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The Ministerial Reading Courses

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 24, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 10.

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The Ministerial Reading Courses

By Frederick Griggs

During the past four or five years considerable attention has been given to reading courses for our young people, teachers, and ministers. Many of our brethren and sisters in their homes have entered heartily into one or more of these courses of reading. There is no question as to their value. A few extracts from “Gospel Workers,” one of the books of the 1915 Ministerial Reading Course, emphasize the value of these courses. While these words are addressed primarily to our brethren in the ministry and to our sisters in the Bible work, yet the principles of which they speak are applicable to all. Sister White says:—
“A minister should never think that he has learned enough, and may now relax his efforts. His education should continue throughout his lifetime.”
“Ministers of age and experience should feel it their duty, as God’s hired servants, to go forward, progressing every day, continually becoming more efficient in their work, and constantly gathering fresh matter to set before the people.”
“God has no use for lazy men in his cause; he wants thoughtful, kind, affectionate, earnest workers. Active exertion will do our preachers good. . . . Persons who have never acquired habits of close industry and economy of time should have set rules to prompt them to regularity and dispatch.”
“Men of God must be diligent in study, earnest in the acquirement of knowledge, never wasting an hour. Through persevering exertion they may rise to almost any degree of eminence as Christians, as men of power and influence.”
“Mental culture is what we as a people need, and what we must have in order to meet the demands of the time. Poverty, humble origin, and unfavorable surroundings need not prevent the cultivation of the mind.”
It is just as important that the brother on the farm or in the shop, or the sister in her home, should make an effort to become an efficient worker for Christ as that the minister do so. Very few persons realize the value of moments,— moments that go to waste which might have been spent in improvement of mind and heart. Such a use of time as would ordinarily be lost gives to one a new life within and a new outlook upon life without, which makes living a joy and fills the days with light and courage.
At the last General Conference a recommendation was adopted, establishing a regular course of reading for our ministers and Bible workers. During the year 1914 the following books were read in the course: “Preparing to Preach,” by Breed; “The Acts of the Apostles,” by Mrs. E. G. White; and “The Monuments and the Old Testament,” by Price; and in 1915, “Medical Science of Today,” by Evans; “Gospel Workers,” by Mrs. E. G. White; “History of the Ancient World,” by Goodspeed; the magazine Christian Educator; and “The Minister as Shepherd,” by Jefferson. During the present year we are reading “History of Western Europe,” by Robinson; “The New Era in Asia,” by Eddy; “The Ideal Ministry,” by Johnson; “The Ministry of Angels,” by I. H. Evans; and the magazine Christian Educator.
The magazine contains from month to month notes and outlines on the books being read, and other valuable matter pertaining to gospel work. No charge is made save for the books and the magazine, for which there is a special club offer of $5. This is a saving of seventy cents on the regular retail price of the books.
Money spent for good books affording wholesome intellectual food, is as necessary and helpful as that spent for physical food; for after all, the spiritual and mental life is of higher consequence than food and raiment. These good books should be in our homes and be read this year.
The Department of Education of the General Conference will be very glad to correspond with any of our people relative to these reading courses.
FREDERICK GRIGGS.