Chapter I: Lay My Sins on Jesus (3)

Return to the Mail-bag, and draw out the letter "L" from the book of Daniel. Give that to the child next in line. This is a letter from Daniel, and his message is always dare to stand firm for God. When away from your home as was Daniel, don't be ashamed to let people know that you pray. Daniel prayed before the open window because he was not ashamed to be seen talking to God. He faced the lions as well as the people, and God gave him the victory over both, and his testimony counted one hundred per cent, because he was a real servant of the Most High God, and this is another story of salvation.

Open the Mail-bag again, and produce the letter "V," from the story of the Hebrew Children, asking another child to hold the letter, standing next in line. The message from these three faithful boys is that God's children should stand together like three links in a chain. This gives strength stronger than iron. Good companionship is the need of boys today. Fall in with the right crowd. A minister of the gospel, who was appointed spiritual adviser to a boy about to be executed, asked him one day what was his first step downward, and he replied, "I fell in with the wrong crowd." The Hebrew Children were a crowd made good by God, and they went through the fire before they would bend their knees to the idols of the heathen land. God stands with such a crowd; one and two made four in God's table of numbers. He is always in the midst of them. Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The king saw him and said, "He is like unto the Son of man," and this was the reason. Three boys were fire-proof saints, so the fire did them no hurt.

Open the Mail-bag again and produce the letter "A." This you take from Psalms--open to the Twenty-third Psalm. This letter hand to another child and tell the message of the Psalm, God is the Shepherd of his people, and his sheep shall know no want. They shall find green pastures, which signifies fresh pastures. Still water, deep waters, and so an endless supply. Still water runs deep in the Twenty-third Psalm. Paths of righteousness open up before the soul, like the golden sunrise every morning. Evil cannot make afraid, no enemy can destroy. Goodness and mercy, like two faithful shepherd dogs, follow and protect in the rear till the house of the Lord lifts itself above the clouds of time, and the "forever with the Lord" comes at last to all who follow the Good Shepherd. This is the story of salvation from our enemies and the open door to the house of the Lord in heaven.

At the first part of Matthew open again the Bible Mail-bag and take out the letter "T," and ask another child to hold it and take his place in line as before. Let this letter stand for the birth of Jesus, the Angels' glad song, and the sky's "Merry Christmas" to the Shepherd with its glad melody of Jesus now born among men, the Virgin's Son. This is the story of the Glory Song of Salvation.

Open again the Bible Mail-bag at the resurrection and take out the letter "I," asking another child to take his place in line with this letter. This letter delivers the message of the resurrection of Christ. It is God's special-delivery letter that the last and latest news is that Christ is risen from the grave, and orders that all the bells of joy shall be rung and the message declared to all the people. Salvation has been accomplished, and the stone that was rolled away from the grave by an angel's hand, has become the keystone of our faith. This is the story of salvation from the grave.

Now take out the letter "O" from the Bible Mail-bag opened at the book of Acts. This is to proclaim how the gospel works among men, how it turned cities upside down, and multitudes were converted. It proclaims that all must be saved through the name of Jesus. Even the wicked Saul of Tarsus is turned into another man by the gospel's power, and all who will come in truth will also be turned, and by God's grace will stay turned. This is the story of the salvation of the soul. Tell the children that they can never get God's full mail from just one letter from the book. We must seek to get all God has said before we can know his perfect truth.

There is yet one more letter to come to give the full Bible message. Open once more the Mail-bag, and in the book of Revelation you find the last letter from God, and then you produce the letter "N." Ask again some child to come forward and hold this letter standing last in the line. This is the message of the book of Revelation. "Jesus is coming back again," and our prayer should be "Come back, Lord Jesus, the world is on fire, come back quickly."

Now you will note the nine letters from God spell "Salvation." That is the message the Mail-bag contains. This is the message to you and to the world. God's Mail-bag contains nine letters for the "Whosoever Tribe," which means all kindreds and tribes that on the earth do well. These letters can then be pinned up on some background in the form of a cross, teaching the truth that Salvation comes only through the Cross. There is no other way.

=38

TURNING THE PALMS INTO A CROSS

OBJECTS: Strips of Palm-leaves or Strips of Green Paper=

Have you ever noticed on the Sunday before Easter that some of the boys and girls wear in their coats a cross made out of strips of palm-leaves? It always seemed strange to me that the palm-leaf of joy should be turned into the cross of tears, but that was just what happened one day in Jerusalem. Jesus was to enter the city as a King. The people were very glad because they thought that he would deliver them from the Roman rule, which was very cruel and hard for them to bear. They were all very much excited at the thought of seeing Jesus, for they had heard so many wonderful things about him. They thought he was coming to do wonderful things for them also, so they flocked around the gates of the city to welcome him when he came. They all sent forth great shouts of welcome, and the children stripped the beautiful big leaves from the palm-tree and made a pathway of them for Jesus, and the children sang and shouted their praises. It was the first junior choir we ever read about in the Bible, a choir of boys and girls praising Jesus.

