65. Prayers.—Sunday-school prayers should never be long, and those who pray aloud should keep the children in mind. All the rest will follow. Two or three short prayers at different times are better than one long prayer.
66. Memorizing Scripture.—Every school should repeat some Scripture from memory every Sunday. Select the verses carefully, and not too many of them. A few verses thoroughly memorized are better than many imperfectly learned.
67. Lesson Study.—The lesson study period should be the heart of the session. It should never have less than thirty minutes. Hold this period sacred to the teachers, without interruption of any kind. No visiting of classes by officers at this time should be permitted. The necessary business of the session should be conducted during the opening and closing services. Do not distribute books nor papers to the classes until the close of school—certainly not during the teaching period.
68. Review.—The superintendent should not review the entire lesson; he should mention only that part of it which enables him to fix the personal application he has in mind for the school that day. The blackboard will help if properly used.
69. Reports.—Reports should be few, and very short, never in detail. Calling the roll of officers and teachers is a waste of time. To give the number present, the number absent, the offering for the day, the missionary collection, and the names of the sick is usually sufficient, except in cases of emergency, such as deaths or funerals.
70. Announcements.—The fewer announcements the better. Those that must be made should be brief, plain, striking. Do not call them "announcements." Work them in, one at a time, as comments on the program in hand. The announcement that you have an announcement to make is an announcement wasted, and time wasted, too. Never take the time of all to make an announcement that concerns but a few. Do not fall into set forms. Announcements may be interesting and instructive, but usually they are not so. They should be made a study.
71. How to Close.—The lesson review or application should be followed by a short prayer. Then sing a sweet, familiar hymn bearing upon the truth you have tried to impress, the school remaining seated. Then the benediction, school still seated. Then a moment of silent prayer, followed by the piano or orchestra softly playing the music that has just been sung. Let this be the signal for dismissal.
Test Questions
1. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the various hours for Sunday-school session?