suitable place, and with thin glue stick the pictures in. Paste will not answer nearly as well as glue for this kind of work. These scrap-books when made will be a credit to the Juniors and speak well of their ingenuity and applica- tion. The King Street (Cobourg) Junior League made four such books and sent them to the Sick Children's Hospital, Toronto, for a Christmas-box last season, and if they gave as much pleasure to the little ones in look- ing them over, as they did to the Juniors in making them, they did good service. In these four books there were used about six hundred pictures of various kinds, and the cost of the whole was only a few cents to the Superintendent, and nothing to the Society. The books when made, should be exhibited to the congregation at some suitable service, say, the weekly prayer-meeting, and in this way the parents will have an opportunity of seeing the fruits of the work, and the Juniors will be encouraged tiO do more and better work in this line in the future. One or more of these books should be kept in circulation 112 THE JT^NIOR LEAGUE HAND-nOOK. in the League and Sunday School all the time, and it may bo that in the community there are several 8ick children who would appreciate the use of the book for a day or two at a time. The Scrap-book Committee might keep the scraps of the Superintendent nnd arrange them in order. For the wide-awake Superintendent will always be on the look out for new methods and plans of work, and keep her scissors busy. If these scraps are not kept they H<>f»n become disordered or are lost. If the committee is instructed to take and preserve them under their appro- priate titles they will be of service when needed, and be kept within easy reach all the time. Encourage the Committee to keep scraps of all kind# of helpful literature. Songs, recitations, dialogues, hints, etc., will all be of use some day, and having a book of this kind to refer to means that in course of time a small but valuable library of Junior League literature will exist. Many suggestive pointers appear in the Guardian^ Epivcyrth Herald, Epworth Era, and similar papers that if once lost are not easily recovered. Let them be preserved at once and they are yours for ever. The committee should be under the super- vision of an intelligent chairman, for orderly method and appropriate arrangement are indispensable for suc- cess in this branch of the work. The Temperance Committee* The Junior League should ever stand firmly by Tem- perance and Prohibition. This will be effected only if the Superintendent is heartily in sympathy with the reform. That the young children of to-day will form a strong factor twenty years from now in the solution of the great Temperance and Social Purity movements if properly educated, is evident to all, and that a great responsibility rests upon the Superintendent for the giving of such an education will also be admitted. It will be well, wherever this is possible, for the Temper- ance Committee to be under the charge and direction of a separate Assistant Superintendent. It may be that one of the local W.C.T.U. ladies would take this matter in hand, and so assist the Superintendent ; but if not, do COMMITTEE WORK IN THE JUNIOR LEAOtTE. 113 it may ildren Llay or aps of 'or the 3 look ep her r 8« >on btee is api)ro- and be [ kindff logues, kving a iirse of League appear *rt, and overed. yours super- method :or suc- y Tem- nly if ;h the :orm a tion of ents if great tor the ed. It emper- tion of hat one itter in not, do the best you can to ensure the intelligent sympathy of tho Juniors in the work. The Quarterly Temperance Sunday School Lesson should always be made the occasion of a special temperance meeting, and the more attractive this can be made the bettor. Let the Temperance Committee comprise some of your brightest boys and girls, and encourage them to suggest their own plans of work as fur as you can. Whatever pledge you choose should be kept in a separate pledge book by tho chairman of the Committee, and the number of names therein recorded should be given every month at the business meeting. To this committe should be also given the work of dis- tributing whatever form of badge may be used by the League. While the writer has no objection to the use of badges in general, there is a danger of so multiplying them that they will become a hindrance rather than a help, better llian badges, perhaps,- ia a wall roll, on which the pledge is nicely