THIS series of lessons and questions is not intended to be used as merely a set of dogmatic preachments for the child to memorize and repeat parrotlike. The whole purpose of the various similes, allegories, lesson-games, etc. is to help the child’s own Higher Self to uncover to his still receptive and unsullied outer mind the truth about “Who he is” and “Of what he is a part,” the Law governing Life and manifestation, and how to bring himself into harmony with God’s Plan and Purpose.

They should, therefore, be used mostly as a sort of foundation sketch which the child himself adds to, elaborates, fills in, and colors with his own ideas and experiences during his everyday life. In reading each lesson the child should be privileged to break in at any time with his ideas and illustrations—and great care must be exercised by the parent not to check by some dogmatic correction or assertion what the child’s Higher Self is attempting to express.

For instance, in answer to the first question “Who are you?” one child, instead of giving the expected answer gained from the text, “I am a Soul,” said instead, “I am a Light.” In this case the child was answering from a higher consciousness than that of the questioner and was absolutely correct. Therefore, the child should, as far as possible, be allowed to act as teacher, the parent’s part being skillfully to “draw out” and aid the child’s own soul to teach those lessons which it has not only for the child but often for the parent as well. In fact, the parent will often be startled by the great truths given to him through the as yet uncluttered channel of the child’s mind.

It is almost unnecessary to add that never under any circumstances should the child be coerced, argued with, or even coaxed into such “group sessions.” They should rather be treated as a great privilege accorded the child, and given at a time when he is receptive, interested, and undistracted. The parent should consider these lesson-discussions as good wholesome, tasty food set regularly and either formally or informally as occasion demands) before his hungry mind. Should there be times when he happens not to be hungry, the “food” should be quietly and cheerfully withdrawn, as only harm can come from attempting to “stuff” a child physically, mentally, or otherwise. HIS OWN HIGHER SELF KNOWS BEST.

If these directions are carefully followed, and the child encouraged to think and act continually in accordance with those points expressed through him at each “session,” the parent will be surprised and gratified at the rapid progress made in the spiritual unfoldment of the child, and in the increased mutual understanding and finer relationship being built between the two.

COLOMBE had just returned from her first ride on a hay-wagon with her Dad.

“Oh, it was lots of fun, Mother!” she cried. “Kind of bumpy, tho’. And horses go so much slower than Daddy’s auto! Gee, an automobile is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? It goes so fast, is so comfy, and never gets tired and forced to rest like horses do!”

“It certainly is wonderful,” agreed Mother, “but think how much more wonderful is the magic automobile that you drive!”

“I drive! Why, Mother, I can’t drive! I’m too little! Only big people like you and Daddy can drive an auto!”

“No, Colombe, even your little baby brother is learning to drive his tiny magic auto, but he can’t do very much with it yet!”

“I don’t understand you at all, Mother,” answered Colombe. “Where is Johnny’s tiny auto, and where is mine? Do you mean a ‘pretend auto?’ ”

“Not at all!” said Mother, smiling. “I mean this (running hands over child’s body) lovely little automobile which you are in now. You know that you are a Soul, Colombe, straight from God’s Soul World. And God has put you into this wonderful little automobile to help you better to learn the lessons He has for you in this world-school. Isn’t it a clever little automobile, tho’?”

Just think of all the things it can do, which Daddy’s steel one can’t! It can twist, turn, jump, run in any direction, pick up things, feed itself, repair itself—and Oh! so many things that a steel auto can’t do. And look what wonderful lights (touch child’s eyelids) it has to show the way! Of course it is hard to drive at first as there is so much to learn about running it. Just watch how hard little Johnny is working to correctly drive his!”

And what a time the baby was having trying to reach a toy he desired. It was so hard for him to drive his little automobile body where he wanted it to go! Such clumsy useless little movements did he make!

“Poor little fellow,” laughed Colombe, “he works so hard and moves so little! But he does much better than he did at first, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, he will probably be a good driver someday. And so will you, for you are controlling your body-automobile better every day. But very few souls have yet learned to run their automobiles perfectly, for it takes a very long time, much practice, and often means the ruin of many, many auto-bodies before they have truly learned.”

“Gee, Mother, I never thought of my body that way before! But from now on I’m going to remember that I am a Soul who is driving my body, and I’m going to find out as much as I can about the best way to drive it.”

THE following are a few of the questions which can be asked to help impress upon the child’s mind the salient points of the Story Lesson, and to aid in encouraging the child to express his own views. Each parent, however, should try to prepare his own set of questions especially suited to the needs of his own child.

Questions to Lesson One

1. Who are you?

2. Are you this body which you see here?

3. Who am I? Who is Johnny? Daddy? Playmates? etc.

4. Have you ever noticed people’s souls shining like lights through their eyes? If not, watch and see.

5. What is your body like?

6. Who drives it? Do you sometimes steer it wrong and bang your body-auto up?

7. If Daddy breaks something on his steel auto how does he fix it? If you hurt something on our body-auto how do you fix it? (The God Within your Soul does it, doesn’t he? Doesn’t He heal your bruised finger?)

8. When Daddy’s steel auto needs water and “food” (gasoline and oil), can it feed itself like you can feed your body-auto? Or must it be poured in?

9. Does your body-auto have to be greased like Daddy’s?

10. Can Daddy start his steel auto as fast as you can start your body-auto?

11. What other things can your body-auto do which a steel auto cannot?

12. Does the machinery in your body-auto wear out as fast as that in a steel one? Why? (Explain in detail how the body is self-repairing.)

13. Let’s draw a picture of Daddy’s steel auto. Now let’s draw one of our body auto. Which is the more wonderful? Why? (This can be omitted when used for older children.)

WE ARE publishing this First Lesson of a proposed “Way Out Course for Children” in the Magazine, to see if there is enough response from our readers to warrant the Author creating such a Course and our publishing it, when created; also to learn if they would want it continued in the Magazine.

Therefore, if readers and particularly parents who want it published will kindly write us (1) if they would like to have such a Course for use with their children; and (2) if they would like to have us publish two or three more Lessons in the Magazine, we will appreciate it and be governed thereby.—The EDITOR.