p. 224 | Questions by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 3, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 14.

Questions.

By Editor

1. Does the word replenish, in Gen. 1:28, have any reference to the earth being inhabited before Adam's time? J. T. T.

It does not. The word replenish may mean to fill again, or simply to fill. But in this text it means to fill, only. The original determines it. The Hebrew word does not mean to refill, or fill again, but simply to fill.

2. How long ought a social meeting to be held, and how long should the opening remarks of the leader be? A. N.

As a rule a social meeting should not be held more than an hour; circumstances might call for an hour and a quarter, but rarely. If the meeting is quite small, forty minutes is a good length of time. As to the opening remarks, we should consider five minutes about the right length. They might be less, but seldom more. The profit of a social meeting is in its spirit; no one is ever profited by a dull prosy social meeting. Let it be spirited, if not more than thirty minutes.

3. How long a time is it allowable for a leader to spend, after the time for opening has come, in selecting a chapter to read, and a hymn? If he reads a long chapter, should he make remarks on the whole of it?

If he wishes to kill the meeting at the very start he may take all the time in selecting and reading and commenting that he thinks necessary. It is easily done. If he wishes to have a good meeting he should have all his selections made before the meeting; never read a chapter, but a few verses which contain an idea which he wishes to impress at that time. And then call attention to the teaching of the scripture, but not cover it out of sight by many words.

There is something to consider on the other side. The brother who follows the leader in a speech of five to ten minutes has done an almost irreparable injury to the meeting. A spirited exhorter might hold up the interest that length of time, but only occasionally. A good thing is for all to mark that which has the best effect on the brethren and sisters. Observation shows that short, spirited testimonies receive the hearty responses. Very seldom is a response heard to a long inanimate speech. This ought to be an admonition to all speakers.

BRO. C. C. MAYNARD, of Julian, San Diego Co., Cal., is desirous of entering the field as canvasser and colporter. To enable him to do so he wishes to rent his potato ranch, of 400 sacks capacity, to some Sabbath-keeper. Address, as above.