engrossed, and to which the names of the members are added as they sign the pledge. There, confronting them at every meeting, is their roll, and an occasional word in reference thereto will be all that will be necessary on the Superintendent's part to keep the members reminded of their duty and obligation. The simpler the form of the Temperance Pledge the better. The following is the form used by the Fred Victor Junior League in the city of Toronto : < Tred Uictor junior €vmtth Ceaguc. { PLEDGE CARD. i S^f §crc6g pron^lsc, i B2 t^c iid\> of ^Hfmicj^fg <§o&, to aBstain froii] off 41 info.ricatin^ fiquorst, in ar^g form io§at0oci?cr, fifvC- j toisc from ^o&acco, auD to refrain from profanity , i i 4 CONVENER TCMP. COM. 4 DATE <| SUPT. 8 l» 114 THE JUNIOR LKAUUK HAND-BOOK. A much stronger form of pledge, fashic^ned after the regular League pledge, is the following : "Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, I promise Him that I will never drink intoxicating drink of any kind, that I will never use tobacco in any form, that I will never use profane language, that 1 will never listen to or repeat any impure story, that I will pray daily Ihat the saloon may be banished from our land, and as far as 1 can, 1 will work for what I pray, and when I have the right, will vote to destroy the traftic in strong (Irink." Another form is as follows : " I promise that I will neither drink strong drink, swear, use tobacco, or go in bad company, and that I will ask God to help me keep this promiae every day." The writer's opinion is that the simpler the form of pledge used, the better. It is doubtful if the highest wisdom is shown in crowding too many words or clauses into the child's mind. A simple avowal of total-absti- nence principles is sufficient, and the Superintendent may be able to draft some form of pledge that will be better than either of the above ; but, for the sake of uni- formity, it may be wise for all to stick to the pledge given in the Constitution. For Intermediate societies, the following rhyme ver- sion of the Pledge will be found desirable. It is suggested by Miss Frances E. VVillard. •'I pledge my brain God's thought to think ; My lips no fire or foam to drink From alcoholic cups ; nor link With my pure breath tobacco's taint ; For have I not a right to be As wholesome and as pure as she. Who, through the years so glad and free, Moves gently onward to meet me ? A knight of the new chivalry Of Christ and temperance, I would be In 1900 — come and see." One of the chief features of the Temperance Com- mittee's work should be to circulate facts bearing on the temperance reform among the boys and girls of the COMMITTEE WORK IN THE JUNIOR LEAOUE. 115 the of Com- ■on the f the League and Sunday School, This may be done in varioua ways, e.f/., By circulating the League Pledge for signa- tures ; by holding an occasional temperance meeting, in which the Social and Music committees may also participate ; by arranging with some capable person, when possible, to give a temperance address, illustrated, if possible, with objects or experiments ; by keeping a scrap-book in which temperance events are recorded ; by observing, when possible, the notable days of the tem- perance movement ; by reijuesting the pastor to occasion- ally preach a temperance sermon ; by working conjointly with the W.C.T.U. of the town or village in any way possible, so as to advance the cause of Temperance and Prohibition ; by learning temperance songs for the regular League meetings, and perhaps by following, under the tuition of the Superintendent, a course of lessons such as will be sugges*-ed by reading the text-book aa used in the Pul)lic schools. In every possible and proper manner let the Juniors be educated to the requirements of the Temperance cause, and committed to the support thereof. I have prepared the following Temperance Alphabet. It may be used in a variety of ways that will readily suggest themselves to the Superintendent. This exercise will form an attractive part of any temperance entertain- ment given by the League : A is for Alcohol— luid of fire — To get which is aiways the drunkard's desire. B is for Bottle. Let Juniors abstain — Its contents will certainly madden the brain. C is for Cider ; some boys here begin To walk in the deadly pathway of sin. D is for Drunkard ; we'll save him who can, And help him to be a temperate man. E is for Earnings ; how spent you may guess When you see little children in hungry