A Plea for the Children
By Faith Burch
As we enter the camp-meeting season, I feel like putting in a plea for a much neglected branch of the Lord's work — I refer to the younger members of the household of faith, our children. I am well aware that no effort will be spared for the welfare of the adult members of the congregation. The best speakers and teachers we have will put forth earnest, persistent effort to kindle spiritual fires among the professors of religion, will work diligently and faithfully for the reconversion of those who have once loved the truth, as well as for the unconverted souls outside. I trust that a corresponding effort may be made for our children, whose souls are just as precious in the sight of heaven. I have been grieved to see camp-meetings, where, while the adult members sat peacefully in the tabernacle of the congregation, reverently listening to soul-inspiring sermons, the children were running, haphazard, here and there, good and bad intermingling, not for the purpose of mutual benefit, but too often to disseminate the knowledge of evil. The boys of from fourteen to eighteen years, with any chance acquaintances they might make, went out to “see the town” and girls of the same tender years were left to enter into idle flirtations with the more godless of our own denomination, as well as with passers-by. Dear brethren and sisters, if even half our children were gathered into the fold, we would have a mighty army of Christian volunteers for heathen lands. Do you not believe it? If there are no special services provided for the children and youth, prevail upon them to attend the services with you. If that is not feasible, stay with them. Do not go to church even and leave your children exposed to the wiles of the evil one. The instance I bear in mind may be an extreme one, but I knew some children at a certain camp-meeting whose parents left them in their tents, oftentimes in their beds, who, as soon as services had begun, got up and slipped out to frequent a merry-go-round and other doubtful places of amusement, returning every night just in time to escape detection. Now these little girls were generally considered very good children. Indeed, no one was brave enough to acquaint their parents with the fact that they were not so honorable as they might have been. When you go to church and leave children behind you, are you sure how they spend their time? I doubt both the possibility and the expediency of keeping our young folks under constant espionage, but certainly we have erred too far in the other direction. It is often the case at our camp-meetings that the meetings actually begin before a leader is appointed for the work among our young people. Then some one is chosen,— oftentimes one with no experience whatever in managing a large company of children,— told to find his own material for teachers, and left to get along as best he can. No, not exactly left; for he is also probably appointed to serve on the conference committee, help with the singing, and has a share in many other meetings. I beg to state that the salvation of our children's souls is a work second to none in importance; that the best material in the work is none too good to use in building up the characters of the young, that the leader of the children's meetings should be selected only after prayerful consideration, and should be given time thoroughly to prepare himself for service, laying large and thoughtful plans for the instruction and conversion of the young. Often one who could do good work as the teacher of a class should not be entrusted with the responsibility of the whole congregation of young people. Judgment, managing ability, fine discrimination, and power to read character quickly, are all needed by the leader of the work in properly dividing the classes, assigning the teachers, conducting the routine work smoothly, and accomplishing the best results. Many of these faculties are developed in the Sabbath-school. Would it not be well to look among the superintendents of our best Sabbath-schools for such a person? Such a one might be more successful than some ordained ministers, who, while deeply alive to the necessities of the work, are in danger of giving their instruction just a little above a child's head. Simplicity is needed. “For the lambs to reach the fodder, it must be placed low.” After an efficient leader is found, a working corps of teachers should be prepared for the camp-meeting work. Teachers may be met with everywhere, but let us use discrimination in selecting ours. The best material in church and Sabbath-schools is ours to select from. Only choose wisely. Before a teacher is allowed to take a class, he should be pledged to be present whenever possible. Do not accept one who will promise to be there only when “convenient.” This “cheap form of Christian benevolence” I believe to be an abomination in the eyes of the Lord. Teachers should be chosen who will carry the souls of their pupils as a burden upon their hearts till the last one is brought into the fold,— teachers who are always in their places at the hour appointed, who have time for the teachers' prayer-meeting and a thorough study of the lesson, who are willing to work personally with each pupil, to hold Bible readings and prayer services with them,— men and women whose lives shed forth the fragrance and beauty of One who was the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valley. I quote from the Testimonies:— “The superintendents and teachers in our Sabbath-schools must be converted, rescued from their habitual insensibility. The precious lessons of truth must not be taught in a tame, lifeless way; but by daily communion with the Lord, by a reception of the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, life-giving power must be added to their efforts to win souls to Christ.” The days are going by swiftly. The opportunities are fast passing. The children are growing up, and in many cases growing away and out of the truth. Is it not time that a special effort was being made? And is not the “time of refreshing” at camp-meeting a most appropriate one? I most earnestly plead for fathers, mothers, teachers, Sabbath-school workers, ministers, and friends to bear the children of this message to the Lord in prayer, and work meanwhile with the remembrance that for the unconverted, as one of old said: “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.” “O Christian, awake! ’tis the Master's command;
With helmet and shield, and a sword in thy hand,
To meet the bold tempter, go, fearlessly go,
And stand like the brave, with thy face to the foe.”