Sabbath-school Contributions.
By W. C. W.
It is a well-known fact that any Sabbath-school, to be interesting and of the greatest benefit to its members, must have a few suitable appliances. It must have lesson papers and books, record books, and song books, and ought to have a few maps of Bible lands, with a few text-books for Bible study. Some of these have to be bought only once, while the lesson papers and record books, must be renewed from year to year. Though the expense of these is very light if distributed among the members of the school, the entire lack of them makes a school almost useless. Let us figure for a school of fifteen members where there are ten children and five adults. What is the school worth to each member? One dollar a year? If not, it is not worth attending. But suppose the grown people give one dollar a year, and the children, half of that. We then have ten dollars. Half of this will obtain ten weekly INSTRUCTORS for a year, and these will furnish lessons for the whole school, as the supplements can be taken out and used by the Bible Class. One dollar will procure record books to last two years; one dollar can be given to the State Association to help in carrying on its work; and there will be three dollars left, for song books, or for Bible maps. "But," says some one, "one dollar apiece is too much to give, and, besides, the children have no money." We think that this will not be regarded as a high price for its benefits when the school is properly appreciated; and as to the children, they should have something, and be taught to sacrifice and give of their little treasure. They may be encouraged in habits of usefulness and obedience by small rewards which they will treasure up, and from which they can donate to the Sabbath-school treasury. HOW SHALL THIS MONEY BE GIVEN or collected? We would say, In the way that best suits the majority of the school, always being sure that some plan is adopted and thoroughly carried out. In a few cases, the Superintendent will prefer to take a subscription paper, and visit each member of the school, securing at once the amount needed. In other cases, the members will prefer to pay their donation to the S. S. Secretary monthly or quarterly. In this case, they should pledge what they will do, and should feel responsible for placing it in the Secretary's hands at the appointed time. A third, and we think a much better way, is to place a little box in the church or place of meeting, and let each member drop in an offering when he enters the school. This has been called the Penny Contribution, but we do not see why it may not include nickels, dimes, and quarters. The children will delight to bring their little offerings; and parents will not despise the plan when they come to realize that the Sabbath-school is one of God's best gifts, and that it is part of his great work. Some have objected to making this offering on the Sabbath, thinking that it was a violation of that holy day. When the plan was first proposed, we regarded it in the same light; but a few arguments from those well acquainted with the Scriptures, and a little careful study, have fully convinced us that the bringing of an offering to the Lord is a very appropriate part of our worship on his day. There are many acts connected with our Sabbath worship, which, if done with a careless, wordly spirit, become Sabbath violations; and yet, when done with a spirit of devotion, are an essential part of our worship. Some have said, "It's not bad of iself, but will lead to things worse. If we give for the Sabbath-school, why not pay s. B. on the Sabbath?" One is purely a donation, an offering at the option of the giver; the other is a business transaction. The s. B. is the payment of a debt. It requires an examination of the cash account, and brings to mind the principal business transactions of the week. One does not lead to the other any more than harnessing one's team to drive to meeting leads to putting on a load of wheat to be sold for money to donate to Foreign Missions. The children of Israel brought more offerings to the Tabernacle on the Sabbath than on any other day, and we are informed that the Jews from ages past to the present time have observed the solemn custom of bringing an offering and placing it in a box at the door before engaging in their Sabbath worship. Eld. Andrews tells us that this custom is almost universal with the Christian churches of Europe, and the feeling prevails that no one should appear before the Lord empty-handed. We recommend this kind of a Sabbath contribution, and we confidently believe that if its adoption is accompanied with the proper instruction, it will impress upon the youthful mind a solemn sense of our dependence upon God for all his blessings, and our duty to manifest our gratitude by frequent offerings to him. We like the plan of fastening a box on the wall near the door. Then all those whose consciences say, "Put in a coin," can do so without display; while those whose consciences say, "It is wrong," can pass right by. These latter consciences, if good ones, will say at the end of the quarter, "Attend the business meeting and put in thirteen or twenty." Whatever plan is adopted, let the officers see that it is promptly and cheerfully carried out.—w. c. w., in Weekly Instructor.