Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-06-17
sunday school Convention.

The twenty-tifth annual meeting of the
Worcester County Sunday School Association
Unitarian was held in the Unitarian Church
at Harvard, yesterday. In the absence of the
Presidentand Vice President, the meeting was
called to order, at 10 O'Clock A. NJ, by the
Secretary, and Albert Tolman, Esq, Of Wor-
cester, was chosen President pro TEN.
After a short address of welcome, the annu-
al report of the Secretary, II. A. HILL, Esq,
was read. The following board OF officers was
elected for the ensuing year:
President-Rev Thomas 7. Stone of Boil
ton. Vice President-Rev William P. Tilden
of Fitchburg. Secretary-Rev T. B. For
bush of Northboro'. Publishing Committee
Rev. Mr. Whitwell of Harvard, Rev. r. r. Ship
pen of Worcester Scion Carter, Esq, of Leo
minister. Reviewing Committee-Rev. Mr..
Scandlin of Grafton, Charles Mason Esq, OF
Fitchburg, Rev. Stephen Barker OF Leomin-
ster
On motion of Mr. Tolman of Worcester, a
committee of three-consisting of Rev. Messrs
Shipper of Worcester, Scandlin of Grafton,
and Kimball of Leominster-was chosen to
prepare a selection of hymns and music to be
used in Sabbath schools.
The Convention then took recess to par
take of a bounttul collation., provided by the
members of the society in Harvard, at the
accustomed berality.
Afternoon Session-The Convention re-as
sembled at one o'clock, when, after prayer by
Rev. Mr. Shipper of Worcester, the Sabbath
school children present were addressed by
Rev. Mr. Barto of Lancaster
On motion of Rev. DIR. Hill of Worcester,
who made some interesting remarks in favor OF
amore efficient means of Sunday school effort,
the Secretary, with Dr. Hill and Rev. Mr.. Bar
tol of Lancaster, were chosen by the chair
committee to report the best method by which
the teacher can reach the minds of scholars.
On motion of Rev Mr. Hinckey Of Lowell,
the Rev Dr. Allen ofNorthboro' was appoint
ed by the chair a committee to consult with a
committee from other county associations upon
the general subjectof Sunday schools.
On behalf of the business committee, Rev.
Mr. Whitwell of Harvard presented series of
resolutions, the general purport Of which is
presented in the last one as follows =
Resolved, That, to secure the true end of
the Sunday school-the religious education of
the young-itis necessary that the Sunday
school be elevated to a higher place in the re-
gard of pastors and people; that it should
claim an equal share in their interest, labor,
and support, with the public worship Of the
sanctuary, and be entitled to an equal divis-
ion of the hours of the Sunday service and
that thorough and systematic course of
teaching should be pursued, such as the nature
of the case and the special circumstances of
each school may determine.
The resolutions were discussed by Rev.
Messrs. Hnckley of Lowell (who drafted the
above resolve,) KimbalI of Lancaster, Toman
and Shipper of Worcester, Forbush of North
boro', and Barker of Leominster, the point
of the discussion being generally as to the pro-
priety of the substitution of Sunday School
for the usual afternoon service, the latter being
as a general thing not so fully attended.
Mr.. Shipper said he could not complain of
the attendance upon his afternoon service, be-
cause, being lately settled, he had not past
through the tender honeymoon, when both
parties address each other as my dear" Yet
he thought the afternoon service generally a
poor repetition of the morning, which might
well give way to the Sunday School. Then,
where practicable, let an evening service be
held during part of the year in which the min
lister might have wider range of subjects for
religious leCturing.
lie advocated natural system of teaching
as distinguished from the artificial one of dry
dogma and catechism. Let teaching be sug-
gestive dramatic, general and adapted to the
child'S nature. When you fail to interest the
child, all teaching is dead. For this reason,
he feared all catechisms They are but skele-
tons, needing flesh, blood, nerves and spirit to
give them beauty and life. He quoted the
new test, as the best of all manuals alluded
to the method of Jesus-having little abstrac-
tion being mostly walks and talk, his words
springng from the occasion, appeals to person.
al experience, by parallels dramatizing truth.
Agassz, instead Of beginning with a scientific
statement, puts in the hands of pupils live
grasshoppers, showing them facts, exciting
their Turiosity and thence leadisg them to
grand generaizations. Such should our teach
ing be, practical and vital-using the gospel
as at once our manual and our model.
After vote of thanks to the members of
the Society in Harvard, for their hospitable
reception and entertainment, the convention
adjourned at about five o'clock.