The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-22
The Relation of the Sabbath
School to the Church.
BY REV. VIM. H. MINISTER.

BY REV. VIM. II. NJ MASTER.
The permanent work of the Sabbath
School, when good results are in excess of
bad, is owing IN part to the relation the
school is acknowledged to sustain to the
Church. 1t is readily conceded that the
moral character, regularity and fidelity
of officers and teachers determine in a
measure the results. But the place as
signed to the Sabbath School as an insti-
tuition will involve questions of authority,
government, order and discipline more
vital to the interests and good results
than any other question touching the
Sabbath work
l. The scriptural view is that what we
term the Sabbath School is divine or
ganization, and not human institution.
1t Is the Church worshipping, teaching,
and working, under its own government
and discipline, in the form and order of
school. 1t assumes the form of school
because of classification and methods of
teaching but this does not change its
relation nor divorce it from the Church.
The obligation is laid upon the Church
to teach her children. The methods,
times, and places of carrying this obliga-
ton into effect will afford latitude.
Thou shalt teach them diligently unto
thy children, and shalt talk of them
when thou sittest in thine house, and
when thou walkest by the way, and
when thou Hest down, and when thou
risest up" This expresses diversity of
times and places in which religious in
struction is to be given. A diversity of
methods is also denoted: "Thou shalt
write them upon the posts of thv house
and on thy gates. And the Scriptures
| are just as explicit In Psalm xvii As
as to the matter to be taught.
q This work the Church undertakes
to do authoritatively, that she may be
blest in doing it and the work itself
prove permanent. When the Church
teaches from the pulpit, it is by divine
authority. 1t teaches through the fami-
ly by divine appointment, and if it
teaches in the form of Sabbath School,
it must be under the banner of its gov
eminent. The dispensation of word and
sacraments must be with the sanction
and under the direction of the Church.
The Sabbath School, therefore, as a scrip
tural institution, is under the authority
Of the Church. Its government is the
government of the Church. It's order of
exercises and discipline are under the
control Of the Church. It's officers and
teachers are appointed by the proper
court of the Church, and are subject to
the authority of that court The text
books to be used are selected and adopted
by those upon whom rests the response
billty of government and who are pre-
sumed to possess the qualifications for
such legislation. The instructions given
in the school should be the teachings
held to be biblical by the Church where
the instructions are given. There are
many objections to be made against per-
sons teaching in schools of different de-
nominations and pupils attending the
schools of different denominations at the
same time.
These requirements meet the obliga-
tons and answer those who call in cues
ton the authority of the Sabbath School
and oppose it as an institution upon that
ground. Upon the other hand, unless
organic relation to the Church and oper-
ate under the government of the Church.
1T is only human. It's duration and work
Wi, prove to be human in the end. And
II the school is to be human, it will for
felt the confidence and lose the attend
ance OF the people in the congregation
where 1T operates. If its government.
exercises and teachings be not that
which the people believe to be of divine
appointment, they will not support the
school by their attendance, nor care to
have their children attend. IF the
management of the school and its teach
ings cannot be approved, it is indeed
doubtful if it ought to be attended.
3. 1t Is obvious to the considerable
mind that there must be a court of an
peal to which all matters in controversy
may be referred. Those best qualified
to render decisions upon qualifications Of
officers and teachers, correctness of teach |
ing, and upon moral conduct are those
who have been chosen and set apart bv
the Church for the administration Of
government. If these heed the com
mand, " Feed my sheep" and feed INV
lambs, they will be as diligent in their
attendance at the Sabbath School as in
paper prepared by request and read be-
fore the Ministerial Association Of Princeton
Ind, Aug. 9th, 1880.