Chapter 6—Guiding Principles in Administration
Following the Objective The object of the Sabbath school should
not be lost sight of in mechanical arrangements, thus occupying time
which should be given to other important matters. We should ever
be guarded against forms and ceremonies which will eclipse the real
object for which we are laboring. There is danger of carrying system to
such an extreme that the Sabbath school will become weariness, when,
on the contrary, it should be a rest, a refreshment, and a blessing.
The purity and simplicity of the Sabbath school must not be swal-
lowed up in such an endless variety of forms that sufficient time cannot
be devoted to religious interests. The beauty and success of the school
are in its simplicity and earnestness in serving God. Nothing can be
done without order and regulation, but these may be arranged so as to
shut out greater and more important duties. Less should be said to the
scholars about the external preliminaries and system, and much more
should be said in regard to the salvation of their souls. This must be
made the ruling principle of the school.
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Danger of Cold Formality
The old, old story of the love of Jesus, repeated by the teachers
and the superintendent, with the love of Jesus in the heart, will have a
power that will convict and convert souls. If the love and tenderness
of Jesus has touched your heart, you will be able to work for your
scholars. The simplicity of the gospel must be kept in view. With help
from above we can do faithful work for the Master. The fact should
be kept continually before the scholars that without heart work all our
efforts will be in vain.
Affection and love should be seen in every movement of the teach-
ers and managers of the school. Cold formality should be replaced by
earnest zeal and energy. The love of Jesus should pervade the whole
school that the pupils will learn to regard this as the highest education.
Sternness or faultfinding should find no place in Sabbath school or day
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