The General Conference Sabbath-School by G. B. THOMPSON; L. FLORA PLUMMER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 3, 1913

The General Conference Sabbath-School

By G. B. THOMPSON; L. FLORA PLUMMER

A VERY pleasing and interesting feature of the Sabbath services at the General Conference was the Sabbath-school, which convened each Sabbath morning. The adult English-speaking division met in the large pavilion, the foreign nationalities in the foreign department tent, and the youth and children in three convenient locations.

Promptly at nine o'clock on each Sabbath day a song of praise ascended from the various divisions of the camp school. This song of praise was voiced by baby lips, by bright-faced boys and girls, by the youth, by men and women sincere and devoted; and the language spoken was that of many tongues. The scene must have been one upon which angels delight to look.

In passing from one division to another one was impressed with the wise, tactful, and appropriate exercises being conducted.

Everywhere the eager interest of the members, the enthusiastic and capable methods of the teachers, were plainly to be seen. In the foreign divisions, although the words spoken were not intelligible to the visitor, one could sense the earnestness and recognize the presence of the Spirit.

The lessons used were the regular Sabbath-school lessons studied in all the Sabbath-schools on these days.

One interesting feature of this camp school was the talks given by various missionaries. Five minutes was set apart each Sabbath for this purpose. As we learned of the spirit of sacrifice and self-denial of those who love the truth in mission lands, our hearts were stirred to give liberally to the advancement of the work in mission fields.

A thermometer was displayed at the first session of the Sabbath-school, and the call was given for one thousand dollars for missions during the four sessions of the Conference. The accompanying picture of this thermometer shows the response that was made to the call. On the last Sabbath one check was received for two hundred dollars as a Sabbath-school offering, and another check for twenty dollars from a hard-working Sabbath-keeping family in one of the States, who desired to have a part in this Sabbath-school offering.

When the offerings were taken, it was customary, in the large pavilion, to collect the envelopes in waste-baskets. These were brought to the front, and each time Elder J. N. Loughborough, a veteran Sabbath-school worker, asked the blessing of the Lord upon the gifts.

The first Sabbath the offering was $383.25; the second Sabbath, $412.20; the third Sabbath, $506; the fourth Sabbath, $551.69. Total, $1,853.14.

The largest attendance recorded was on the third Sabbath, when the count in all divisions showed that 2,523 were present.

G. B. THOMPSON, Superintendent; L. FLORA PLUMMER, Secretary.