p. 199 | Sabbath-School Hints

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 26, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 13.

Sabbath-School Hints.

That the Sabbath-school, when properly conducted, is a valuable accessory to the church, its past history has fully attested. It has also shown that when carried on carelessly or without any particular object in view, the tendency has been not only to discourage the young in the work of the Sabbath-school, but to lessen their interest in religious services generally, and to make the Sabbath a dull and tiresome day. As a result, they soon become wayward, and are finally lost to the cause. This, however, is not necessary. Children are very much like grown people. That which is not made attractive, soon ceases to interest them. Truth should be made plain and interesting to the children, and then it is food for them the same as it is to us; the Bible and Sabbath-school become attractive, and the Sabbath itself the best day of the seven, to which they will continually look forward with delight.

There is one other consideration which yields consolation here and the promise of joy hereafter. Children that have been well trained in the Sabbath-school almost invariably at the proper age present themselves for baptism, and become valuable members of the church. A prominent Baptist minister once said that during a pastorate of twenty years over one church, he baptized two hundred and twenty-eight pupils from its Sabbath-school, from whom only seventeen had been disfellowshipped. Corresponding steadfastness would no doubt be seen among young converts in all churches were Sabbath-schools faithfully sustained in their midst.