Secure, if possible, a long green leaf which you can call a palm-leaf, or make one out of green paper, and pin it on the blackboard. Teach them the Hosanna cry which the children used to welcome Jesus. After this is done, say: "But in a few hours a great change came over the people, and they no longer showed their joy, but were silent, then angry.

"He did not cast out the Roman governor. He did not end the wicked rule of the government. They did not understand that his kingdom was to come first into the hearts of men. They could not grasp this truth. They wanted a new law. Jesus had come to give them a new life, and they must patiently wait God's time. So their hearts grew cold, and then they grew angry. They listened to evil men who wanted to get rid of Jesus, and so it came to pass in a few days the crowd rushed into Pilate's hall and cried 'Crucify him,' and went to Calvary, and with hard hearts saw him die."

This is how a palm-leaf was turned into a cross. Here add a shorter piece of leaf and make the cross. Some of us are doing the same thing today. We say with glad words we will follow Jesus. We sing with glad strains "O Happy Day that Fixed My Choice!" We join his holy church and say we will live for him forevermore. Then, soon after this glad hosanna, when Mother asks us to do things we do not want to do we answer back in bad temper and ugly words, and often refuse to obey at all. Sometimes in the game we don't play straight, and often cheat a little in our examples. Then we have stopped our hosannas, and Jesus is sad because he sees us doing wrong and making a cross out of the palm-leaf, for when we act in that sinful way we are crucifying Christ the second time.

Sometimes there are older people who once lived happy Christian lives, worked in the church, gave in their glad testimony, and lived the glad game of the Christian life; they were waving palm-branches, and their life shouted "Hosanna!" Then they grew cold and lost their testimony. They slipped back into the old path of sin. They did not go to God's house any more. They made close friends of the world. Hosannas languished on their tongues, and they lived without God; their palm-branches had been turned into crosses. They had crucified Christ afresh, put him to open shame in the eyes of the world. That is another way in which the palm-leaf is turned into a cross. Keep your palm-leaves for Jesus, always living a consistent life, and never let the world grip you, and your palm-leaf will not turn into a cross, but into a crown.

=39

JESUS CHANGES THINGS

OBJECTS: A Large Prepared Card, a Collection of
Colored Envelopes=

To illustrate this lesson secure a piece of cardboard about ten inches square, and place on it in straight rows a number of smaller pieces of cardboard about one inch square. First, place a row of white squares. This represents the white race. The next row make yellow to represent the Chinese race. Next, a row all brown to represent the people of India. Next, a row all red to represent the Indians. The last row, black, representing the African people.

On the other side make the same number of rows, but put them all in gold.

Hold up first the side containing the colored cards, and tell the following story.

A weary missionary fell asleep and had a dream. A messenger had arrived announcing the Master was coming, and to her was given the task of getting all the children ready to receive him. So she arranged them on benches in tiers, putting the little white children first, and nearest to where the Master would stand. Then the little yellow, red, and brown children far back, and on the last row of seats sat the little black children, As you thus describe the mission hall hold up the card and say, "Here is the order in which the children were seated to meet the Master." When she had completed the arrangements she looked at it, and it did not seem quite right. Why should the black children be so far away? Perhaps they ought to be on the front benches. She started to arrange them over again, giving the black children the front place, but when all was in a state of confusion footsteps were heard. It was the Master's tread. He was coming before the children were ready, and she was greatly troubled to think the task entrusted to her had not been accomplished in time. The footsteps drew near, and she was obliged to look up, and lo, as her eyes rested upon the children all shades of color had disappeared and differences vanished! The little children in the Master's presence were all alike. Here reverse the card showing the little cards all in gold. They were all precious in his sight, more precious than gold, for he loves them all alike, all the little children of the world.

To teach the same lesson as to the value of all souls, begin just the same.

Secure a white envelope and put in a silver dollar. Then ask how much is a silver dollar worth in a white envelope, and the reply would be one hundred cents. Take the same dollar and put it into a red envelope, which stands for the Indian race, and the reply would be just the same. Now place it in the yellow envelope, standing for the Chinese race, and still the answer would be the same. Likewise the same reply would greet placing it in the brown envelope. At last put it in a black envelope, asking its value, and the answer of course would be that its worth had not changed. The dollar represents the soul, the colored envelopes the races. The souls of the white, red, brown, yellow, and black are worth just the same to God. Jesus died for all mankind, and his blood was shed to save all the races of the earth, for he loves the nations of the earth. He died to save all souls. They all look alike to him, for Jesus changes things.

