Are the Reading Courses Meeting the Needs of Our Young People?
By Mrs. H. W. Carr
It hardly seems possible that our Missionary Volunteer Reading Course Circle is now nearly seven years old, but the records show that this is so. Every season many young people have taken their places in the reading circle, and quite a large number have renewed their membership from year to year. The young people who have persevered in the courses each year doubtless feel well paid for the time spent with the good books which have been recommended. There is less difficulty in enlisting those again who have taken the course, as a few statements like the following give evidence:— “I hardly know how to express my appreciation of the Reading Course. Having a great love for story reading, I was fast getting into that habit; but the Reading Course plan fell across my path just in time to check it.” Another says: “The Reading Course is the best means I know of to keep young people from reading light, trashy literature. I was drifting into the world partly from reading such matter. I am now so thankful that I became interested in the Reading Course when I did, for it made such a change in my life.” A Junior reader, when sending in her answers on “Pilgrim’s Progress,” said: “I hope I can take the course in 1914.” There are many who appreciate all the twenty-six books that have been used. The selection has given very good satisfaction. It seems that the Reading Courses are meeting the needs of our young people thus far. But a large problem is still before us in interesting those who are indifferent to their needs. We must secure the cooperation of our ministers, conference laborers, and church elders in this work, to help not only the interested, but especially the uninterested ones. And perhaps some supplementary reading, which would lead up to the courses in an indirect way, and would have a tendency to awaken an interest for more good reading, could be used in accomplishing this. For instance, take some good letter, tract, or booklet, which is more easily read than a large book, then follow this up with other good literature leading toward the courses. Again, others will read the books, but do not care to take the reviews, especially those in our schools. Some say their time is too full. This is true, no doubt, and yet scores of youth do find time to read books that please their fancy better. If the students in our schools were trained to take these courses, when they leave school they would go out and teach others to do the same. A part of the Sabbath program should be some carefully selected reading. A program that is arranged for our schools on the Sabbath should be suggestive of the program they will follow when they leave school to interest others. It is thought by some that the Reading Course is intended for only those who cannot attend our schools, but the students should be encouraged to join the circle and have this excellent drill as a part of their education. Our youth must be educated not only to cultivate a love for the best reading, but to use wisely the fragments of time. The plan of having a book on missions each year is an excellent one. Some books do not appeal to many as being interesting, but as secretaries and leaders we can be so interested in the books ourselves as to inspire in the youth a desire to read them. If the subject is missions, in conversing or in correspondence we can take them in imagination to the field of which we are reading. Suppose that they, or their friends, at some future time should be chosen as missionaries, how good it would be to be acquainted with the customs and habits of the people, and know the need of greater missionary endeavor in these needy fields. Many read the books hurriedly, and do not get the benefit that a more careful reading would give. I believe we should encourage using the weekly review questions in the Instructor, or if a few direct questions on each chapter were printed in leaflet form to be used in connection with the reading, it might create a deeper interest. Such a leaflet could be used as a book-mark. The way to succeed is to review and re-review. The young people who enroll year by year are establishing tendencies and forming habits that will determine their success in life. “Something attempted, something done,” has given strength and more courage for new endeavors, but “something attempted and something undone” stands like a cloud before one whenever a new line of study is suggested. Succeeding in the Reading Course is certainly helpful to our youth in persevering in other undertakings as well. The gift-book which is given to those holding three certificates is an incentive to complete their work, and is prized by those who earn it. There should be a wholesome pride in the heart of every young person to build up a personal library, and there is no better way than to add to it each year the excellent books outlined. The societies should also have these books. Mr. Beecher once said, “A little library, growing larger each year, is an honorable part of a man’s history. It is a man’s duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life.” Sixty-five per cent of the people in our denomination came into the truth through reading our books. This important fact impressed upon our youth will help them in strengthening this line of work. The Reading Course work should be ever a live issue on the part of those who are in touch with the youth in their conferences. The very fact that so many of our youth are drifting into the world each year is sufficient proof that the problem of saving our young people is not yet solved; but we are thankful the rescue work is begun in earnest, and for the results we now see.