PREFACE. The special characteristic of this volume on the Sunday-school teacher's work, in contrast with the many other books on the same general subject, is its attempt at completeness in a systematic order, with the avoidance of purely technical terms. Its style is adapted to the ordinary teacher's comprehension, and its aim is to be readable; while the whole structure of the work is based on sound philosophical principles. The writer has had some advantages for this service, in that he has had not a little experience in Sundayschool teaching in both church and mission schools, in city and in country, and has long had occasion to study and to write on the principles and the methods of Teaching. In lectures and addresses, and in colloquial discussions, for a series of years, on the various phases of this general theme, before Sunday - school conventions and institutes, teachers' - meetings, normal classes, and theological seminaries, he has been compelled to test his theories and his opinions, by comparison with other experts, and under the pressure of keen criticism from bright thinkers and sharp doubters; so that what he F597 now gives to the public is the matured result of the experience, the study, and the discussions, of years. Much that is in these pages has, in one form or another, already seen the light, in the columns of The Sunday School Times, The National Sunday School Teacher, The Sunday School Workman, The Sunday School World, The Sunday School Journal, The Independent, The New York Observer, The Congregationalist, The Advance, and other religious papers. Much of it, however, is quite new; and all of it has been re-cast for this work. That there is a place for such a volume, the writer has not a doubt. That this volume will fill that place, is his desire. It is for the readers to ascertain how far it meets their needs in the direction of its aim and endeavor. PHILADELPHIA, September, 1884. |