=40

THE BUNDLE OF LIFE

OBJECTS: Two Small Bundles Containing a Number of
Articles Described in this Chapter=

Text, 1 Samuel 25:29: "But the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God."

Many long years ago David had fled from the angry King Saul who was seeking to kill him. He and a few of his faithful followers had taken refuge at Carmel.

While there the Elect Lady by the name of Abigail brought David and his hungry men "good things to eat." Her gift was 200 loaves, 2 bottles of wine, 5 sheep, 5 measures of parched corn, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of figs.

What a wonderful housekeeper she must have been, as we note this fine mixture of good things she had; she prepared for David because she was loyal and true. She was also a brave woman as she broke through the enemy's line to find one who was to be her king and help him. She did more than prepare a table for him in the presence of his enemies, for she comforted his soul not a little. She fell down at David's feet and said: "Jehovah will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fighteth the battles of Jehovah, and evil shall not be found in thee all thy days, and although men be risen up to pursue thee to seek thy soul, the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God." Perhaps when she used the word "bundle" she was thinking of the bundle of good things she had brought him, so she comforted her king by her strong words of truth. Why should he fear his enemies? He was safe indeed, because he was wrapped up as in a bundle with his Lord.

Yes, Abigail was right, there is a bundle of life, all of us like pilgrims must carry this "pack" to the end of life's journey.

To illustrate this truth prepare two bundles wrapped up as an ordinary bundle. Place them both on the platform table where they can be seen by all the audience. The first bundle you call the "Sinner's Bundle of Life." It contains the following articles: A small paper serpent; a small bottle; a bag with the bottom left open representing a bag with holes in it; a cardboard heart with a large black spot on it. Around this bundle in place of the common cord place a small piece of chain to hold it together. When you are ready to consider this package hold it up and say, "This is The Sinner's Bundle of Life. Note it is bound together by this chain. This teaches us that the sinner is in bondage to sin. He is a slave and chained to the evil one. He is held captive to all the dark things we shall find in his life's bundle." Now unwrap the bundle and produce first the serpent. This teaches us sin is an ugly thing, a deadly serpent. It crept with the bundle of life far back in the garden of Eden and has been there ever since. Only Jesus can cast it out. Now produce the "bag" with holes in it. Drop in it some coins, and they pass out of the holes in the bottom. This illustrates the truth that the sinner's life is one of constant losses. God gives him great opportunities to do right and be right, but instead of holding on to them and making good, he lets them slip out of his life, and they are lost. He is like the children on the sands by the seashore; they gather up a handful of sand, then open their little fingers and let it slip through and back again to the sands of the sea and their little hands are empty. His gold also on the wings of dissipation and foolishness flies away from him and is lost.

Next take out the small-sized bottle. This we will call the tear bottle; in the Scriptural times the ancients bottled their tears and kept the bottle and its contents as a remembrance of their sorrow. So the sinner has his sorrows also. Outwardly he is gay and happy, but if the door of the heart could be open we would behold a house of mourning. A hopeless sorrow, the saddest of all sadness, because there is no Jesus there to bear his sorrow with him. At last produce the heart with a black stain on it; this is to teach us that down in the depths of life, so long as the heart is wrong, all else is wrong, for "out of the heart are the issues of life." What will the angels do with this bundle if it remains as it is until the last day? They will cast it into the pit of destruction, the place where all evil works must go at last.

Let us now consider "The Christian Bundle."

In preparing this package have placed into it the following articles: A Bible; a cross; a piece of white goods; a card with the words "My Soul" marked on it; a card with the word "God" marked on it. Tie this bundle up with a piece of scarlet tape.

In presenting this bundle say: "You will note it is tied together by a scarlet cord. This teaches us that, as in the days of old when the spies were let down from the windows of the house on the wall in the days of Rahab and thus made their escape, so the scarlet thread of salvation binds us together and holds us to the throne of God, and we are safe indeed. We are kept in the hollow of his hand. This cord is the first thing we note because we must seek Jesus and his salvation first. We must seek first the kingdom, and all else shall be added. Let us see what has been added as we unwrap the bundle and look it over.

"First we find _the Bible_. When this is taken into our life it becomes a radiant lamp. This book is a flaming torch lighting the way. We will never lose our way if we walk in this light. This Book in life's bundle produces a Bible life. This creates the Master Christian."

Next produce the cross. This stands for the fact that we trust daily in the atoning work of the Cross of Jesus. Now bring out the white goods which stands for Peace. The flag of peace waves from over the door of every Christian heart; peace through the Cross of Christ. Next display the card with the words "My Soul" marked on it. This teaches the idea that all these wonderful qualities are soul deep and therefore will go with you into the other life.

