The Sabbath School by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 24, 1880

The Sabbath School.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

OUR SABBATH-SCHOOLS.

THERE is no one branch of our work more important than the Sabbath-school. It is scarcely three years since an effort was made to more thoroughly systematize our schools; and the success which has attended that effort has been truly marvelous. A strong desire is manifested in every Conference, and in nearly every school in the country, to adopt the best methods and procure such helps as will make their schools a success.

Some things involving the success of our schools have been quite generally discussed and adopted, and we are rejoiced to find that an effort is being made to carry them out, all over the country. One of these is the importance of a general attendance of both old and young. There is not a person professing to observe the Sabbath, or attending our meetings, but should feel that his presence is needed at the Sabbath-school. It will do him good, and encourage the younger portion of the school. Another point which has been theoretically settled, is the necessity of thoroughly learning the lessons. No Sabbath-school will flourish for any great length of time unless the lessons are learned so that answers can be given without reference to the book or lesson sheet.

The object of the school is to learn the Scriptures, to become familiar with what they teach, not simply to read them. Said Philip to the eunuch, "Understandest thou what thou readest?" "How can I," said he, "except some man should guide me?" As soon as Philip explained to him, he believed and was baptized. This is the object of the Sabbath-school, and hundreds have been baptized within the past three years as the fruit of Sabbath-school effort.

There are other points which have received considerable attention, such as the benefit to be derived from a uniformity of lessons, the use of proper song books and record books. Besides these, these are questions of minor importance, such as the propriety of repeating verses of Scripture at the commencement or close of the school. This has elicited some discussion among those who have given this subject the most thought. All agree that it is well to commit to memory those texts of Scripture connected with the lesson. But it is quite a question whether the time occupied in reciting verses not upon any particular subject could not be better occupied, in some other way, perhaps in a general review of the school on the lesson of the day or of some preceding day or in hearing a synopsis of the lesson. The most experienced schools at present occupy a portion of the time each Sabbath in this way.

There is another question of vital interest which is being much agitated both East and West; namely the importance of having helps to instruct in the art of teaching, and to give practical information on the Bible, more particularly on those scriptures which are referred to in the lessons. No pains have been spared by the publishing associations to secure such helps for our Sabbath-schools.

Our schools should be models. In some instances where we have had superintendents and teachers who have felt the importance of keeping their schools up, in harmony with the suggestions made by the General Sabbath-school Association, individuals have come from other schools to obtain instruction from them and secure their assistance in bringing their schools up to a better condition. There is no reason why we should not have the best Sabbath-schools in the world.

S. N. HASKELL.