and by Rev. Wiley Homer, Rev. William Butler, Rev. W.
J. Starks and Rev. T. K. Bridges, pastors of local churches, and Rev. M.
L. Bethel, Oklahoma City.

XXIX

BUILDING THE TEMPLE

AN EXERCISE FOR CHILDREN'S DAY, ILLUSTRATED BY A TEMPLE AND AN ARCH.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the
truth."--John

"Giving all diligence add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue,
knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance,
patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly
kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. He that lacketh these
things is blind."--Peter.

It was the good fortune of the author to be called to serve as chorister
and superintendent of rural Sunday schools, and leader of the choir of
the church, in his early youth. At the beginning of his ministry, he
discovered the relative importance of this work among the young, by
reading the observation of the sainted Samuel Miller to the effect; if
he could repeat the period of his ministry, he would give ten times more
time and attention to the work among the children. This importance was
very acceptably emphasized during the eighties, by the enthusiasm of
Rev. James A. Wooden, D. D., of our Sunday school Board, and the
appointment of a Sabbath in June, to be annually observed as Children's
Day.

One of the most prominent features of our ministry has been, a
persistently active participation in the work among the children and
young people. Other engagements have not been permitted to interfere
with attendance at Sunday school and Endeavor meetings, or an
appointment to meet the children at any of the regular times of
rehearsal of songs and exercises for Easter, Christmas, Children's Day
and other anniversaries. All the young people were encouraged to
participate in the effort to make these rallying days, occasions of
special instruction and delight. A number of pretty, and sometimes
elaborate, designs were devised to add their illuminating effect to the
exercises. Two of these designs, a temple and an arch, both having for
their object, a visible representation of the divinely appointed
elements of a good character, according to the apostle Peter, and
animating power of the indwelling spirit, manifested by a conscientious
observance of the command to remember the Sabbath, have been deemed
worthy of an illustration in this volume, that those who participated in