poem may be religious and imbued with the spirit of worship,
helpful to the purpose of this occasion, even though it contains no
allusions to Scripture and makes no direct references to religious
belief. "A House by the Side of the Road"[29] is thoroughly human,
popular, and could not even be accused of being a classic; but it
has a helpful motive and is likely to lead the will toward the life
of service and brotherhood. Some would prefer to read a part of one
of the great hymns.

THURSDAY

1. A brief reading or recitation from the New Testament.

2. A few moments' conversation on the reading.

3. A very brief prayer followed by a song.

The only apparent difficulty here is in starting the conversation.
Do not ask formal questions; rather put them something like this:
"I wonder whether people would do just the same on our street
today." Make the conversation as general as possible; do not
slight, nor scoff at, the contribution of even the least in the
group.

FRIDAY

1. A few verses in concert.

2. Read a parable or very brief narrative.

3. The Lord's Prayer.

The reading had better be from one of the paraphrases if it is a
narrative from the Old Testament.[30] Even in reading the New
Testament one can at times use with advantage the
_Twentieth-Century Bible_ or the _Modern Reader's Bible_.

SATURDAY

1. A period of song.

2. Closing prayer, with the Lord's Prayer.

Perhaps only one song can be sung. It need not be a hymn; that
should depend on the choice of the children. Help them to put
together all the good songs, including the hymns, in one category
in their minds.

SUNDAY

1. Ask: "What has been the best we have read or repeated in our
worship this week?"

2. Ask: "What shall we learn for memory repetition this week, what
psalm or other passage for our concerted worship?"

3. Read the psalm selected.

4. Closing prayer.

5. Period of song, lasting as long as desired.

This exercise evidently permits of extension in time and should be
arranged in accordance with the program for the day.

I. References for Study

George Hodges, _The Training of Children in Religion_, chaps. viii,
ix. Appleton, $1.50.

_The Improvement of Religious Education_, pp