he Gospel must first be published among all Nations.'
PLEASE—
1. Don't attend any session without previous prayer for blessing—God hears.
2. Don't forget to bring note book and pencil.
You are a channel of inspiration to others.
3. Don't come in a critical mood—cold criti-
cism chills enthusiasm.
V Don't be controversial—-time is valuable.
5. Don't shop or visit during the hours of
meeting. Your Auxiliary is depending on you.
6. Don't enter or leave during an address—it
disturbs both speaker and hearer.
7. Don't forget to send in nominations if you
have any-—on Wednesday morning.
8. Don't fail to take part in discussions—-not
with those near you—speak to the meeting.
9. Don't telephone to friends during sessions
unless absolutely necessary.
10 Don't vote unless you are an accredited delegate.
Notes
Delegates are requested to register before going in to the meeting or to the home of their hostesses.
Be sure to hand in your railway certificate when you register.
Billets to include bed and breakfast only.
Accommodation is reserved for Registration and Cloak Rooms, Rest Room, Check Room and Committee Rooms.
Literature table in S. S. Hall. W..M. S. pins for sale here.
Lost and found articles in the Post Office Room.
Luncheons arranged for at the Prince Edward Hotel, at 75 cents a plate.
We cannot do the Best, without giving our Best.
School Homes
A
FRUITFUL INVESTMENT
Issued by the Committee of the Forward Movement of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Copies may be had on application. 956, Confederation Life Building, Toronto.
PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL HOMES
BY REV. COLIN G. YOUNG
District Superintendent of Home Missions for Northern Saskatchewan
R nearly eighteen years the Presbyterian Church has been trying to meet the de-mand for a more enlightened Gospel among the peoples who have come from the central and southern part of Europe. Through direct evangelistic effort, and through the kindly ministry of well equipped hospitals, much has been done to teach the people that there is a better way of life. But the missionary effort that promises to surpass all others in effectiveness and fruitfulness is that undertaken through the medium of the "School Home."
The Story of the Venture
The history of this venture dates back almost to the beginning of mission work among the Ukrainians in Canada. The first undertaking was the opening of Schools directed and controlled by the Church. These Schools were handed over to the care of the State just as soon as the State provided the organization necessary to direct them. At that time a few men advocated very strongly the erecting of residences adjacent to these Schools into which the children might be gathered from the outskirts of the colonies, placed under the care of carefully selected supervisors and given the best kind of religious instruction.
The Synod's Committee of Manitoba and Saskatchewan failed to be persuaded^ however, and it remained for Rev. Dr. Arthur, one of the original advocates, who was just then being transferred to Vegreville, to induce the W.H.M.S. of that time to out into execution
the plan which has proved such a great success. For a number of years a few of these Homes have been in operation and their wide-spread influence has been one of the great factors in stimulating a desire for better things among these peoples of non-British birth.
A Simple Plan
The plan is a very simple one and is directed on behalf of the children, whose care is always the special responsibility of the Church. A "Home57 is provided at a good educational centre. Into this "Home" the children from the frontier settlements especially are gathered under the best Christian influences, and are taught by practical demonstration what the Gospel of Jesus Christ has done in developing the Christian virtues which make the home the centre of love and comfort and health and happiness.
The teaching so far as the curriculum of studies is concerned is done in the Public or High School, as the case may be, but the religious instruction and the practical Christian training are given in the "Home" by those carefully selected for this work. The State provides the means of education. The Church provides the religious training and Christian culture. This is as it ought to be. It is the duty of the State to provide the means of instruction for every child. It is the duty of the Church to provide the Christian environment so that every child may grow to the full strength of his powers before being subjected to the temptations which in earlier years so often prove his destruction.
Educating the Away-from-Home Child
So far the Church has only made provision along the line of "School Homes'7 for children of non-English speaking parents, but all who know the situation are firmly convinced that
the time has surely come when it is the obligation of the Church to provide a " School Home" with all Christian influences and restraints for every child who needs to go from home to complete his education. Some of the saddest stories could be told of children who have gone astray because they were without the interested guidance that all children need at the formative period in their lives. This protection could have been provided in a " School Home" had the Church been able to offer this form of real ministry. But the need and its obligation has grown so evident that the Christian conscience is being aroused and from all sections of the Church immediate action is being urged.
