Many families who, for the purpose of educating
their children, move to places where our large schools are established,
would do better service for the Master by remaining where they
are. They should encourage the church of which they are members
to establish a church school where the children within their
borders could receive an all-round, practical Christian education.
It would be vastly better for their children, for themselves,
and for the cause of God if they would remain in the smaller
churches, where their help is needed, instead of going to the
larger churches, where, because they are not needed, there is
a constant temptation to fall into spiritual inactivity.
Wherever there are a few Sabbathkeepers,
the parents should unite in providing a place for a day school
where their children and youth can be instructed. They should
employ a Christian teacher who, as a consecrated missionary,
shall educate the children in such a way as to lead them to become
missionaries. Let teachers be employed who will give a thorough
education in the common branches, the Bible being made the foundation
and the life of all study. Parents should gird on the armor and
by their own example teach their children to be missionaries.
They should work while it is day, for "the night cometh,
when no man can work." John 9:4. If they will put forth
unselfish efforts, perseveringly teaching their children to bear
responsibilities, the Lord will work with them.
Some families of Sabbathkeepers live alone
or far separated from others of like faith. These have sometimes
sent their children to our boarding schools, where they have
received help and have returned to be a blessing in their own
home. But some cannot send their children away from home to be
educated. In such cases parents should
endeavor to employ an exemplary religious teacher who will feel
it a pleasure to work for the Master in any capacity and be willing
to cultivate any part of the Lord's vineyard. Fathers and mothers
should co-operate with the teacher, laboring earnestly for the
conversion of their children. Let them strive to keep the spiritual
interest fresh and wholesome in the home and to bring up their
children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Let them
devote a portion of each day to study and become learners with
their children. Thus they may make the educational hour one of
pleasure and profit, and their confidence will increase in this
method of seeking for the salvation of their children. Parents
will find that their own growth will be more rapid as they learn
to work for their children. As they thus work in a humble way
unbelief will disappear. Faith and activity will impart assurance
and satisfaction that will increase day by day as they follow
on to know the Lord and to make Him known. Their prayers will
become earnest, for they will have some definite object for which
to pray.
In some countries parents are compelled
by law to send their children to school. In these countries,
in localities where there is a church, schools should be established
if there are no more than six children to attend. Work as if
you were working for your life to save the children from being
drowned in the polluting, corrupting influences of the world.
We are far behind our duty in this important
matter. In many places schools should have been in operation
years ago. Many localities would thus have had representatives
of the truth who would have given character to the work of the
Lord. Instead of centering so many large buildings in a few places,
schools should have been established in many localities.
Let these schools now be started under
wise direction, that the children and youth may be educated in
their own churches. It is a grievous offense to God that there
has been so great neglect in this line when Providence has so
abundantly supplied us with facilities with which to work. But
though in the past we have come short of doing what we might
have done for the youth and children, let us now repent and redeem
the time. The Lord says: "Though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson,
they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall
eat the good of the land." Isaiah 1:18, 19.