SI. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.

Preaching service each Sablmth at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Daylight Saving Time).

The minister will speak on the fol¬lowing topics next Sunday : Morning—"The Day of Pest." Evening—"Guidance by the eye."

Mrs. Newton Marshall, organist and holr leader.

Sunday School and Bible Classes r.t 2.3(1 p.m.

f'lirlstlnn Endeavor Monday evening at 8 o'clock.

Busy Bees Monday at 4 o'clock.

Burning Hush meet at 6,45.

Mission Prayer Meeting Thursday, •May, 22, at 8 o'clock. This meeting will he In connection with the united Mission Bands who will exhibit lan¬tern slides illustrating mission work.

ing God. Why do children of the same family manifest such varied at¬titudes toward religion ? Have they not all had the same training '! No doubt they have had and that explains the situiition. We must recognize the important fact that no two children can be dealt with in exactly the same way. Methods used to develop the character of one child may prove fatal to another. There are no typical children, each presents a new prob¬lem. When the first subway was built in New York, great was the praise given to the engineer. But his task was not to be compared to the task of a parent or teacher. When ha had found thc formula for the first horizontal yard of the subway, he had solved the problem of the whole tun¬nel, whereas when a parent has found tbe solution of the first horizontal yard of child humanity, be cannot be sure that be can solve tbe next. So the purpose of this paper resolves it¬self into a study of the individual child.

What Is it child ? From observa¬tion we might get various definitions: "something for which I must provide," "a bill of expense," "an uncontrolable bundle of energy whose only aim seems to be to break iLs mother's heart." No A child is a God-given treasurer with thc priceless gifts of body, sou) and mind. And fortunate are. those to whom the training of children is entrusted.

We must remember three important facts : first, that children arc differ¬ent from adults; second, that in grow¬ing up they pass through certain well defined stages; third, that children have individual peculiarities. They are not miniature adults, they are dif¬ferent physically, mentally and mor¬ally.

A small child Is weak in body. It ctnnot reason and does not distinguish between right and wrong. This ver.' early period in its life Is of vital con: sequence and the first lessons in the fundamental principles of right and wrong determine the whole course of life.

From six to twelve years is a criti eal period in the religious history of a boy or girl. They begin to realize their own individuality and gradually there Is developed the moral judgment and conscience. They get their morals entirely from those persons closelv associated with them. Belief in Gorl and the supernatural is stronsr abiding. They have faith in every¬body. What an opportunity to win them to the Lord !

The third stage might be called thc revolutionary stage — the tcchnice term is Adolescence. It is al this time that the child passes through three revolutions—the body experi¬ences a radical change which is ac companled by a mental development bringing new desires, emotions, qucs Hons and ambitions. A spiritual awakening also comes and this con¬stitutes the problem of the "cross, roads period." Here the child pre¬sents the greatest problem to parents and teachers. Young people between 15 and 17 begin to question and rea¬son. What they cannot see the rea son for they arc inclined to reject. A wise parent has prepared for this by having carefully anil sympathetically won their child's confidence. The stricter the religious training, wo'thoul the element of understanding and rea¬son. the greater the doubt. But out of a wider experience and knowledge an adult can point out the limitations of reason. And best of all, a clear victorious religious experience is the strongest argument against doubt.

How often a panic of desperation seizes the parents and the poor child becomes Ihe victim of scolding and nagging just when he most needs the sympathy and love of an understand¬ing parent and teacher. We hear so much about thc "bad boy." Show mo a bad boy and I will show you a mis¬understood boy. You ask any boy ot fifteen If he wants to be good and he will reply "Cerlainly." But he is handicapped. There stands a lad at the cross roads. He is bound hand and fool. There Is thc band of selfishness, the band of dishonesty, of wllfuiess, of disrespect for authority, and irresponsibility. Thc road to God leads up but lie cannot climb. He must, of course, take the downward path where It Is not necessary lo even walk—lie can Just slide along. Is It the boy's fault that lie gets on the wrong road ? No, he desires to do riglit. Who then Is responsible for Ids loss ? Those who tied, or allow¬ed to lie lied, thc binding, crippling strings. Are we compelled to place the responsibility of a child's wrong choice upon his training and environ¬ment ? That does not mean that on lhe other hand we can train a child "Into" the Christian life for there is an Inherent principle of evil In every soul. If there were not, there would he no choice. But if a boy or girl comes to the plcae, where God first speaks to them, unbound and free from prejudices which should never have been formed, they will step to

sensitive is the small child to even the slightest influence around him that thc character of the home life and conditions, whether we want It to or not, colours very largely his health, intelligence, mental habits, morals, religious disposition, and in short, his whole equipment for life. Adults, of course, should be independent of their environment, but children in their weakness and ignorance must be pro¬tected and carefully guided so that there may be developed and strength¬ened a spirit that will in later days trust God and overcome even a vicious environment. A parent and teacher who is a real leader is Illustrated by Hie sculptor., Dalel French : A lady walks beside a young girl, a little to the rear, with only her band pointing tbe way. Should the youthful figure stumble she is there to help—not a few paces ahead to obstruct the child's vision and oblivious to her needs.

In the home the real foundations of moral and religious training are laid

church and the school merely supple¬ment the work of the home; they can never perform it. The preacher has to adapt his message to all. The church has recognized this and has organized the Sunday School to sup¬ply the need of the young people. Next to the parent, the S. S. teacher- ought to be the greatest factor in child training. A patient, sympathetic teacher is a true friend to the teen¬age boy or Kill. Tbe church has been the mother, of schools in Canada but today the influence of the teaching of our High Schools and Universities is such that Christians hesitate about sending, their children to them. This serves only to increase the problem and throws greater responsibility upon the church and the home. Shall they he found wanting ? No, for the sake of the child they must not. May they take their proper place at the crossroads and point our youth to the Master and His sacred service.

Olive M. Hicks, Lome Park College,

Port Credit, Ont.

Lemonville

Mother's Day was fittingly observed at the church last Sunday evening by a good congregation. The church was beautifully adorned with plants and flowers, credit being due to our Flower Committee, .Misses Florence Biirkey and Jean Baker Suitable an¬thems were rendered by tbe choir, Misses Florence and Nola Farrow tak- ing the duet. A unique part of the Mother's service was the baptism of the Infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Martin, 'George Harry Keith,' which gave a touch of reality to the recog¬nition of Motherhood and Mother's Day. "Suffer little children to come unto me for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

The Ladies' Aid meets this week at the home of Mrs. Ed. Barkey, when the regular business will be trans¬acted and a suitable program given.