')^": ■ '--.-*^ u'J^ :t CIHM MiQrofJchiBi Series (Monographs) -t' ' Collectioh de (monographies) \ Canadian Instituta for Historical Microraproductibns / Institut Canadian da microraproductionaJhiatoriqiias « ' ■ ■: ■ ' ■ ■ i . ■ ■'. . ■ "" . ." ; "' - . . .- • . ' ■ ' ■ ; ' .■ ■ ■; ■:•■ .-^^.. -■;,:■ ..■■-■i|- ■ , ■, - . ■■,■■;.■■■■. # . ■ 's ■ Tachni^ and BiWiofraphk Mota» / Notat tachniquat at bibiiographiqua* ■^.C Tha Imtituta hai attampitad to dbtain tha batt orifiqal cof>y availabia for f ilmMji. Faatitras of this copy whkh may ba bibliographicailv wniqtia. whicfi may altar'any of tita imagat in tha raproduction/or which May ti«nificantly chanfla tha usual mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. □ Colou^ad covtrs/ Couvartura da coulaur Covart damagad/ Couvartura andommaote Covars rastorad arid/or lamiitatad/ Couvartura rastaurto at/ou palliculte C9«ar titia missint/ . 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Pagas dteolorias. tachatto 6u piquAas Q Pages datachad/ Pagas d«tach«cis L/ Showthrough/ Trjnsparanca Quality of priht varies/ Qualite inigale aaTimpras^ion Continuous pagination/ Pagination continue qUM □ Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliiira serriia paut causer de I'ombre oii de la distorsion le long de la marge mtitieure Blank leawis added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have .been omitted^ from filming/ II se peut que certaines pagas blaiichas ejoutias lors d'une ^f^Mauration apparaissent dans la texte, mais. lorsqii»«[^^|ait possible, ces pages n'ont paretiftfilmiesv4 X, / Includes indexjes)/ Comprend un (des) index Title on header taken from: / Le titre de I'en-tite provientr Title page of issue/ Page de titre de la livraison Caption of issue/ Titre de d ^ ^ ^ By W, H. WlxkROW/ William Duncan, Ph,u. Fuuntli'.r of the Siiiiduii Si haul Humr Dr/x rtm Ht^ 5'fe»>S^r»)'k-»>t'.*V.-»s»fei»»V.* St? ,4^ WILLIAM BRIGGS, Publisher, Mojitr«at : C; W. COATES. Halifax : 8. F. HUEdTiS 20-33 Rithmond £,lr»et Weil, ^ *3v > TORON TO. ONT. W Pbicc, 6 Cent* Each; PER OoiCN. 60 Cents. A HE HOME DEPARTMENT, WHAT IT IS, AND WHAT IT DOES.' Thi Siiniiay-Hchool H.vstem Ih entfljIiiK upon/ a pcrloil of new deviyUAimli'nt. > It Ih sMirlnK th«. trend of ih« tlmi'H, U '« fcelijig the |M!iVHHlVe Inllnence of^ tlio (llviho loavpn which Ih leavening' the wh(/le world. It Is entering ifjwn a greit extenHJon moveini-nt which, In the proJvldence of Ood, ahall have larger Bwtep and greater range than anything yvi attained. J)r. \Vni. Duncan, whose portrait we glte. la the chief organizer of the Home mpartment. Itn modest beginning and rtfmiu-kabl^ history are given at length the article from which thla la bridged. „ Dr. . Hnzard thus "dcfljies this great Bovement : , "The purpose of the Home Depart- /meht Is to secure, through aasoctated Gltort In connection with the Sunday- BChooh a general • and systematic study, of the Scriptures." The need of such study he .thus urges: •'The Bible does not have the place in the home which U ought to have. In families generally It Is an unstudied and almost unread volume. The news- paper, the magazine, the novel crowd It out. Wherever the Bible la studied the ' borne- is aweetehed and purified. Better a half-hour of close study than a dozen ■ hours of Buperliclal reading, or reading - « Ai» ri rt B«'i^^H^^^^ ami Ui'vifw ■' f'lr Muv, IS!»8. ThiN lUtii'le Im I)U.1(.nI on an ailmirabli' work, oiilitlf"! •'Ilonii- I'laKMi'!', or I lie Homo Dcpartncnl <>( Itii- Sun- ila.VscliiH>l:llHllislor.\, Piinxw iy*it I'lttn, <)r|{anizali»li, J^ellioilK, lUKpiiHiloM aiHl l)iHl' liBliin): Sot-icly. Toronto: William Uri(5({K. Prii-e, flofh, wlVli'b l'""* merely (or Its object the' poriiHal of the whole iiVlble In aU specified lime." i UlHhoii Vincent thus etjiphaalzea the lipportance of tho Homo Dcpwtnvont : •" aometlmcH people who wpnt to go , to Sund*y-Hcho(iiIih'K8 i^ro untlioly lonu by. It l» huril ao t(> bo Inft out' of nvfrylhltiK. Tl>«>y will liu mjolcwd to know thiitUH'v Htlll run 1)0 ictwinliUfMl with wthcrH nnd Jiavu (i iilum wlMi tlit-m. ThiM knowleiiKo w'" •'" mmh to tllHMl- puiit their laneUneHH unil Inc^iMiHH thi'tr jieir-r<;Miu'it. Already It haH broUKht Joy and comfort to many "Tlmo goon Hlowly by to the hIcU. Tho t(«nd(>ncy with thoui Itt to morbid dwt'llinK upon thoIr dlHi'iiwo. ■ Tijt'y Hhoiild be Klviyon<) thflr powoth, whb'h Ih olHM-rfiil and HtlmuluthiK, and which will liiUo Uii*m out of themsolvPH. A Ilttio work each day upon tho losHOn, oh stroNKth will permit, and tho kuidon-footpd nio- nuMitH will tako on wlngH. If one rt;- iL'overs, It will b«) to greater UHofulncHs; and If on«i dlcH, thoHo Iohhoiih will. Illuminate the valley of the shtidMw "f death. ■' Then there are the motherH. who nrf kept at homo by their little chll.^lren and their houBehold dutloH. Thojr never- ending round of tanks beeoraOs almost unbearable drndRery unlCHS the heart and the;nilnd are Btlmuiated, . For tlieni the time taKen for Utble Btudy la an ' abaolutQ gain. They will b(» tho freBhi^r and the stronger for U.