judgment. He rushes now into so many crazy plans and harmful deeds. This age, particularly that from twelve to sixteen, is the most critical and difficult to deal with in all childhood. It is so because the boy now becomes secretive, he neither can nor will utter himself, and the very sensitiveness, the longing and overpowering sense of the new life, is often so concealed by inconsistent and even barbarous behavior, that one quite loses both comprehension and patience. According to Haslett: "Things must not be too easy of accomplishment is the practical application of what has just been said, and particularly so when adults are dealt with. The appeal should be made largely to the manhood and womanhood of the persons whom we are desirous of reaching and winning. Let the task be a difficult one, let it require considerable exertion in its accomplishment, and it will be more likely to be undertaken. Appeal to the will power in men and women. Let them realize that this power is appealed to, is relied upon to undertake and complete the task, whatever its accomplishment. The organ of manhood and womanhood is the will. If there is a fair amount of worth in a person, that one will not stand by and hear himself or herself ridiculed, classed as an imbecile, as an aboulique, or as a good-for-nothing. Such an one will arouse and set to work and do the best that is possible. Time and again this has been done. Some argue with considerable force that the Church has made admission to membership entirely too easy; that the scarcity of men in the Church is in large measure due to the ease with which persons can come into membership. Sufficient cost of thought, time, sacrifice, and energy of will are lacking to make it worth while to enter, it is said." The Christian Faith, in its "Christocentric character," has now a splendid hold upon the eager youth, furnishing a logical, clear, doctrinal system on which to build. Now can be comprehended, for the first time, the meaning of the Sacrifice of Christ, the New Testament ideas, the Atonement, and the Messianic Forecast. Ritual and Adolescence. Haslett, though not himself a Churchman, points out the supreme importance of Ritual during the pubescent period. "The spectacular and objective always appeal to children. That which stimulates their senses and awakens interest through the exercise of the same, other things being proper, is in place in the instruction of childhood. It is especially at the transitional stage, the pubescent stage, that the ritualistic is appropriate and necessary, and should be carefully provided and administered. While girls . are more interested in the ritualistic and symbolic, yet the boys enjoy the spectacular phases of the ritualistic more. The girls are impressed more with their meaning than are the boys. Girls look upon the subjective side of morals, boys upon the objective. Girls are more easily influenced by their environment, and react more quickly. Boys are more expressive, but at the Those age of puberty are inclined to be reticent. Churches that practise Confirmation enriched by splendid rituals are in accord with the real nature of things, and should be influential in arousing the Churches at large to make proper provision for this critical stage of life. Ethical Dualism. In THE BOY PROBLEM Forbush states: "Ethical Dualism, a trait of semi-development and one with which we are familiar among American negroes, is characteristic of immaturity. It is the trait of the person who has not yet accepted the responsibility for his own life. None of us entirely shake it off. Not only is the Sunday boy different from the Monday boy, the boy praying different from the boy playing, the boy alone or with his parents or his adult friend different from the boy with his comrades, but, as in savagery, the ethics of the boy with his 'gang' is different from that with other boys. It is the old clan ethics. This idea that loyalty is due only to one's tribe, and that other people are enemies, and other people's property is legitimate prey, is just the spirit which makes the 'gang' dangerous, and which suggests the need of teaching a universal sociality, and of transforming the clan allegiance into a chivalry toward all. The clan is a step higher than individualism; I would recognize it, but I would lead its members to be knights rather than banditti." "The age which the boy has reached," says Joseph Lee, "is that where Sir Launcelot, the knight-errant, the hero of single combat, is developing into Arthur, the loyal king." This ethical dualism is a phase of that peculiar self-consciousness and desire for show, to make an impression, at this age. The youth is particular that his gloves shall be new and spotless, but is not so insistent that there shall be clean hands under the gloves. This enters into his religion and is the explanation of the fact that the ritual of this period differs largely from the ritual of the Kindergarten and the Primary. The ritualism of the Kindergarten and Primary Periods is the ritualism