Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-01-13
SHOREHAM,

lHe IOllOWlnS Is q paper reau Tor tne
benefit of the Sabbath school Jan. !, by
Superintendent r. II. Holmes:
1t seems but few days since we had
to charge our minds that the year 1856
was gone and that was the figure to be
placed in the position of the g. The ink
is hardly dry on the paper thus dated
when we find that this year has passed
away and the new year of 'SS is before
us. To one it may be looked upon as a
season laden with bright hopes and pros
poets. with feeling that it will be gone
none too soon, that we may realize still
brighter dreams in what seems to be a
glorious future. TO another, and espe-
cially those of us who have reached the
midday of active life, it is looked upon
as a season of more opportunities, more
duties, more trials, more victories to be
won, and possibly with these thoughts is
mingled one that impresses us, that what
ever work is done for the Master must be
done quickly for the rapidly passing
years will remind us that soon we must
give way to more active and vigorous
youth so closely following our footsteps.
TO another, it is only another short sea-
son of waiting; living, perhaps, more in
the past than in the present, or even fu-
ture-
"Only waiting till the shadows
Are "A little longer grown"
With all the lessons of the past, what
ever the present or outlook for the future
may be, it behooves us, as Sunday
school, to examine our position and each
of us inquire whether we are doing all i'm
our power to promote the interests of
Christ's kingdom. In looking over the
impressed itself upon my mind which
wish to take this opportunity to present
for your consideration. The first class
record to which gave nv attention con-
tains list of % names. OF this number,
there are at least ten that have not at
tended sufficient number of times dur
ing the year to be classed as regular
scholars, but might perhaps be termed
visitors. | also take note that these per-
sons attend the regular church service
with quite good degree of regularity.
| also observe that this class is not an eX-
ception, but that this non-attendance is
noticeable to a greater or less degree in
all our classes. As a proof of this. please
notice that the secretary's report places
the number of persons in our school at
lis, which, understand, leaves out quite
number of these visiting scholars. The
average attendance is considerably less
than One-half of the lis. Such record
in one of our day schools would indicate
great laXity on the part of those inter-
ested in the school or that some epidemic
equal in magnitude at least to the scarlet
fever was making its annual trip among
the children of the community. "How
shall we keep the young people in our
Sabbath schoOls?" is an old question, but
for want of practical answer still stares
many Sabbath school worker in the
face. Some wise head has answered it in
this way, Build up wall of old people
from the pulpit to the door" However
practical this answer may be, the diff
Guilty lies In building a wall of such I'M
certain material. When the older people
attend church none too regularly, and
the Sabbath school less, it is asking a
good deal of the officers and teachers to
make the Sabbath school attractive
enough to counterfeit whole weeks in
fuence, and when Sunday again comes to
have such strong hold on the minds of
the children and young people that they
will stay to this service in spite OF the
anxiety OF the older ones to reach home
as soon as possible after the benediction
is pronounced. Whatever of these things
may be placed to our charge it is morally
certain that there is something wrong in
the present state of affairs in our own
school. l do not wish to express my
opinion AS to the direct cause, but pro-
pose to present a few questions for your
consideration and ask that you will an
swer them, not in words, but in conduct
that will show that your better judg.
ment, controlled by Gods spirit, has ac-
tuated you. The first question is this
What right have as church member
who has vowed to help sustain the ordin.
ances of the church, to neglect portion
of the services that is the means of reach
ing greater class of young and old than
any other department of our Christian
work?
Second, What right have |, who may
be at an age that the young people nat
urally look to me as an example of what
the Christian graces are, and who meas.
ure the Bible from our standpoint as it is
shown in us To say in words, "You young
boys and girls attend the Sabbath
school, but in example, "These things
are not of enough Importance to me to
demand my attention or interest"