^j#l^heh the heart Is cheered, dutles^Kwmu IlKbt. And then, too. they wllffwib better mothers for so doing— klriBor, more patient, more loving, wiser. Kor the ^ake of the ch^dren and the whole household they should be disciples of Christ. " There is usually no txpportunlty for the servants to attend the Sabbath- school, The Home Department offers to them the opportunity of studying tho SMndny-school lessons. Thus the par- . lour and the kitchen may be associated^ ,, together, and ejiohHoenthe better for the • fact.^^^^.,,---^'^'^ THE KItlT-ol'TH. . . " (2) The Shut-outs. ■ Th^e are the commercial travellers, the railroad con- ductors, brakenlen, engineers, newsboys, railway poftal clerks, telegraph opera- tors, bote/ clerks, drug clerks, steamer bfllcers aid employees, army officers and soldiers, /civil engineers and their as- sistants/boatmen, etc., etc. Whether he Is /on the rail or ttio ocean or In camp'^he can take his Quarterly and soon put himself into sympathetic con- nection with those at home. " Mon)< (uiiilUi'M arf< Mliuiiifd mo far from chur<;h and Hundny-w-hool that they (iihiKit aili'iid either Hervltrc, or molt* tUiui one. Others ari> In Mnmll (■oni'niunllleH wlwru there are h«> church or Sunday-itcliool privlli'KeM, or live In loculttli^H where they nrn pointed friini nil the bencdiM of society. •: To ^nuch famllleM the Home Depiirtnu'nt \» an In- cHllmiible boon. It lirlnKH litem Inio conned ton with thoiiMtindH of lllhe^<». They feel the ImpiilHe of, the Miililiiml life which throbs In the church iiiiJ Huiidiiy-Hchool. 'I'lhlH inenliil and uioi;il HllmuhiH l» JUHt what they need. Ii U like brlnKlll^ Into the home a tcliKiMidi wire whicli coiinectH It w.llli (lie grcai world without, thoiiKh it may he .tipni'i Home loiiely moiiiiliilii top or In hoi^ic uiifi'e(|iietiled vah.t." A corps of I'loiue Ueparlment Visitors/ going over itle (jeld once ev«ry ililill'ler/ Ih of lllciilcullihle UHHlHtailce ti> the piis- tor and advuiitiiKe to the church, |)rj Haxiird glv<'s ii number of louchiiiK llltiH| t rations of the bencdicllou iIii|h ItroiiKhi to the UKcd, the sick, the lonely, tho for- gotten. ' In one Home Department niiie persoHH over seventy years of ane afe HludyiiiK tlu^ loHsoii.s; in anothei- an old liidy of ninety-seven, nnd In iMiother/'a man ot^iilmty-slx. I Hspec'lally do IhvaJIMs weh'ome /it. Onc! lady said, "You don't know hiiw I feel when I hear the bell rln« on Sim- day monilng; 1 want ho much to nii to church." Another said, " 1 thank you for lie1|i- Ing nil! to study (i()d'H Word. 1 havi^ found Christ, and 1 want to Join the church." ' Another, on her dying bed, safd: "Tel my puHtor that my home study record it] full, up to dale." This Department reaches out lls'^rnys of love. and sympathy and embrjKjSs those-who iiiivo no homcH. Dr. Hazard mentions one class twelve of whoso number were In mountain camps ninety miles away. "-^U takes some corres- pondence to sustain such a Doimrtment, but how welcome It must be to tKose lonely miners!" Another class In Con- necticut has In Its membership eight persons who liave removed to Utah. Mothers can by^ this means ke«p In touch with their" hlldren who, In our migratory modern life*, have mov^d far from home. A Sunday-school in Dakota started a Home Department through a I stage driver, who offered to deliver tho lesson' ■V :^ <^-* V THE HOME UEPARIMKNT belpit unil pap«rii to any alont hU ruMta who wouUt Join. liut do«H thiH lloDin I)«partniont Ioh- Hvn tlio uttenduncu fiud Intluence of the Huntluy-Hcliool ? Quite, tho nivurHf. Th« following are teiitfhionleH on thiH •tibject : " It Invnrlably tondH to the upbiillil- 4>t-tt>« Huuilay-MsUtH*! tu inM»b«FHt>l|)i In lntor«iit, iinil In power." " The IncvUiiMe remilt of awukonliiK liitereHt In Ulblu Httidy uthonin MueniH to bo to bring to Sundaj^'Hohool all. who can come." A theological student fcMjnd that there were nlnuty-ulx perHons In the Biinday- Bchool. Organizing a Homo Uopart- ment, one year afterward the BtatlstlcH of. the school were as followu : In the main school, IIU; in the Home Depart- ment, 136; total, 262. UMl l.TM. The moHt hallowed reHults often fol- low this home teaching. A man so given up to drink that he attemptJtd suicide, while confined to bed from his Injuries was Induced to Join the Home Department, His study of the Ulble led to his conversion, to his victory over his depraved appetite, and to his Joining the Methodist Church. Not seldom, instead of drunkenness and wife-beating, the Home Department has brought concord and love. A backslider, restored to the favour of God, when dying exclaimed : " Qod bless the nian^who first ^hodght of the Home Class I" V No element is more vital than the quarterly visitor. The visitor Is gener- ally a young lady of leisure and culture and winsome ways, who first secures the promise of the Home Department scholar to spend, at least, half an hour In the study pf the Hcriptures every week, and then makes periodical visits to receive reports, help with dlfflctiltles, and dis- tribute the lesson literature. The genial infiuence of such