Haiggejstton# for Leaner# of 
 'Bo?#’ 3tpt##tonary ^octette# 
 
 Ages from 15 to 18 
 
 'TT'SSUMING that the leader is one who 
 attracts boys, the first requirement is to 
 have the boys understand that missions are as 
 interesting as anything else. In fact, that the 
 leader is rather doing them a favor by letting 
 them get hold of such attractive information a3 
 can be found in missionary literature. 
 
 The second thing is to suggest a small mis¬ 
 sionary library that will be desirable. Ask them 
 if they will lend the library any books on the 
 countries where the missions of our Church are 
 established. 
 
 Appoint a reading committee to see whether 
 these books are worth a place on the small shelf. 
 It is a good thing to have the shelf small, as it 
 may serve as an excuse for rejecting some unde¬ 
 sirable book. 
 
 Secure a few interesting missionary books on 
 approval. 
 
 Ask your committee to read them, making 
 very clear to them that you do not want them 
 to read in any book a chapter more than they 
 find interesting, because you want to have only 
 interesting missionary books on the shelf. Also 
 because you do not want to spend any more 
 money than is absolutely necessary, etc. 
 
 The committee can be made to feel their 
 responsibility in such a way that they read such 
 books as are interesting without realizing that 
 part of your object has been to benefit the com¬ 
 mittee. 
 
 It is sometimes possible to have the reading 
 committee add to their number other boys 
 
whose opinion would also be of value before 
 the great step of finally selecting the books is 
 taken. When a committee of four or five bovs 
 have read the same four or five books, you will 
 have little or no trouble in circulating the books 
 among the rest of the Society. 
 
 While the committee are reading the books, 
 a waiting list can be started in a more or less 
 formal way; but the fact that the reading com¬ 
 mittee have indorsed the books is all that is 
 usually necessary. 
 
 The same process is gone through with new 
 books that you wish to add to the library. 
 
 Put your library where it is a little in the 
 way, and do not have any locks on it. Do as 
 the best public libraries do: Make the books in 
 everv wav accessible at all times. 
 
 J ✓ 
 
 H ave a blank book and pencil, both tied to 
 the case, with instructions on the cover of the 
 book somewhat as follows: 
 
 “How to take out a book: Write your name 
 and the name of the book and the date, and 
 when you bring it back, scratch out the entry.” 
 
 You have a librarian, but the librarian never 
 asks for the return of the book. All that is nec¬ 
 essary is some such remark as, “I see you have 
 taken out a book on Africans it not interesting?” 
 
 This opens up a conversation in which you 
 can learn if the book has been read, and if not, 
 why not. Perhaps it is a misfit. In that case, 
 it is all important that you should know it, for 
 you can often say, “Why, of course, I can see 
 how that book would not be interesting to you. 
 The fact is, it is a reference book or a text 
 book,” or for one reason or another is not 
 meant for casual reading. Then name another 
 book, which would not have that difficulty, and 
 tell him you are sure he will like it. Tell him 
 to take that one out next. 
 
 2 
 
The library, beginning as the peculiar prop¬ 
 erty of the Society or class could well have iis 
 circulation extend, like the Tabard Jnn Library, 
 and the missionary enthusiasm of the boys 
 would find a natural and healthy outlet. The 
 library of the Society would then become the 
 library of the parish. 
 
 A second way in which the boys’ interest 
 could be given expression might well be in 
 soliciting subscriptions to The Spirit of Mis¬ 
 sions.” The Society has of course subscribed 
 to it; the boys are familiar with it and the busi¬ 
 ness ability and energy of the members could be 
 put to work, with the new enthusiasm making 
 a strong combination. Business ability consists 
 very largely in the ability or inability to sell 
 things. The training secured by a travelling 
 man is invaluable to him, when, afterwards, he 
 obtains a higher place in the firm. Securing 
 subscriptions for The Spirit of Missions is just 
 such a beginning of a business training. Inci¬ 
 dentally, there is a percentage given to those 
 who wish to canvass for The Spirit of Missions. 
 A certain per cent, is allowed the boy for each 
 new subscriber. This percentage is increased 
 if he will allow the amount to apply on the 
 general missionary offering made by his Society. 
 
 But there is literary ability as well as business 
 ability among the boys. Some of them know 
 what it is to edit or report for a school paper. 
 Many of them would enjoy such work if they 
 knew of it. It is possible to utilize such literary 
 tastes by having a missionary magazine written 
 and edited by the members of the Society. Let 
 it be published once a month. When the issue 
 is written, the articles pasted together in maga¬ 
 zine form, perhaps with a cover specially 
 designed, you have a paper containing facts 
 from the field. There would need to be a head 
 
 3 
 
editor, and perhaps two assistants, and a set of 
 reporters. There will be assignments. Certain 
 ones will be required to bring in interesting 
 missionary facts; others required to review recent 
 books; others to write editorials, etc. 
 
 A somewhat similar adaptation of this would 
 be for the Society to have a missionary notice 
 board, upon which each week would be pasted 
 brief notices, striking facts in the mission work, 
 of which most people are ignorant. The adver¬ 
 tising ability of the members of the class could 
 be brought into play, so as to change the appear¬ 
 ance of the notices, in color, type, handwriting 
 or the signs attracting attention to the board so 
 as to prevent it from being forgotten by the 
 members of the parish. Of course this bulletin 
 board would be put in a prominent place and 
 probably labelled “ Missionary Bulletin of 
 . . . . Society.” Or “For particulars, 
 
 inquire of so and so. Secretary.” 
 
 In the same Society there may be oratorical 
 or dramatic instincts. If so, use them. Plan 
 for a debate, “Resolved, That medical work is 
 more useful than educational work in the mission 
 field.” Have the speakers chosen provided 
 with definite material and not too much of it 
 and let the debate be as business-like as possible. 
 Later on, if the boys wish, they might repeat 
 the debate or have a similar one, inviting their 
 own guests to listen. There are brief mission¬ 
 ary plays which have been found useful. The 
 fact of an audience at a missionary play opens 
 the way for a great deal of missionary instruction. 
 
 Vary your methods, constantly keeping in 
 mind the object of your organization, and above 
 all in your own reading about missions, pray 
 for them and work for them and keep in advance 
 of the most enthusiastic member of your Society. 
 
 Leaflet No. }oo}. 
 
 Aug. ’o8-zm C. P. 
 
 Printed by The Calumet Pkhss, New Tori