distress. F is for Fall ; it surely will come To those who will drink the maddening rum. G is for Gutter, and also for Gin — Who drinks of the latter, the former falls in. no TIIK .M'NKMl (,KA(il'K llANH-IMHtK. H is for H0UB8 ; it's ji^oiio to docny — For ruin niUHt follow whnru wliiHkoy IioMh Hway. I JH for Idlor ; to work ho won't go — For li<|uor is labor'H deadlicMt foo. J iH for .lail ; to it policuniun H(>n(l All thoHo who trill havo tho Juj< for tlieir friend. K Ih for Kicks many children receive From fatherH who with them in kindnens should live. is for Fioafer ; in tavernH he's found, When work's to he done, he's never around. is for Money ; it's wante ilist, and so will the Sunday School, but not by the second. Will it give you more trouble. Junior workers, to insist on all the regular meetings of your Junior League being spiritual ? It may, but what of that 'i Will you not delight in working hard for such result as God has promised for faithful, earnest work ? Then, ** ' Sow with a generous hand. Pause not for toil or pain ; Weary not through the heat of summer. Weary not through the cold spring rain, But wait till the autumn comes, With its harvest of golden grain,' " EXTRA lilNTH TO HUi'EUlNTKNDENTH. 121 OHAPTEU XV 111. EXTRA HINTS TO SUPERINTEND^ ENTS. On Order in the Mvetiwjs : Be on time yourself. Keep yourself in view of all. Whoever mny lead, hold the reins. Your spirit will refiecfc itself on ;ill. Expect order and your Juniors will Hoon kn(>w it. In the exercise of authority be firm, but not arbitrary. Keep the smaller onea of your members in the front seats. Sometimes let the committees sit together as such, so separating all in groups, and breaking up the cliques of the disorderly ones, if you have any. Or it will perhaps be preferable to assign seats to the individual members, letting each occujiy his seat for a month at a time, so dividing up the talkative ones into separate parts of the room. On no account show any disposition to make favorites of your members. If you do, you may expect others to resent it, and you will thus do more harm than good. Let all feel that you love them and have their interest at heart. Love begets love, and is the surest preventive of disorder. If you have a large society, let your Room Committee act as ushers, and as the various members come into the room show them to their seats, thus preventing confusion at the very start. If you are in your place the members will, for the moat part, take this usher- ing as a mark of honor. 122 THK JUNIOR LKA(MIK IIAND-IJOOK. Unless you find that there j'h p- sitive need for such, do not puV>licly reprimand, do not listen to complaints before the .JuniorH, do not tell tiio parents, or other- wiwo report the diHordcrly. Ueniember that you were not always as "Htaid" as y(»u are now. Have an occasional change in the exercises, an intermis- sion, a general change of seats, or otherwise break up the monotony that is so ))roductive of tlisorder. 1 have taken a good suj)ply of apples with me, and at some convenient time in the meeting allowed the Juniors to freely talk and eat. '^^I'hey will appreciate the relaxation, reward you }>y good conduct, and — ap[>leH are cheap. On Badirit of healthy rivalry and comntendable aml)ition to gain it. Canton flannel, cruj)e tissue paper — white, green and gold — twisted, puffed and plaited aH only the deft HngerH of the skilled Junior worker can do it, are e/isily procured and are cheap. I'hese materials are all that ahi needed for occasional society banners, and none need be without approptriate decorations because they cainiot afford to purchase the high- I»riced silk or satin banners of the professional manufacturer. If your funds are low, make your own decorations, and you will think the more of them because they are your own. you. be at- 1 honor tes for n regu- jd, with )r their motto, lurch," righten decora- star, or •y little and the 071 rnUic EntertdinmcntH : Have some. Not too often. " How often/" Quarterly. IJutter one good one than two poor ones. Have some good ol»ject in view to work for. Mere amusement is beneath the dignity of the League. Do not take too long to prepare it. (Jhildrcn soon weary. And they soon learn. Hence keep gathering up and distributing good pieces of music, recitations, etc. Thus your members will always be preparing, and what will not suit well this time may tit in well at the next. An hour and a (luarter is long enough for any enter- tainment, and