THE S. S. WORK IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
By W. C. White
At our Lemoore camp-meeting considerable time was devoted to the Sabbath-school work. The schools in that section of the State were well represented at the meeting, and all present seemed to take a lively interest in this branch of the work. We have never attended a meeting where there was more cheerful readiness to engage in the work, or a more hearty response to every effort to make the meetings interesting and profitable. The regular schools, held each Sabbath morning, were the most quiet and orderly camp-meeting Sabbath-schools we have enjoyed. Of the one hundred and fifty members nearly one third were children, and the animated recitations showed that the limited time for the preparation of lessons had been well employed. From the report of the secretary, J. M. Loveland, we take the following:— "The first meeting held Friday afternoon, being necessarily brief, was occupied mostly in making arrangements for the school in the morning. Seventeen teachers were chosen and assigned positions in various parts of the tent. In the morning these were in their appointed places twenty minutes before the time ready to welcome their scholars, many of whom also came early, so that everything was in order ready to begin the school promptly at nine o'clock. About one hundred and fifty joined in the exercises. The lessons used were the regular lessons for that Sabbath in the Instructor and Lesson Sheet, and lesson fifty-eight in "Bible Lessons for Little Ones No. 2." In the S. S. meeting held during the week, the best methods for teaching and studying the lessons were quite fully discussed. Several brethren of extensive experience in teaching day school made strong pleas for the use of illustrations in teaching and studying. It is largely through the eye that the mind, especially of the child is to be reached. Grown people often take advantage of the power of illustration in conversing with each other. They have learned that if they would have what they are saying make an impression on the one they are addressing they must in some way draw the attention of the eye. How much more important is this if one would interest children. "A committee on resolutions was appointed and a committee to advise in regard to the best lessons for the schools in their districts. This committee reccommended the adoption of the lessons suggested in the circular sent to each school by the committee appointed at the general meeting at Oakland. "Resolutions were passed reccommending that a meeting of the officers and teachers of each school be held at least once a month to consult about matters pertaining to the interest of the school; also that it is the duty of teachers to provide themselves as far as possible with all the helps which will conduce to their efficiency. From the amount of Bible geographies, dictionaries, atlases, etc., which the brethren carried away with them, we judge they intend to carry out this resolution. It was also recommended that a Sabbath-school council be held in connection with each District Quarterly Meeting. "The Sabbath-school on the second Sabbath of the meeting was conducted very much the same as the previous Sabbath. The general exercises in the children's division were conducted in a very interesting manner by Bro. Traber. The lesson was charted out on the blackboard, and the facts so arranged that by going over the lesson three or four times, first bringing out a few main points, and afterward more particulars, the children were soon able to give the whole story in their own words."