While teaching a course in modern history in a Y.M.C.A. boys' school in a large American city, I was impressed by the fact that in certain phases of history, such as the French Revolution, the work of Florence Nightingale, and current events, the students showed an unusually animated interest and a knowledge beyond their textbooks. When I inquired as to the source of their information, they answered, "We saw all that in the movies." The fact that they had seen these scenes reenacted before their eyes with the vividness of the modern motion pictures and newsreels, made the events real and produced lasting impressions.
Of course, every historian knows that Hollywood's so-called "historical" pictures are very unhistorical in many of their details and therefore are misinforming. Nevertheless, the fact remains that visual education makes a much deeper impression than auditory education. A combination of the visual and the auditory gives the gospel worker a tool that he cannot afford to ignore or neglect. Therefore, why not give our congregation historical, visual impressions by means of chalk talks? There is no denomination that emphasizes history in its teachings as do Seventh-day Adventists. Let us present it in a way to make the greatest impression upon the greatest number of listeners.
Some of our workers have the large painted animals of Daniel 7 and 8 cut out of heavy plywood, and make them to appear realistically out of a sea on the stage or platform. Some may have other impressive ways of presenting this subject of prophecy. All our workers may not be so fortunate, but all can learn to present these beasts by the chalk-talk method, if they will follow simple instructions and do a little practicing.
We here present the beasts of Daniel 7 in a simple style for chalk-talk work. The paper is already squared off for your convenience. (See instructions in article No. 2, June MIN - ISTRY, page 14.)
For this study, if the circumstances of your meeting place permit, I suggest having the five sheets necessary for this study already tacked to the wall in a row. If the wall is not smooth, use enough thicknesses of paper to pad it. By having the sheets in a row, you will have the beasts all on display at the same time when they are completed.
The shading, such as on the bear, can best be done by lightly using the broad side of chalk. Be careful not to do this too heavily or you will obliterate the outlines. And unless you have practiced and are sure of yourself, it might be better not to try to shade. Do not feel that you have to put in every spot on the leopard. Just a few suggestive spots on the heads and the side will be sufficient to give the idea and appearance of a leopard. In the fourth beast, I place in the center, rather close together, the three horns that were plucked up. Then in making the papal horn, I draw right over the three, covering them completely as shown in the illustration. This will truly make a horn "more stout than his fellows."
If a little color is desired, use blue for the water and brown for the rocks, but the beasts should be made in black outline.