of symbolism, with that deeper mystical meaning which appeals to the very young child. The ritual of the Adolescent is the ritual of Show, "an outward and visible sign," as it were, of "an inward and spiritual grace." The life may not accord with the profession, and yet often the only thing to hold the life is the profession. Teachers and clergy, as well as parents, should realize this condition and be very patient with the inconsistent lad or maiden. Dr. Butler thinks that about the age of fourteen or fifteen, our pupil's interest in private prayer needs to be strengthened. It must be done with devout carefulness, or we may do more harm than good. I know of no better method than that of a young teacher of boys, whose statement I condense: "One week before a talk on Prayer, and before I have announced the subject, I hand each boy an envelope, say the contents are confidential, and I know he will comply, as a personal favor. In each envelope is a note, saying that I am subject to certain temptations, and that I am liable to discouragement. I request that, in saying his evening prayers, he will mention me to the Heavenly Father, and will continue this until our next meeting. I add, that by carrying out this request he is helping me more than he can fully understand. It is remarkable how the boys, aged from fourteen to seventeen-a time when many boys who have been in the habit of daily prayer are gradually relinquishing it respond to this personal request. Without asking, I discern by the warmth of their greeting, or by some remark, that they are responding to what is, in most cases, an entirely new conception of private prayer-that of praying for someone outside of their own family. In some cases, boys who have already discontinued daily prayers, are led to resume them. When the day comes for the talk on Prayer all are better prepared to listen and learn from it what I am able to offer. As I have not neglected to bear them in mind daily, a sympathy springs up between us which was not apparent before. A channel to the boy's soul has opened." Burbank's Views on Training. "Here let me say that the wave of public dishonesty which seems to be sweeping over this country is chiefly due to a lack of proper training-breeding, if you will-in the formative years of life. Be dishonest with a child, whether it is your child or some other person's child-dishonest in word or look or deed, and you have started a grafter. Grafting, or stealing— for that is the better word-will never be taken up by the man whose formative years have been spent in an atmosphere of absolute honesty. Nor can you be dishonest with a child in thought. The child reads your motives as no other human being reads them. He sees into your own heart. The child is the purest, truest thing in the world. It is absolute truth; that's why we love children. They know instinctively whether you are true or dishonest with them in thought as well as in deed; you cannot escape it. The child may not always show its knowledge, but its judgment of you is unerring. Its life is stainless, open to receive all impressions, just as is the life of the plant, only far more pliant and responsive to influences, and to influences to which no plant is capable of being responsive. Upon the child before the age of ten we have an unparalleled opportunity to work; for nowhere else is there material so plastic." QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION. 1. What is the significance of Awkwardness in the Adolescent Period? 2. What Physical Dangers are Prominent? 3. How would you meet these dangers? 4. What Mental Characteristics are noted? 5. How can Ideals be used? 6. Define and describe the phenomena of "Storm and Stress." 7. What is "Conversion," and how is it to be met? 8. Draw the "Conversion Curve." 9. Of what significance is the "Gang Age"? 10. Define Conscience and defend your definition. 11. How does "Will" manifest itself now? CHAPTER X. THE STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT (Continued). Later Adolescence-Manhood-Relation of Mind and Body Types-Temperament. Adolescence, Later Stages: Books under Chap. IX. Schauffler. THE TEACHER, THE CHILD, AND THE BOOK. THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. Baker. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION. SUCCESSWARD. Bok. pp. 119-135. Starbuck. *PEDAGOGICAL BIBLE SCHOOL. Coe. pp. 140-170. Manhood and Womanhood: TEACHER TRAINING. Roads. pp. 37-38. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION. Starbuck. pp. 176-177. Temperament: THE STUDY OF CHILDREN. THE STUDY OF CHARACTER. p. 73. Warner. pp. 154-188. Bain. Chapter XXVI. *OUR TEMPERAMENTS. Stewart. MENTAL DEVELOPMENT. Baldwin. pp. 181, 187, 190. *THE BOY PROBLEM. Forbush. pp. 28-30. PRINCIPLES. Thorndike. p. 94. PEDAGOGICAL BIBLE SCHOOL. Haslett. THINKING, FEELING, DOING. Scripture. *CHILDHOOD. Birney. pp. 171f. IV.—Fourth Period, Later Adolescence, Age of Decision, Philosophic Insight, 18 to 25. Now in the after-peace of the budding manhood. with |