WATSON'S
SUPERINTENDENT'S
MANUAL
WATSON'S
SUPERINTENDENT'S
MANUAL
Designed for the use uf Sabbath School Superintendents
of the A. M. E. Church.
Copyrighted
Additional copies can be secured for
10 Cents per Copy. Address
Rev. B. F- Watsorv, 631 Pine St., Phila.
philadelphia
A. M. E. BOOK CONCERN
631 pine street
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
We have been permitted to read a goodly
portion of Secretary Watson's little booklet,
and we take pleasure in commending it to the
church generally, especially those to whom it
is directly addressed, the superintendents of
our Sunday Schools and the officers of the
same.
In this production, we see, as in almost
every direction, a set purpose on the part of
the leaders of our church, to keep its devel¬
opment and guidance, under their own direc¬
tion. Appreciating the fact that no one
knows us as a race and as a religious organi¬
zation, better than we know ourselves, it is
their resolve that none shall supersede them
by books or otherwise, in shaping our future.
What chiefly characterizes the little volume,
is the good hard sense of the details suggested.
No superabundance of "red tape" which
could only help to complicate, is allowed;
but in good preacher style, he sees he things
that are before and presses straight toward
the mark.
It is by such contributions as this, that the
machinery of our church will gradually wear
smooth and instead of unseemly gratings, the
work of God given us to do, will be done in
love
Benj. Tucker Tanner.
Phila., Apr. 1903.
SUPERINTENDENT.
The Superintendent is the General in
charge of the Sunday School forces, in
each Station, Circuit, and Mission and as
such, the success or failure will be at¬
tributed to his efficiency or his ineffi¬
ciency.
PASTOR.
The Pastor is Commander of the Post.
By the authority of the Bishop, he takes
charge of the Station, Circuit or Mission.
This taking charge includes everything
connected with the Church; all its De¬
partments, and Societies.
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Sunday School is1 a Department of
Church work, and the Superintendent
should be in close touch and perfect har¬
mony with the Pastor. They should con¬
fer often together for the best interest of
the School.
4
MAAUAL
THE OFFICERS AND TEACHERS
OF THE SABBATH SCHOOL
'constitute the Sunday School Board.
Every School should have the following
■officers:
Superintendent (one or more assistants
uith duties defined).
Treasurer.
Secretary, assistant if necessary.
Librarian and assistant.
Chorister and Organist.
TEACHER'S WORK.
Classes should be so formed as to give
~ne teacher pupils nearly the same age.
One of the Assistant Superintendents
should be in charge of the Infant or
Primary Department with as many
teachers as arc needed.
OUT OF SCHOOL.
Try to know your pupils by name.
Greet them wherever you meet them
with some cheerful words; asking about
their parents, etc.
manual
5-
WORK AHEAD.
All lessons should be prepared or
studied at home, that you may go to your
Class with something to interest ihem in
the study of the lesson. Don't fail to call
at the home of those who were absent
from the Class on previous Sunday.
CLASS SOCIALS.
Call your Class to meet you at your
Lome or elsewhere occasionally—become
acquainted with the pupil's home life.
IN SCHOOL.
Punctuality should be the motto for
Officers and Teachers. Then by example
they can the better teach it to pupils.
No engagements should interfere with-
the Sunday School hour—not even a vis¬
it to the sick; not even Quarterly Meetings,
nor Funeral Services; another hour should
be set for these things, and avoid taking
the "Children's Bread."
Pastor should be present, though not
to exercise his authority as Superintend¬
ent in chief; but to aid by his presence
6
MANUAL
and counsel the officers appointed for the
work.
OPENING SCHOOL.
Here is the stone of stumbling for
many superintendents, the want of a sys¬
tem, that can be applied to their schools.
After thirty years experience in all
kinds of Schools with both races, I most
cheerfully commend to you this order.
