THERE is no phase of our educational work that is of more importance than our church-schools, and upon no particular feature of our whole educational system has the spirit of prophecy spoken more directly in recent years. And we should not wonder at this; for as the child begins his life-work, so he naturally ends it. If seeds of truth are sown during childhood, and are watered during youth, the harvest is generally one of righteousness. And the opposite is equally true; if there is not an abundance of good seed sown during seeding time,—childhood,—a crop of thorns is the almost certain result.
These truths come most closely to parents, and should vitally influence the home life. The trend of a child's character may be largely determined before his school days, as such, begin, and indeed should be. But the good work which has been begun in the home must be carried on in the school. Not only must new truths be taught, but they should be laid upon the foundation begun in the home. Here is emphasized the close relation which must exist between the home and the school; for the building work begun in the home should be of such a nature as to go on through life. No haphazard work is to be done in this important matter; for it is one of eternal consequences. While it is one which may call for much anxiety and great self-denial on the part of parents, yet it is one which holds possibilities, than which there are none greater. “Every child born into the home is a sacred trust. God says to the parents, ‘Take this child and bring it up for me, that it may be an honor to my name, and a channel through which my blessings shall flow to the world.’ . . . Something more is called for than a partial, one-sided education.”
In view of this, what should be the attitude of our people concerning the matter of church-schools for this coming year? The answer is not far to seek. It should be the most earnest and prayerful endeavor to provide a school in every church where there are children who should have the benefit of such a school. And right now is the time to formulate and perfect these plans, so that the schools may be opened as early as the opening of the public schools, in order that those children who should attend the church-schools may not have their attention attracted away from our own schools, and perhaps lose confidence in them.
SOME OF OUR CHINESE PUPILS
The first and sure foundation of confidence in our church-schools is in these words of the spirit of prophecy: ‘I say again, Establish schools for the children wherever there are churches; where there are those who assemble to worship God, let there be schools for the children. Work as if you were working for your life to save children from being drowned in the polluting, corrupting influences of this life.’ While these words are the primary ground of faith and action in the church-school work, yet another feature equally necessary for confidence is that of having provisions made for thorough work to be done in these schools. Well-qualified teachers, with a proper support, comfortable schoolrooms, good discipline, and a high standard of scholarship, are absolutely necessary if our people are to give to this work their hearty support. The failure of many of our schools to provide these conditions for success has naturally led to a distrust of the church-school work, especially on the part of those whose hearts were not wholly in it. But the Lord has given us the work and set the standard, and we must take up the work and meet the standard, and do it now. We must not be disheartened by past failures or by present circumstances which are forbidding. When we consider the great work which has been done by this people in the last six or eight years in the matter of developing an elementary school system, we certainly have no cause for discouragement. Let 1904-05 mark great advancement. Plan for it now. F. G.
