SABBATH-SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS.
By Executive Committee
At the last general camp-meeting at Battle Creek, a resolution was passed by the General Sabbath-school Association, recommending the practice of each member's contributing a penny or more to the funds of the Sabbath-school on each Sabbath day. This was discussed to considerable length before its adoption, many of our leading brethren speaking in its favor. We think this is a move in the right direction, and one that will recommend itself to all our schools. Every successful Sabbath-school is continually in need of means for various objects. It needs maps of Scripture lands, Sabbath-school papers, lesson sheets, and books, a call-bell, Class Records, a Secretary's Record, song books, library books and the like. The lesson books and song books should generally be purchased by the individuals who use them, but the maps, blank books, etc., must be paid for from a general Sabbath-school fund. Question books should be furnished free of charge to those whose parents are too poor to buy them. The poor children are the very ones who should be sought out and induced to attend the Sabbath-school; but if these things cannot be provided for them, they will seldom come. From these things all can readily see the necessity of raising a general S. S. fund, and the question at once arises, How shall it be obtained? It will not do to take it out of the systematic benevolence, and if we depend upon our older brethren and sisters to raise it by larger donations, we generally find that it is not done at all. Is it suggested that each one contribute a certain amount each week, and that this be paid in on some other day besides the Sabbath? With nine-tenths of our people this is entirely impracticable. Our little churches are much scattered. The members live from three to seven miles from the place of meeting, and seldom meet together except upon the Sabbath day. And it would be too expensive for the collector to go all through the country to the homes of these children and gather up their contributions. If it be said that these contributions can be laid aside weekly at home, and brought to the treasurer at the business quarterly meeting on Sunday, we reply that this also is impracticable. Children do not look so far ahead. They get tired of waiting so long, and then, too, they are the very ones who do not attend business meetings. The plan suggested is simple, easy to be accomplished; and if the offerings are brought with the right motives, these Sabbath contributions will prove not only a help to the school, but a blessing to the scholars, especially the younger children. We have seen this plan tried, and find that it adds greatly to the interest which the children have in attending the Sabbath-school. During the week they save up a penny or two to present as their little offering, and thus they learn a good lesson in self-denial. Sabbath morning they are anxious to go and to carry it in their hand, so that they can contribute their little mite; and then they are sure to feel an interest in what is bought with this money. This furnishes to the parents a most excellent opportunity to teach their children to sacrifice something for the cause of Christ. As they receive little sums from different sources they can be instructed to lay up a part to aid in the work of the Sabbath-school. They can be told how much more blessed this is than to spend it for little trifles for their own gratification. It will stamp upon their young hearts the principle of sacrifice, and will establish a habit of self-denial, and also one of contributing always to benevolent enterprises. They come to the Sabbath-school and quietly drop their pennies into a little box. There is no buying, no selling, no financial transaction. It is wholly in harmony with the Sabbath day. Indeed, on looking into the word of God, we find that the Lord directed that more offerings should be made to him upon the Sabbath day than upon any other day of the week. Other days they were to offer one lamb in the morning and one at night; but upon the Sabbath day a double offering was to be made. Thus the Lord says: “And on the Sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat-offering, mingled with oil, and the drink-offering thereof: this is the burnt-offering of every Sabbath, besides the continual burnt-offering, and his drink-offering.” Num. 28:9, 10. Christ says that the priests were blameless, and why? because it was done for the Lord. It was an offering to him upon his day. One of the most acceptable acts of worship to God is that of presenting an offering to him. This is repeatedly declared in the Bible. Some have expressed a fear that this offering upon the Sabbath day will open the way for business transactions, and that the sacredness of the day will be lost in the minds of the children, but this need not be so if parents will properly instruct their children. There is no business transaction about it. It is simply presenting a little offering to the Lord, and should tend to enhance the sacredness of the Sabbath in the minds of the children. We therefore recommend that all our Sabbath-schools throughout the Conferences begin with the first Sabbath in January to carry this into practice. Let each Sabbath-school have a little box with an opening into which a penny can be dropped, and let every one who chooses drop in his penny; it is a free-will offering, and should be presented as such. Let the treasurer take charge of the money thus received. We suggest that in the case of very poor children the wealthier brethren from time to time give them pennies to lay aside for this purpose.