Chapter 8—Responsibilities of Parents and Teachers
I feel a deep interest in our Sabbath-schools throughout the land,
because I believe them to be instrumentalities of God for the education
of our youth in the truths of the Bible. Constant efforts should be
made by both parents and teachers to interest the youth in matters
of eternal importance. The Sabbath-school is a missionary field, and
very much more of the missionary spirit should be manifested in this
important work than has been manifested in the past. In every grade,
in both primary and advanced classes, teachers need to look constantly
to the great source of light for wisdom, for grace, and for power to
mould the hearts of their scholars, and that they may deal intelligently
with the purchase of Christ’s blood. Each teacher should be a humble
follower of Him who is meek and lowly in heart. No one should study
or work that he may be considered a superior teacher, or a person of
unusual ability, but that he may lead souls to Christ. There will come
temptations to weave self into all that is done, but the work will be
marred if this is done, for it will lead to making dry, lengthy remarks
that will fail to interest or benefit the minds of the children.
While it is essential that wise, patient efforts should be made by
the teacher, the work must not be left altogether to the Sabbath-school
and church worker, but it must find its foundation and support in the
work of the home. Parents have a sacred responsibility and charge
committed to them, and they are called upon to keep their charge, to
bear their responsibility in the fear of God, watching for the souls of
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their children and they who must give an account.
Home missionary work has been strangely neglected. Those who
have had the greatest reason for earnest, Christ-like solicitude for the
salvation of their children, have been indifferent to their responsibil-
ities, and have lightly regarded the wants of their households. The
responsibility which God has given to men and women as parents,
many have shifted from themselves to the Sabbath-school worker and
to the church influence. But each instrumentality has its work, and
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