CORRESPONDENCE COURSES
Once again, there is much of such work done informally, and even formally within a limited range. The " Isolation Sunday School " adopts just the methods here suggested. But what is more particularly advocated for further thought is this: that there should be advertised a course of Bible Reading arid Study by correspondence; that those who are interested should be asked to get in touch with some suitable local " office," and should then be sent Lesson One, and the name and address of some " tutor " who will look after their progress. The lesson (it is suggested) should be couched in such a form as to require answers from the recipient showing that his interest is real. The receipt of answers to the first lesson would be the signal for the despatch of the next, and so on.

Evidently, this is a bigger matter than individuals can generally contemplate, and the arrangement of such courses needs careful thought. The Bible and its general meaning seems a fitting enough topic of study, and other chosen books might be made available for its pursuance. Such a system lias, indeed, already been embarked on in one neighbourhood as these words are written. In the world's correspondence courses, charges are of course made, so that the promoters can gain their living by it; and while there is no suggestion that anything like this should be done by us, there is no doubt that if any were attracted to these courses, they would esteem them less if they were altogether without cost or effort to them. The need to answer questions to secure continuance provides the latter; the obligation to pay postage (say), and perhaps purchase the few books needed, or rent them at a low estimate of their depreciation, might provide the latter.

Of course, such a method would appeal only to those who are (in a small way) disposed to study, but there do seem to be two classes of such people to whom it might specially appeal. The first is the enquirer who lives too far from a place of meeting to attend except rarely; the second is the diffident soul who would not care to go to a sectarian place of worship- as he would judge-but would be glad to receive a fuller and better Bible understanding than he gets at his own.