At last produce the card containing the word "God" marked on it. This teaches the fact that if God be in us and with us, wrapped up in us, we are safe for both worlds.

What will the angels do with this bundle? They will carry it through the gates, for the soul is in it, and the soul goes up to God. Now make your personal application and say: "We are all packing up our Bundle of Life; may we all make it The Christian's Bundle.

"Do the first thing first, and do it now. Cling to the scarlet thread. Remember Jesus is standing at the door. He is waiting for you to open wide the heart's door. Let him come in, and he will shut the door after him, and when once he shuts the door, no man can open it. You are safe forever more. You are wrapped up as if in a bundle with God. Do it _now_.

"So you will note there are two Bundles of Life. Which is yours?"

=41

THE NORTH POLE OF THE BIBLE

OBJECTS: A Pole Painted White Standing Erect on the
Platform with a Scripture Reference on It. Also
a Red-and-White Cardboard Heart.=

The North Pole has been discovered at last. This is an achievement which history will record in large headlines.

The names of Nansen, Kane, Amundsen, Scott, and Peary and others are engraven on golden tablets in the World's Hall of Fame. These famous men now wear the crown of achievement. Through fields of ice they plowed, enduring the rigors of the long Arctic winters, suffering the pangs of hunger and loneliness, but with iron wills and nerves of steel they pressed on and won out.

And yet there are ocean depths that never a human eye hath seen; mountain peaks that never yet have been pressed by a human foot; mighty rivers up which no civilized man has ever sailed. Of a truth there remains much land to be possessed.

But harken: the largest and most mighty adventure in this old world of ours is to find the larger North Pole of Creation.

This larger North Pole you will find in the Bible, and all who believe God should be striving to find it.

Here you see standing on the platform before you a white pole. We will call it the North Pole of the Bible. On it you will notice a passage of Scripture which reads, "And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself" (Luke 10:27). This should be life's greatest endeavor, to love God with the big measure of this text.

This is a gigantic adventure. You are invited to join the expedition.

A man by the name of Thomas Boston, who wrote the "Fourfold State," was much afraid when a boy that the number of God's chosen ones, 144,000 spoken about in Revelation, was already made up, and that his name was not among the number because he had come into the world too late. But no one may despair that his name is not among the number chosen by God to reach the Greater North Pole of the Bible, for all the believing world are asked to seek and find, and all who seek aright shall indeed find.

The reason so few fail to find it is because they don't seek long enough. Did you ever hear the story of the discovery of gold in California? It seems that two men seeking the yellow stuff had gone to California. One man's name is not known in history. Marshall was the name of the other man. One morning after long months of fruitless toil the man of the forgotten name threw down his pick and pan and declared he was through, and said he did not believe that gold could be found in that spot, and he left for his Eastern home. Marshall said he would try again because he believed the yellow stuff was there. Six hours after his companion had left Marshall struck a vein of the finest gold and became rich and famous. Both of these men were brave and strong, only Marshall was brave just six hours longer than his companion, and so won out.

It is the man who can believe the longest and work the hardest that will find the North Pole of the Bible. This is the secret passage to the Greater Pole: Love God, and stick to it until you can do it with all your soul. It is sad to think that not every one will do this. This is why God can't reign in his own world, because of the people's unbelief.

God is yet waiting to show the world what mighty things he can do for us with the man who loves him with his whole heart, and the man who does this has reached the North Pole of the Scriptures. To love God with the whole heart means to love God first and most, and all the time.

To illustrate this thought prepare two hearts made of cardboard. One should be red; this stands for man. The other card should be white; this represents God. Make this heart a little larger than the red heart. Make it of double cardboard and open at the top. Hold up the red heart in the left hand and the white heart in the right hand. Hold both hands far apart, bearing in mind that the red heart stands for man and the white heart for God.

Now say that God calls the red heart to come to him, to repent of sin and forsake all evil ways, and to love him ever afterward with the whole heart. The truth is he asks for your whole heart, which means your full and perfect love. He will hide you in his great heart of love. As you make this remark cause both hearts to approach each other. You will notice that the white heart moves toward the red heart, this is to make clear the fact that God meets us always _half way_.

The only time God was ever in a hurry was when he ran out to meet the returning Prodigal Son. He is anxious and yet more than anxious to meet half way the soul who will seek him and wants to love him with all his heart. Now let the hearts approach each other and when they meet let the red heart slip into the white one, and say: "God is ready to receive the believer who wishes to be lost in his love. This is perfect love. This is loving the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself."

This is finding the North Pole of the Bible.

Now fasten the white heart containing the red heart on the Pole. God will give us large wings of Faith which can endure the long hard flight to the North Pole of the Bible.

