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THE KING’S BUSINESS
of their special training, have been brought in close contact with the English Bible, which they are afterwards to teach; have been imbued with its spirit and brought under its personal spell, and moreover have been trained expressly in the art of making full use of its educational values for the people. It is a strange omission that, with every provision made in the theological schools for scholarly approach to the Word of God, no provision is made (except the slight beginnings in several institutions) for the educational valuation of the Bible; that is, for directing the student in the aTt of religious training through the Scrip ture’. The time may come when a chair of Religious Education will be regarded as necessary to round out' the work of the Theological Seminary. This department, without duplicating the work of Exegesis, Introduction, or homiletical study in other departments, would undertake to throw the fullest light of educational training upon the task of preaching and teaching the English Bible. SLOW TO CRITICISE At the risk of appearing in the role of a critic of existing institutions, a role which all men should be slow to assume, the author ventures to suggest that there are several important lines of training for the ministry that seem to be almost wholly neglected. We are strongly inclined to think that it is a poor educational economy to multiply linguistic opportunities for the student, while the practical aspect of the ministry, especially as related to the task of handling the Word df God aright, receive so little amplification. The moment one realizes that the theological school is charged with the duty of training the religious teachers of the Nation, he is con fronted with what must seem to him very serious gaps in the theological course. The time cannot be too quickly hastened for ward, when, by addition, combination, or amplification, provision shall be made in the theological school for the following: 1. Definite instruction in the principles of Scripture pedagogy. That is, the study
material an4 method at his command. Sat urating his mind in the Book that is placed in his hands, its broad usefulness for human life appears, its educational values come to light, its wonderful adaptations to the stages of intelligence and growth in man’s mind stand forth, its pedagogical structure and initiative are seen, and its points of contact are made clear. Asking himself daily, the question, “How can I make this Book live and do its tvork of transformation and education with men?” he comes to see the variety and attractive ness of its material; his own heart thrills with interest and enthusiasm; in the separate books he sees the shining of God’s light as through the facets of a diamond; he. warms to his task as he realizes that he'is doiiig a great work of training for God; sermons spring up unhidden in the pathways of the Word, preaching obtains new purpose and a new sense of continuity; and the joy of the task is like unto the joy of one who realizes that he is building the foundation and walls of a kingdom that shall never pass away. SINGULAR .FAILURE And here we are bound to say, that the schools for the training of ministers have singularly failed to grasp the need of presenting the educational aspect of the ' ministry. Secular education has its Normal Schools, where teachers are trained in the material and method of teaching. It can not be said that the Theological Seminary approaches as yet the ideal of a Normal School for religious teachers. Crowded as the courses of the Theological Seminary already are, there is an imperative demand, from the practical side of the work of the church, for some course or courses, in which religious education should be studied as a definite factor in the ministry, in which also the student should be trained in the actual use of the English Bible both in and out of the pulpit. We are strongly convinced that our theological schools should bend every energy in the next decade towards an effort to furnish the church with preachers, who, in the period
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