An Irresistible Appeal
The appeal, coming as it does on behalf of the children, should be irresistible. The chief obligation on Church and State must be the care and education and nurture of the child's life. If the appeals for the redemptive work of the Church find such wide and ready response, and all rejoice that they do, how much more enthusiastic should the response on behalf of the preventive work be when, to some degree at least, the neglect that makes the redemptive work necessary is being overcome ?
The spread of sectional and Nationalistic movements among large bodies of non-English speaking peoples makes the care of their children still more urgent. The School and the Church are the two great unifying forces of the nation's life. To supplement the patriotic effort in the School by the simple teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the "School Home" is to overcome almost entirely the separating effect of these various Nationalistic movements among those of non-British birth.
The Nationalist Peril
Never was this more necessary than at the present time. Within the past year a secret
f
gathering was held in the city of Saskatoon with the avowed purpose of off-setting the de-nationalizing influence of Canadian Institutions by the establishment of a "Ukrainian National Church," whose aim shall be to keep separate the people and especially the children from all Canadian ideals. A National School Home has been in operation for over two years and in 1918 was greatly enlarged as a further off-set to this de-nationalizing tendency.
These movements indicate the dangers that beset the national life of Canada, but they also admit the effectiveness of the missionary methods which the Ukrainian leaders think it necessary to combat. The Church must co-operate with the State in training cultured Christian citizens. With a citizenship of this type, the foreign problem disappears and the unity of the nation assured.
Women of Vision
Too much credit cannot be given the Women's Missionary Society for the splendid way in which the missionary undertaking of the School Home has been built up. At various centres, both East and West, most excellent work has been done and is going on to greater success. But a missionary principle so sound and so fundamental in its application to the needs of this young Nation's life has brought demands too great for the effort of the W.M.S. alone.
Convinced of the imperative need, the Board of Home Missions and Social Service has supplemented the work of the W.M.S., and, through the magnanimous gift of Mrs. R. A. Nisbet of Thornhill, Ont., has opened a School Home at Prince Albert, Sask., on a larger and more pretentious scale than any yet attempted. One of the finest residences in Prince Albert was bought and transferred to the Presbyterian
"The Lord giveth the word: the women that publis the tidings are a great host."—Ps. 68-11.
Special Meeting
ROUND TABLE TALK
Monday, April 23rd, at 7.30 p.m.
Board Meeting
(Provincial Officers and Presbyterial Presidents or
their elected substitutes.) Tuesday, April 24th, at 9.30 a.m.
Our Work in Canada
Mrs. D. Strachan. Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Organization Conferences
Wednesday at 2 p.m.
Conference on Finance
Treasurers and Conveners Wednesday, April 25th, at 7 p.m.
India
Dr. Chone Oliver Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Some Salient Features of Our Work Abroad
Rev. A. E. Armstrong,
Assoc. Sec. F.M.B. Wednesday, April 25th, at 8 p.m.
Social Service and Immigration
Mrs. Joseph West, Thursday, April 26th
The opening of Thy word giveth Light.
afraid of Bi Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, April 24th, at 2 p.m.
2.00 p.m. Old Hundred
2.10 p.m. Invocation. Rev. H. M. Paulin, Windsor. 2.20 p.m. Scripture Miss Brown, Windsor
Prayer (For Holy Spirit) 2.35 p.m. Words of Welcome
Mrs. Chas. Scott Windsor
(Pres. Chatham Pres'l)
2,50 p.m. Minutes Mrs. Chas. G. Begg, Toronto 3.20 p.m. Appointment of Committees Business Committee Resolution Committee Nominating Committee
3.35 p.m. Hymn
3.45 p.m. President's Address
Mrs. J. D. Walker, Toronto
4.1 0 p.m. Provincial Reports
Rec. Sec'y-............Mrs. Chas. Begg
Corr. Sec'y,........Mrs. Fred. H. Ross
Treasurer..............Mrs. J. G. Gauld
Finance Conv.............Mrs. J. Litster
5.00 p.m. Dedicatory Prayer
Mrs. Gollan, Lucknow Provincial Reports, (Continued) Library Stranger
Life Membership Social Service Supply
Banner
Costumes
Exchange Literature
Forward Mission Band
Movement Press
Home Helpers
Adoption of Reports Announcements Lord's Prayer
Y. W. Assoc. and C. G. I. T,
Life is a trust for living and self-sacrificing service.