There we will find Jesus, this is where he lives, in the perfect love of God. In the Book of Life, which is God's Blue Book of "Who's Who in the Kingdom," you will find written in letters of gold the names of those who had perfect love and so have reached the North Pole of the Bible.

Jesus asks us so to do. "Let's go."

=42

OBJECT-LESSONS FOR SPECIAL DAYS

OBJECTS: A Large Collection of Simple Objects Herein
Described=

Holidays, festival seasons, and historical events are always interesting to the little people and may be made of large value to them.

As these days come around, and public attention is thus called to them, you can use these special seasons as an occasion for the presentation of certain important truths suggested by them and to help the children see and feel the real good for which the days stand.

You can thus cause these days to stand for something more than events past. You can make them gleam with truths worth while for the present. Some of these events noted in this chapter vary as to their dates in the several States and countries; this matter you can rearrange to fit your own State. Of course other festival days and special seasons will occur to you, and you can fit them into your schedule of events according to your liking.

Some of the objects are very simple, but they may suggest others to you of greater importance. The Scripture reading for certain of the days will give you an opportunity to line up religious truths also with the event you are noting.

Here is a partial list of some of the special seasons and holidays.

=New Year's Day. January First=

_The Forward Look Day_ would be a good name also for this day.

Read Philippians 3:1-14.

Use a blank book with the figures of the New Year on its cover. Explain that the New Year is like a blank book of 365 pages. What shall I write on its pages? Put a verse of Scripture on the top of each page. Live by its teachings and commit to memory each day's verse on its day. That will give you a clean page, not a blank one, but one written all over with God's truth. Each action of yours will be like a quill. It will write down the story of your life.

You may also use a string of beads to illustrate that truth. Secure a piece of strong white thread, and call this the string of time. Place on this string one bead at a time, 365 in all; these beads you call the days of the year. Every seventh bead should be a large and unusual one which we will call the Sabbath Day. If that day is a common day of pleasure put a plain bead as the seventh bead. Instruct them to make every seventh bead the best of all the beads by keeping the day holy; it will be holy unto the Lord.

=Snowflake Day. In January=

Read as a Scripture lesson Job 37:1-14 or Psalm 147.

This can be used any day in the winter. If there is a large fall of snow on the ground, it can be used at that time with good effect. Cut out a number of small stars and pin them on a background and say: "Once upon a time there was a little boy who had just discovered that every snowflake was like a little star in shape and exclaimed to his Mother as he watched them fall, 'Oh, Mother, it's snowing stars.' Yes, he was right; if every flake could be examined under a large magnifying-glass we would find each flake to be a tiny star. Some people never tire looking at the beautiful flakes falling down over street and field. How wonderful to watch God snow stars. The snowflake is a six-pointed star. That is the shape of the Bible star. Ancient history tells us that on the shield of David there was a six-pointed star. It was called the star of David. It is so called by the Jews at the present time. How beautiful it is to have a White Christmas. The wonderful snow covering the ground with spotless white. How much more wonderful it is to remember that each snowflake is a six-pointed star covering the ground with the stars of David, reminding us that there is born this day, in the City of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord."

=Franklin's Birthday. January 17=

The selected Scripture for that day could be Solomon's description of the man of thrift as found described in Proverbs 6:6-11.

Secure a boy's kite, and tell the part it played where Franklin brought down the lightning from the sky to serve man. We also bring down prayer power from above, for by Prayer we bring down God's power to serve us.

=McKinley's Birthday. January 29=

Read Matthew 5:1-12 wherein Jesus describes the well-balanced man. President McKinley was a man thus put together. Secure a picture of him if possible, and comment on the main features of his life. Like Lincoln and Garfield, he gave his life for the right and God. We may not be called upon to surrender our life as did President McKinley for the cause of humanity, but we can do what God likes just as much--we can _live_ for him and his cause.

=Ground-Hog Day. February 2=

Tell the old story of how this little animal is believed by some to tell certain things about the weather, so they watch to see him peep out of his little hole in the ground. Pin up some pictures of an animal on a background and tell a few short stories about them.

=Missionary Day. February=

Show a map of the heathen country and secure some small idols or curios from some missionary headquarters and exhibit them to the children. Tell the audience that though we may smile at these ugly shapes the heathen people revere them and cling to them as their only hope. They will not give them up because we just say they are false gods. They will fight for them and often suffer more for their gods than we will for the true God. A returned missionary told the following story. He was holding special meetings for the children and trying to reach them by teaching them to sing the little Christian songs our mothers taught us. At once the heathen priests opened a children's meeting directly opposite to his place of meeting. The missionary taught the children to sing,

Oh, how I love Jesus,
Because he first loved me.

The heathen priest taught the children to sing by the same tune the words:

Oh, how I love Buddha,
Because he first loved me.

