A Plea for Larger Sabbath-School Attendance and for Daily Study of the Sabbath-School Lessons
By Mrs. L. Flora Plummer
A FEW years ago the following statement, uttered by a very faithful laborer of wide experience, was printed in one of our papers:— “I solemnly believe that if a person is so situated that he can study the lesson and attend the Sabbath-school, and does not do so, he will never attain to such knowledge of God as will bring to him eternal life.” At first thought it may seem as if this is a very extreme view, but the idea is worth consideration. A spirit of indifference to the Sabbath-school has crept into the minds of many of our people, and in nearly every church there are those who habitually absent themselves from the Sabbath-school, or else are very irregular in their attendance. While our Sabbath-schools need and should have the presence and help of every believer, the need is not wholly on one side. Those who are carelessly depriving themselves of this means of grace may be turning away from that which might be to them a “savor of life unto life.” The Sabbath-school is the church organized and equipped for the systematic study of the Word of God. There is no service that equals it in giving opportunity for individual study and training. That any Christian should ever complete the course is absurd. Can any one deliberately or carelessly turn from the Sabbath-school, and cut himself off from its service and influence, and from the study of the Bible lessons which are engaging the attention of a large number of the people of God, and not suffer a loss that is material? Can we really estimate the possible loss? No portion of the Scriptures can become so familiar to any one that he will know all there is of God in any text, so that study can reveal nothing more. The value of a careful, thorough study of the Sabbath-school lessons week by week through a series of years can not easily be estimated. That which is heard or read but once is soon forgotten. But in the Sabbath-school lesson we have a portion of Scripture adapted in its form and arrangement for individual home study, for class recitation, and for review. If the week’s study is thorough, and the Sabbath-school hour properly used, the mind is indelibly impressed with the truths of that lesson. The Sabbath-school is our pioneer organization. We have Sabbath-schools before we have churches. It is a work that touches our nearest and dearest interests; it should reach every home and every member of the home. Its influence extends into all lands, and to the islands of the seas. Unquestionably the Sabbath-school is one of the leading factors in molding, establishing, building up, and making permanent and sure our denominational work. No other public service affords to those of all ages so excellent an opportunity for a study of the things of God. We appeal to every family and to every person in our ranks to study the Sabbath-school lessons and connect with the Sabbath-school work. If you are within reach of a school, let no trivial thing hinder your prompt and regular attendance. If you are isolated, send for a Lesson Quarterly, and for the lesson papers for your children, and in the fear of God unite in the study of the lessons. Let us have a revival of the old-time spirit of Bible study. And the study of that Word will surely be “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”