To the Vermont Sabbath-Schools.
By H. Peebles
The new year has come. This is a most appropriate time for introducing new measures, and making an advance move in our Sabbath-schools. We all—officers and members—need much study and training to fit us for the work. Thorough consecration, first; and the rest is quite sure to follow. Let us all be ready to do whatever the Lord has for us to do, be it great or small. Do not forget the contribution. We shall need funds with which to supply schools with records, singing-books, clubs of the INSTRUCTOR, etc., and large offerings from those who are able, will be very acceptable. As to the manner of committing and reciting the lessons, let me call your attention to the excellent articles in REVIEW Supplement, Vol. 52, No. 24, and similar ones in our good paper. By all means let us avoid the habit of reading our lessons in the class. Often the excuse, “I did not know where the lesson was,” is given for not being prepared to recite with the class, and this is sometimes a proper excuse under present circumstances. Having conferred with the Executive Board, let me suggest as a remedy that there be a uniformity in lessons throughout the State. Let those who have not already procured question books subscribe for enough copies of the Weekly INSTRUCTOR to supply the school. Thus commencing with the January number of Lesson Sheets, let the first lesson stand for Jan. 4, 1879, after which get one lesson every Sabbath in regular order. Virtually, the State will thus be formed into one school, and no matter where a member may be, he may know what lesson to get for every Sabbath, and should get it. Those who are in advance of the lesson named for Jan. 4 will not be harmed by reviewing, and those who are behind can, by extra effort, make up whatever there is between. One lesson a week I think is sufficient. We are very anxious to have a meeting of all interested in Sabbath-schools, to discuss measures for increasing their efficiency, arrange for a fund for carrying on the work, and especially to take a drill in singing. If the brethren to whom I have sent letters send in their orders in season, I will have a full supply of the “Song Anchor” at that time, and also about as many sets of the Sabbath-school Records as there are schools in the State. This meeting should be held in the latter part of January, and should be attended by delegates from each Sabbath-school, all the superintendents and secretaries, and especially by all the singers. Letters touching upon the leading points of this article have been sent to all superintendents whose addresses can be obtained from the State secretary. Any schools not having been notified before, are requested, even at this late date, to prepare for the meeting. Let each one of us do our part as though success depended upon us alone.