Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-07-06
Methodist Sunday School Convention
for Carlisle District.


for Carlisle District.
The 81 Annual Session of the S. S.
Convention for Carlisle District was held
at Petersburg, Perry county, on Tuesday
and Wednesday, june 18th and oth. Kew,
j. s. McMurray, Presiding Elder of the
District, occupied the chair About forty
preachers and delegates were present
The Annu4l Sermon was preached on
Tuesday evening, by Rev. j. II G. Dosh.
Of York He announced Joel .: Is:
"Gather the children" as his text The
objects of the Sunday School, he said,
we're to pluck the children from evil asso-
Citations; to afford them religious instruc-
tions; to secure them the blessings Of reli
eion, ard to train them in Christianity,
He showed the possibility Of bringing
children at an early ago TO a saving knowl
edge Of Christ, adducing many proofs from
the inspired aud uninsp red records OF the
church. lie strongly urged the duty of
the church, in the accomplishment of this
desirable object TO furnish good apartments,
competent officers aud teachers. and whole
some literature; to labor faithfully and pray
fervently. The discourse was neat, forcible
and practical The following questions
were discussed during the session Il.
What is the best method of conducting
Sunday Schools? . What is successful
teaching, and what is the secret Of success?
3. How can we best secure funds for Sun
day School purposes? f. Have any i'm
provements been made in or respective /
schools since our last Convention? The /
most interesting feature Of the Convention |
was the Children's Meeting, held at 10 |
o'clock on Wednesday morning. The ex
ercises consisted of several addresses. |
interpersed with singing by the children
Rev. 5 Fl C~Smith, Prof D HilIman.
Rev. w. VI. Frysinger and j. W Buck
Ingham were the speakers. The first
speaker proposed to tell tie childrens for
tunes. He sho we'd them how their fortunes
would be good if theg were good. and bad
if they were bad. He dwelt particularly
upon obedience to parents, illustrating the
subject by good story Of boy who was
50 good to his mother that in speaking of
him she was accustomed to saying. MY
Jchn is the hest John in all the world" "
The second speaker said he would preach
the boys aud girls short sermon. BE
busy; love the Lord. and always do right"
was his text. The third speaker said he
once read Of an urchin who wanted to fire
off an old gun that he came across while
visiting his grandmother. He put in
heavy charge of powder bracing himself
against the wall, and shut his ewes, but
was afraid 10 pull the trigger. He then
put in another load, thinking that in the
meantime he might screw his courage to the /
sticking point. Bat being still afraid. he
put in a third load While hesitating
about trying it again, his grandmother
said, "Here, let ME show you how to fire
off that gun end suiting the action to the
word, she pointed it at the chimney corner
and blazed away. The old piece went of
with a report like thunder and a recoil that
prostrated the old lady on her back on the
floor. While struggling to get upon her
feet, the youngster shouted out, Lay still,
grandmammy; lay still; there are Two more
loads to 60 of yet" The speaker wanted
the children to hold still little while lon
ger, as there we're 1.-TWO more loads 10 90
of get" lie said the thought he wished
TO illustrate was that children are capable
OF being Christia IS. Repentance, faith.
and good works make Christian. That
children are capable Of these he proved
IRON instances in which they had been per
formed by children. The last speaker
made some very interesting remark of
miscellaneous character, among ether
things relating case that had come under
bis own observation, of little bow who
came to the altar as a pentent, and. after
a hard struggle, sprang to his feet. and
bringing his hands together, shouted. Now
I've got it, I'll bet :" And so he had. for
he afterwards lived consistent Christian.
and died triumphantly. The meeting was
decided success. On Wednesday even
ing Sunday School experience meeting
was held, at which an opportunity was civ
Gu to all present to relate their experience
rs scholars, teachers, or officers of the
Sunday School The exercises were inter
esting and profitable. The members of
the Convention were most Hospitality en-
tertained by the kind people of Petersburg,
and will not soon forget the pleasant hours
they spent and the agreeable associations
they formed among them. The next ses-
sion will be held at Miffiintown, commeuc
ing on the first Tuesday cf June, 1865.