visitB to the homes of the poor and neglected, or those who are shut out from social intercourse by sickness or isolation, is in Itself an un- speakable benefit. It Is an exhibition of Christian altruism that overcomes pre- judice and wins confidence. It is a proof that the churches are not mere social clubs of the welj-to-do, but that they seek to remember the forgotten, to visit the neglected, and to benefit the needy. The intellectual stimulus of such study upon even ■lUggUh minds is very gfeut. They feel tlie inspiration of keeping Hl«p with the great army, wh** are every week studying the same cha|i|profi*^ HIttlo. riiey acquire a new Interest In I ha greutest clasMlc of all tho ages, an*l many are led to reformed lives. One of the must striking results of the H«>mfr 4>e|»arime»t is ihn Way In which It helps the pastor In his worlT, und thus benefits tlie whole church. The visitors can find out those who have niemberMhlp letters from other churchbSi but have neglected to present them: those who are concerned about their sal- vutiun, but are too timid to make It known; those who are In trouble through sickness, or sorrow, or sin; those who can bo devolojied into Christian work- ers in th^ Sunday-school, the League or Endeavour Hoclety, or other forms of Christian work, The pastor, too. may greatly help the Home Department. He can Initiate the movement. He can organize one In connection with his own church and school. He can commend It In his pas- toral visits to business men, to the aged, the infirm, the invalids, the mothers, servants, nurses, etc. He can pfeacb upon it, he can mention it in public prayer, he can encourage its workers, and can fn many ways identify himself with It. The following are testimonies of pas- tors As to its Jjgiportance : Rev. R. E. Burton, of Syracuse, N.Y.. says : " We believe In it first, last, and all the time. I do not think there Is a single department of church work in which results are more easily, quickly, and largely realized. If pastors only knew the advantages of such a depart- ment, tlioy would at once Introduce it Into their churches," Rev. Dr. Hallork, of Rochester, N.Y., says : " Another feature Is the co-opera- tion secured between the parents and the Sunday-school teachers. Parents through the Home Department become lntereste Dr.lluanrrl tliiiH Miiiuniarlxi'H tli*' fliM which ai'u coiiftM-rcil by ihu Dctmiirimnt ; " l.> II incnumcH iiUi>iuluni'<; (I|h»i thi> nuilii Hchool. In HinioMt «vi>ry liiMtancc Ihit lltiiiut l>>|»>i'>iii*'i>t Ihh'oiui'k a {<>tM] inalii tu-hnol. "'i. It. furnlBln'rt an fffi'i'llvii int'thoil for I'vanHi'lUlUK tin' tlc^ld covi'ii'd |iy a clnirch. A cornH of VlMltorn i't>Kiilurly canvaH^InK Hh lei-lil6ry Im u K^viU tvUi- foiTcuiunt to lh»! ihurcli. " 3. It c-onifurlH ami holpH invaliilH. "4. It r»'C'ov«rn l)ai'kHlltl«»rH. 'I'Ik' offcct of Uonii' Htuily of th" MlbU) Ih Io ' brUiK thi'iu back aKaIn Into tbo DIblo toKOthor without Ik'Iiik broiiKlH face. to fact! with thoilr hoiiI'h Kalvatlon. " 6. Jt IncrcftHCH church attendance. IntcroHf In Hll)l«! Htudy Ih always followed by an IntoreHt lii the Hfirvires ftf I he cliuich._..j ''^'>T. It developB . (MuiHilail woikers. , thUiK Ih better ndaph'd to make ^iulHtlann effective labonrerH for (^hrlnt than to ttjipolnt them an vlHltora In the 'Home Pepartment. The cfmrcbes need thiH anency for lift Hijlendld discipline. It fiirnlHhea HomelhInK Bp«'clllc for the memberH of a chiircli to do, which Ih within their power, and which will he produt'tlve of great results, " Wherever It has been thoroughly trleil. tho Home Department has been found to be a preat evangellHtlo aRency. It is calculated to reach those IncUvi- duals and families who are wllhoul the Oospei in a Gospel land, and for whom the church is responsible. The plan is simple. Inexpensive, and effective. By all means adopt It." iiitowi'ii IN i.\Nii>,y, It is only four years stnoe th6 Home Classes have been enumerated In our Sunday-school statistics, althounb tlie Home Department has been cultivated Tor a considerably longer time. In 18!)."> .■ ' Tlifsf'i'cijuisilrs iiiTfcintwhttl fri'V foF iiilr. TlilH Ih a IncreaHe, and It In expected In thlit Do- Very rnpld thai the r«- liiinM (or IMUM will be Kruiily In i^il- vunce.' Our riuiiday-HchoolN In th|> hiMt qund- leiiiiliini report an increiiHe of :.'il,'tt*ii, or over leii 4Hre |« roum for a much greater liicreuMe. We have,<4,45ri pri'iich- iiig appolniiiieiu»<. .\i every one of tlicHc we ought Io have a mcIiihiI, or at leant n Home Deparliiienl. Yet we hiivn only a,.'tu7 hcIiooIm, leaving I.IIM iippiilnt- nieiiiH wlllioiil either MetbodiNt Ai'hool or IliUlie hepiirlinelil, III elllier MUlllllier or winter.