Sabbath-School Duties in the Camp-Meeting and at Home
11
convicted, and the inquiry will be, “What shall I do to be saved?” In
some Sabbath-schools, positions are given to persons who have no
aptitude to teach. They have no earnest love for souls. They do not
half understand the practical bearings of the truth themselves. How,
then, can they lead the children and youth to the living Fountain. Let
the teachers themselves drink deep of the water of salvation, and the
angels of God will minister to them, and they will know just what
course the Lord would have them take to win the precious youth to
Jesus. It requires aptitude, a will, perseverance, a spirit such as Jacob
had when he wrestled in prayer, and exclaimed, “I will not let Thee
go except Thou bless me.” When the blessing of God rests upon the
teachers, it can but be reflected to those under their charge. Never place
the youth under individuals who are spiritually indolent, who have no
high, elevated, holy aspirations; for the same mind of indifference,
Pharisaism, of form without the power, will be seen in both teachers
and scholars.
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Let parents do their part, not only helping the children in their
study, but becoming familiar with the lessons themselves. The Bible
is our textbook. Parents, teachers, and scholars need to become better
acquainted with the precious truths contained in both the Old and the
New Testaments. We must come up to a higher plane of action. Let the
Spirit of Jesus vitalize the souls of the workers. Then their plans and
methods of labor will be of that character to win souls to Jesus Christ.
In our large churches, where there are many children and youth, there
is great danger of so managing the Sabbath-school that it will become
a mere form, mechanical but spiritless. It lacks Jesus. Do not allow
all your strength and energy to be given to worldly, temporal things
during the week, and so have no energy and moral strength to give to
the service of Christ on the Sabbath. There is earnest work to be done
just now. We have not a moment’s time to use selfishly. Let all we do
be done with an eye single to the glory of God. Never rest till every
child in your class is brought to the saving knowledge of Christ.
It is important that the exercises in our camp-meeting Sabbath-
schools be conducted with order, promptness, and efficiency. Then the
right mould will be given to Sabbath-schools in the different churches,
as the people return to their homes. Do not allow business and other
interests to crowd out the Sabbath-school interest, so that it shall be
considered a matter of no special consequence.