The Home department

Contents

PAGE

Introduction 5

Foreword 7

II

The original idea of the Home Department was a class in the out-of-the-way place, held in a kitchen, parlor, porch, bam, or under a sheltering tree, for children and with a teacher. Dr. W. A. Duncan, of Syracuse, New York, was fathering this idea, and his plan was to reach neglected boys and girls. The vision of reaching neglected men and women had not yet come. Dr. Duncan's effort dates back to 1881.

It is claimed that Dr. S. W. Dike, of Vermont, first had a class of adults who studied the lessons by themselves, dispensing with the teacher and introducing the visitor.

The Home Department as we know it to-day was adopted at a meeting of the International Sunday School Executive Committee, at Chautauqua, New York, in August, 1892. State and provincial associations have appointed secretaries or superintendents to further the work. County and district organizations have done likewise.

The Home Department must be connected with a Sunday school. Its members are members of the Sunday school. Its officers and visitors are members of the official board with the same standing as officers and teachers of other departments. The department

20 {TObe $?ome ©epartment

reports to the Sunday school at least once a quarter. Its members are always welcome at the school sessions, and are invited on all special occasions. In brief, the Home Department is an integral part of the Sunday school.

There are many ways in which Home Departments have been organized. Some schools have appointed a committee to study the aims and methods of the department. Other schools have given some one person authority to select the workers and secure some members, later organizing these into a department.

Ordinarily the question of organization should be taken up at a regular meeting of the Sunday school officers or at a special meeting called by the superintendent for that purpose. The aims and work of the department should be presented in a forceful manner. This might be done by the superintendent or the pastor. It will also be found helpful to have paragraphs read from some good Home Department book. The best plan is to have a successful and enthusiastic Home Department worker address the meeting. After discussion, action should be taken authorizing the organization of the department. Then a superintendent should be elected. Much care should be taken in the selection of a superintendent as the success of the department will depend largely upon the leadership. The selection should meet with the approval of the pastor.

Sufficient time should be given the newly elected superintendent for the careful selection of the visitors.

SMatorp anb ©rgamjation 21

The superintendent and visitors should then meet for organization. A secretary and a treasurer should be elected from their own number, or, better still, from without.

These officers and visitors constitute the Home Department Council. The council should spend one or two afternoons or evenings in studying the field and the methods of carrying on the work, and in selecting the printed material that is to be used. The territory should be divided into districts, each worker given definite instructions and a time set for the beginning of the canvass. A limited time should be agreed upon for enrolling charter members. (See following chapters.)

On the Sunday preceding the canvass the pastor should be asked to preach on "The Place of the Bible in the Home," or some other subject in connection with the Home Department work, to explain the plan, to urge every member of the church not connected with the Sunday school to join this department, and to call attention to the literature which has been placed in the pews or which will be handed out at the close of the service.

At the Sunday-school session on the same day the superintendent should explain the Home Department work to the whole school, appeal for the cooperation of teachers and members, and explain the use of the printed material distributed. The superintendent should then call the officers and the visitors of the new department to the platform and introduce them to

22 TOje ffiomt department

the school, after which they are set apart by prayer for the important task to which they are committed. Such a plan adds dignity to the work and starts the department in a business-like way.

There are some schools where both the pastor and the superintendent are blind to the opportunities of the Home Department. Shall such schools be without a Home Department? There may be a man or a woman who has had a vision of the work and who would be willing to undertake the task. Such was the case of Mrs. Edward. She had been greatly stirred by an address on Home Department work at a state convention. Immediately upon her return she called upon the Sunday-school superintendent and brought the matter to his attention. He, however, claimed that he had enough to do as it was, and was not quite sure that he approved of the plan. Nothing daunted, Mrs. Edward went to the pastor, but he thought that such a department would prove an excuse for many to stay away from the school and so do more harm than good.

