Such is the power of the image or picture to lead to action.  Only the Father knows how many sons have come home from the far country because of the matchless story of the prodigal.  Only He knows how many consecrated men and women are in Africa and China and Japan because they saw the heroes in God’s Hall of Fame.  Surely this is why the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.”

5.  If the imagination steadily hold the picture, some day the life will be like it.

It is impossible for the soul to look day after day upon anything without unconsciously being changed into its likeness.  Hawthorne has exquisitely portrayed the transformation of Ernest into the image of the Great Stone Face, and, in so doing, has told the story of every life that gazes fixedly on its ideal.  Herein lies the blessed secret of Christ-likeness:  “We all, with unveiled face reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image, from glory to glory even as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

In the light of these wonderful possibilities growing out of “seeing the invisible,” the oft-quoted words of Stanley Hall are most significant, “Of all the things that a teacher should know how to do, the most important, without any exception, is to know how to tell a story.”

APPLICATION TO SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK

The requirements of the Primary department in regard to teacher, place and equipment are similar to those in the Beginners’ class, save that a song roll may now be helpfully added, since the children are learning to read.  In the matter of instruction, however, some variation from preceding methods is necessary, owing to the rapid mental development of the children.

I. General Program.

In addition to the thought of making the service worshipful and joyous, the program must be planned with reference to three important things: 

(1) The Truth to be presented in the lesson.

This should be a guide to program building in the preceding department as well, but it becomes imperative in this and the Junior departments, since the truth to be taught changes weekly, and therefore must be fastened during one hour’s work.  Memory in this period depends upon the force of the impression rather than upon association, as in later periods, hence all songs and exercises should emphasize the one thought to be given in the lesson.  This does not require new songs and services weekly.  It merely requires that the old songs and exercises be approached from the standpoint of the lesson, that which is pertinent to it being developed in each.