if the ])rogramme is varied, will soon pass. A programme of your own preparation will generally be better than following a full concert exercise as ready-made. Do not make the mistake of overcharging. You want to interest the parents every time, and they have none too much money. A collection is generally preferable to a fee. 124 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. Your entertainments are not primarily to make money ; but to develop the latent talent of your Juniors, to interest them and their friends. In doing this you can at the same time keep your funds supplied. If you can, conveniently, take your Juniors to some charitable institution where they can give pleasure for sweet love's sake and lose all thought of gain or reward in the doing of it. This is better than money. Do not have your entertainments at such a time as will conflict with the meetings of the Ladies' Aid, the Woman's Missionary Society, the Sunday School, or other church festivals. There is abundant room for yoii to have a "Flower Service," "Thanksgiving Service," "Easter Service," or "Dominion Day Celebration," etc., without coming into conflict with the older church auxiliary societies. Let all plan in harmony and there need be no discord . ' ' Prevention is better than cure." On Music in the League : Cannot you sing ? Get an assistant who can. Have lots of appropriate songs. Use the talents of the Juniors always. If a boy can play the mouth-organ, let him. The best instrument to lead song is a good voice. By all means, let your music be within the Juniors' range. Let them learn to sing numbers of hymns without the booKS. With all the new pieces, remember the old standards are the best. Let your League members become very familiar with the hymn at the beginning of this book. It ha swing in it. It will be well to teach some of the histories of the hymns you sing. If you cannot do this, study them and then you will be able. EXTRA HINTS TO HUPERINTENDENTS. 125 tioney ; ors, to his you a. () some leasure of gain 3r than ) as will id, the School, it room [sgiving •n Day ict with plan in ivention Frequentl3' call upon someone to sing the verses and let all join in the singing of the chorus. This will be profitable to all. As far as possible, see that the hymns you sing are appropriate to the subject or occasion, and encourage the Juniors themselves to pick them out and refer to the Music Committee. Educate the boys to sing sometimes alternately with the girls. If they sing verse about they will very likely do so much more effectively than if all sing together. Use judgment even in this. Motion songs among the younger members of the League will greatly interest them. They may easily be learned, and many of the popular hymns of to-day are capable oi adaptation to this form of usage. Avoid ruts in your music as well as other things. An occasional surprise worked up for the Society by the Superintendent and the Music Committee during the week and sprung on them in the meeting will give great pleasure. Be careful of Junior choirs. Unless you or your assistant are willing to take full charge, do not have artnient. One thing that has im- })re88ed me is a clearer conception of the fact tliat very few in this world have a (jenius for iriae and rffi,('ie)U government. We have only to look at the family life to be convincied of this. The difliculty is increased by the fact tbat young ladies are most frequently appointed to the position of Superintendent. With inethcient govern- ment you have disorder ; with disorder, irreverence ; irreverence develops into formality lirat, and contempt afterward, and perhaps inlidelity further on. Another groat danger is along social lines. Those who make up the Junior department are passing through the transi- tional stage from innocence to knowledge — a period of clearly-reoogni/.cd indiscretion. There is naturally a familiarity of intercourse which blunts the sense of reserve — a modified form of Hirtation which makes it uncertain that the attendance is from high moral mo- tives, etc. "A difficulty (not a danger) is how to deal with those about the age of fourteen, who begin to feel a little too important to be in what is recognized as a children's society — who are a little impatient of restraint, and t)f insistence upon decorum, by those who have neither the well-defined authority of either the parent or the peda- gogue. From all these considerations, and many others that might be named, it seems to follow ; IHKI'K TLTIHS AND nANUKIlS. VM those ttle too ildreu's :iud of her the 1 peila- others ' 1. That the utmost aire should ho taken in the sell linn of !