While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
"Hold fast the form of sound words; ... that ye may be able to give to every one
that asketh, a reason of the hope that is in you." Paul.
The development of the Bible-memory work,
that, during the later years of this period,
moved forward very rapidly, was one of small
beginnings and slow progress at first. The
meetings were held at half past two o'clock
on Sabbath afternoons.
The girls were formed into one class and
their meeting was held in the sitting room
of the Girls' Hall. The boys met immediately
afterwards in the office of the
superintendent in the Boys' Hall.
The weekly lesson consisted in committing to
memory five to seven verses in the more
important chapters of the New Testament and
Psalms, commencing with the Ten Commandments
in Exodus XX, 1-17. The passages assigned
were read and studied every week in the
school under the direction of the principal,
in order that all the younger pupils, as
well as the older ones, might be able to
repeat them on Sabbath.
At the meetings, which were conducted by the
superintendent, the lesson assigned would
have to be read over several times in
concert before their voices would acquire
the right movement and expression. The
effort to train the memory, by committing
scripture verses, was one from which many of
them shrank as being too irksome, and the
weekly lesson of one verse a day would have
to be repeated a number of times, before
most of them could continue to be heard to
the end of the lesson. The previous lessons
were then reviewed, to fasten them more
firmly on the memory. The advance lesson was
then read together that all might surely
know its place and extent.
Aims In Bible Study
"Accurate Bible Knowledge" and "Character
building" were the keynotes of the
instruction given at these meetings. A third
object, that was constantly kept in view,
was the training and development of their
youthful voices for public address in
religious meetings. This was accomplished by
making a large use of the concert drill,
both in reading and repeating the classic
and beautiful passages of the Bible.
The tendency of the new pupils to speak and
act badly from sudden impulse was freely
admitted at these meetings. As a means of
enabling them to put a check on their
impulsive dispositions and acquire the art
of self-control, the following questions
were prepared and asked of each, at the
opening of the lesson hour.
1. During the week that has passed, have you
refrained entirely from the use of profane
or quarrelsome words and actions?
2. Have you been uniformly respectful and
obedient to all of your teachers?
3. Are you using your spare moments each day
for some good purpose, that will promote
your best interests?
The cordial and helpful co-operation of Miss
Adelia Eaton, our first matron, in
connection with this Bible memory work at
the period when it was most difficult to
awaken interest and enthusiasm in it, was
very greatly appreciated. Although her
presence was not required, she voluntarily
arranged to be present at every meeting. She
seldom if ever participated in the meetings,
but she invariably arranged the room in the
most convenient form for the meeting and
continued to patiently aid and encourage
those of the girls, to whom this memory work
was the hardest, until the last moment
before the meeting. The increased attendance
of later years, made it advisable to hold
these Bible meetings in the chapel, and
there both classes met together.
Training The Memory
The memory, the natural power of retaining
and recalling what has been learned, is the
basis of all progress in study. It is the
faculty that enriches the mind by preserving
the treasures of labor and industry. The
beauty and perfection of all the other
mental faculties are dependent on it.
Without its aid there can be no advancement
in knowledge, arts and sciences; and no
improvement in virtue, morals and religion.
Those who cannot read acquire knowledge by
hearing, and their vision is occupied
principally with large rather than small
objects. It was soon a matter of observation
that the children of illiterate parents in
whose homes there are no books; find it very
difficult to learn to read, after they have
passed fourteen years of age. That which is
natural and easy in childhood, becomes more
difficult the longer it is delayed. They
form the habit and find it much easier to
acquire knowledge like their parents by the
ear or "by air" as it is sometimes called,
than by poring over the letters and words of
a printed line in a book. Many that are over
fourteen before they are sent to school
shrink from the mental discipline and labor
of learning things so small as letters and
words, and seek relief by looking elsewhere
than on the printed page.
By the aid of a memory that has been trained
for service in childhood, one is able to
learn easily and rapidly; and also to
express their treasures of knowledge in such
a way as to give life and animation to every
word that is uttered.
The memory is very responsive to training in
childhood and youth. Its retentive power may
then be very greatly increased by judicious
exercise and labor, which have that distinct
end in view, just as the limbs gradually
grow stronger by daily exercise. If it is
accustomed to retain a moderate quantity of
knowledge in childhood, it is strengthened
and fitted for more rapid development in
youth. That is the golden period to learn
the "form of sound words," that shall exert
a molding influence upon the entire life.
Repeated acts form a habit, and habits of
thought may be aided by a methodical system
in the arrangement of intellectual
possessions. Frequent review, repetition,
conscious delight in the things to be
learned and association of the new with the
known, are important aids to the memory that
may be profitably observed throughout the
entire life.
