Sabbath-School Department
By Flora L. Bland
We believe that there is no more important adjunct to our church work than that of the Sabbath-school. It is a great educational factor for all classes, and its history dates almost from the rise of the message. No general organization of what is now the Sabbath-school Department of the General Conference was formed until 1878. When we started, we had no system, no printed lessons, no song-books, no reports. Now we find ourselves well equipped with all of these, and many other valuable helps. The membership of this department should be much larger than our actual church-membership, as it is intended to embrace not only the adult Sabbath-keepers, but children as well. During the last two years the Sabbath-school work has made rapid progress. Since the last General Conference, 337 new Sabbath-schools have been organized, and 179 conventions held. In 1902 the church-membership was 67,150, and the members of the Sabbath-schools numbered 62,636. At the close of 1904, the church-membership was 71,891, and the membership of the Sabbath-schools was 71,643. In 1902 the membership of the Home Department was 1,196, in 1904 the membership was 2,560. In 1902 the donations to missions amounted to $24,339.99, and in 1904 to $40,278.05. Since the removal from Battle Creek to the nation's capital, the headquarters of the department has been in Washington. The corresponding secretary, Mrs. L. Flora Plummer, who for a number of years had been connected with the Sabbath-school work, being unable to locate in Washington, resigned. The department was very sorry to lose the help and counsel of such an experienced laborer, and some time elapsed before her place could be filled. In October, 1904, the present secretary was chosen to fill the vacancy. During the past two years we have studied in the Senior and Junior Divisions, the epistles to the Thessalonians, the book of Ephesians, a quarter's lessons on God's kingdom in this world, the books of Daniel and Revelation, religious liberty, and health and temperance. Two quarters have also been devoted to a topical study on the leading features of our faith. There is no feature of Sabbath-school work which is of greater importance than the lessons. What we shall study is often a source of much perplexity. Those who have the responsibility in this matter in the future will no doubt be glad of any suggestions from this conference concerning this matter. This division of our Sabbath-schools was organized that the aged, the infirm, invalids, those who have the care of young children or of the sick, isolated ones, in fact any who, by force of circumstances, are shut out from the privilege of attending the regular sessions of the Sabbath-school, may still keep in touch with the advancement of the message through a study of the Sabbath-school lessons. Although the Home Department plan has been in operation less than three years, many benefits have been realized. Backsliders have been reclaimed, isolated ones cheered and comforted, and donations to missions have been increased. There have been but few of our conferences during the past two years that have not availed themselves of the privilege of holding conventions. In every instance the secretaries report that the best of success attended these gatherings; excellent papers were read, a marked increase in the donations for missions was noticed, those who attended were encouraged, the schools were improved, and, altogether, they felt that the Sabbath-school conventions, when properly conducted, proved a great help and blessing. The Sabbath School Worker is the organ of the department. It was published for sixteen years as a separate journal. Then, thinking that the church-school and the Sabbath-school might both be better served, its publication was discontinued, and its interest blended with the Advocate of Christian Education. This, however, did not prove satisfactory, and in January, 1904, the publication of the Worker was resumed. Its reappearance was hailed with delight by all its old friends, and many new ones, and although it has not yet reached its second year, it already has more than six thousand paying subscribers, and words of appreciation are being constantly received. The foreign fields lie very close to our hearts. Scattered in all these lands are our children in the truth. Every year since 1887, when over ten thousand dollars was given by the Sabbath-schools to start the work in Africa, we have donated largely to foreign missions. When our laborers go to other lands as missionaries, usually there is a school organized on the first Sabbath after they land. Although these schools often consist of but two or three persons at first, yet it is as a light set upon a hill, and lays the foundation for an organized church later. In these mission fields the schools are very rare which have the helps, the printed lessons, and the conveniences to which we are accustomed. The missionaries must often translate all the lessons used, or write them. In some of these schools there are represented from two to seven languages. Often the grown people, as well as the children, are not accustomed to study, and in some places it is against the law to quietly meet on the Sabbath for worship. Yet in the face of all these difficulties, our missionaries have found that the harvest is fully ripe. Schools are organized, and we now receive regular quarterly reports from nearly every island and mission field where our workers are located. At the last session of the General Conference a resolution was passed recommending that “our Sabbath-schools set apart the contributions of one or more Sabbaths in each quarter, as may be necessary, for the expenses of the school, all the contributions of the remaining Sabbaths to be given to missions.” This recommendation, however, has not been generally adopted as yet. The donations of our Sabbath-schools have become a strong factor in the support of our work “in the regions beyond.” The total amount each year is now equal to our annual offerings, if not greater. Since the compilation of the statistical reports of the Sabbath-schools, their contributions have amounted to $687,814.71. Of this sum $406,960.22 has been given for the extension of our mission work throughout the world, and $280,854.49 retained in the local schools. The following, taken from our annual reports, will show the marked increase in the donations from year to year since 1890:— | Year |
