The Spirit of prophecy encourages every worker to "manifest tact and talent, and originate devices by which to communicate light." (Review and Herald, March 24, 1896.) In Gospel Workers, page 346, we are told that we are to make use "of every means that can possibly be devised for causing the truth to stand out clearly and distinctly."
In harmony with this admonition, we have sought to impress upon the minds of those preparing for the ministry here at the college the value of the use of illustrative devices for teaching- the truth and holding the interest of the hearers. Some of these devices are shown here with the accompanying description.
(I) The saved-by-grace device is built on a 7-foot, 1" x 2" strip, that is bolted to two 2" x 2" upright pieces. These upright pieces are approximately six feet in height. As a support for the upright pieces Christmas tree bases were used. However, we replaced the aluminum prongs with steel prongs, which were cut and threaded in our college power house. The printing is done on painted plywood plaques. In this particular device the plaques were 9"x II", and the large plaque in the center 18" x II". These plaques are fastened to the crosspiece by the use of screw eyes and cup hooks.
The pictorial presentations of the cross and the sacrifice pointing to Calvary, and the communion service pointing back to Calvary, are tacked to a 1" x 2" piece several inches in length. A hole is drilled in the end of this piece into which is inserted a dowel. (A dowel is a pin to connect two pieces of wood by being sunk in the edges thereof.) Holes are drilled in the I" x 2" crosspiece at the place where these pictorial devices are to be inserted. They can then be picked up and placed at the desired spot by simply pushing the doweled end of the device down into the crosspiece.
The picture of Christ on the cross and the penitent kneeling before the animal sacrifice were cut out of one of the Review and Herald charts on the sanctuary, and glued to the plywood plaques. The illustration for the communion service was cut out of a picture such as may be purchased in any religious art shop. This picture also was glued to the plywood plaque. All plaques used ih this device are made from three-ply plywood.
The letters are two inches in height with capitals 23/4 inches in height. They are tacked to a strip yi inch in thickness and 3/4 inch in width, and are hung frorri wires. It would probably be more satisfactory to paint the text on a long plaque, which could be attached to the two upright pieces at the top.
In presenting the subject "Saved by Grace," we begin by placing the cross in its position, and proceed to show how God saved man before and after Calvary, and then we go back to the days of Abel and prove how he was saved by grace by his own faith in the coming Son of God who would die for his sin. As we describe Abel's sacrifice we put up the plywood plaque showing the lamb .on the altar, and the arrow pointing toward Calvary. And then we proceed to show how Noah, Abraham, Moses, the children of Israel, and David were all saved by grace. After that we come down to apostolic tithes and show how Jesus was full of grace and truth, and combined in His own life the law and the gospel. Then reference is made to the teachings of the apostles on this great doctrine of grace.
Next the plaque on apostasy is attached to the crosspiece, and we show that during the apostasy the grace of God was turned into lasciviousness, and then how God is bringing back to men the true doctrine of grace through the teachings of the remnant church, which teaches both the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then as a final conclusion to the study, we refer to Romans 3 :22, 23 and show how there is no difference in the basic principles of the gospel, as God applied them both to people living before and after Calvary. The plaque with the words "No Difference" is hung last.
(2) The device on the three days of crucifixion week end consists of three painted boxes hung over three upright pipe stands in such a way that they may revolve with ease. The boxes are merely wooden frames to which a four- or five-ply showcard may be nailed. A finished effect is produced by nailing molding around the edges. A hole is bored all the way through the bottom board and halfway through the top board, of sufficient size to permit slipping the box over the pipe stand. The end of this pipe lodges in the hole that is bored half through the top pieces. A couple inches' to either side of that hole and on both sides of it a hole may be bored completely through the board to permit inserting one's fingers to adjust the box into position.
On one side of the box the words "Good Friday," "Saturday," and "Easter Sunday," bring to the attention of the audience the days of the week and the events that took place on those days. Then we tell the audience that we are now going to read from the Bible what God calls each of these days. Then, beginning with Good Friday, we turn the other face of the box toward the audience and it reads, "The Preparation Day," and gives the text where the statement is found. Then we turn the next box representing Saturday, and we read, "The Sabbath Day according to the commandment." Then the last box is turned, and we find that the Bible merely calls Easter Sunday "the first day of the week."
Thus we show the audience that the true Sabbath of the Christian Era is the day which comes between what the world calls Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Or, in other words, Saturday is "the Sabbath day according to the commandment."
(3) The device on "Why I Am What I Am" is a simple one. The crosspiece is set in the slots cut in the two upright pieces before the sermon begins. All the plaques are added in order. The sermon has two divisions—the first, "Why I Am an Adventist" and the second, "Why I Am a Seventh-day Adventist." At the proper time each of these general headings (the large plaques at the top) are inserted, and then the smaller ones are listed in order. When each point is made and read from the Bible and proved, the small plaque is hung in position.
(4) The illustrative device on the three crosses is built on the platform before the sermon begins. The cards, however, are not hung in place until the corresponding point is reached in the sermon. After the speaker comes to the place where he wishes to direct the attention of the audience to the crosses, colored lights are turned on, which give the effect of the sun setting over the empty crosses. Texts of Scripture are read to show why it was that Jesus' cross was in the center, between the two thieves, and to prove that the cross of Christ divides the world.
There are just two sides to the cross—the penitent side and the impenitent side. After considering the three crosses together, each one is taken separately. Upon the center cross the title "The Cross of Redemption" is hung. The word "Saviour" is next placed, and since sin was the cause of His death, grace was offered. Then each of the other crosses are considered, showing the relationship of each malefactor to the redemption that Christ offered. The final appeal is to those in the audience who wish to travel the pathway to the foot of the central cross, and find salvation for their souls.