* Moreover, the slatlMllcs' re|mrt only 2.040 HchoolH UM open Ihroughiiiit the entire year, leaving l.lltil. chlelly In ihe leiiioie and Isidiiied pliiieH, where, tin aicounl of HtrCMH of weather or bad niiidH, the Hi'hool liiiml bi> llileiriipled ilurlng the winter. Otten It Im ditllciilt U) reorganl/e them In the Hprliig. Tlie connection of llie h-HH(iiiH Is ii)Ht, and their value and l.he IntereHt In them be- comeH greatly Impaired, Here tjui Home Hcpartineiit may. be of special value. Tiie IcHMon leaves and papers may be receiverl aiid' fllMtrlbuted. and Ihe Iwmie study of the leHsoiiH con- tinued. The people may thus be kept In touch with the SiiiiduV'Si'liool work Mirouglioiit the long months (if ihe'wtn- |er. and the scboid be ready for early reorganization without the loss of d single iess»)n In the sprlnRi ,. i'i's«iiiii.iriK>. BHt^ si 111 .larger Weld Opens before us.' "k^X" evi.'ry. om? of our I!ti2,l04 Hct)olar*i in oiir hcIiooIh it ought not Io he dllllcult to secure at least one Home student of the lesson. Hut there are still larger pps.^lbllltles. The 278,0fi4 members (if our church must be multi- plied by five to reach the number of those who return themselves In the nfll- clal census of the country as the ad- herents pf Methoilism and dependent up- on It toir their religious 4n^'lructlon. Of these we reach less than one-fifth in our Simday-Behnols. What an» we doing for the sjiei-ial training In tm Word of (lOd, the foil^idatlon of an religion and morality, for the other foiir-flflha ? Here la grand work for our schools, ' TtiffriMiU'.'ut ;i'tMii-.^v.' .It Mi.ih> itM)j«>4i'-ii|i|Viiii|ltiiriiN rniiill-SlllMlllX :srllilliU. ■ ~ . ■ ■ ; - -.■- 'A ■•..../ V ■ •pwM* f. .X ' I ■ THE HOMK DKPAKTMKWT our ICpwitrth Miikudm, and ehurehai. WhX an Imputad « gaimral tffort for llllila tttnehtng would g|v« to nvnry ii»- iwrtiuftnt of cbtirch Ufa «nil nhurirh work I How It would qil our iirhoolii. •nlnrRA our congraRiitlona, tncr«nN« th« IntnlllRoncn and pinty of our |>«opl« I Lot th« watcli-word for tha opAiiliiK year of tha nnw contiiry Iia k million iiouli tauKht In thn Word of (lod, a* well •■ A million dollars raUod for aRRroaalva ChrlMtlun work. WHAT OUR MINISTERS, SAY ABOUT IT. " Thn Homn Departmunt In ronni'cllon With our H(ibl)nth-«chool work Iiuh provpil ■ auccofiM, I am led to bellovn, Iri ov«ry way. .^ho Babbath-iichool auporlntond- nnt appelira to be very atrohgly In Uh favour." H. B. Hill, Freeltpn. dnt. ' " Wo have found the people In thcm« "Tha ■air by Us of tha maitt, and here. It* li In a grand klngiloni of '• 1 *i 4 »' J "Wf,**"' ■ Dapartmant commandf It* Intrinsic worth, (ha breadth ime, the aicallent arrunae- while only sllibtly known nuenca lii vary positive. it ninvamnnt Iri building tha Christ." Carl Allum. Mattawn. Ont. " I am glad that ynii are pushing tha Humit l>«pi|rtmenl. It Is very success* ful with urt. Wi> would not on any jic- count give It up. It rekcts on tha school and publlcl service. It promotes tha study of the Word, and there Is noth- ing more nradful to-day In our ohurohes." W. J. Crothers, Napanao, Ont. " The Homo Department of the Iroquois Hundny-Hchjol not only has given help iinil satlirfiii tlun to inuny who. for vari- ous reasonii, arc unable to attend the school, but the systematic canvass of th«i families for this department has resulted In iM)curlni| an Increased attendance of children and young people at the school." J. Tallman Pitcher. "At' two of the appointments on this circuit the Homo Department (s doing a good work. (1) It helps to keep our people In touch with the International Hunday'-schOol Lesson. (2) We think It brings Qospel truth Into the homes of our people. Thus many are Interested by this means In other church worH." « J. J. Llddy, Keene, Ont. " There are about twenty-one studying In the Home Department of the Sunday- school on this circuit. Officers In our schools should go out to those who can- not or will not attend Sabbath-school and organize the Home Department, es- pecially where the schools are not held In connection with th« public service. Thus many who are, carelessly drifting will be led to a correct study of Scripture, and to the wise Improvement of the Lord's Day: We had an Increase In this Departinent last year In Montreal Coofer>' ence of 601." ; . W. Hendersoq. CowansvlHe. P.Q. >•■ TIIK lloMh: DKI'AKIMKNT " When I runiit h«i'fl In Jiinn iMt I found kIiuuI 35 nitmna «nrol|«r IIH) nnniAii onrollKil In thin liopartmont. It In Mnir-aiiiiliilnlnR, and wn lio(i«i It will l)« tiwTt) than that In th« nciir fiitiiri'. Th|mnm(int la viiry «iii'- (•••Hufiil. W«« hiivo KWi -niimilxTH In Ihlrtnon clai«M««. OnrM. I nolo one In pnrtlcnUr who Im ' Hhtii iu/ And (IndM kd'uI <'otn- fort In th^ Word, and from the vUIIm of the periian In chii-rRe. It Ir a moHt enruuraiiing feature of our i»c-hiM»l work." Job Shcnton, Ht. John, ^f.n. day-ttchiMd. It hao been of vefy apwelal b^nellt III ihtt'Mli'k. naed. itnd neieiotartly nhut In: and hnit been more thitn one* the tlrti Induenie to draw to the Huh* day-iirhiM>l «ome who iMM>eure(| unlikely ever to attend. Ity the varied InllueneiMi II hrUiKM. In inrrvlnR on It* partH, It haa won Moula to (tod " . - ' W. UwKon. UlrhllMicto, N.ll. "There hiiH been quite an In- ' inrijiit awakened anuuiK many yiUit did not attend Hunday-nehool, or even ohurch. Homo have <'o havo eommelie«Ml to e»me oeeaalonaHy to rhuri'li. It haH more. than paid Km way Itnani-lally fr(mi the ftrnt. To our wnrk- ■erH mid Kunday-Mrhool' ofDeerH there haa (•<»me jtreat encouranement." 