ORGANIZATION OF THE MICHIGAN SABBATH-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION by G. H. Bell; Lettie Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 2, 1878

ORGANIZATION OF THE MICHIGAN SABBATH-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.

By G. H. Bell; Lettie Loughborough

At the quarterly meeting of the Seventh-day Adventists of Michigan, held at Battle Creek, April 21 and 22, 1878, the subject of a State Sabbath-school Organization was considered.

According to previous notice, the session for considering this subject opened at 7 P. M., April 21. Eld. D. M. Canright was called to the chair, and Eva Perkins was appointed secretary pro tem.

W. C. White stated the object of the meeting, and that the committee appointed at the time of organizing the General Sabbath-school Association, to draft a Constitution for State Sabbath-school Associations had already reported through the REVIEW.

The Constitution was then read and adopted, and the following officers were elected: President, G. H. Bell; Secretary, Lettie Loughborough; Executive Committee, G. H. Bell, J. Fargo, and W. C. White.

It was suggested that a weekly Sabbath-school paper was very much needed. Eld. Canright remarked that the INSTRUCTOR, coming as it does only once a month, could help our Sabbath-schools but little, and inquired if it would be consistent to publish it oftener. W. C. White said that the Publishing Association would be glad to issue the paper oftener if the people could afford to pay for it, as it would undoubtedly effect more good; and that when there was a sufficient demand for a weekly Sabbath-school paper, there would be no difficulty in securing its publication.

W. C. White suggested that agents would be needed in different parts of the State to assist in organizing Sabbath-schools; and that it would be very desirable to consult with the brethren now present from different parts of the State. To this end, the meeting was adjourned until 3:30 P. M., April 22.

SECOND SESSION.

After some remarks by the president, the report of the previous meeting was read and accepted.

Bro. W. C. White then remarked that there is a great interest at stake. He read a short extract from an article in the REVIEW of April 18, concerning the importance of Sabbath-school work, and the little interest that has been taken for the children in some of our churches. He then raised the question, How can we accomplish most in the shortest time and with the least labor?

Elds. Canright, Lamson, Jones, and others expressed their interest in the work, pledging themselves to do all in their power for its advancement.

After some further remarks, the following resolution was adopted:—

Resolved, That we request the ministers of this State to take a greater interest in the Sabbath-school work, and to labor for the establishment and support of the Sabbath-school wherever they go.

The following brethren were then nominated and elected as special agents to assist in organizing Sabbath-schools and in promoting the interests of the Sabbath-school work: D. H. Lamson, E. R. Jones, H. M. Kenyon, Wm. Ostrander, Franklin Howe, Alex Carpenter, Elam Van Deusen.

The following resolutions were then presented and unanimously adopted:—

Resolved, That the custom of omitting the Sabbath-school at the time of quarterly or other important meetings is a bad one, and that we urge our ministers to attend the Sabbath-schools and labor for their interest.

Resolved, That the morning is by far the most favorable time for the Sabbath-school; and that whenever the Sabbath-school and meeting are both held at one session, it is advisable to hold the Sabbath-school first.

At this point in the meeting want of time and pressure of other business made it necessary to adjourn; but several of the ministers, together with the officers and special agents of the association, repaired to another room, where they freely discussed important matters pertaining to the interests of the Sabbath-school work.

The most entire unity of opinion and harmony of feeling seemed to prevail. All agreed that every member of the church should be a member of the Sabbath-school; and that all, especially parents, should join classes, learn the lessons, and recite as do the youth and children, invalids and infirm people alone excepted.

That a school should be organized in every church where no school is now in progress, and that schools already organized should take such steps as may be necessary in order to make their organization complete.

That a uniform course of lessons should be adopted and used in all our schools.

That Sabbath-school libraries, such as we can obtain, oftener prove a hindrance than a help.

That, in general, the practice of trying to get up an interest by offering rewards in the form of merits, cards, etc., is open to serious objections, and has a tendency to divert the mind from the only source of healthy interest.

That the excellences and beauties of truth, as revealed in the Bible, have a power to charm youth and children, as well as older people; and our endeavor should be to make those truths so plain that their beauties and excellences will be apparent. An interest thus awakened will be enduring, and will bring forth fruit to the glory of God and the good of mankind.

That although it may sometimes be advisable to offer cards, etc., as a temporary inducement, for the purpose of getting some into the school who could not be reached from higher motives, yet an effort should be made to divert the mind from the rewards, and fix it upon the truths taught; and that as soon as this can be accomplished, the rewards may be safely dropped.

That the ordinary custom of concert exercises, in which verses containing some word or set of words are repeated or read, is little better than a waste of time, as there is seldom enough connection of thought to forcibly impress any lesson upon the mind. Different plans were discussed and that of making the general recitation a review of the day's lesson or of the two or three previous lessons, was highly recommended. This plan gives the superintendent an opportunity to bring out any important point in the lesson that may have been overlooked by the teacher.

The plans for securing a complete course of Sabbath-school lesson books was then discussed, after which the meeting adjourned. G. H. Bell, Pres.

Lettie Loughborough, Sec.