So you see we must fight a long battle and endure much for Jesus before we will put the name of Jesus in the place of Buddha in the hearts of the people of the heathen land. Here exhibit a Conquest Flag which stands for warfare. The war is on--but Jesus will conquer. The Conquest Flag tells us this.

=Lincoln's Birthday. February 12=

Read as the Scripture lesson how God chose Moses to be the Emancipator of the Hebrews, Exodus 3:11-22.

His was a heart trust in God. Read this truth in Psalm 91.

Secure a broken chain to represent the millions made free from the bondage of slavery.

Sing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and also "America."

Secure a large picture of Lincoln and have it displayed before the audience as you speak of him as Father Abraham the Liberator. Mention his strong faith in God; this was the big sword with which he fought the big battles of the Union Army.

=Boys' Day. Any Day=

In some of our great cities they now celebrate what is known as "Boys' Week." The boys run the town for an hour. In Philadelphia, Pa., Hon. W. Freeland Kendrick at this present writing is now our mayor; for one hour he surrendered his office to a bright boy of the town, and all the city was glad to give the boy the first place.

This goes to prove that the boy has his opportunity in this present day, and it is a _great_ opportunity, for it means that the boy can come to his own if he will.

If you have a Boy Scout organization in your church ask one or more of them to come to the platform or to serve on the floor as ushers. Use also the members of the other boy organizations you may have in the church. Have the entire program conducted by bright boys and reserve for yourself only the place of the speaker.

Japan is a children's country. They have lots of holidays which always make children glad. There is something quaint and happy in them. There is a special holiday which they call the "Boys' Festival." On a pole in front of almost every house in Japan there flies a great "paper fish." These are made hollow so that the wind can come in at the opening of the mouth and fill the paper fish with air, and thus the fish seems to swing about in the air with a lifelike wriggle.

Every fish kite in front of the house means that a boy lives in that house. The parents are glad to make that fact known and are proud of it. The paper fish is made after the pattern of the carp, which is a favorite fish in that country. It is a vigorous fish, and no current seems to be too strong for it. It swims against the current, and when it comes to a waterfall it jumps high into the air and falls into the water beyond the falls. They claim that nothing can stop it when it determines to go ahead. Because it is such a wonderful fish they have made it a badge for their boys. They want their boys to be just as steady and courageous. Let all the boys of the wide world learn this lesson. Plow your way throughout the adverse current of life.

Let it be said of every boy, "Nothing can stop him." Come to Jesus; that is the kind of boy he makes, and that boy will make good.

Now you ask me, "Do they forget little girls in Japan?" Never, only they hang a doll on the pole instead of a fish. If you are located near a Japanese bazaar you may be able to get this paper fish. Secure one if possible; it will write the lesson on the eyes and memory of the children.

=St. Valentine's Day. February 14=

Tell the story of godly men who in ancient times were called saints. Read Psalm 16 as the lesson.

Secure a number of paper hearts and distribute them to some of the older children and ask them to write on the heart some good deed; then collect the hearts, put them on a small tree which you have placed on the platform, and call it the Tree of Good Deeds. Show that each one can make the life like this tree if it is rooted in the heart of Jesus. Secure now a large white heart, and pin it to the root of the tree which stands for the heart of Jesus from which all good comes. If your life is like this tree of Goodness it is greater than any saint who ever lived.

=Edison's Birthday. February 11=

Secure if possible the picture of this modern miracle man and tell the story of his discoveries. Secure an electric wire, an electric lamp, and a phonograph record. Explain that he was a "light" man, not that he created light, but he knew how to make men see it. So we should all be light-givers. The light is locked up in God's wonderful battery, the Great Bible. We are the wires; if we let God's truth current shine through us the world will see God's light. We are living epistles known and read of all men because they see in us God's light.

=Washington's Birthday. February 22=

Read as the Bible lesson 1 Samuel 18:5-16.

Secure a toy hatchet and tell the story of the cherry tree. Secure a colonial hat and tell the story of Washington's soldier days. Secure an old colonial flag, that is, thirteen Stars and Bars, and tell the story of our first national struggle.

=Longfellow's Birthday. February 27=

As the Scripture lesson read Psalm 95.

As an example of poetic beauty, also read Psalm 96; it contains the same strong lines. Secure his picture if possible. Give a short reading from his poetic work. Call attention to the fact that the Bible gave him the master type of the highest class poetry.

