Category:The Primitive Methodist Juvenile Magazine

Title: The Primitive Methodist Juvenile Magazine

Editor: Unknown

Publisher: Richard Davies

At the close of its 1864 run, the purpose of the Primitive Methodist Juvenile Magazine was succinctly stated to be, “to minister to [the readers’] instruction and edification has been our aim and pleasure; and we have reason to believe our labours, and those of our esteemed contributors, have not been in vain.”^[1] The magazine sought to fulfill this commission by having its four major sections focus on that which would inspire youth of the Primitive Methodist Church to greater dedication and zeal in the service, while balancing that didactic material with some interesting material that is not ostensibly religious.

The Youth’s Department was the first section contained within the small magazine. This section always began with a short article about the engraving on the journal’s cover. The cover page of each issue featured a detailed engraving of a building or place of interest, such as the Crowland Chapel on the Peterborough Circuit. In some issues, this article had a religious theme, but in others there was no mention of religious themes at all. Following this article were one or more sermons that may be continued from or extend into other issues, as well as an article called “Echoes from the Christian’s Study” (not necessarily in that order). The latter article described a general Christian principle, such as thankfulness or gladness, and spent several pages expounding that principle.

The next major section was labeled Scripture Lessons. As one might assume, this section was completely didactic, and was divided into different lessons. The reader was invited to study certain verses of scripture, and then to read the associated commentary provided in the magazine. Thus youth had the opportunity to study their religion on their own.

Scripture Lessons was followed by the Juvenile Biography section, which contains accounts of various youth who were righteous and passed away early in life. Some were as young as age six, others as old as seventeen. This section focused on their dedication to the church and attendance at the Sabbath school, and then spent a good amount of time describing their dying days, emphasizing their lack of fear, as well as joyous excitement, at the imminent prospect of returning to God.

The final section is the Sabbath Scholar’s Department. It begins with a short article about an animal, such as the badger or sable, and although it sometimes contains some religious teaching, it is usually devoid of religious reference. This section sometimes includes a didactic short story as well, such as one titled, “Have Patience.” Frequently, it also has a space allotted for accounts of anniversary services of certain Sabbath schools. It is completed by the Queries and Replies section, where students may write in doctrinal questions, and then receive answers provided by the editor.

Through this mixture of articles, the magazine likely made a “very interesting…and useful companion”^[2] for its young, religious readers.

Notes

1. ↑ Introduction. The Primitive Methodist Juvenile Magazine. London: Richard Davies, 1852. iii-iv. Print.
2. ↑ Ibid.

Submitted by: Parkinson, Dallin: section 1, Winter 2011