116
Counsels on Sabbath School Work
Competitions and Prizes
On Sabbath morning [Marshalltown, Iowa, campground, August
16, 1884], a large company met for Sabbath school. Classes were soon
arranged including all except a few who chose seats outside the tent.
But these were not left to themselves; teachers were appointed, and
two or three interesting classes formed. All were as busy as bees, and
everywhere, in the tent and out of it, was heard the hum of voices. The
[182]
school was well conducted and orderly, and to me the exercises were
very interesting. [
This paragraph from the
The Review and Herald,
October 21, 1884
, was omitted in TSS.]
By request I spoke about thirty minutes, warning them against
letting their Sabbath school degenerate into a mere mechanical routine.
We should not seek to imitate Sunday schools, nor keep up the interest
by offering prizes. The offering of rewards will create rivalry, envy,
and jealousy; and some who are the most diligent and worthy will
receive little credit. Scholars should not try to see how many verses
they can learn and repeat; for this brings too great a strain upon the
ambitious child, while the rest become discouraged.
Try none of these methods in your Sabbath schools; but let su-
perintendents and teachers make every effort to have life and interest
in their schools. What a blessing it would be if all would teach as
Jesus taught! He did not aim to attract attention by eloquence or by
overwhelming grandeur of sentiment. On the contrary, His language
was plain, and His thoughts were expressed with greatest simplicity;
but He spoke with loving earnestness. In your teaching be as near like
Him as possible. Make your exercises interesting. Let the teachers
show that they have thoroughly learned the lesson, and are intensely
interested in it. Let there be no frivolous or superficial interpretations
of the Scriptures, but let each be prepared to go to the bottom of the
subject presented.—
Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, 110, 111
.
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The Sabbath School and the Church Service
The Sabbath school at——was made the one great theme of interest
with Brother E. It absorbed the minds of the young, while other
religious duties were neglected. Frequently, after the Sabbath school
was closed, the superintendent, a number of teachers, and quite a