It has been our aim to make this department of our paper one of general interest. From the very nature of our work the Sabbath-school department of the Signs must be different from that of any other paper.
The Signs is a missionary paper. Devoted to an exposition of the great truths of the Bible, especially those for the last days, and as such it goes to all parts of the world, and is read by all classes of people. Its circulation is not confined to our own people, but thousands not of our faith, and many with no well-defined belief in Christianity, read it with interest.
Of the thousands of readers of the Signs, comparatively few study the Sabbath-school lessons upon which it comments, the great majority using the International series;[1] and those who study the lessons published in the Youth's Instructor, are so widely scattered that many do not get the Signs in time to make the notes of the immediate use in preparing their lesson.
All these things have been taken into account in preparing our Sabbath-school department, and we have endeavored to make the notes and comments of such a nature as will interest the general reader. The mission of the Signs is such that we cannot afford to have any part of it of merely local interest. We have evidence from Sabbath-school teachers and scholars that this department has been useful to them in their work; and we know that it has not been unappreciated by the larger class whom we have had in mind.
But there are many who study the International lessons, who would derive more direct benefit if the Signs contained notes on that series also, and we have decided to meet this want.
As all doubtless know, the International lessons are necessarily non-sectarian, being simply portions of the Bible selected by the Lesson committee. While all the Sunday-schools in the country study the same portion of Scripture at the same time, each denomination or journal may publish its own notes and comments. Since the Signs is a Bible expositor, to comment on these lessons will be directly in the line of our work.
We therefore begin this week to add these to our own Lesson notes. To those unacquainted with this series, we will say now for all time, that there are only twelve lessons in each quarter; each school can use whatever it desires for the thirteenth lesson. There will therefore be no notes next week.
As in the past, we will endeavor to make these notes of interest and profit to all; we shall also get them out in time so that those who desire may use them in preparing their lessons. We believe that this move will be appreciated by all our present readers, and by thousands yet to come.--Signs of the Times, June 5, 1884.
E.J. Waggoner
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