EXPLANATORY OF THE CHURCH CATECHISM. BY MRS. SHERWOOD, AUTHOR OF "LITTLE HENRY AND HIS BEARER, BOOSY," ETC. ETC. New Edition. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY THE REV. W. MEYNELL WHITTEMORE, RECTOR OF ST. JAMES'S, LONDON. LONDON: HOULSTON AND STONEMAN, 65, PATERNOSTER ROW. INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW EDITION. WHY are Catechisms considered very dull by the learner, and so frequently abjured by the teacher-especially if the latter is acquainted with modern educational systems? It cannot be the fault of Catechisms themselves; for a well-known American writer asserts that it is possible to make Catechisms "bewitchingly interesting." The fault is, in the teacher's not knowing how to use them. 19 JAN 1920 m The answers in a doctrinal Catechism, if they have been carefully framed, contain dogmatic state 154669 ments couched in brief and precise phraseology. They should show no redundancy of word or thought, but should present the completest possible condensation of doctrine; although the conciseness should by no means occasion obscurity. Now to give such doctrinal statements to children, and merely require them to commit them to memory, is evidently improper. As improper as it would be to provide the essence of half-a-dozen pounds of meat concentrated into the size of a lozenge, for a child's ordinary meal. In neither case would it be natural or safe. The answer may be regarded as a text on which the teacher shall hang a sermon. Todd's "Truth made Simple" shows how a doctrinal propositione. g. "God is Eternal"-may be expanded into a sermon suited to the capacity of very young persons. Or, the answer may be styled a judgment which the learner is to form, after long and careful investigation. This might constitute a morning's work with a class, leading the scholars to derive some |