“Let us make this school year the best we ever knew.  We can do it if we will be true to everything for which these two flags stand—­the red for love, the white for purity and the blue for loyalty.”

[It is suggested that the pupils be presented with small American and conquest flags as souvenirs.  These are inexpensive and may be procured from Sunday school supply houses.  Celluloid buttons, displaying the two flags, would be acceptable souvenirs of the day.]

THE CROSS
    —­Salvation
    —­Repentance

An Illustration Which Has Inspired Many to Hopefulness and Victory.

THE LESSON—­That a complete surrender to Christ is the only successful way to purify a sinful life.

This illustration, in varied form, has been used by speakers for many years.  It is here given, however, in a new presentation, with a hope that the revision may be helpful to others in spreading its usefulness.  If paper is used, attach several thicknesses to your drawing board and provide yourself with a sharp penknife.  If used as a blackboard illustration, an eraser will be needed.

The Talk.

“It is a good deal safer, boys, for you to walk the streets with your thumb in your mouth than with a cigarette there.  The thumb can’t hurt you, but the cigarette is bound to.  I heard, once upon a time, of a young man who lived in a good home—­maybe just as good as yours—­who fell into the cigarette habit.  I can’t understand why a boy, when he knows what a terrible thing the cigarette habit is, will not leave the thing alone.  But, like some whom you may know, this boy failed to heed the many warnings and, before he was aware of it, the deadly habit had him firmly in its grasp.  I will ask one of the boys to please spell the word ‘Habit’ for me. [As each letter is repeated put it down on the drawing sheet.  If you have previously outlined the entire picture, the location of the cross will determine the location of the letter T, in the center, as the T is later changed into a cross.  Place the other four letters in proper relation to the letter T, completing Fig. 29.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 29]

“Now, then—­one day this young man awoke to the fact that he must rid himself of his terrible habit if he would amount to anything in the world.  He was working in a distant city, and there, alone, how do you suppose he started in to get rid of his habit?  He did it this way:  He made up his mind to wipe it out gradually by cutting down the number of cigarettes which he smoked each day.  So he started in.  The first day he smoked two less than he did the day before—­cut out some, you see. [With your penknife cut out the letter H and throw it away.] You will observe that although he cut out some of his habit, he had A BIT left.  The next day he did the same thing, by cutting out two more. [Cut away the letter A.] Although he had a BIT of the habit left, he felt somewhat encouraged