I shall proceed to tell you the methods used in a certain field. The subject can scarcely be discussed without including also the subject: "How to Keep It Up." Fortunately, according to the program, the methods of teaching a class are not to be discussed in this hall. The methods of working up a class and keeping it worked up are so closely associated that it is difficult to discuss the one without referring to the other. In our case the teaching was one of the methods used in working up the class, hence the methods of working up the class and the methods of teaching are not so dissimilar, for, to be thoroughly worked up, the class must stay worked up.

      Picture in your mind a small and well-churched community--a little, ordinary Illinois town of less than a thousand inhabitants. Teacher-training work had never been heard of. It was mentioned at both services Sunday and at the mid-week prayer-meeting for three or four weeks preceding the actual launching of the scheme. The pastor even prayed in public about it, and so the minds of the whole church community were fixed upon the importance of teacher-training, whatever that might prove to be.

      One Sunday, morning and night sermons were wholly devoted to the value of Bible study, and then it was announced that at the close of the services the books would be open for members, having previously explained the matter of expense. It was marvelous how the people pushed about the desk to write their names. It was announced from the beginning that we would have a class of one hundred. We wished to have the century class of the county, which we easily succeeded in doing.

      The class was divided into odds and evens in the order of their registration. As soon as the number reached fifty, for example, the odds were anxious to be ahead, so they solicited the fifty-first, and the evens, not wishing it to be uneven, solicited the fifty-second, etc. This class did not reach the century mark until we had taught three lessons, showing that the methods used in teaching had no little to do with the methods of working up the class.

      The two sides--odds and evens--each

C. S. WEAVER.

elected a secretary and each night the roll was called. The attendance of each side was placed before the class. One night the odds had the first roll-call, the next night the evens called first, thus making it just for both sides, considering the fact that there were always late comers. Any not present when their names were called were counted absent, and thus for the glory of their own division all strove to be on time.

      The class rapidly reached an enrollment of 131, and maintained an average attendance of eighty or ninety until we came to the last part of the book. For the entire course in the Bible the interest remained at 100 per cent. Of course we did not graduate 131. Many took the full course who would not take an examination, but all received the full benefits of the course, none the less. It was the unanimous opinion of the community, when the class was graduated last month, that a great work had been done. Those receiving the International diploma were glad they had been faithful, and many who had done all but take the final examination expressed keen regret that they had not persevered and completed the course.

      It proved a wonderful stimulus to the church work in general. This all in a town of less than a thousand inhabitants. "The entrance of thy word giveth light." [543]

[CCR 543]