Australasian Union Conference Record
July 26, 1899
Church Schools
Shall We Establish Church Schools?
1. “In all our churches, and wherever there is a company of believers, church schools should be established.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 1
2. “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.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 2
3. “In this country (Australia) many parents are compelled to send their children to school. Therefore, in localities where there is a church, a school should be established, if there are no more than six children to attend.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 3
4. “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 youth may be educated in their own churches.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 4
Why Do We Need Church Schools?
5. “The education that is generally given in the schools of the world is not that which can be accepted as true education.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 5
6. “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?” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 6
7. “There is earnest work to be done for the children. ‘Before the overflowing scourge shall come upon all the dwellers upon the earth, the Lord calls upon all who are Israelites indeed to serve Him. Gather your children into your own houses; gather them in from the classes who are voicing the words of Satan, who are disobeying the commandments of God. Strike the blood upon your door-posts, and go not out until the morning. For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever,“ AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 7
8. “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. AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 8
What Should be the Character of such Schools?
9. “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.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 9
10. “These schools established in different localities .... should be built upon the same principles as were the schools of the prophets.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 10
How Should Church Schools be Supported?
11. “Let the church carry a burden for the lambs of the flock in its locality, and see how many can be educated and trained to do service for God.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 11
12. “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.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 12
13. “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.”—(Special Testimonies on Education, 200.) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 13
What Shall be Taught in Church Schools?
14. “The Bible must be made the groundwork and subject matter of education.” “When teachers become connected with the Great Teacher, we shall see the golden mixture of heaven in every line of study, binding all together, and enabling each one to do its work in revealing the character and purpose of God. Much is lost by the students because there is brought into their lessons studies that have an influence merely to make them ambitious to master them, while the truth is overshadowed and buried out of sight.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 14
15. “It is the Third Angel's Message that needs attention in our schools...... The urgent necessities that are making themselves felt in this time demand a constant education in the Word of God...... Students need lessons which they have not yet received. We are not at liberty to teach that which shall meet the world's standard [or] the standard of the church, simply because it is the custom to do so. AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 15
16. “While the Bible should hold the first place in the education of children and youth, the book of nature is next in importance.”—(Special Testimonies On Education, 58.) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 16
17. “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.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 17
18. “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.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 18
19. “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.”—(Special Testimonies on Education, 165.) “The common branches of education should be fully and prayerfully taught.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 19
20. “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.”—(Special Testimonies on Education, 60.) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 20
21. “The little ones should be trained to be obedient, upright, and practical.”—(Special Testimonies on Education, 70.) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 21
22. “The youth should be taught to look upon physiology as one of the essential studies.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 22
23. “God has, in the natural world, placed in the hands of the children of men the key to unlock the treasure house of His Word.... Then let the children become acquainted with nature and nature's laws... The little children should come especially close to nature.... Let them become familiar with its beautiful, varied, and delicate forms. Teach them to see the wisdom and love of God and His created works; and as their hearts swell with joy and grateful love, let them join the birds in their songs of praise. Educate the children and youth ... to imitate the attractive graces of nature in their character-building.”—(Special Testimonies on Education, 61, 62.) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 23
What Will be the Effect Upon Young Children of so Constantly Using the Bible in the Schoolroom?
24. “O, for a clearer perception of what we might accomplish if we would learn of Jesus. The springs of heavenly peace and joy, unsealed in the soul of the teacher by the magic words of inspiration, will become a mighty river of influence, to bless all who connect with him. Do not think that the Bible will become a tiresome book 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.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 24
What Kind of Teachers shall be Employed in Our Church Schools?
