NEW ENGLAND SABBATH-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION by D. A. Robinson; E. D. Robinson

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, January 1, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 1

NEW ENGLAND SABBATH-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.

By D. A. Robinson; E. D. Robinson

A SESSION of this Association was held in connection with the annual meeting of the New England T. and M. Society at South Lancaster, Mass.

The first meeting was held Sunday, Dec. 7, at 4 P. M. Opened with singing “Whiter than Snow,” and prayer by Eld. R. S. Webber, of Maine.

Eleven schools were represented by twenty-one delegates. Report of last meeting read and approved.

On motion, Eld. G. F. Haines, Judson Rice, and F. W. Mace were appointed by the Chair as a Committee on Resolutions. The question of Sabbath-school contributions and their appropriation was then quite freely discussed by Eld. S. N. Haskell, Bro. Rice, Tucker, Mace, and others, after which Eld. R. S. Webber made some remarks in regard to the Sabbath-school work in Maine, and spoke of the advantages arising from visiting different schools. The utility of Sabbath-school maps and text-books was then clearly set forth by Eld. Haskell.

Adjourned to call of Chair.

SECOND MEETING, Dec. 8.—Prayer by Eld. A. S. Hutchins. Report of last meeting read and accepted. The Committee on Resolutions then presented the following report, which, after some discussion, was fully adopted:—

Whereas, God has signally blessed our Sabbath-school work in the past, and through its influence many have been led to embrace present truth, therefore

Resolved, That we will put forth greater efforts in future to interest all in this branch of the work.

Whereas, There are many isolated families that are not benefited by the Sabbath-school instruction, therefore

Resolved, That we make it a point to interest such families in the Sabbath-school work, and urge them to organize, as far as possible, family Sabbath-schools.

Whereas, The use of lesson books in our Sabbath-schools makes it very difficult for all to unite in the Sabbath-school at our general meetings; and whereas the loss of a single Sabbath-school proves an injury to them and the school to which they belong, therefore

Resolved, That we recommend that, as soon as practicable, our schools throughout the Conference provide themselves with the Lesson Sheets, and thus secure a uniformity in our schools.

Resolved, That we recommend our Sabbath-schools in the New England Conference to provide themselves with such aids as will help them in the study of these lessons; such as maps, text-books, etc.

Whereas, Our past experience has taught us that our present system of penny offerings has not been sufficient to sustain our Sabbath-schools, therefore

Resolved, That we recommend our schools to adopt the weekly class contribution.

The matter of increasing the circulation of the Instructor was introduced by the President, and an appeal was made for each school to engage the services of one or more of its members who would make a specialty of canvassing for it.

It was moved that the President be instructed to prepare an address on Sabbath-school interests, to be delivered before the Association at a future meeting.

Adjourned sine die.

D. A. ROBINSON, Pres.

E. D. ROBINSON, Sec.