THE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION 159 



devote themselves as diligently to the nurture of 

 their children as they do now to the ways of 

 fashionable and business life or, better still, with 

 all the solicitousness that they exercise in the 

 rearing of their horses and dogs, the problem of 

 the moral regeneration of the race would be most 

 thoroughly solved." (MacDonald, 1342.) 



A religious curriculum, embracing morning 

 and evening prayer, attendance upon Sunday 

 school and Church, and daily instruction in the 

 religious life, would not be too much to withstand 

 the tides of opposition to Christianity flowing all 

 about them in our land. It is probable that mod- 

 ern times present many more allurements away 

 from the Christian life than did several centuries 

 ago. Yet we are far from equaling some of the 

 Christians of those more simple times. The spir- 

 itual descendants of John Huss showed a care- 

 fulness and zeal which is not found in modern 

 Church customs. The important connection be- 

 tween the Church and the home was thoroughly 

 recognized. The membership of the congregation 

 was divided into three sections : the beginners, the 

 advanced, and the perfected. The first section 

 was the children, who received separate instruc- 

 tion in the Bible. The instruction received in the 

 Church was supplementary to and a review of 

 that which was carried on in the home. Officers 

 of the Church visited the homes regularly to see 

 that the plan of home instruction was carried out, 

 and reported the conditions to the pastor. * i This 



