October 1, 1899

Church Schools

EGW

Selections made from the Testimonies by Miss Sarah E. Peck, and read before the Union Conference convened at Cooranbong, New South Wales, July, 1899.]

Shall We Establish Church Schools?

“In all our churches, and wherever there is a company of believers, church schools should be established.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 1

“If people would encourage the church in which they are members, to establish small, humble school buildings in which to do service for God, they would accommodate their own children within their own borders.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 2

“Establish schools for the children where there are churches. Where there are those who assemble to worship God, let there be schools for the children.” “We are far behind in what the Lord would have us do in this matter. There are places where our schools should have been in operation years ago. Let these now be started under wise directors, that the children and the youth may be educated in their own churches.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 3

Why Do We Need Church Schools?

“The education that is generally given in the schools of the world is not that which can be accepted as true education.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 4

“Can we wonder that children and youth drift into temptation and become educated in wrong lines, where they are continually associating with other neglected children? Can we wonder, neglected as they have been, that their energies become devoted to amusements which do them no good, that their religious aspirations are weakened, and their spiritual life darkened?”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 5

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4.Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 6

What Should be the Character of Such Schools?

“The Lord would have our primary schools, as well as those for older persons, of that character that angels of God can walk through the room, and behold in the order and principles of government, the order and government of heaven.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 7

“These schools established in different localities ... should be built upon the same principles as were the schools of the prophets.Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 8

How Should Church Schools be Supported?

“Shall the members of the church give means to advance the cause of Christ among others, and then let their own children carry on the work and service of Satan? What the Lord Jesus expects in all believers is something besides being occupied and active; this activity should be trained in Christ's lines. God requires wholeness of service.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 9

“The church is asleep and does not realize the magnitude of this matter of educating the children and youth.... The church should take in the situation, and by their influence and means seek to bring about the much-desired end. Let a fund be created by generous contributions for the establishment of schools for the advancement of educational work.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 10

What Shall be Taught in Church Schools?

“The Bible must be made the groundwork and subject matter of education.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 11

“It is the third angel's message that needs attention in our schools.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 12

“While the Bible should hold the first place in the education of children and youth, the book of nature is next in importance.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 13

“Our schools should teach the children all kinds of simple labor. Teach them that all their faculties of body and mind were given to them to use, and that all are the Lord's, pledged to his service.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 14

“Let them employ a Christian teacher, who, as a consecrated missionary, shall educate the children in such a way as to lead them to become missionaries themselves.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 15

“If teachers were receiving light and wisdom from the Divine Teacher,... they would measure the relative importance of the things to be learned in school; the common, essential branches of education would be more thoroughly taught, and the word of God would be honored and esteemed as the bread sent down from heaven.... The common branches of education should be fully and prayerfully taught.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 16

“In itself the beauty of nature leads the soul away from sin and worldly attractions, toward purity, peace, and God. For this reason the cultivation of the soil is good work for the children and the youth.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 17

“The little ones should be trained to be obedient, upright, and practical.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 18

“The youth should be taught to look upon physiology as one of the essentials.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 19

What Will be the Effect Upon Young Children of so Constantly Using the Bible in the School Room?

“Do not think that the Bible will become tiresome to the children. Under a wise instructor, the Word will become more and more desirable. It will be to them as the bread of life, and will never grow old. There is in it a freshness and beauty which attracts and charms the children and youth. It is like the sun shining upon the earth, giving light and warmth, yet never exhausted. By lessons from Bible history and doctrine, the children can learn that all other books are inferior to this. They can find here a fountain of mercy and love.”Advocate October 1, 1899, par. 20