In order to show the importance of the Sabbath-school work, and to give our people generally an idea of how Sabbath-schools should be conducted, it was thought best to devote one hour and a half Sabbath morning to a regular Sabbath-school in which all who were attending the meeting should join.
Accordingly, on Friday teachers were appointed, several hundred extra lesson sheets for children and for youth were printed and distributed throughout the camp, and all,—old and young,—were requested to prepare themselves upon the first lesson of the sheet, and to attend the school.
Sabbath morning large cards, bearing the number of the divisions, were tacked up in different parts of the tent, and smaller cards, bearing the names of the teachers, were tacked on the ends of the seats that they and their classes were to occupy, so that the teachers, who came early, had no difficulty in finding their places.
As the scholars came in, a number of ushers, who had been chosen, made the first general division of the people, dividing them, according to their age, into three divisions; children, youth, and adults, and passing them on further into the tent, the superintendents placed them in classes of about twenty each. In this manner about fifteen hundred pupils were seated and classified as quickly as possible, and about five hundred, who did not desire to take part in the school, were left on the outer border of the tent, most of whom were compelled to stand up.
The school was opened promptly at 9 o’clock with singing. Prayer was offered by Eld. James White, after which the secretary’s report of the last Battle Creek school was read. Following the reading of this report were the class recitations. This was an interesting point in the school. There were seventy teachers, thirty of whom were ministers, and the remaining forty were, with a few exceptions, the regular teachers of the Battle Creek Sabbath-school. Those of our ministers who did not take part in the recitations, spent the time in watching the general working of the school. At the conclusion of the recitations all joined in singing the familiar song, “Pull for the Shore.”
Next in order came the general exercises, which consisted in publicly questioning the fourth, fifth, and the children’s divisions. During the class recitations, the names of the members of these divisions had been written upon cards and given to the secretary, who called the names as the superintendent asked the questions; and each person whose name was called responded by rising and answering the question asked him.
The fourth and fifth divisions, which were composed principally of young men and women, put considerable energy and life into their recitations; but the children’s division was the most interesting of all. It was composed of about three hundred wide-awake, interested children, all of whom seemed anxious to answer every question. The superintendent, seeing this, gave them the privilege of answering in concert, when the answers came with that vim and simplicity which children alone can give.
The remarks of Sr. White at the close of the general exercises were expressive of deep feeling for the youth of our people. Eld. J. H. Waggoner spoke directly to the teachers, setting before them some excellent thoughts on how to conduct classes, how to get students interested, and how to make their work effectual.
Following Eld. Waggoner, Bro. W. C. White spoke of the object of the school and of the importance of maintaining promptness in attendance.
Prof. G. H. Bell spoke in a general manner concerning the work of Sabbath-schools, and after revealing the secret of all success (hard work), called upon Bro. J. E. White, of California, who spoke of the importance of thoroughness in studying the Sabbath-school lessons, the manner of studying and reciting them, and of the Sabbath-school being a good place to gain general as well as scriptural knowledge. After these general remarks, the school closed with singing. D. W. REAVIS, Sec. of B. C. Sabbath-school.