Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-12-22
WASHINGTON COUNTY s. s. UNION.

The association met at 10 10 o'clock a. m
in the Congregational Church, and was calle
to order by the President, Hon. Joseph Pc
land
Prayer was offered by Rev. G. c. Parke
of Waterbury, and the report of the las
meeting read by the Secretary.
Then followed a very interesting and in
structivc discussion upon the Sabbath Schoo
rs a means Of securing the conversion o
children and youth, by Rev. Messrs. Parker
of Waterbury, and Carpenter Of Barre.
MI. Parker argued that the grand end Of
Sunday Schools is TO reach and save the souls
OF children and youth, and every christian
should feel that he has an important trust
committed TO him, and should faithfully dis
charge it. large proportion Of thrss who
eventually become members and pillars of the
churches and ministers Of the Gospel have
been connected with the Sabbath school.
Even II the children are under the influence
of faithful parents, the Sabbath school teach
er is still an important auxiliary In Impress
ing the truth upon their minds, and it should
be the duty Of teachers to seek ever to gil the
young hearts with the Holy Word
The cases where the seed, faithfully sown,
has not produced fruit, are few. There are
very many youthful conversions, he believed,
of which the Church is not aware. There
are very many who join our Churches who
know not when they we're converted, and
cannot remember the time when they did not
love their Saviour Let teachers, then, be
faithful, for the grand end is the conversion
of children and youth.
Mr.. Carpenter suggested that there is an
error in our churches at the present time that
they do not make their teaching bear upon
this subject Of conversions rs much as they
should, and formerly did He believed that
the very fact Of attendance upon the Sabbath
School, formed for such purpose, is likely
to much more strongly impress the truth up.
on the minds of the children.
The object of the Sabbath School is to
teach Gods truth, to impsrt igious iustruc-
ton, and to make religious impressions upon
the mind, and the simple attendance, even il
much Of the time is lost in idleness, must pro-
duce happy effect, and we may augur we'll
for any member Of such system. Then the
teacher soon learns to love the scholar and
feel personal interest in his conversion, aud
this is the best preparation for obtaining con-
versions. He believed that many more are
converted through the influence Of Sunday
Schools lnan in other waj S, even more than
through the influence of preaching from the
pulpit.
Rev. Mr.. Hebard Of Waterbury, suggested
that the influence of the young people who
are continually going West is. and must con-
tnue to be very great, and in this relation
the sabbath School must be considered very
important 10 giving good Bible instruction
and religious training to the young before
leaving home.
The next subject in the order Of exercises
was " The best method OF securing the inter
est Of tue children Rev. Joshua Gill said
it would be impossible to lay down definite
rules much must be left to the discretion Of
superintenden,s and teachers, yet some few
hints might be given.
In the fret place, everything depends upon
those who have charge Of the schools--the
superin tendenis, teachers and parents. 10
order to have model Sunday school there
must be a model superintendent The teach
ers, too, must be competent and earnest. Then
the officers, whatever their natural quslifcs-
tions, must have preparation. There must
be previous study and prayer. Then Bible
ins truciion should always be given to the
children, and no one should be permitted to
address a Sunday Shoot without giving some
instruction from the Bible in the course OF
his remarks. The Bible should be made the
grand study, and other books should be sub
ordinate. The children should also be
taught to be benevolent and self sacrificing
by practical chri,ti charity. The teachers
should earnestly seek the conversion OF the
children, and the conversion of one child will
often exert very great influence upon the
school.
The time having expired, the further dis
oussion Of this and the discussion Of the o her
topics assigned was postponed until the next
meeting. After singing, adjourned until l-2
o clock, z. NJ. The meeting was quite an
interesting one, and the speakers, and the
importance OF the subjsct certainly merlted
a larger attendance, which it is to be hoped
the next quarterly meeting will obtain.
AFTERNOON.
The afternoon was devoted to the children,
who certainly seemed to appreciate the i'm.
portance of the object of the meeting much
better than their elders did in The morning.
as the attendance was very good.
Before commencing the exercises the Pres
ident suggested that it would be we'll to de-
eide upon the place OF holding the next meet
ing, and after one or two invitations had
been extended, it was at length decided to
hold it at Roxbury.
The meeting was opened by singing, and
prayer was offered by hev. Mr.. Winch of
Plainfeld.
The children we're then addressed. much to
their satisfaction, by Rev. Mr.. Hebard Of
Waterbury, Rev. Mr.. Winch of Plainfeld,
Rev. Mr.. Joslin of Berlin, Rev. Mr.. Gill of
and Mr.. Hopkins Of Montpelier.
During the adore SEES the children sung Sab
bath school songs, and everything seemed to
pass off pleasantly and satisfactorily.
On the conclusion of the remarks a collec-
tion was taken up, and after singing, and the
benediction, the meeting was declared sd-
iourned