Divine Truth The Need
Of All
Truth is the natural food for the mind and
does for it what bread and meat do for the
body. The mental faculties include the
intellect, the power of thought; the memory,
the conscience, the power that enables one
to distinguish between right and wrong; and
the judgment, the power of decision. There
are no truths so well adapted for the best
training and development of all these
faculties, as the great and important ones
that God has so attractively and plainly
revealed in His holy word. The poetic parts
of the Old Testament and the words of Jesus
in the New are adapted alike for the comfort
and instruction of childhood, manhood and
old age. "Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God." "I am the living bread which
came down from heaven; if any man eat of
this bread he shall live forever."
One Book In The Home
One aim of the requirement to commit one
verse a day in the Bible presented to each
pupil was, of course, to make even those,
whose terms in school were the shortest,
familiar with some of the most important
parts of the one book, they were expected to
take to their homes; but another distinct
aim was to develop the memory of every pupil
so as to make the mastery of other books
easier and their progress in them more
rapid.
Every pupil was encouraged to train their
memory to be their ready and faithful
servant, so that it would recall a line, a
verse or a rule, when it had been carefully
traced the third time, by the eye.
The definitions and rules form the most
important parts of most of the necessary
text-books above the primary department. The
future value of these studies, as well as
the pupils advance in them while in school,
depends on his ability to understand, apply
and easily remember the rules. The thorough
teacher will discard the use of those
superficial authors, whose books lack these
important parts, tersely and plainly stated.
The sooner that a pupil learns to follow,
obey and never to violate a rule, the sooner
does he begin to advance rapidly and
profitably in his studies.
Committed To
Memory
The memory work of a term, according to the
rule, one verse a day, would usually carry
the student through the following passages:
The Oak Hill Endeavor Benediction, Numbers
6, 24-26 and Rev. 1, 5-6; The Ten
Commandments Exodus 20, 1-17; Words of
Comfort, Confession and Devotion, Psalms
1st, 8th, 19th, 23d, 27th, 50th, 51st, 90th,
103d, part of the 119th, 122d and 150th;
Wise Counsels, Proverbs 3d and 4th; A new
heart promised, Ezekiel 36, 25-32; John
Baptist's Message, Matthew 3d; The
Beatitudes and Sermon on the Mount, Matthew
5th; The Divinity of Christ, John 1st; His
Farewell Address, John 14th; The Bible
inspired, 2 Timothy 3, 14-17. Also the first
half of the Westminster Shorter Catechism,
with its ever memorable beginning, "Man's
Chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him
forever."
Every new pupil is encouraged to read the
Bible in course, an average of one chapter a
day or seven each week, making report of
progress at the Bible hour each Sabbath
afternoon. By this plan many of them read,
during their first term, the books of
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts and Romans.
The Bible Only In The Sunday
School
The Inter-National lessons are always
prepared for the Sunday school hour, but
always and only from the Bible in the hand
of each scholar. The teachers only are
supplied with other helps, and even these
are used only during the period of
preparation. The Bible, black board, map and
charts only are used by the teacher and
students during the Sunday school session.
This use of the Bible only in the Sunday
school, served to create a demand for it on
the part of every scholar and attendant, and
to increase the familiarity of each with
their own copy of it. It is a good plan for
any teacher or Sunday school that wishes to
promote reading and circulation of the
Scriptures in the homes of the people.
A Life-Long Golden
Treasure
He has a rich treasure whose memory is well
stored with words from the Holy Scriptures.
Such a treasure is "more to be desired than
gold, yea, than much fine gold." It is a
life-long treasure to those who secure it in
youth. It cannot be taken away, but it may
be imparted to others. Whoever shares this
treasure with others, sows the good seed of
the Kingdom of God and realizes in his own
soul, that he "who sows bountifully shall
also reap bountifully."
Committing the scriptures to memory was a
delightful employment to the Psalmist, who
said: "Thy word have I hid in my heart," and
again, "Let my heart be sound in thy
statutes." "Thy statutes have been my songs
in the house of my pilgrimage." "I will
never forget thy precepts; for with them
thou hast quickened me and caused me to hate
every false way." "Thy word is a lamp unto
my feet, and a light unto my path." "Order
my steps in thy word; for the entrance of
thy words giveth light."
A Beautiful Tribute
The following beautiful tribute to the
Bible, printed by Soper and Son, Detroit,
was pasted on the inside of the front lid of
every Bible presented to the students.
This Book contains the mind of God, the
state of man, the way of salvation, the doom
of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are
binding, its histories are true, and its
decisions are immutable.
Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe,
and practice it to be holy. It contains
light to direct you, food to support you,
and comfort to cheer you. It is the
traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the
pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and
the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is
restored, heaven opened, and the gates of
hell disclosed, Christ is its grand subject,
our good its design, and the glory of God
its end. It should fill the memory, rule the
heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly,
frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of
wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of
pleasure. It is given you in life, will be
opened in judgment, and be remembered
forever. It involves the highest
responsibility, rewards the greatest labor,
and condemns all who trifle with its sacred
contents.
A Fountain Of
Blessings
The Bible is an infallible revelation from
God in regard to his own character, will and
works. One result of a practical faith in it
is the development of an heroic missionary
spirit. The noblest heroisms that mark the
history of the human race have had their
inspiration in implicit faith in the Bible.
"Men in whom life was fresh and strong, and
women, the embodiment of gentleness and
delicacy, have met the martyrs death of
fire, singing until the red-tongued flames
licked up their breath."
It is the fountain from which have come the
principles of a pure morality and "all sweet
charities." It has been the motive power
that has effected the regeneration and
reformation of millions of men. "It has
comforted the humble, consoled the mourning,
sustained the suffering and given trust and
triumph to the dying."
Rational minds will ask for no higher proof,
that the Bible, as a revelation from God is
reliable, than the nature and results of the
faith that is based upon it. The results
include the noblest phenomena of human
experience, the richest fruitage of our
Christian civilization. The Bible is the one
great regenerative and redemptive agency in
the world, and this soon becomes apparent,
whenever it is read in the homes of the
people.
Uplifting Power In New Hebrides'
Islands
A very interesting illustration of this fact
has been narrated by John Inglis a Scottish
Missionary to the New Hebrides. On going
there about the middle of the last century,
he selected for his abode an island occupied
by cannibals. Among the things he took with
him was a mason's hammer. When he began to
dress and square the hard rocks of the
neighborhood to build the chimney of his
house, the novelty of the operation drew a
crowd of the natives around him. They looked
on in wonder, and were surprised to see the
hammer break in pieces and bring into shape
those hard stones, which no one had before
attempted to break.
Missionaries, like philosophers sometimes
find "sermons in stones," as well as "good
in everything." On this occasion, he took
the stones and the hammer as his text and
gave them a short practical sermon as
follows:
"You see these stones and this hammer. You
might strike these stones with a block of
wood till you were tired and you would not
break off a single chip; but when I strike
with a hammer you see how easily they are
broken, or cut into needful shapes. Now God
tells us that our hearts are like stones,
and that his Word is like a hammer. Some
white men came among you before the arrival
of the missionaries, and you continued as
much heathen as ever. But when the
missionaries came and spoke to you, you gave
up your heathenism, began to keep the
Sabbath day, to worship God and to live like
Christians. What caused this difference? The
words of the missionaries were not any
louder or stronger than those of the other
white men. The difference was merely
this-the other white men spoke their own
words; they spoke the words of men; and that
was like striking these stones with a piece
of wood. But the missionaries instead of
speaking to you their own words read to you
the Words of God; and that was like this
hammer striking, breaking and bringing into
shape your stony hearts."
This illustration took hold on their
imagination; the sermon on the stones and
the hammer was not soon forgotten. Many
years afterwards, some of the older natives
when leading in prayer in the Church would
offer the petition, "O Lord, thy word is
like a hammer, take it and with it break our
stony hearts and shape them according to the
rule of Thy holy law."
There were 3,500 natives on this island.
Through the influence of God's Word, for no
other means were employed save the human
voice to make it known, all of them were led
to abandon heathenism and place themselves
under Christian instruction.
These people had no money but they could
gather and prepare arrowroot. They were
encouraged to bring this to the
missionaries, in order to secure a supply of
Bibles for the island, with the result that
in a few years they sent $2,500 to the
British and Foreign Bible society, London,
for copies of the New Testament and Psalms;
and a few years later $3,500 to pay for the
printing of the Old Testament in their own
language.
There is no instance on record of a like
number of heathen people, so poor, being
persuaded to contribute so much money to
obtain any other book; and why not? It is
because the Bible alone is divine and this
divine power has subdued human hearts. "Is
not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord;
and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in
pieces?" Jer. 23. 29.
The Bible is the Book of the Lord, a "sure
word of prophecy, whereunto we do well to
take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a
dark place." It challenges us to "prove all
things and hold fast that which is good."
This site
includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These
items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be
interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes
implied .
Choctaw Freedmen and Oak Hill Industrial
Academy, 1914, Robert Elliott Flickinger