15. MIddleton, Uindon. Out. "We h|kv<> been condurtlnK a H(mii' Departmertt for about a year, and with - ronxlderable HurreHa. addluK to the tiHm- ■^ bera and xenernl Interest of the nehortl. 'We havo found great poHnlldlllles of help to our neneral chdirch work in thU De- part nienl. HellevInK we have been divinely led Into thiH work and prny- InK for ItH eniarKemeni and (VroHperity." D. Chapman, Woodatock. N.ll. " I look upon the Home Department of the Sundny-jtchool an one of great value. It virtually romplotoa the whole plan, and reaehea all who rannot attend Sun- day-Bchool. It la working well In Vienna and neighbourhood. Oiio young mother fonnd her flrat convletlona in this way. and Boon died of ronaumptlon of the lungs. She .-froquently expreaHcil her gratitude to the committee." A. 8. Edwards, Vienna, (>rit. "I am a atrong believer In thftt Im- portant branrh of Sundny-sehool work. I have Known It createjl auch Interest In Sundaji-schoola where none exiHtcd aa , to lead to the organization of one. It Jiaai kept up Interest In the lessons through the winter in homes too far from the town church to attend a Sun- " The Home Department of ttieHunday- HclWMd Ih ill operullon at two achoola on IhlH t'heiiit. Three good reaillta we be- lieve have been noticed; Home people Who never before regularly opened th«f lUble are brought Into sympathy with the study of It; the vlaltora are given opiHirtitiiitleH and iicceHa to fiiniHIeH who before were not In active Hympalhy with the ^-hurch; the pnator has a vuUiable helper in proaecutlng pernonal work." (jcorge Stafford, Harnston, Que. " The Home Department la a great suc- ceas In DcHerontch We have about 200 HtudyIng the Sunday-School lesaonrt '.n that department. IncrenHed attendance In tiro general school, Increaseil attend- ance at church, the reading of the Strip- tuies in homes in which the Uible was never rend, and the conversion, at special meetings, of aowe who hitherto never atteniied church, ore some of the results we note of "the Home Department." ■■■ civtc. •• The Home Department in connection with the Central church Sunday-school is in a very (lourlahlng condition, thanks to Mr. Geo. M. Lee and his Sunday- school class of yoiing ladles. During the past year the riiembership has gone t' 8 from leiB than forty up to about one hun- dred and fifty. I find that It affords opportunity for Christian work and con- veraatlpn on the Book, and alRo Increaflea the Interest In the churah and Sunday- school on the part' of Hre people. The regular visitations Urlng pastor and church Into more sympathetic fellowship with the community." yeo. J. Bishop, 14 Park Road. jTHE HOMK DMPARTMENT - / ▼HAT OUR LAY FRIENDS SAY OF IT. f " The Home Department of Centenary Sabbath^'school has proved a grand suc- cess, being the most successful depart- ment last year In the school." W. A. Brown, St. John, N.B. "In the points where It has been hon- estly used by members. It has been a great success. Our Home Class would be flourishing all along the line if otir superintendent of this work "had not left us a Bhoft .time ago; and no successor has >yet been found. He was active and earnest, and we Want another of the same Atamp. The right sort of super- intendent. Is ^he only thing necessary to make this Department successful any- where." A. E. I,,avell, Walsh, Ont. Mr. A. J. Donly, superintendent of the Binicoe Sunday-school, writes : " Our Home Department Is well looked after. We havg a regular attendance at our scl);ool of about IGO, besides ajlome De-* pnrtment numbering 70." " We have a mem'berBbip of forty- seven, nearly all of whom study the International Lessons regularly. We find the parents taking more interest In the school and the lessons* of the chil- dren." V , M. ,A. Belchef. Halifax, N.S. " I regard the Home Department of the Sunday-school as most important. It causes many parents to study the Word of Ood who would not be likely to do 80 very much. It keeps them In touch with the Sunday-school proper and places them in a better position to iti- telltgently help their children in the preparation of the Sunday-school lesson, while the visits made *y those who have charge of this work wonderfully aid in securing the presence of those they visit at the regular church service in the evening." T. E. Bartley, CplUngwpod, Ont. ''in my experlenoe, the necessity for ;i successful Home Department is a good visitor or visitors. Given them, and I have yet to see an unsuccessful Home Department. In this churgji we are re- organizing this department of our Sun- day-school at present, and hope by a careful canvass to largely increase our numbers. At our Sunday-school anni- versary services on the 26th ult„ we have decided to bring the sdvantage and needs of this department most promin- ently before our congregation." P. L. Richardson, Montreal. "Webplieve that three or four Con- secrated men or women at each appoint- mont are sufficient for this work. 