Part 10
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=
This day should always be kept as a religious day. The noise of gunpowder should no longer be heard. It should be a day exalting peace, not commemorating bloodshed, therefore cause the decorations to be white intertwined with the flag. Let the little girls dress in white and the boys wear a white flower or have white bands around their arms.
War love must be crushed for the sake of the best things. The idea that might is power plunged the world into the great World War. The only war the kingdom of heaven knows is war against war and all its evil things. Display the conquest flag, and tell the story how the Cross of Jesus is marching on to save this old world from sin.
Close by telling them that when they forsake all sin and come to Jesus and are saved, they are an assembly of braves and have put their names to the new declaration of independence.
=Labor Day. September (First Monday)=
For the Scripture lesson for this day read the story of "the laborer being worthy of his hire," as you will find it recorded in Luke 10:1-11. Also the call for laborers for the vineyard, as written in Matthew 20:1-15.
Take a walk into the carpenter-shop of Nazareth and watch Jesus working at his trade at the carpenter's bench. Talk of Jesus as the model Carpenter. Use the carpenter tools as object-lessons: the saw a separator from wrong. A divider of good things, Jesus shared his life with the world as a saw divides the board.
The hammer can be used to show how to fix things in their places so they will stay fixed. Jesus nailed down his commandments as fixed laws by which the world was to be saved.
Show the rule, and talk about the Golden Rule that measures things correctly, and gives a wonderful standard by which we should govern our acts among men.
Display the plane, an instrument to smooth things out and to take off the rough places. Love is that plane, and Jesus always used it to smooth out the hard and ugly places that hate had made in life. So continue to talk about Jesus and his tools. Put up a cardboard sign on the outside of the church containing a message for the laboring man. Let it read, "'God bless the working man' is the prayer of the Children of this Church."
=Columbus Day. October 12=
Tell the story of Abraham, who, like Columbus, went forth on a wonderful adventure. You will find this recorded in Genesis 12:1-10.
Show the children pictures of ships which sail the deep sea.
Show them a handful of reeds, and explain that Columbus discovered floating in the sea a number of weeds which did not grow in his country and therefore reasoned they must come from an unknown land.
Write on a piece of large white paper the word "AMERICA"; roll it up and hide it, and then during the meeting ask some boy or girl to pretend to be Columbus, and let him go forth to find the new world. If he fails to find the parchment let another child try. Let the fortunate child who does at last find it come back to the platform, and then give him a new name--call him the "Discoverer."
Teach the lesson that all of us are starting out in life to "find things," but the best thing to find is the truth. Place in his hands a Bible and say, This will be your guide to all truth, follow its light, and you will find the Cross which is the door to salvation and to heaven.
=Hallowe'en. October 31=
Read as the Scripture lesson for this service Romans 1:1-12. It announces the fact that we are all called to be saints. Every good boy and girl made good by being saved is a saint according to the New Testament.
Hallowe'en is the eve before All Saints' Day, and the term means "Holy Evening."
It does not seem much like an holy evening when we remember it is a time of unearthly noises, witches, spirits, ghosts, elfish creatures, etc., the time when fortunes are supposed to be told in many a walnut shell or in a tub with a burning candle. All of this superstition belongs to the realm of frolics.
Display some post-cards with pictures of witches on them and say, "We do not fear these witches because they don't live," but tell them of the true witches, lying, stealing, profanity, falsehood, anger, temper, etc., which are all witches that we should fear for they are real and seek to get into our hearts at all times.
Explain the "new" meaning of the decoration you use for this special season, "the black and orange." Let the black stand for the night of sin, and the orange, the color of the rising sun, for the dawn of the day of truth and the coming of the light. Darken the room, and let a child from the rear with a lighted candle represent the light that God sends into our world of darkness. This is a simple but entertaining pastime.
For the conclusion of the service have a peanut party.
Hallowe'en is the season of nuts of all kinds. So the peanut can be used to the best advantage because it can be easily secured everywhere. Secure a number of peanuts and hide them in all parts of the room, explain this to the children, and at your command let them all start in to find them. The one finding the largest number should be given some simple little prize. Ask them to drop them all in a large bowl, then ask six children to shut their eyes, and reach in one hand and take out a handful, and the one having the number nearest to 25 will receive another simple little prize.
Conclude by having a peanut auction. Prepare a number of parcels containing simple little things such as an apple, a stick of candy, an orange, a bunch of raisins, a lead-pencil, etc. Wrap these articles up in large bundles so the contents cannot be guessed by the shape. Ask some merry-hearted lad to be the auctioneer and sell the package to the highest bidder, payment to be made of course in peanuts, which at last you cast on the floor--asking the children to help themselves. If so desired serve peanut sandwiches as a special refreshment.
=Election Day. November= (first Tuesday after first Monday)
Read as the Scripture lesson Romans 13. This teaches the lesson that we are to be subject unto authority. Read also Matthew 22:15-22, which gives us a lesson of the "citizen's duty."
Secure if possible a sample ballot. Display it before the children, and explain how the people of proper ages vote. After this, in the place of the names of the candidates and party write such words as Temperance, Good Citizenship, Good Schoolhouses, Full Churches, and Large Sunday Schools, and say we can all vote for all of these. Put down your cross mark under each name. Sing "America," salute the flag, and all say, "God Bless Our Native Land." Let us help to make it God's Great Land.
=Armistice Day. November 11=
For the Scripture lesson read about the time when wars shall cease, as you will find it mentioned in Psalms 46 and 47, and also in Isaiah 2:1-11, describing the time when nation shall not lift sword against nation.