The Missionary Reading Circle.
By Mrs. L. Flora Plummer
A number of letters have been received making inquiries concerning the Reading Circle work for the coming winter. It is very encouraging to know that there are so many who regard these studies with so much interest. During the summer months, weekly studies on the field have been published in the Missionary Magazine, but now that the evenings are getting longer, and the time for study more favorable for our busy people, another line of study will be combined with the field study, after the plan followed the last two winters. The committee appointed to plan for this work considered the question carefully, finally deciding to combine with the field studies a series of lessons along the line of health principles. It will not be necessary to give many reasons for this decision, as, doubtless, all will at once recognize the importance of such a study. We have been plainly told that “the presentation of health principles must be united with this message.” The rank and file of our people have spent very little time in studying these principles for themselves, hence are not intelligently living them out, and are not prepared to present them to others. Doubtless there are many who will gladly avail themselves of the opportunity here afforded by the Reading Circle, to acquaint themselves with the important principles underlying this phase of our work. Introductory to the regular book study, a number of lessons will be given upon Good Samaritan topics. Those already chosen are as follows: Who Is Thy Neighbor? Thy Neighbor as Thyself; Hospitality; The True Motive in Service; Acceptable Service Illustrated; Feeding the Hungry; God-given Opportunities; Bear Ye One Another’s Burdens—How? Rewards of Service. No one text-book will be used in the study of this list of subjects, but the lessons will be published in the form of an article in the Review, and the questions will be upon the article. About the first of the new year the regular book study will begin. The text-book is by Dr. J. H. Kellogg, and is now in process of preparation. The book will contain a general outline of the main principles of healthful living and rational treatment, taking up the subjects from a Bible standpoint with numerous Bible footnotes. Full announcements giving the title of the book, price, etc., will be given later. The first lesson of the regular Reading Circle course will be on the field, and will be studied during the week of October 6-12, and throughout the year the field studies will be the lesson for the week in each month which ends on the second Sabbath of the month. The text-book for the field studies is the Missionary Magazine, and each family should be provided with this journal, in order to follow the studies. The first of the Good Samaritan series will be studied during the week of October 13-19. This lesson will be published in the Reading Circle department of the Review, with suitable questions. The subjects considered in the Reading Circle will be made the leading thought in the Young People’s meetings. A series of simple studies on the subjects mentioned above will be prepared, and printed in the Youth’s Instructor, with brief supplementary helps. By thus uniting the studies for the Young People’s meetings with the home study as carried on by the Reading Circle, all members of the family will be drawn together, and their interests united in this important branch of the Lord’s work. We hope that our people everywhere will engage in this work heartily and enthusiastically. Doubtless there will be difficulties in the way in almost every home, for it is not to be supposed that advanced steps are to be made easily. The enemy will defeat every attempt to advance, if he can. This complete message is to be carried in this generation to the ends of the earth. The brethren and sisters in our churches must prepare themselves for active missionary work. The Reading Circle studies are educative, and the whole movement is planned as a means of preparation to fit the members for active service in the cause of God. MRS. L. FLORA PLUMMER.