Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-09-27
HONE DEPARTMENT WORK.
An Important Sunday School Depart
ment Described.

One OF the most interesting anu
helpful papers read at the last meet
ing Of the county Sunday school con-
vention was the following on Home
Department Work" by Mrs. W. D.
Fisher OF Abilene:
lam asked to give some hints on
the work Of the Home Department
In the first place what is the Home
Department? 1t is part of the reg
ular Sunday School work that is car
ried into the home to enable those
who, from home cares, old age, or
sickness, or for any other reason, are
unable to attend the Sabbath School
proper, may in this way have the ad-
vantages of the Sabbath School les
sons. Where may it be usedP In all
schools, large or small. NO school is
SO large that it does not need Home
Department connected with it. No
school is so small that it cannot sue
cessfully carry on Home Depart
ment. If there should be only one or
two families in the neighborhood that
are not connected with some school,
by all means let there be a Home De-
partment organized and begin work
at once. How carried onP The plan
is very simple. For successful work
ing in this department, all that is
necessary is leader or visitor a
member or scholar, and lesson to
study. The leader calls on the ones
to be invited to membership in this
department, and explains the plag to
them, which is that they shall study
the Sabbath School lesson at home or
wherever they may be, at least one
half hour during the week. OF course
the number of visitors needed will
depend upon the territory to be can
vassed. The very young, the old and
feeble, and some others, may not be
able to study for themselves, but
what more loving service could we
FENDER for the Master than to read
and explain the lesson to them.
Where it is possible would suggest
that the visitor make out reports on
cards or in books made for that pur-
pose land that can easily be procured
of almost any publishing house that
furnishes Sabbath School supplies) OF
the work being done by the members
of that department. A voluntary
contribution Of money by the menu
bers as they are able to give, will
bring a blessing to the giver as well
as help the work.
Often mother kept at home with
her little ones may be pursuaded to
study the lesson with her own little
children and interest them, as well as
benefit herself. If she is given pic
lures and cards to aid in her work
she will be enabled to interest them
all the more easily. Let me especl-
ally emphasize personal visitation
and effort in this work. Sometimes
we may not be able to say anything
about the lesson at the first visit. Let
me urge tact and discretion right
here, lest we do harm where good is
intended Do not be discouraged at
all, but persevere. Form an ac-
ouantance, cultivate confidence re-
move barriers, etc., etc. After be-
ginning has been made many oppor-
tunities will arise for the assistance
and encouragement Of the members
in regard to the lesson, and also IN
the promotion Of their temporal and
spiritual interests.
Do not let those who live in
country neighborhO0d think they have
nothing to do. Let me quote from
good authority: "A person living on
a farm thought Of an old lady living
all alone and very seldom leaving her
home who when visited and the plan
explained to her, recorded her name
as member, promised to study the
lesson, and in reality Home De-
partment had been organized" An
other instance: "a man who very sell
dom attended Church or Sunday
School, who, when invited to 60, al
ways found some exNse for not 60
ing. But lady whds interested in
the Home Department. invites them
to study the lesson in their home and
before she leaves has induced them to