=Ash Wednesday=

Read Matthew 6:16-21, which will give the Bible idea of fasting. Secure a piece of purple goods, which stands for a penitential heart. Every day should be Ash Wednesday; that is, it should be confession day, for every day brings its load of sins, and the thing to do with them is to confess them; this makes every day Ash Wednesday. Write the word "Sin" on a card, and say if we bring our sins to God and confess them he will forgive and cast them behind his back. As you say these words drop behind your back the card with "Sins" marked upon it. This was the way the ancient kings did when they were forgiving the criminal. They tore up the charges and cast the torn parts behind their backs, which meant there was nothing against the offender now. This was the way a little boy made Ash Wednesday out of Christmas. It was a cold and snowy day. The ice was thick in the middle of the streets where the horses were trying to walk, but many of them were falling because of the slippery places. So the little fellow felt "sorry for the poor horses" as he expressed it; he therefore slipped out of the house with a box of ashes, and covered the ice with the ashes; after this the horses would not slip. That was Ash Christmas, The truest Ash Wednesday lasts through every day of the year.

=St. Patrick's Day. March 17=

St. Patrick was one of the early missionaries to Ireland. He held great revival meetings as did Billy Sunday, and thousands were converted to the true God. Today the shamrock is used as the national leaf. It is said he chose it because it taught the lesson of the Trinity, having its leaf divided into three large blades.

Cut out a large leaf after this fashion and say: St. Patrick was the great preacher of the Trinity, He told them about the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. He was an object-teacher.

=Holy Week. Week Before Easter=

This is sometimes called Passion Week because it has to do with the sufferings of Jesus during his last week. Common objects can be used for each day: Sunday, a palm-leaf, and on each following day select some object mentioned in the Scripture used on that day.

=Good Friday=

This is Crucifixion Day. The great Day of Atonement.

There were three crosses on the green hill of Calvary that day. There are three crosses now among men. Secure three small crosses. Let the first one be painted black. This is the cross of people who reject Jesus, as did the impenitent thief. The second is a purple cross; this stands for the people who are sorry for their sins and do truly repent with the heart, as did the penitent thief. The other is the red cross, the cross on which Jesus died and shed his precious blood.

Everything depends upon which side of this red cross we take our stand; if on the black side, then we are lost forever; if on the purple side, then we are saved forever. Ask the children to come forward if they will accept Jesus and take their stand by the purple cross. Then it will be Good Friday in their hearts.

=Saturday Night=

A representation of a spear like the one carried by the Roman guard who stood at the door of the tomb all day. Read Matthew 27:62-66.

=Easter Day=

Read Matthew 28:1-10; also 1 Corinthians 15:1-20.

Secure a small tree, not an evergreen tree, but a common tree with leaves just commencing to appear on its branches. This is the Easter tree just awakening from the grave of winter. Only a few months ago the winds whistled through its bare branches, and the snow nestled on its limbs in peace. It was to all appearances dead.

But the gentle sun began to shine, and the soft winds began to blow, and the tree life returned again. It was the resurrection day for the tree, and when the green leaves bloomed it was an Easter tree. In ancient times in a great gay cathedral far away on Easter dawn the people assembled to greet the return of Easter Day. The great choirs marched in, singing their glad tones. At the end of the procession the bishop marched, carrying in his hands a great tall candle five feet high and six inches thick. He set it into a stone socket on the top step of the altar. Silence fell upon the great crowd as they worshiped in the dark and waited for the dawn.

The sunshine was just commencing to creep through the cathedral windows and at last the sun's ray had touched the tip of the great candle. The bishop took from his robes a burning-glass lens and held it over the candle wick centering the sun's ray upon it. The wick smoked, then glowed, and burst into flame. The Easter sunrise had lighted the Easter candle. The choirs sang a hymn of joy. The people pressed forward and lit their pieces of tinder from this candle, and as they did so they said, "Christ is risen indeed."

They carried the flickering light to their houses, from which they lit their hearthfires. Soon the kindling caught, the logs began to smoke, the fire began to glow, and over it they cooked their Easter breakfast. Tradition says they never let it go out for one year, until Good Friday came again. May all of us take from this service today a Resurrection Light that will never be extinguished. "Christ is risen today," is an everlasting light. Let us live in this light evermore.

=Miracle Day. May=

Miracles are everywhere these early May days.

Just watch the new leaves come forth and you will believe in miracles. They seem so feathery that they resemble the wings of the beautiful butterfly. They are as tender as rose petals, and yet they have forced themselves through the tree's armor of wood, and not a single leaf is torn by the struggle. The days of miracles have not gone by, every day is a miracle day when God's May days return.

Remember the story of the miracle of water turning into wine. That was the Master's first miracle. But every time the rain falls on the grape-vines God is turning water into wine. If I can believe in the miracle of the vineyard I can believe in the miracle of Cana. In Cana Jesus did in a second what in the vineyard he does in a season. It was only a question of time. I believe in miracles because I see them every May day and every other day.

=Tree Day. Early Springtime=

Read Psalm 1.

