Sunday School
Tablets and Teachings to be read and Word of God recited for children; must persevere[edit]
"The Sunday school for the children in which the Tablets and Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh are read, and the Word of God is recited for the children is indeed a blessed thing. Thou must certainly continue this organized activity without cessation, and attach importance to it, so that day by day it may grow and be quickened with the breaths of the Holy Spirit. If this activity is well organized, rest thou assured that it will yield great results. Firmness and steadfastness, however, are necessary, otherwise it will continue for some time, but later be gradually forgotten. Perseverance is an essential condition. In every project firmness and steadfastness will undoubtedly lead to good results; otherwise it will exist for some days, and then be discontinued."
Important to keep up Sunday School at least once a month if not once a week[edit]
"SUNDAY CLASS IMPORTANT
"Question: "Is it right that Mrs. H.. . . . has given up the Sunday School work?"
"He looked very much surprised and grieved and said: "Why? No! She must keep it up by all means. Why does she want to give it up?"
"I answered that it was too far for most of the children and some were too delicate to walk.
"He said: "If they cannot arrange to go every Sunday, they must go every other Sunday, if not every other Sunday then once a month. But they must come together and must keep up the Sunday School."
- (Words of Abdul-Baha to Miss A. S. K. spoken in Stuttgart, Germany, April 2, 1913; in Star of the West, vol. 9, issue 8, p. 94)
(To categorize)[edit]
"O thou who gazest upon the Kingdom of God! Thy letter was received and we note that thou art engaged in teaching the children of the believers, that these tender little ones have been learning "The Hidden Words" and the prayers and what it meaneth to be a Bahá'í.
"The instruction of these children is even as the work of a loving gardener who tendeth his young plants in the flowering fields of the All-Glorious. There is no doubt that it will yield the desired results; especially is this true of instruction as to Bahá'í obligations and Bahá'í conduct, for the little children must needs be made aware in their very heart and soul that `Bahá'í is not just a name but a truth. Every child must be trained in the things of the spirit, so that he may embody all the virtues and become a source of glory to the Cause of God. Otherwise, the mere word `Bahá'í, if it yield no fruit, will come to nothing.
"Strive then to the best of thine ability to let these children know that a Bahá'í is one who embodieth all the perfections, that he must shine out like a lighted taper--not be darkness upon darkness and yet bear the name `Bahá'í.
"Name thou this school the Bahá'í Sunday School.[1 A Bahá'í children's class in Kenosha, Wisconsin.]"
"The changing of teachers should be neither too frequent nor too much delayed; moderation is preferable. Holding your meetings when it is the time of prayer in other churches is not advisable; it would lead to alienation, since the Bahá'í children who have their own Sunday school would be deprived of it if they tried to attend other Sunday schools. Moreover, the admission of children of non-Bahá'i parents to the school for Bahá'í children is permissible. And if, in this school, an outline of the fundamental principles underlying all religions be set forth for the information of the children, it can do no harm.
"As the children are few in number, it is not possible to have different classes and naturally only one is necessary. Concerning the last question regarding differences among children, act as ye deem advisable."