<)iinrint*'nileiil.s. It is not ououi^h to say tliat the very l)uHt taloiit in thu Church Hhouhl l>o sulectod, biit if M Huihihio porson cannot ho found -one wise, h)ving and lirni in i^ovuruinunt, witli son)o ex[)orionco in the uiaua^oinent of children, either as niotljor or teacher - hotter far have no .Juni(»r Lea^^uo at all than put an m\- Huitahle person in the position, especially as ht'j» I Supcr- iutendent. A "real good," "very pious," "very devoted" woman uiay not alwa^.s ho the right person, unless the eleuionts, hri^jjht intelligence and eflicient government, are also taken into account. "2. The mind and heart of the SuperintondtMit should [)ormeate the entire orgauization, as a (iircrtirc force, guiding, as far as possihle, with an Kns,-rti hand ('i'rr>jthitni pertaining to the org.-mi/.ation, election of f>tlif'ors, con- duct of meetings, arrangement of prayer uioetings, etc. It is contrary to the teaching of Scripture and common- sense tlwit childriin should le^d childion, oxcei)t undtr the wise poA'smml direction of older persons. I have soon a Superintendent entirely controlled by a League instead of the opposite course. "3. The one j;rand foundation element should bo the ref/f//oifs, not the iiucial or intellectual, as the predom- inant one. Wo shall lose rather than gain as a church unless the catechism clas4 idea is maintained, and j)er- haps imj)roved by judicious introduction of variety along social and intellectual linos. I therefore doubt the wisdom of organizing a promiscuous crowd into a .Tunior League. F would, of course, avoid ihadrdiijht- laced ^ hdnl- mid-fnd basis of selection. But we had better under- stand what this thing is for and work accordingly. T think wo gain nothing in the Church or her athliated institutions by tbi popular idohttrtj of nmnht'ys. That is a great temptatio.i in this age of keen competition on all lines. " I uhink a niiclous should be gathered of those capable of understanding the pledge, at least stronglj' inclined to the good, and earnestly desirous of keeping the pledge, and of working for others. These should act as missionaries under wise direction to gather in others, and the pastors and church workers should strive ilf 132 THE JUNIOR LEAGUE HAND-BOOK. to briu^ into this fold children who would give some evidence of a cheerful and helpful co-operation in the objects of the League. "I v/ould not have any one join under eight or nine years old at the very least. It is not an infant class. Those under eight cannot, as a rule, tu,ke an intelligent interest — are better with their mothers in most inst inces. They are not in the same need of careful nurture as those of the age of twelve and upwards, and will make it much more difticult to get and keep those of that critical age. I am in doubt of the associate element. 1 should certainly enroll such with great care. "The pastor ought to have a special class in training for church membership. Have a special reception ser- vice, make it as impressive as possible, and give each a Bible with suitable inscription at time t»f their public reception into membership with the Church. " There should be stated occasions in Leagues in cities and larger towns for separate "Boys' Rally" and "Girls' Rally." TiiesG need not occur very frecjuently, but should occur to give the lady superintendents opportun- ity of talking freely with the girls on topics of couitcsy, conduct, propriety in League, church, school, and any subject that a judicious woman would feel that she could with propriety broach in such a presence, " And where the pastor and an invited friend, or friends, could talk to the boys on similar subjects as well as on practical themes pointing to useful and honorable secular lines of life." Some reader may think these words of caution unduly severe ; but a wide experience has shown the writer that they contain much truth, and he is satisfied that all our Junior workers had better be too cautious than too care- less in their work. WORK r)ONE. 133 CHAPTER XXL WORK DONE. (A sample.) Of Junior League work actually done we have selected the following (from many letters received) as the most nearly eml)odying ideal Junior work of any wo know of. The letter, part of which is here given, is from Mis.s Lillian Coates, Superintendent of the Wall Street Junior League, Brockville, Ont. Miss Coates says : " We have a very interesting Junior Epworth League of Christian Endeavor numbering seventy members ; wo meet Sabbath morning at 10. 