25. “If the instructors themselves have a religious experience, they will be able to communicate to the students that knowledge of the love of God which they have received. These lessons can be given by those only who are themselves truly converted.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 25
26. “The youth are in need of educators who shall keep the Word of God ever before them in living principles.”—(Special Testimonies on Education, 238.) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 26
27. “Special talent should be given to the education of the youth.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 27
28. “Every teacher should be under the full control of the Holy Spirit.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 28
29. “In these schools should be teachers who have the true missionary spirit; for the children are to be trained to become missionaries.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 29
30. “The great aim of the teacher should be the perfection of Christian character in himself and in his students.” “No one should have a part in the training of youth who will be satisfied with a lower standard.”—(Special Testimonies on Education, 50, 51.) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 30
Qualifications of Teachers
31. “Again and again has the educator of youth carried into the school-room the shadow of darkness which has been gathering upon his soul. He has been overtaxed, and is nervous; or dyspepsia has colored everything a gloomy hue. He enters the school-room with quivering nerve and irritated stomach. Nothing seems to be done to please him; he thinks that his scholars are bent upon showing him disrespect, and his sharp criticisms and censures are given on the right hand and the left.... No one who will become impatient and irritated should be an educator.”—(Christian Education, 26, 154) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 31
32. “The teacher may understand many things in regard to the physical universe; he may know all about the structure of animal life, the discoveries of natural science, the inventions of mechanical art; but he cannot be called educated, he is not fitted for his work as an instructor of youth, unless he has in his own soul a knowledge of God and of Christ. He cannot be a true educator until he is himself a learner in the school of Christ, receiving an education from the Divine Instructor.”—(Signs of the Times, September 2, 1882) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 32
33. “Let none feel that, having an earnestness in religious matters, is all that is essential in order to become educators. While they need no less of piety, they also need a thorough knowledge of the sciences.”—(Christian Education, 51) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 33
34. “The principles and habits of the teacher should be considered of greater importance than even his literary qualifications.”—(Christian Education, 8) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 34
35. “One may have sufficient education and knowledge in science to instruct; but has it been ascertained that he has tact and wisdom to deal with human minds?” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 35
36.“The cause of God needs teachers who have high moral qualities, and can be trusted with the education of others—men who are sound in the faith, and have tact and patience; who walk with God, and abstain from the very appearance of evil; who stand so closely connected with God, that they can be channels of light—in short, Christian gentlemen.”—(Christian Education, 213) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 36
37. “We cannot in this day of peril, accept teachers because they have been in school two, three, four or five years. The question which should decide whether they are qualified for their work should be—have they, with all their acquisition of knowledge, searched and dug beneath the surface for truth, as for hidden treasures? Are they partakers of the fruit of the tree of life?” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 37
How Should the Work be Regarded?
38. “This is the noblest missionary work that any man or woman can undertake.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 38
39. “The smaller children should not be neglected. This work is fully as essential as the work for the older pupils.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 39
What will be the Results of such Schools?
40. “We may bring hundreds and thousands of children to Christ if we will only work for them.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 40
41. “Church schools will be the means of lifting the standard of truth in the places where they are established.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 41
42. “Children who are properly instructed will be witnesses for the truth.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 42
43. “The promises spoken by the Great Teacher will captivate the senses and animate the soul of the child with a spiritual power that is Divine. There will grow in the fruitful mind a familiarity with Divine things, which will be a barricade against the temptations of the enemy.” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 43
44. “In the last days, children's voices will be heard proclaiming the message. As Christ in the temple solved the mysteries which priests and rulers had not discerned, so in the closing work of this earth, children in their simplicity will speak words which will be an astonishment to men who now talk of ‘higher education.’” AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 44
Are We Prepared for a Church School?
45. “I told the brethren that from the light given me of God, they were not prepared to have a school established among them. The spirit they cherished would communicate itself to others, and leaven all the influence for good that would be exerted by the school.”—( M.S. regarding the establishment of schools.) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 45
46. “Parents and teachers should work for the accomplishment of this object—the development of all the powers, and the formation of a right character; but when parents realize their responsibilities, there will be far less for the teachers to do in the training of their children.”—(Special Testimonies on Education, 42.) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 46
47. “Then, wherever a school is established, there should be warm hearts to take a lively interest in our youth. Fathers and mothers are needed with warm sympathy, and with kindly admonitions, and all the pleasantness possible should be brought into the religious exercises.”—(Christian Education, 47) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 47
48. “Parents must come to view this matter in a different light. They must feel it their duty to co-operate with the teacher, to encourage wise discipline, and to pray much for the one who is teaching their children. You will not help the children by fretting, censuring, or discouraging them; neither will you act a good part to help them to rebel, and to be disobedient and unkind and unlovable, because of the spirit you develop.”—(Christian Education, 154) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 48
49. “When a company of believers is raised up, careful provision should be made for the permanence and stability of the work. A house of worship will be needed, and a school where Bible instruction may be given to the people. The workers should not leave their field of labor without building a church and providing a school-room and a teacher... All this has been presented before me as a panoramic view. I saw workmen building humble houses of worship. Those newly come to the faith were helping with willing hands, and those who had means were assisting with their means. A school-room was prepared for the children. Teachers were selected to go to this place. The number in the school was not large, but it was a happy beginning. I heard the songs of children and of parents. Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman [waketh] but in vain.... The establishment of churches, the erection of meeting houses and school buildings was extended from city to city, and the tithe was increasing to carry forward the work. There was a class, not only in one place, but in many places, and the Lord was working to increase His forces. Something was being established that would publish the truth. The work is to be done, not only in Australia, but in the cities of America as well.”—(M.S.) AUCR July 26, 1899, par. 49