'Put It on them. Let them feel the weight, and they will work. We mean to go on trusting In the Holy Spirit. " He will help us." "jno. H. Wrfght, Heathton, Que, " This department of Christl&n work is, I believe, of great importance. It slynuld have the sympathy and hearty co-operation of both pastor and Sunday- school superintendent. It helps both Sunday-school and church In- their efforts for winning souls to Christ, and the advancement of his cause." "Vera." . " At Stanstead we" now have eighty- five, and hope to get mote. The Interest in the study Is Increasing. It proves a strong bond of union with the cbiirch and seems to establish a good understanding everywhere. The work is full of pleasant surprises and en- courag^nients, and we trust it is leading us to the solution of sbniie problems." ' Jessie Colby, Stanstead, Que. t » THE HOMK DKJ'AUTMENt -\^, '" bur Home Department of the Sunday- achool baa been helpful in every way. It baa Increased th^ Intereat In the school. Parents take -more Interest In the lessons, and many have come to the school, bringing their children with them, and thus the school 1« better at- tended, collections Increatfed, the lessons better known, and the school and home greatly benefited by the Home Depart- ment.", u H, Thomas, Castlcton, Out. organized a' Home Departmedt extension of our Sabbath-school over three years ago. I know for a ' have more sympathy willl the m-hool v-hon they become members of It themHelves. Par- ents who belonged to It have bcM-onie regular attendants of the school now." David .Itimes, Thornhill, Ont /. • /, ■ "We have had the Home Department in our school now for three or four years. It^ends to create a general |n- teresti. In Sunday-school work and In- creiiaes the attendance. We have a com- plete list of men, women and children beiohging to the congregation and know Just who we have yet to look up and Wiii t» thiB study of the Scriptures. Anything on Ways of working wUl be of help to the visitors." T. H. Patrick, Souris, Man. ." We are in our third year in the Home Department. We have about sixty mem^ hers. Our membership has been kept ' up, although the work is in the midst; of a migratory people. We give the/ members the privilege of using thij library. By. m:eans of this Important work we come In contact with many persons whom we can sympathize with an UK THK UOMK. ■ . ■' ■ DKI-AKTMK.Nr Vl! ►oil MX'llHAtilSl'lltlKI.H CLtWIil' infllNti • WINTKH OR '^IMMKH? When a school for any rens<)u is dosed during either winter or summer, it may be temporarily organized Into a Home Department, the Superintendent having charge, the teachers acting as Visitors, anil the scholins ^s members. AH the arrnngehienls, down to details, ought to be made before the school is closed. It wl(,l be helpful to observe the folloVv^ing suggestions ; « 1. During such times of closing,- the <^'lf.ltor8 (formerly teachers) ought to be especially careful that the Ixjsson Helps and Report Knvelopcs are regularly fur- nished to every member. 2. Each Vlsitor^hould faithfully eii- the members by writing them „ . . , courage tne memtjcrs oy wriiing mem 4. Be careful not to gossip concerning •* letters iirglng them to persevere In their "*B; your work or your memliers. Never re veal things which should be confldential between your members and yourself. 5. Visit your members at least once each quarter, gathering their QuairtVr4y R;eport envelopes and personally supply- ing them with the Lesson Heilps.for the coming quarter., 6. Encourage your members to notify you concerning any sickness in their homes, and when so notified promptly visit them. Make the best of all oppck- tunitles for speaking a word for Christ,. and his service. 7. Watch your members'- growing In- terest m the study of tlie Bible. .\s far as possible Induce them to attend the Sabbath-school. 8. Encourage them .to jvlslt the Sab- bath-school. If they cannot regularly at- tend It: to take books from Us library; to Join the Sabbath-school on all social occasions, and at Christmas, Easter, Children's Day, etc. > Bible study. ;{. The Visitor ouglit not to' fail to secure regular reports from each member.. WHAT IAN TIIK llilMK l'KI-AKtMKS.T |)l> KlIK • • lIVMINltlKS IS Wllli:ll TUKltK IS VO SAIIBATII srillllll,? Where from any cause it is impractic- able to organize' and conduct a Sabbath- school, a Christian man or womari can organize a Homft Department., Bllile study, with all its attendant blessings, may thus be brought to isolated homes and lonely hearts. In course of time a >?abl)ath-8chool n^ay be established as the result of this work. - ^ Htm- i-iiii It Homi Di/.mtiii'lit III Slorliil ill uini Siililiiifli-Srhoiil .' The pastor and Sunday-school Com- mittee, being convimed of the desirability of having this work organized in their t^mm 18 THE HOME DEPART.MKNT 8abbath-«chool, adopt It and authoriie the organization of a Home Department. The next 8tep la the appointment of R Superintendent of the Home Depait- , ment. Tlw perHoti no appointed should be an eaMeHt and IntelllRent believer In the warit, one who c&n be relied upon to Btxft It and carry It on td succesa. This Superintendent can make a list by territorial dlBtricts of the namen and addresBes of all the members of the church and congregation who do not at- tend Sabbath'school. (If poaslble a Bicetch map of the congregation can he made, marking the realdenceH of the meipbers.) Subti |wr tiiiiiii-t <^imrU'rl.v l(i>)ii>ii Kiiielo|H'» i> 4ii n h t, Vaiimumith Hy\H*rt ..ia...... I , „ .