With the Children on Sundays: Through Eye-Gate and Ear-Gate into the City of Child-Soul

Name: With the Children on Sundays: Through Eye-Gate and Ear-Gate into the City of Child-Soul
Author: Sylvanus Stall

Written by Sylvanus Stall

Not rated yet — tap a star to review it

Children Moral education Children's sermons

Chaptra reads alongside you — AI insights, chapter breakdowns and reader discussions for every book. Join free

About this book

"With the Children on Sundays" by Sylvanus Stall is a guidebook written in the early 20th century. The book aims to provide parents with practical methods to engage their children in meaningful religious experiences on Sundays, ensuring that the day is filled with joy and learning rather than dullness or drudgery. It contains a series of sermons meant to be shared with children, using everyday objects and experiences to teach important spiritual lessons. At the start of the book, Stall emphasizes the importance of making Sundays a special day for families, contrasting the common perception of a dreary and tedious Sunday with the potential for happiness and spiritual enrichment. He recounts personal anecdotes and examples of families that successfully instilled a sense of joy and reverence for the day. The opening also outlines his method of using object lessons, like the story of the oyster and the crab, to illustrate concepts such as conscience and moral choices, intending to make spiritual teachings accessible and relatable for children.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in With the Children on Sundays: Through Eye-Gate and Ear-Gate into the City of Child-Soul, written by Chaptra AI.

about 8 hours
intermediate
uplifting
didactic
instructive

Sylvanus Stall's "With the Children on Sundays" is an early 20th-century guidebook designed for parents seeking to transform Sunday religious instruction from a chore into a joyous and meaningful experience for children. Through a series of engaging sermons and innovative object lessons, Stall advocates for making spiritual teachings accessible and relatable by connecting them to everyday objects and experiences. The book emphasizes the importance of instilling a sense of reverence and happiness for the Sabbath, countering the then-common perception of Sundays as tedious. By sharing personal anecdotes and practical methods, Stall aims to equip families with tools to foster moral development and spiritual growth in their children.

“"Through Eye-Gate and Ear-Gate into the City of Child-Soul" (Subtitle, encapsulating the method)”

Key themes

Religious Education and Spirituality: This is the core theme, exploring how spiritual truths can be effectively communicated to young children. Stall advocates for a method that moves beyond rote learning, emphasizing understanding, engagement, and the internalization of faith through relatable experiences.
Moral Development and Conscience: A significant secondary theme, as the spiritual lessons are intrinsically linked to the development of a strong moral compass. Stall explicitly uses object lessons to teach children about right and wrong, the nature of conscience, and the importance of ethical decision-making from a young age.
The Sanctity and Joy of Sunday: This theme addresses the cultural perception of Sunday during Stall's era and his effort to redefine it. He aims to transform the Sabbath from a day associated with strict rules and boredom into a cherished time for family, spiritual growth, and genuine happiness, thereby reinforcing its sacredness through positive experience.

Worth discussing

How effective are 'object lessons' in conveying complex moral or spiritual concepts to children, both in Stall's time and today?

Chapter-by-chapter breakdowns, character arcs and the full thematic analysis come with a free account.

Discussions

No one has started one yet

Join to discussJoin

Questions this book opens up

No discussions yet

Be the first to start a discussion about this book!

Reviews

No reviews yet

Be the first to review this book!