So well has the teacher-training movement met the manifest needs of the hundreds of Bible schools in which it has been tried, that it is evident it has come to stay, and sooner or later will become a part of every Bible school in the land.

      In answering the question, "Why has it met with such success?" I also am answering the question contained in my subject, "Why make it unanimous?"

      First, because the study as outlined is directed toward a practical end. This is a practical age. We clamor for practical ways.

      In the second place, teacher-training should be made unanimous, because it is designed to bring the Bible, with its teachings which underlie our civilization, within the grasp of the young men and women who are to control the immediate future. It means much for character.

      Again, teacher-training has met with success, because of the scope of the work it covers.

      The plan of its work not only outlines the current lessons and grasps their settings, but gathers a view of the purpose and plan of the entire Book. Neither does it content itself with outlining the contents of the Bible, but seeks also an intelligent insight into the conditions under which it was written and of the meanings and relationships of the religious institutions of its history, furnishing also a historical outline of the church's activities from its beginnings to our own day.

      It goes still further. It presents a study of the Bible school; of its departments and management and of its relation to the church. It deals with methods of preparation for the teacher and with the science of teaching, and includes a study of the fundamentals of psychology.

      Covering such a field as this, and meeting such demands, we insist that there is no school in the brotherhood that should not provide for the introduction of teachers' training in its curriculum.

      There is a reason for the enormous progress that teacher-training has made among us, not only because we had the men to push it. We were prepared for it by generations of adherence to the plea for a "return to the Book." A New Testament people need not wait to confer with "flesh and blood" in reference to a movement that would give rise to an "open Book;" but with resolution and enthusiasm should enter into the campaign to make it unanimous.

      We are an evangelistic people. This is according to Bible precedent and command.

      The Bible school, with its teaching

C. A. COLE.

corps, promises more as an evangelizing agency than any other department of the church's activity. This period is basic to our evangelistic period to-morrow. Yet, its efficiency is hindered by a lack of training among its workers, which must needs be overcome before it shall come into its full and blessed heritage as a soul-winner.

      Teacher-training will help to stop the leakage in our schools. We have been confronted with the problem of a seemingly unavoidable loss in practically every school. How shall we stop this leakage?

      A father sent his young child to a physician to ascertain whether or not it was sound of mind. As a test the physician placed a wooden tub in the room with the child. In the side of the tub he had first bored a hole. He had also secured a stopper which he placed within easy reach and plain sight of the child. He filled the tub with water and left the child alone in the room. Should [555] it discover the leak and insert the stopper, sanity would be established.

      Friends, the fearful leakage from our Bible schools can be practically avoided by applying the method of training outlined in the teacher-training work. This is the stopper, and our sanity as a people shall be established in so far as we apply the same.

      This problem of loss, and other kindred needs, are universal, and therefore demand the unanimous approval and acceptance of worthy and Scriptural methods of solution.

      We know that much of the weakness and inefficiency of our church work is due to a lack of interest in Bible study. Hence, when the interest in Bible study is awakened, the prayer-meeting, which was sadly out of tune, is revived, and all departments take on new activity. Certainly there was never a more important movement started than to make this fundamental work unanimous!

      We must as a people, by the very nature of our plea, obey the Saviour's command, "Go, teach," or else lose the "dynamic force"' in the conversion of the world.

      We must not play at teaching longer, in any congregation, however small or remote. We must do away with the language of Ashdod among us, and have a care for "sound speech that can not be condemned." Once we become acquainted with the Word and learn how to properly impart it to others, as well as to do what it teaches, then we are worth something to God and to his church and to our fellow-men. If all these things be true, should we make teacher-training unanimous?

      Ah! surely there is no North nor South when it comes to this mighty campaign, nor is there any distinction of city or country church. Next to preaching the gospel, this is the one thing on which the brotherhood is a unit. Every church preaches the gospel. If it doesn't, God forbid that it retain the name "church of Christ." Every church should teach the Bible, and should teach it in the most effective way.

      Can we make it unanimous? With the marvelous experience of the last two and a half years, we answer, "We can and we must." Let all assist in making it so.

[CCR 555-556]