Membership |
Contributions |
Do. to Missions |
Do. to Orphans' Home |
|---|
| 1890 |
32,000 |
$28,642.75 |
$17,707.39 |
|
| 1894 |
49,626 |
39,562.42 |
20,850.05 |
|
| 1898 |
55,160 |
40,301.87 |
21,475.18 |
$4,795.16 |
| 1902 |
62,636 |
41,038.70 |
24,339.99 |
5,496.39 |
| 1903 |
66,811 |
55,823.85 |
34,779.85 |
4,669.54 |
| 1904 |
71,643 |
60,460.80 |
40,278.05 |
5,882.50 |
As will be seen, during the last year the Sabbath-school contributions to missions have amounted to more than forty thousand dollars. This is the largest sum our schools have ever donated in a single year, though the amount per member is but little more than in 1890. The increase seems to be caused through increased membership, rather than by more liberal giving. We are firmly of the opinion that we should keep our mission fields before our schools, not simply to increase the donations, but to deepen the missionary spirit in the hearts of the young. In foreign countries the per cent of the total contributions given to missions is much larger than in the United States. In fact, in the majority of our foreign fields the schools give their entire contributions for mission work. At the last session of the General Conference the work of organizing our young people into active, working societies was but just starting, and yet a splendid beginning had been made. Since that time the number of societies has practically doubled, and hundreds of young people who are too far from a society to belong to it or to meet with it, are doing substantial missionary work. At present we have more than three hundred and fifty well-organized societies, with a membership of fully five thousand. This is the beginning of the “army of youth who can do much if they are properly directed and encouraged.” Many encouraging reports have been received. One State alone has raised one hundred and twenty-seven dollars for Korea, forty-eight dollars for a native laborer, eighty-five dollars for the Southern work, thirty dollars for India, and many thousands of pages of literature have been scattered, and much other work done, the results of which probably never will be known until the Lord rewards his children for what they have done.13In another State a tent for use in Ceylon was largely paid for by the young people. The societies are generally doing regular systematic work in the distribution of literature, soliciting money for charitable purposes, etc., but we have been unable to secure a complete report of what has really been accomplished. The work of our young people is not confined to the United States. In England, Sabbath afternoon meetings for young people have been started. They sell papers, loan tracts, etc., and it has been found that they can often reach people whom older ones can not approach. Ten young men in our training college in London have charge of five different companies, two to each company, besides attending to their studies in the college. In Rarotonga, Cook Islands, there is a flourishing Young People's Society; also in Port of Spain, Barbados, there is an excellent society in operation. The secretary of the French-Latin field writes: “We have Young People's Societies organized wherever there are a sufficient number of youth and children to form one, and where there are the proper persons to conduct them.” In Australia much interest has been taken in the young people. Excellent work has been accomplished. In fact, reports indicate that in all parts of the world an effort is being made to enlist the talent of our youth in the cause of the Lord, with encouraging results. Concerning this work, the servant of the Lord has given us these encouraging words:—“Upon Christian youth depends in a great measure the preservation of the institutions which God has devised as means by which to advance his work. The burden-bearers among us are dropping off into the silent grave. Who will bear the responsibilities of the cause of God when a few more burden-bearers fall? It is upon the youth of to-day that these responsibilities must fall.” We feel to urge that all our conferences give this work the attention and help which its importance demands. One duty of the church is to care for the youth and the children, the lambs of the flock. I was much impressed by a little story I heard once concerning a man who was visiting a very successful sheep raiser. The visitor saw a remarkably fine flock, and was so much impressed with its superiority that he asked his friend how he managed to raise such sheep. His answer was, “I take care of my lambs, sir.” O that the children of light were as wise! In this brief report we have touched on but a few of the important features of the work of the department. The Sabbath-school work is worthy of our most careful attention. It touches every family of Sabbath-keepers, and reaches its saving arms into all lands. It furnishes an unequaled field for Bible study. It is the place where many of our laborers are being trained, and laborers of ability, especially secretaries, should be chosen in all our conferences who will be free to devote to this work the time and energy which its importance demands. That the Sabbath-school work will remain a strong educational factor till the end, there can be no doubt. In closing, we desire to express our appreciation of the hearty co-operation of all, and to express our thankfulness for the blessing of the Lord which has been with us in the past. The most glorious and triumphant part of the message is yet future, and with renewed confidence and hope we should press the conflict vigorously to the gates of the enemy, for beyond the struggle is the song of victory. MRS. FLORA L. BLAND,
Corresponding Sec.