10 o'clock, one of the boys leading one Sunday and a girl the alternate. Sometimes they prepare somethiiig on the topic themselves ; but when it is their first time leading wo ask one of the Senior League members to speak on the topic. "The last Sunday in the month is our consecration ser- vice, one of the Superintendents taking entire charge of the meet:;'g and calling the roil herself. At iliat service we lake a collection for the running expenses of the League, }>ledge cards, topic l)ooks, etc. We repeat the pledge at each meeting, and every few Sundays we try to put special emphasis on different clauses in it to bring it specially before their minds. " A short time ago we took a special birthday collection, eac! member bringing as many coi)per3 as he or she was years old. The amount raised was used in buying a tray and its furnishing, a Japanese cup, saucer and plate, cream pitcher and sugar bowl, tea-pot and napkin ring, pepper and salt (these latter articles silver .and cut glass); also tray cloth and wicker foot-rest— all together costing ; 134 THE JUNIOK LEAfJl'K IJAND-BOOK. in the neighborhood of ^G. Those wo donated to our Loaguo ward in tho FIoHpital. Tho Sonior Loaj^uo fur- niHhed tho wurd at a cost of al)oiit '!^7^>- At Kastor wo houj^lit llowor and vo^otabki seeds, and gave a package to eich l)(iy and girl at the E.istor morning service the flower •seeds to the girls t > plant and take care of, and give the flowerH raiseil froin them diniiig the summer to the t'lower Mission Committee to enviable, but we ttiouglit w.^uld be a good exj)erionco for them. We took a free-will oflering at the door. It amounted to ^H.1,5, and was for one of our ministers from our district on an island mission, who was at that time in our Hospital." While luany of our Loagucs cannot undertake bo much or so varied work as above described, till <;an i)ro8ecute some of it, and if the publication of this little book assists to this end, its mission will be accomplished. ssioniry I has ten hold 5c, n about The Epworth League Manual A Hand-book o f Methods, for the use of Pastors, Officers, and Members of Epworth Leagues. COMPILED BY REV. A. C CREWS, General Secretary of the Epworth League in Canada. 103 PAGES - . - PRICE, 25 CENTS The following are a few of the Subjects Discussed: How to Organize a Lcagiio. Otticcrs and Offices. The Business Meeting. The Executive Comniittce. Snndf'iy School Committee. Missionary DepartmentanrtitHWork. Temperance and Social Purity. The ConHccration Meeting. Hints and Suggestions un the Duties of President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, etc. The Lookout Committee. How to Lead the Meeting. The Prayer Meeting Committee. Literary Committee and its Work. Evangelistic Work. 'I he Social Committee. How to Study the Bible. Epworih League Anniversary. ^ ^ OPINIONS ^ Jt i! ' I The " Ki'woRTii LKAotm Manial" runs over with pith and point.— ^/>- worth Herald. Your " Lkaote Manual" is excellent, and I hope thousands of the little book will come to Dixie.— Rcjj. Dr. Steel, Editor of "Eptvorth Era.'" It o\ight to have a large sale among our Leajfuera, and I believe it will. You have crowded in {rood u»ea.sure for 25 cents —Rei\ G. W. Keiby, St. Cath- arines. This is the n)08t complete hand-book Ci tiic i^co^'Uc aiiu ito VVOi'iv thiit W'C hmVC seen. It is full of helps, hints and sug- gestions as to the different departments of League work. —liev. Dr. Withrow, in ''Onward." The book is bright, interesting and instructive. It is unquestionably the best hook on League work I have yet seen. Nothing has been overlooked. Whether the pastor desires to organize a new League, the officer to know what duties he should perform and hov to perform them, or the individual Leaguer how he can work to the best }ulv:\ntage. each will find helpful thought and sug- gestion.— iV. W. Howell, ex-President Toronto Conference League. Wesley Buildings. WILLIAM BRIGGS 29-33 Iticbniond St. West, TORONTO. inual Officers, ws, CENTS ed: ttee. "* • uting. Committee. Eind its Work. je. ble. niversary. ^residents, hints and sug- it departments r. Withrow, in iteresting and Bstionably the >rk I have yet in overlooked, es to organize to know what n and hov to vidiial Leaguer est adv:'.ntage- )ught and sug- , ex-President ue. rORONTO,