Mrs. Edward asked that she be permitted to do a little experimental work. Her request was granted, though she was told not to ask anyone to join the Home Department who could possibly come to the school. With a friend she began her visitation. The first day only three persons were secured, one of these a crippled girl. The next week this girl secured four other members, two of them men who were employed on Sunday. After ten days Mrs. Edward reported to the Sunday school a Home Department of eleven mem-

bers. At once the pastor became interested, especially because he had been trying to get hold of one of the men secured by the crippled girl.

The next week Mrs. Edward and her friend again went visiting. At the first place where they called, the lady said: "I am a member already. I could not refuse my pastor/' That day there were other evidences of the pastor's interest. On Sunday he added nine names to their five, and there were then twenty-five members. That morning the pastor urged everyone not already connected with the Sunday school to join the Home Department. A meeting of the Sunday-school association was called for the following week. At this meeting the department was formally adopted and Mrs. Edward was elected superintendent. To-day that department is one of the best departments in New Jersey.

In a large city church in South Jersey, the Sunday-school superintendent was not at all interested in Home Department work. The pastor, however, felt that there was a need for this work in his parish. Quietly he began to interest his members in the systematic study of the Bible through the Home Department. Later the writer, who was called upon to address a meeting in that church, found a department of one hundred and eight members, nearly all of whom had been secured by the pastor. There were also present nine women who were willing to become visitors. Yet the state • superintendent had been told that it was

24 Wt)t J&omt department

practically impossible to organize a Home Department there.

1. What was the original idea of the Home Class Movement?

2. What are the mistakes that usually lead to failure and when are they made?

3. Name three elements essential to a successful department.

4. How should the visitors be appointed?

5. Should these workers organize? Why? How? What should be the name of their organization?

6. What can the Sunday-school superintendent do to start the department properly?

7. How can the pastor help?

8. Should the workers be installed? Why? How?

9. What is the relation of this department to the Sunday school?

Ill ffizmbttti, Wfytiv Butte* anti Ihrtotlege*

In 1912 the Home Department adopted two grades of membership: Grade A embraces those who study the Sunday-school lesson at least a half hour each week, and, so far as practicable, have daily worship with the reading of the Bible and prayer with the members of their families, and those without family ties, who have daily devotions. (See Ch. II.)

Grade B embraces those who study the Sunday-school lesson at least a half hour each week.

Duties of Members

1. To study the lesson at least a half hour each week. If prevented at any time, to try to make up the lessons before the end of the quarter.

2. To have the report envelope marked and ready for the visitor at the end of each quarter. This is very important and will enable the visitor to make a complete report promptly.

3. To make a weekly contribution, if so inclined, and place the same in the report envelope. This is not required, and a member is in good standing without making "contributions, if the lessons have been studied; but each member of the Home Department

26 Ki)t ^ome department

is invited to share in the whole work of the school, spiritual, social, and financial.

4. To take a general interest in the work of the department, invite others to join as opportunities may offer, attend, if possible, all special occasions arranged in the interest of the work, and at all times and in all places speak a good word for the Home Department.

5. To notify the visitor of any special need in the member's own home or in the community, where the department, the Sunday school, or the pastor may be of service.

6. To pray daily for the members of the department, and for the spreading of the knowledge of the Word of God.

Privileges of Members

1. To become a member of the Sunday school.

2. To be assigned to a group or district with a visitor in charge, and, together with other members, form a section of the Home Department, just as the class is a section of the Sunday school.

3. To be provided with a helpful plan for the regular systematic study of God's Word.

4. To be provided with helps for family worship and daily devotional Bible-reading.

5. To receive at least four calls from the visitor during the year.

6. To be invited to all special functions of the Sunday school and church.

7. To have a share in the missionary and benevolent work of the Sunday school.

8. To receive the ministration of the pastor as a member of the parish.

9. To have the use of the Sunday-school library.

1. What are the two grades of membership in the Home Department? State requirement in each grade.

2. Should a membership card be used?

3. Should the members be asked to contribute?

4. How may the visitor secure the marking of the envelope?

5. How may the members help further the work of the department?

6. What are some of the privileges enjoyed by the members?