The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-06-15
The Anniversaries.

The Society was called to order by Hon.
Abner Lewis, Of Winona, the President.
The Society then sung the hymn, COM
mcncipg:
"All hail the power of Jesus name,
Let angels PROSTATE fall, }" etc.
Prayer was offered by Rev. John Mat
tocks, of the First Presbyterian Church,
St. Paul.
Rev. Mr.. Eggleston of the Market Street
Methodist Church, made an address of well
come to the delegates.
G.. e. H. Day, ESQ.,, of St. Anthony,
moved that committee be appointed to re-
port the deaths in the Association during
the past year.
Laid over for the present.
D. D. Merrill, Esq, then read the Con-
stitution adopted last year.
All ministers present were invited to be.
come members Of the Convention, and par
ticipate in its discussions.
The roll of the delegates to the Conven-
ton was then read by the Secretary.
Delegates from County Corresponding
Societies, and the agents of the American
Sunday School Union, were admitted to
seats in the Convention.
On motion of Mr.. Tucker, of Hastings,
delegates as they arrived were requested to
enroll their names with the Secretaries as
they arrive.
On motion of Rev. j. F. Chaffee, the
Convention resolved to meet at 8 A. NJ. and
adjourn at 12% NJ; meet again at P. M.
and adjourn at P. M.
G. w. Prescott, Esq, was elected one of
the Secretaries in place of DR.. T. D. Simon
ton, who was taken sick.
On motion of Mr.. Adams, half an hour
was resolved to be devoted each morning to
devotional exercises, during the session of
the Convention.
VIM. Wilson, Esq, was appointed Choir
lister of the Convention.
The Report on Statistics was ordered to
be read tomorrow "wednesday morning,
at nine o'clock.
N. p. Langford, ESQ.,, moved that com.
mittee of five be appointed to nominate Of
Gcers of the Society for the ensuing year.
Carried.
R. II. Fitz, Esq, moved to reconsider the
vote to raise committee of five, but it
was not agreed to.
The President then announced the hymn
commencing:
"Jesas shall reign where'er the sun
Docs his successive journeys run -
and it was sung with fine effect by the au>
dience.
THE DISCUSSION.
The President then announced the fol-
lowing subject for discussion, as reported
by the Business Committee
How can we best secure the attendance of
the youth of community upon Sabbath
Schools?
On motion of Rev. Mr.. Mattocks. the
Convention then resolved to limit the speak
ers to ten minutes.
Mr.. Walker, of Clearwater, thought the
best way to awaken interest in Sunday
Schools, was for all when they meet chil>
dren, no matter whether their hands were
clean or not, to take them by the hand and
invite them to 60 to the Sabbath School.
II. M. Knox said one of the reasons why
constant attendance could not be had was
on account of the frequent absence of teach
ers. If teachers will always be present, no
difficulty will be found in securing the con.
slant attendance of scholars
Mr.. - said that if the Superintendent
had the right spirit, that it would pervade
the whole rchool, through the teachers and
parents.
Mr.. Jones, OF Hastings, thought the first
inquiry important. A Superintendent must
be secured WHOSE heart is in the work, and
is pleasant to IN children, not only on the
Sabbath, but on week days. If we wish to
interest children, we must be interested our
selves, and attend the Sabbath School our
selves. A slack Superintendent and slack
teachers will soon ruin a Sabbath School.
Mr.. - thought the responsibility ought
not all to be put on the Superintendent, but
be borne by all the teachers The Superin-
tendent and teachers should 60 from house
to house and secure scholars, and if one is
absent Sabbath, let the teacher 60 and
inquire the reason.
Mr.. Harris, of Glencoe, said teachers and
superintendent must all feel that we are
under God, and that is the only way that
the interest can be kept up--must look to
Him, and labor for Him, and from Him
receive the reward. We must always show
forth the spirit of love, as the Saviour did
for US. One of the best means of keeping
up an interest in Sabbath Schools is the
Sabbath School sopgs-anotber was per.
sonal visitation-another, and the best, was
to keep up the feeling that we are the chill
dren of the Lord.
Mr.. Walker, Agent Of the Sunday School
Union, thought the great difficulty was that
parents did not feel that they owed religious
instruction to their children. and that the
best way to secure the attendance of chill
dren in Sunday Schools, was to interest pa
rents in religious acknowledgements secure
the influence of the parents first-they must
be instructed. He would have committee
of the church appointed to wait on parents.
Mr.. Tucker, of Hastings, said that Bro>
ther Walkers church committee would not
be recognized by the irreligious portion of
the community. He went on to show the
influence of the pastor of church in clear
ing awsy the difficulties of securing the at
tendance at the Sabbath School, by becom
ing personally acquainted with every child
in bis parish. 1t would be an anomaly in
the history of Sabbath Schools, if success
was attained where there was apathy on the
part of the pastor. But the work ought
not to be put on the pastor, the teachers, or
the superintendent exclusively, but all should