* IN'M'riplivi' (.riklli'l ...J.. •) .'ill „ I, .1, CIiiiiH Hi'iiint ;.■,.. II (W ..lu-li. Mi'iiliii' fji'miiii (jnnrli'i'ly . . . . . . n li.'i |M;r Himrhr SECRETARY CREWS ON THE HOME DEPARTMENT. The Jlev, A. C. Crews, Secretary of the Sunday-school and Epworth League Hoard, writes : " The Home Department Is not Intend- ed to Interfere with, or take the place of actunl attendance on the Sunday- schoeA' session. Its aim Is rather to In- terest" In the KlUdy of the Bible those who cannot conveniently attend. In- valids, busy mothers, travellers, those living remote from a plac^ of worship, etc., .have by means of this department been brought Into living sympathy with the Sunday-school, and have been per- sonally benoflted nqt a little. In many homes parents have greatly' helped their children by spending half an hour with them In the study of the lesson each week. •' The auccefls of this department, wherever it has been Introduced, has been such as to warrant its belrig pushed ener- getically. It Is an Indispensable adjunct to the fully equipped school." THE WESLEYAN ON THE HOME DEPARTMENT. In a vigorous article In The Wefileyan on this subject the Rev. George Bond writes : "The Home Department Is really the extension of the work of the Sunday- school Into the home. It Is the enlist- ment of those members of the family who do not attend the school In the stpdy of the Bible as it Is carried on ■ /. THK UOMK DKI'AKT.^IKXT 1.1 , -.. /• / /.•"■■ there, the aanie lemiou being takeji and the same helps uaed. "What an impetiiB It would give to the intellectual and spiritual life of our . communttifl^ ^ each ot our aehoola were 'tv organize a llonie Department on the lines BuggesteU.' And why not? There Is no cumbersome machinery, there are no hard-and-fast lines, there Is no such setting of lessons as to make the courHo ImpoBslble to busy people. On the con- trary, everything Is so slniplfs hu adaptable to every place and circum- stance and so easily and speedily pos- sible of arrangement, that In a month or less every Sunday-scliool throughout the Connexion might have u Home De- partment in full swing, to the very great stimulus of Its own Interior work and to the very great advantage of the church and community with which It is con- nected." THE GRO^PtH OF THE HOME ' DEPARTMENT. It Is very gratifying to notice the rapid multiplication of Home Department Sun- day-schools throughout .our connexion. In a list which cannot be at all complete we find lllof BUcli schools. The largest attendance if at Deseronto, with an en- rolled membership of 250, the next (s Mitchell, with •fi28, the next Queen Street, Kingston, with 150, the next Portland, St. John, N.B., with 149, the next St. John's West, Newfoundland, with liS, the next Gait, with "ISG. In Newdale, Manitoba, )s one with 100 members. That it Is not necessary to have such a large membership to carry on such successful Home Departments is shown by a number pt schools of twenty or under, one or tw6 even having as few as four members. We would be glad to hear from these schools as to their suc- cess of management In this list of Home Department sphpols, Montreal Con- ference comes first,- having 33, next New Brunswick Conference, having 19, next Hamilton' Conference, having 16, next Toronto Conference, having 14, next Ix)n- doiDL, Q^y of Quinte, and Manitoba Con- ferences, having each 8, next Nova Scotia and, Newfoundland Conferences, having «>a('h 2. und next llrltlHh Colunibla. Conference,, having one. ESSENTIALS TO THE SUCCESS OF THE HOME DEPARTMENT. I. Ahimi fouryj'iirH ago we started It, und It hUB/l)«><'n kept in operation ever 8lnce. It luiM not grgWn uh fust uh we expected. ntnorrtielcnH It Is In a heiilthy condition, und It Is developing in IntortMt iji two diri'ctinnH, (a) in llible Htudjr, and (b> In Sunduy-Bchool affiDrB. We have only tried one local circle, ^t an outlying point, iind With conalderable-fatlBfuctlon. Other circles niuy follow. T^ie Depurt- ment involves leadership, kind, con- siderate, persevering leadership, und it is not always avulluble. 2. The success of the Home Depurtnient . largely, yes, nuiinly, depends upon the Yjsltbrs. The vlBltors have been, wttir" us, mostly our Sunday-school teachers, und these, us meaibers b^ the various- church dnxlllurie^, ure Very inuch bur- dened indeed. The Home Department ought to he a church institution, und one of the special features of church re- lationship. The church members, v and church adherents, do not know ehouKii about each other, and so they should visit each other more, upon a systematic plan, and incidentully they could help along the Home Department by making its lessons the subject of their conversu- tion. A reading church, and a church impresBse(t that hlR BumUy-arhonI, rfoiieil foi* ihrw mdnlhii ilurlnR tho Wln»«r, had brcn orKiinlZ4nt, uml that. a)I wero to b« called toROthnr txt the oIdho of the quarter for a rnvlpw. That wftH not a Methodist aehoot, hut th«H«« yon will be Klad to know, will make a beitfr ahowInK this year.