Welsh Journals

The Child and World Contacts. By Rev. Walcyn M. Price. HE children who are in our schools to-day have a stiff proposition before them. They will be brought into closer contact with the World than any previous generation has ever been. East and West mingle, not only overseas but here at home. It is almost impos- sible to talk with any one in these days without sooner or later getting on the subject of unem- ployment. Yet there is hardly one person in ten who, in discussing the matter, will look any further than his own country, or, it may be, his own town. It should, however, be obvious to anyone who reads the papers intelligently, that the nationalist movement in India and the unrest in China are contributory causes to unemploy- ment in this country, and that any attempt to settle this problem, while leaving them out of account, is futile. This is merely one instance to show how inti- mately the children with whom we are dealing will have to be in touch with all the other peoples of the world. It is for the teachers to decide what that contact is going to mean, not only for the children, but to those other peoples. Are the children growing up with a feeling of love and admiration for them, or is there a sort of con- temptuous pity for those niggers "? The whole future happiness of the world is affected by our answer. Through our influence with children we have it in our power to help forward the brotherhood of man. As Christians we cannot give our full teaching if we leave out the missionary message, nor have we any right to omit it. And it is not fair to deny these young folk the glory of a world-wide Christianity. The day schools have been quick to see what splendid material for their geography and history lessons is provided by the missionary societies, and more than one syllabus now includes these books in the ordinary curriculum. Naturally it is when we come to the teaching of Scripture that we find our grandest opportunity, and here, if we will, we may so weave the missionary message into the ordinary lessons that the two will become one whole, as they should be. When we have done that we shall have given to our children and adolescents such a world-view as will grip their imaginations, and a Christ, Who, because Castles is the title of a finely illustrated volume, published by the Great Western Railway Company, price 5s. net. The letterpress is by Professor Oman, the greatest living authority on mediaeval warfare. Only castles which lie on He is the Christ of the whole World, will claim and hold their allegiance. Every teacher knows that it is useless to try to give children lessons on abstract virtues, such as courage or forgiveness. We must show them these virtues in action in the lives of people. That being so, can you beat the story of two British officers and a small section of African troops who were holding an outpost on an African river ? Just when they were expecting an attack, the younger officer was taken danger- ously ill with fever. The quinine supply of the camp had run out. The nearest medical stores were at headquarters, seven miles distant-but the country between was in the grip of dangerous floods. The senior officer called to his tent the unarmed African boy, who was the sick man's batman, and said Your master will die in three days unless we can procure quinine; I dare not spare any of the riflemen while anyone else can go. Do you love your master? Has he treated you fairly and well? If so, will you risk your life for his sake by fetching quinine for him from headquarters "? The boy hesitated, thinking of the floods, the crocodiles, and the other dangers of the journey. Then he set out, bravely and alone, upon his perilous errand. On the third day the young officer died and on the fifth day a search party discovered the dead body of the African boy, lying where he had been washed up on his return journey, at the edge of a great swirling stretch of flood. But in his extended right hand he still held, tightly clasped, the bottle of quinine which he had risked his life to get for the British officer whom he loved and served. When we are trying to show the noble army of martyrs as a reality, must we always stop at the first or second century ? What about such men as Dr. V. H. Starr, murdered upon the Afghan Frontier only a few years ago by the very men he was spending his life in helping? And, to carry on the story to the present day, can we have a better illustration of Christian forgiveness and courage than that of Mrs. Starr, who went back to nurse in the very hospital where her husband was murdered, and whose name is now a household word in connection with the rescue of Mass Ellis. Instances could be multiplied, but enough has been said to prove that in putting the missionary message back in its proper place we are at the same time providing an invaluable means of adding new life and interest to all our lessons. Great Western railway routes are given; but a considerable number of these are Welsh castles. This book is excellent value for its very modest price.