p. 53 | FAMILY READING by B. C. Stickney

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Feb 5, 1880

FAMILY READING.

By B. C. Stickney

MUCH has been said of late in the Review and Herald about family readings that our people may become better versed in Biblical knowledge. Our publications contain much that we should thoroughly acquaint ourselves with; and the writings of Sr. White furnish that which will be specially interesting for these occasions. We hear of some who have adopted this plan and find it very beneficial. This has been agitated somewhat in our churches and by our missionary officers, but there are many scattered brethren who especially need something of this kind; and we feel a special interest in having our people in this State take right hold of this matter. We take the following from the Review of January 22:—

We recommend that every family of our people organize a home reading society. Let the exercises be held one hour each evening, only excepting those evenings when meetings or other duties occupy the time.

And we have recommended that the readings for January, February and March, 1880, be the three volumes of “Spirit of Prophecy.” These volumes are rich in thought, and are highly spiritual and practical. We urge that in every family of Seventh-day Adventists in the land, reading exercises be instituted. Let the entire family be assembled at the fireside, and let different members of the family have the benefit of the practice of reading. And if circumstances will admit, let neighbors and friends be invited to join. We know of no better exercise to secure mental and spiritual culture than reading, and no books better than the volumes named. Let these be taken as a course of family reading, between January 1, 1880, and April 1, 1880. In the three volumes there are one hundred chapters, and between the dates named there are 78 week days and thirteen Sabbaths. Now it will be seen that the work can easily be accomplished by adopting the following plan, which involves only a little system, order, and perseverance, qualities which all should cultivate; namely, let one chapter be read each week day and two chapters each Sabbath, and the work is done with a little time to spare.

The above is the plan which was proposed to commence January 1, and some are already going forward with it as recommended. But others have not yet commenced, and so are behind. Now we recommend that those who have not yet entered upon the work, procure the volumes immediately, and read two chapters each day till they catch up with the regular readers who began January 1. For instance, if you commence February 1, and read two chapters a day and two each Sabbath, you will be on the 1st of March up with those who began January 1, and have read one chapter a day and two on the Sabbath. Then all can go on through the month of March, reading one chapter a day and two on the Sabbath, according to the regular plan, and finish the volumes together, April 1.

This might be called home missionary work; and in sending in missionary reports we would like it stated how many have this system established in their families, that we may know how extensively it is being adopted.

B. C. STICKNEY.