Superintendent, Librarian and Chor¬
ister should be the first present (at least
10 minutes ahead of time, in order that
books, quarterlies, etc., may be distribut¬
ed to the Classes, and that songs may be
selected, etc.). If all Officers and Teach¬
ers would agree to make this their rule,
they would never be late.
Bell i. Tap by Supt. (Silence.) Sup!:,
should stand and wait for order. Don't
become more disorderly than the School
by banging on your bell.
Bell 2. Tap, School rise.
2. Song. (Let it be full of life and in¬
sist on every one singing at least the
chorus—repeat it over and over till the
School can make it ring. (Short Song
Service of 15 minutes will help to bring
the children in on time.)
MANUAL
7
3. Prayer, Superintendent or Pastor.
Keep in mind Ecclesiastes V, 2nd
verse, "Be not rash with thy mouth to
utter anything- before God, for God is in
Heaven and thou upon earth, therefore
let thy words be few." (Be short.)
4. Lesson read (responsively). (Clos¬
ing with the last part of the Decalogue),
"Hear what Christ our Saviour saith."
5. Song. (While pupils go to their
Classes.)
6. Teaching the lesson, 30 minutes.
7. Review, by Superintendent. Be
careful to avoid discussions before the
School. Ask questions that you are cer¬
tain some pupil can answer. Do not try
to display your own knowledge, but try
to draw out the knowledge of the child—
by questions that naturally draw the an¬
swer. Review 10 minutes.
8. Class collection by the Teachers; and
Teachers report to the Secretary in the
following form, prepared by the Secre¬
tary on the back of an envelope for each
Class :
Class No. 1, Mr.- J. Smith, Teacher.
Remarks.
8
'MANUAL
Month
Pr
Ab
Vis Col
Nw
Sch
Remarks
Jan 1
Jan 8
Jan 15
Jan 22
Jan 29
Total for Jan
IO
7
8 251
I
James Moore, sick
Rain
Missionary Col
9. Song. (While Secretary completes
the minutes from the tabulated state¬
ments, or reports turned in by the
Teachers).
10. Remarks, by Superintendent or
Pastor, notices, etc.
11. Minutes read.
12. School dismissed by Classes, pass¬
ing in review before the Superintendent
and Pastor, who should stand at the
altar while the organist plays a volun¬
tary.
The School should not hold its session
longer than one hour aind thirty minutes.
(Begin on time and close oniime.)
A few important don'ts: Don't talk
too much yourself, nor suffer others
to do so. Don't call on all strangers to
"say something" just because they happen
to be present, "but know your man."
MANUAL 9
OPENING ORDER CONDENSED.
I.
Bell
1, Silence
2.
Bell
2, Song
3-
Bell
1, Prayer
4.
Bell
2, Lesson (Responsive)
5 minutes.
5.
Bell
1, Song
6.
Bell
2, Teaching Lesson.30 minutes.
7-
Review
.... 10 minutes.
8.
Collection ....
9-
Bell
2, Song
10.
Bell
1, Remarks ....
11.
Minutes
12.
Bell
25 Dismission ..
Note.—If a Song Service is held for 15.
minutes the time should not be taken out
of the hour and a half for the Sunday-
School Service.
Secretary's minutes should embrace
the following- form:
Sunday Schol was opened with No. ..
Prayer by .
Followed with the Lord's Prayer.
The School was then led in the Re¬
sponsive Reading of Lesson,
found in ; followed with shortened
Decalogue and "Gloria Patri."
IO
MANUAL
Song No. — was sung while Teachers
took charge of their Classes.
Lesson reviewed by .
Remarks by .
Report of Classes.
Class No
Pr Ab
Vis
Col
N\v
Sch
Remarks
Class No. 1
6 4
3
1.5
I
Teacher late
Class No. 2
Class No. 3
Class No. 4
Class No. 5
Total
J
Class No. — is the banner class to-day.
, Secretary.
MANUAL
II
CONNECTIONAL DAYS.
Allen's Day, February. Second Sun¬
day.