--\Vc8leyan. REPORT OF THE HOME DEPART- MENT OF THE STOUBFVILLE SUNDAY-^HOOL. We have completed our third year In thiB work. The averatte number re- ported each quarter aa atudylnK the Suu- day-Bchool leaaona in the homo dattacM Of 1896 was 87; 189(1. 105; 1897. 100. We have a atrong convictigh that every member of the churc^ « ahoilld belong either to the Slunday-achlktl proper or the home claa'W, and thoae ,who are not church membera, that they ahould atudy this " Word/* which is fiblc to make them wiae unto aalvation. the popula* tlon within the Iwunda covered l)y our Markham townahip Suiiday-achool Aaao- ciatlon la 7.500; tfte SUnday-achoola re- port an attendantiti of abouf 3.000. Allowing 1.000 for the too young or ex- treme aged leavea 4.500 aa the home clasa field, quite a number of whom already . Study the Sund'ay-achool leaaon. but a ■thorough canvaa^ reveals how amall that number la. What a vaat field does the home ^lasa work bring before ua when there was only one school last year re- ported as engaged in It. If It la good for the child to atudy the Sunday-school leason, it is Just as good for the parent. ' Geo. Flint, Jr. THE HOME EffiPARTMENT AT DUNBOYNE. Mr. Joiiri Dugadale, superintendent of our Sundayrachool at Punboyne, writes : " We commenced the Home Depart- ment in 1804. iitid have carriad It on Mince with good Hifceeaa. I think l.»dl*« ' lire beat for viaitorM, aa they have more Mympathy with mothera. and have greater HUcceMH In inducing parent* to lake an Intereat. •• We divided our appointment Into dU- trfcia, and tb^' vlaliora go each quiirter Willi the qimrterliea. carda, etc., but tUfy never aak for money. We leave tliiit ^ entirely to the ge.neroMlty of the nieiu" bers. and lake Juat whUt we get. I tlud that the llouie Department reacheM hduip Who never attend church. U la Jusl-th.' thing for Invailda, and motbeiM wlili young families, "For Home time I waa greatly tniubled with the verm', 'do out into the high Vayn and heilgea and compel them lo Clime In." I could not aee how I coulcl do better Huui I wua doing until I heani of the Home Department, which I ativrl-d at once, and aince then that verae liun not lK)thered inc." VHOME BIBLE STUDY. Heing much ploaaod with Mr. Wltli- row'a timely article In The Witness of March 22 on " Home Ulble Study,;' I thouglit you would ' pcrha|>a publish an ln\alld's unqualified praise of the aya- tenmtic study of the lilble ihatltuted by the Sunday-achool committee and ex- tended towarda the members of the Home Department of the Sunday-ache. 1 have been unable through phyai-,.. weakness to attend Sunday-school for a long time, and it gives me great pleaatire to study the lesson for the day at home. The lesson leaflets supipl|ed by^ the He me Department of the Sunday-school are better adapted for general study. My gracious Maaterhaa given me many biesaings, the greatest of which la that I am abie to read and atudy hia 'fioiy Word. I am very thankful to the Sun- day-school committee for instituting the system, which deserv^es more praise thiii I can give. Canada Is higly 'favotired with Bible priviiegea, and I earnestly hope this opportunity of getting better acquainted with his holy Word will he improved by all who do not attend Suii- day-achool.— " Grateful lavalUy^' in Wit- ness. ^t^#^WW^^##3^^^^^^t FOR THE WORKERS IN THE HOME DEPARTMENT. Uo<{ blew the worker! every onn, Ingpire their hearts with holy ceat, A« forth Ihfty rq to young and old, Moat bleaaed Inlluunce may thoy feel Ulve power, O Lord! that all may reach— With aavlDK grace, the soula they meet: Pod ■ Holy Word aet forth and teach, The Word that makes llfe'i bitter sweet. Uprises all the happy years I The sacred songs, the earnest prayers; Ihe loving, pious teacher's words, Forgotten Ifalf In life's dull cures Comes back the loverllght to the eye t Of weary ones with age bowed low; The blessed Joy of years gone by— The Sabbath-school of long ago. Old age grows youhg as memory waken Life's fresh sweet interest In the Book And hearer, dearer, through each word, Recalls the blessed Master's look. Recalls th6 blessed words of love The Comforter In childhood's grief; And age, like youth, now looks above, And finds the Comforter still chief. O rapture of a soul thus brought To God through Interest in life's past; Sweet memories bringing back again A soul to God ! One soul how vast ? Judge of Us yalue when its Lord, A world against It. counted nought; Then workers study well each word. A great life work f One soul home brought, —Isabella, In S. 8. Bulletin. W- ,■1';., ■; ,\ "• •-'■. Vi, -j.ij--. "'.'■ ■" ——— -^ • * " I w ^ 1 ' /* ; , ^ ■:■. / ,•' ' • . 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