LESSON XVII.
GOVERNMENT AND RELIGION.
Preparatory Oral Work.—Ask the pupils such questions as these: Do you know what an officer is? Did you ever see one? Tell the names of some of the officers you have seen. What does a mayor do? A sheriff? A constable? A justice of the peace? Who makes the laws for your state? Who makes the laws for your town? Answer all questions that pupils cannot answer for themselves.
1. Government.—What a noise there would be in the school if there were no one to keep order! How many wrong things would be done, and how uncomfortable a place it would be!
Teachers, therefore, make rules. They keep the pupils in order, and manage everything for the good of all. They are said to govern the schools.
Towns, cities, and whole countries are somewhat like schools. They must have rules and rulers, or else a few disorderly people might make it unpleasant for all the rest. Making rules for a country, and making the people obey the rules, is government.
The rules made for a country are called its laws. The city where the laws are made is its capital.
The rulers of different countries have different names. A ruler that is chosen by the people is usually called a president. One that rules because a father or other near relative ruled previously, is a monarch.
Monarchs are sometimes called kings, or queens, or emperors.
If the ruler of a country makes laws which are selfish, oppressive to the people, and opposed to their advancement, he is called a despot.
Countries that have presidents are called republics; those that have kings are called kingdoms; those that have emperors are called empires. Kingdoms and empires are sometimes called monarchies.
Republics, and other countries, are often composed of parts, which are called by various names. With us they are known as states and territories.
The governor of a state is elected by the people. The governor of a territory is appointed by the president.
2. Religion.—The belief in God, together with the various forms of worshiping Him, is called religion.
Christians believe in one God and that Christ is the Savior of the world. They accept the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God.
The Jews also believe in one God, but maintain the Savior has not yet come.
Mohammedans believe in one God, but recognize Mohammed as His greatest prophet. Many Mohammedans are but half civilized.
There are people in the world who do not believe in one God, but think that there are many gods. Such people are called pagans. Some of them worship images of wood or stone, which we call idols.
The place where people worship is called a church, a synagogue, a mosque, or a temple.
St. Peter's church at Rome, the largest in the world.
For Recitation.—What is government? What is a republic? What is a kingdom? What is an empire? What are the chief religions of the world? Who are pagans?
LESSON XVIII.
RACES OF MEN—CIVILIZATION.
Preparatory Oral Work.—Suggestions to teachers: Have pupils compare different peoples as to their features, color, height, etc. Ask who has ever