EASTER MISSIONARY DAY.
Send money to No. 61 Bible House,
New York, to the Secretary of Missions.
CHILDREN'S DAY.
Second Sunday in June.
Send money, one half to Sunday
School Union, Nashville, Tenn., and one
half to the Secretary of Church Exten¬
sion, 631 Pine St., Philadelphia, Pa.
ENDOWMENT DAY.
Second Sunday in September.
Send money to Secretary of Educa¬
tion, Kittrell, N. C.
12
MANUAL
HOME-MADE PROGRAM
FOR
CHILDREN'S DAY.
Or Other Connectional Days.
Open School in the regular order.
This is the children's Annual Mass Meet¬
ing, therefore the Pastor is requested to
preach to children, for children, and
about children. Urge the parents to
bring all the family.
(CHRISTENING DAY OR THE
BAPTISM OF CHILDREN
OR INFANTS.)
DECORATIONS.
Bring flowers and birds. Let the
music be of a bright cheerful character.
Invite all the people to take a part in the
exercises. "Let everything that hath
breath praise the Lord."
CHILDREN'S DAY GREETING.
Come children and join in our festival
song;
MANUAL
And lift your glad voices in praise sweet
yet strong,
To Him who saith bring LITTLE
CHILDREN TO ME,
Of such all who enter my kingdom shall
be.
Happy Greeting to all, Happy Greeting
to all,
Happy greeting, Happy greeting, Happy
greeting to all.
Old Hundred.
Praise God from whom all blessings
flow,
Praise Him all creatures' here below,
Praise Him above ye Heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
RESPONSIVE PSALM—CL.
Pastor—Praise ye the Lord.
Officers—Praise God in the Sanctuary:
School—Praise Him in the firmament
of His power.
Pastor—Praise Him for His mighty
acts ;
School—Praise Him according to His
excellent greatness.
14
MANTAL
Pastor—Praise Him with the sound of
the trumpet;
School—Praise Him with the Psaltry
and harp.
Pastor—Praise Him with the timbrel
and dance;
School—Praise Him with stringed in¬
struments and organs.
Pastor—Praise Him upon the loud
cymbals;
School—Praise Him upon the high
pounding cymbals.
Pastor—Let everything that hath
breath praise the Lord.
All—Praise ye the Lord.
Song, by the School.
Declamation, Little Girl.
Class, Recitation.
Singing.
Bible Recitation of versus containing
"Child" or "Children."
Reminiscence of the School.
Remarks by the oldest member of the
Church and School.
When and by whom the Church was
©rganized. The first Pastor, the first
Superintendent, etc.
Classes take new names for to-day
MANUAL
15
only, (of living- Bishops), namely, 1,
Turner; 2, Gaines; 3, Tanner; 4, Arnett;
5, Grant; etc.
Collections should be taken in classes,
each class trying to excel.
Remarks by Superintendent.
Remarks by Pastor.
Be careful not to talk too long.
The Superintendent would do well to
appoint a committee (weeks before) on
decorations and on program. We give
this only as a model by which to build
a program.
Don't fail to report at once the results
of your Children's Day by the enclosed
report, returning the same to their proper
places, with money divided equally.
REPORT TO CHURCH EXTENSION
Rev. B. F. Watson, D.D.,
631 Pine St., Philadelphia, Pa.
S. S. UNION.
Rev. W. D. Chappell. D.D.,
Nashville, Tenn.
Children's Day
at A. M. E. S. S. was held at
— o'clock, June —, 1903.
Number of teachers and officers en¬
rolled —.
MANUAL
Pupils enrolled —.
Total number present to-day —.
Collection —.
Class No. — was the banner Class,
raising- .
Find enclosed a postal order for $... .
We have sent $. .. . to the S. S. Union,
(or Church Extension).
Supt '
Sec
Pastor
Tost Office
P. E. District
Conference
Please send receipt to
{Post office address).