p. 137 | SUNDAY-SCHOOL BOOKS

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 25, 1880

SUNDAY-SCHOOL BOOKS.

BISHOP SIMPSON, in one of his lectures on "Preaching," thus sets forth the duty of the minister in relation to the Sunday-school:—

"The supervision of the minister should extend particularly to the selection of books for the library that is to be placed in the hands of the teachers and children of the school. It is but seldom that superintendents and teachers, engrossed with the busy cares of life, have full time to examine the multitudinous issues of the press, which are sought to be placed in these libraries. Each publisher has a list of his own books, and wishes to sell them. He exchanges with other publishers, and thus may have a very large variety. He is so occupied with the financial affairs of his establishment, that he may not know the precise character of the teachings of the book which he publishes. Without intent to do wrong, he recommends works which ought not to find their way into Sunday-schools. A committee is oftentimes appointed to purchase a library. It is frequently composed of men who are good and earnest and pious; but they are not extensively acquainted with religious literature, and they purchase such works as have pretty titles, are well printed, are recommended by publishers, and, above all, which are of a low price. In this way, books of doubtful or erroneous doctrinal teaching, or which sanction unchristian conduct, or works of fiction, with nothing to recommend them, are placed in the library; and they vitiate, rather than improve, the taste. The books introduced into the Sunday-school should contain such doctrinal or practical teaching as may be in harmony with the church; otherwise, the influence of the Sunday-school may not only be of little service, but may even become a positive injury to the interests of the congregation. In this day of light and loose skeptical publications, no duty is more imperative on the minister than to exercise a watchful supervision over the literature which is purchased by the church, and is placed in the Sunday-school library, for the use of its children; for the young have a right to regard the teaching of such works as sanctioned by the church."