He shall be like a "tree planted." This is the meaning of Tree Day. The time for the planting of a tree. Show a little acorn and say, There is a miniature tree in this little acorn. Plant it, and therefrom a mighty tree will finally come forth. So little acts bloom forth into forces of strength and glory.

Little good words are acorns. Plant lots of them. Trees help the little birds, for they fly into the branches for safety when pursued by some wild, larger bird.

Trees mean homes for the next generation. They will live in the houses the timbers will give. If possible, secure a young tree and have a service of planting after the meeting is over. Name that tree after the Junior Society of your church.

=Forefather's Day. April 18=

For this day read Proverbs 22:17-19, which exhorts us not to remove the landmarks of the fathers.

Tell the story of the Pilgrim Fathers. Make up an Indian hat which would stand for the Indians with whom they had to battle when they landed on our shores. Secure an old Bible and say, This old book contained their laws of living. Secure a school rule which you say stands for the exactness of their daily living.

Remember our Revolutionary Forefathers also, and to visualize this idea secure if possible a colonial gun or some old-fashioned piece of furniture, such as was used in those days by those old worthies, secure also if possible a facsimile of the Declaration of Independence and call the names of the mighty men who signed it. Introduce the Forefathers of the past to the children of the present day--it will be a wonderful meeting. Ask the children to stand as you read the names of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence. Tell them where the original of the famous old document is still carefully preserved, guarded now against the destructive action of the light, and urge them to use their earliest opportunity to see this Declaration for themselves.

=Mother's Day. May 10=

Read 1 Timothy 5:1-10, and speak of the great need for a holy respect for mothers.

Read Ruth, chapter one, and tell them the story of an old-fashioned mother who was kind and good.

Read Exodus 20:1-12, and tell the little hearers that they are to honor their father and mother.

Read Matthew 15:1-11, and tell over again the duty of honoring the parents which God has given us.

I have used with good results a little card containing some timely words for children. The title of the card is "Mother's Ten Commandments."

MOTHER MINE--C. H. WOOLSTON

_Harken unto all these words, my children, for the comfort of
mother and the glory of God._

1. Be obedient unto her good word. 2. Always show her a joyful face--Be an indoor sun to her. 3. Put cross words far from your lips and always speak the truth. 4. Don't fail to be thankful and always say so with your lips. 5. Learn quiet ways: it will comfort mother's head. 6. Always be contented when mother has done her best. 7. Be a loving child and kiss your mother first. 8. Never forget your baby days, for then mother was all the world to you. 9. Be courteous to your mother for she is the first lady in the land to you. 10. Be a strong Christian, for mother always wished the best things for you and this is the best of the best.

Read these lines over slowly and let the children repeat them after you. Urge them to wear a flower in mother's memory. Secure a few extra flowers, and ask some little girl or boy to come forward and deposit the flowers on the table in memory of the "forgotten mother," the mother whose children have forgotten her.

If you so desire, it might be well to place a single flower on the Bible on the pulpit in memory of Mary the mother of Jesus.

=Peace Day. May 18=

Read for that day as your Scripture lesson Psalm 48, where it is declared that the weapons of war are to be turned into farm tools and that wars are to cease.

Read also Isaiah 2:4, where it is declared that nation shall not lift sword against nation. Prepare a large white flag. This is the flag of peace.

Ask the children to stand around this flag as you tell them the story of the birth of the Prince of Peace who came to give peace on earth and good-will among men.

=Memorial Day. May 30=

Read as your Bible lesson for that day Psalm 46, announcing the end of war.

Read Psalm 47 where the nations are called upon to praise God, and read also Matthew 22:15-22 describing the duty of citizens. Secure a wreath of flowers, place it upon the flag, and tell the audience the story of the brave men who died for their country and their flag. Close by singing the National Hymn. Ask that all the children wear small flags, and have them march around the room singing together the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

=Flag Day. June 14=

Read as your Scripture lesson Psalm 46. After you have read this lesson, ask some of the children to come forward with flags and stand around the reader while he reads Psalms 67 and 72. Tell the story of the making of the flag in Philadelphia by Betsy Ross.

=School Closing Day=

Read as the Bible lesson Ecclesiastes 12, and urge them in their youthful days to remember God.

Read also Matthew 25:14-30, in which the use of the individual talent is urged.

Tell them that "school-days" are not all over, the real school of life has just begun. The Bible is the greater text-book of the school of life.

=Children's Day. June=

Let the children conduct this service, all but the address, you may give this yourself or secure another to do it for you.

Draw lessons from the flowers, bring in a bird in its cage, and read Matthew 6:19-34.

Tell the story of the Ark, the biggest bird-cage ever made, and what the Raven and Dove did in the great flood story. After the lesson, if possible let them put the flowers you have been using on the graves of the little children of the church who have died during the past year.

=Independence Day. July 4=