A Word to Some Sabbath-Schools by G. B. THOMPSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 16, 1911

A Word to Some Sabbath-Schools

By G. B. THOMPSON

At the last session of the General Conference, held in 1909, the following resolution concerning the Sabbath-school donations was passed:—

“Whereas, Our Sabbath-schools need the blessed inspiration of a real burden for mission fields, while opportunities to spread the message in foreign lands are multiplying faster than their means; therefore,— “We recommend, That our Sabbath-schools give all their donations to missions, providing for their expenses in some other way.”

This recommendation of the General Conference has been followed by similar recommendations in all the union and local conferences. There is no exception, so far as we know. In addition to this, all the officers and leading workers in the union and local conferences are in favor of the plan, and are doing all in their power to see that the recommendation is carried out in their territory. Every Sabbath-school secretary, so far as we know, heartily favors the plan, and is working faithfully and untiringly to have the recommendation carried into effect.

As a result of this we have over fifty local conferences in this country giving all their donations to missions, and these have been placed on the Sabbath-school “Honor Roll.” Six union conferences are on the union conference “Honor Roll.”

That all the conferences are not on the “Honor Roll,” is not the fault of the conference officers. The principal reason why they are not is because local schools here and there fail to pay heed to the resolutions that have been passed. Is your school one of these? If so, why?

In every recommendation passed by the General or local conferences, each church is left free to decide whether it will follow the suggestion, be in harmony with the organized work, or adopt some plan of its own, or have no plan. There is no desire on the part of any conference to force any church or individual to follow a plan which has been proposed. Having sent out the best plan it knows how to formulate, after mature and prayerful consideration, it is for the church to say whether or not it will push the matter. The responsibility is left with the members. It is the same in the matter of giving all the donations to missions. The members of each school must decide whether they will follow the recommendation of the organized work, or take the responsibility of setting it aside.

But let me kindly ask, Is it wise to deliberately refuse to follow the plan, and, as has been done in a few instances, work against the plan? Why should a local Sabbath-school refuse to follow a recommendation which has been passed by the General, union, and local conferences? Are the opinions and ideas of a local church or Sabbath-school on methods of work, and church government to be considered of greater value than the plans of the whole body? Should we not be slow to refuse to follow recommendations which come down to us from the highest body of counsel we have among us, because the plans do not suit our ideas? Is this true organization? Suppose all plans were treated in this way, would it not entirely destroy organization, and substitute general chaos instead?

We would like our schools that are not giving all their donations to missions to think seriously of this. Why not follow the recommendation which has been passed by the General Conference? The moment this is done, all our Sabbath-schools will be giving all their donations to missions. The most of our Sabbath-schools, not only in the United States and Canada, but in all the world, are doing this. Why should your school be an exception? Why should other schools follow the organized plan, and your school not follow it? Let Sabbath-school officers think seriously of this. In unity there is strength, and this is true here as well as in other things. We would be glad to see a clear record in the matter of giving all to missions in every school. This will come sooner or later; why not begin now? Do you want your school to be the last one to fall into line?

The crying needs of the great mission problem before us call for increased Sabbath-school donations. One way we can increase the amount is by turning all our donations into the mission treasury, as recommended by our entire organization, General, union, and local. I earnestly appeal to schools that have not seen their way clear to do this in the past to prayerfully consider the matter. Why not follow the recommendation of the organization, and thus bring unity into the work on this point?

G. B. THOMPSON,

Secretary General Conference Sabbath-School Department.