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The Home Department

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 15, 1902

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 28.

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The Home Department

FIRST we ought to know what the home department is. As its name suggests, it is a department of the Sabbath school conducted in some home. Now we might ask whose home or what home, and in reply we might say that a home where all the members attend the regular Sabbath school is in no need of such a department; so of course some home that does not have the benefit of our regular Sabbath school is the place for the home department. There should be some one appointed to take charge of the work, also a secretary who will make a minute of each Sabbath school held. A collection should also be taken, a class record kept, and the secretary should report as often as each quarter (once each month would be better) to the secretary of the regular Sabbath school of which the home department is a part or branch; and that department should be made to feel that the regular Sabbath school recognizes them as a part of the regular school.
Next we will mention the possibility of this department. One or more families may start this department, have a regular hour each Sabbath to hold theirSabbath school, have a regular superintendent and secretary, so as to make it seem as much like the regular Sabbath school as possible, invite their neighbors in to study the Word of God with them; and in this way many may be led to study the third angel's message, and thus have a part in the closing work of this world's history. While it might not be proper to take up all the lines of thought that might be presented at the department Sabbath school, we could follow up these thoughts with Bible readings and the printed page, and I am sure that the blessings of the Lord would attend our efforts, and we ourselves would be benefited; for in blessing others we receive a great blessing. Those who take part in this department work will feel an increased interest in the study of the Word of God, and will look forward all through the week for the hour to arrive in which to talk over with the rest of the household, or with any who may step in to take part in some way, what they have been studying; then, too, if they should attend any regular Sabbath school, they need not feel embarrassed if called upon in the general review, as they will have kept in touch with the lessons all along, and therefore will feel familiar with each thought that may be presented.
Now comes the all-important question of what our school should do with this department work. I believe that we should encourage it wherever there is a home that can be used for this work. We might mention a few ways in which we could assist, such as keeping them supplied with The Little Friend, perchance, for the children, and with the Youth’s Instructor for any young people who may attend, and also see that each family represented has a lesson pamphlet, and that the school has a secretary’s book and class record books, and that some one visits them occasionally to encourage them and render assistance.