Smyrna times., 1865-07-12

aiCcreu circumstances now surrounding MS which
render 1t Indispensable that. while we labor r.
promote reylvals, We should use other means
to fulfil our mission. The time was. when
though other churches had light. we had near.
" all the heat. 1t Is not so now. We have
ProVoked them to love and good works. and
have set them in blaze While we rcioirr
that this Is So, we cannot but see that we have
| ioSt our comparative superiority, and to fulfil
our mission something more than zeal in preach
ing ana revival meetings is Necessary. That
| ON winch all eyes are turned IS the Sunday
school In the inception Of the institution
| TWO objects seem to have been contaminated
70 take the children out of the street. and have
the poor and ignorant taught at church and
Drought up to level with the more favored.
| The object should still be twofoli-thc conver-
sion Of their souls, and their Induction into the
church. If then we are not Indifferent to the
salvation OF souls, or the proper growth of our
uenomlnatlon, We should spare no pains to
6mld up and promote the success Of Sunday
! Schools
In order to this it is a matter of primary i'm
portance that the officers and teachers should
be OF the right class Of persons. In them picty
Intelligence, and tact, are essential. 1t is a
great error to suppose that any one who can
read Is Mt to teach children. tmay not always
DC Practlcable to find persons with suitahe
qualifications who are willing to be employed
III thlS work. We must then approximate them
as nearly as we can and all who are cmploycd
| ought to have 1t Impressed upon them that
they should study to attain the highest rcnli-
sites to their calling. 1t Is lamcntahle fact
that the church gives evidence of having but
Hciic interest IN a cause to which in future She
VIII chiefly look for both member, and minis
terS To the Young and inexperienced is left
ihe management of this interest whereas the
best talents and protoundest wisdom of the
church should hc conSecratcd to it, One Of
many evils resulting from the absence of a,r,.
ana experience Is the great difficulty Of retain
IIng the pupils after they approach maturity
ounE men and young ladies will not be taught
by their juniors. The result IS Just at the time
when this class ought to be brought into the
church, or having entered it should he eradua
ting to a profonndcr knowledge of the Scrin-
lures III Bible Classes. they leave the School
brethren, these things ought not 50 to he.
One OF the topics discussed at the convention
was the attractions by which we should draI
and retain pupils There are many. and =.
tar As possible should every where appear
good rooms adapted to the convenience OF
teaching and well furnished with attractive
facilities for the work. Good officers and teach
ers-capable, kind, and pious Good libraries
carefully selected and neatly kent. If the oh,
Ject should be not only to make Christians. but
also to add to our own church, We cannot be too
careful III having purely Methodistic ,itera
ture. Our own Book Concern is laboring to
meet the necessities of our schools, and should,
as 1t safely may, be chiefly patronzcd. Yet
there are too many cxcellencies in other publica
tions to be blgotcdiy dc>pised Prove all
things and hold fast that which is good"
Good music Is of paramount Importance. |
As far as possible the children ought to be
taught music scientifically, in view of which it
VIII afford great facilities to have good inStru. |
ment in every school And at least a third of |
the time OF each session might be prohtably |
employed in this exercise. 1t will cultivate
taste Tor music, devclope talent, indoctrinate
both pupils and teachers, and reflect a fine in
huence upon the church.
We would, in this connexion, invite atten-
ton to another question: Ought there to be
two sessions per day? and should the Schools |
IN country places be Continued through the
winter months? Though there was some di-
verslty OF Opinion expressed in the convention.
the preponderancc was evidently in favor of
continuing. without suSpcnSon through the
year III every place; and in cite, and towns
two sessions day are to be preferred The
younger children all wish it. If We do not
meet them others will. and if they fall into the
hands of Bind and competent teachers they will
be lost from our fold. 1t is a runou. policy to
uspend our schools in Winter in the country.
or III Summer in cities. The public schools
are as well if not better attended in the Winter
than Summer. Why should it be otherwise
with Sunday Schools. BY all means let the
church in this regard initiate the zeal of the
world for in nothing does it more clearly ap-
pear that in this the children OF this world
are wiser in their generation than the children
Of light.
We would invite your attention to the i'm
lOrtance of training the children in the prac
ice as well as the doctrines and experience of
christianity. In order to this all the great
harities OF the times, in whose behalf appeals
re annually made to the churches, should be
PRESENTED for the support of the children also }
I 1t be true that, :" it is more blessed to give !,
han to receive" then should we thus lead
ur children to Christ for his blessing. Let :
hem be encouraged to save their pennies for
harltable purposes by adding to their ability
lore than they can earn. -"
We have endeavorcd to show what is necessa-
Y to render our schools IA more efficient agency
doing good. If the question is now asked. II
by are not more souls converted in them? Il
'e answer-the views we have set forth are +.
OF carried out wisely and practically. let us II
nprove in the furturc, and look to God in @,
umble prayer for his blessing upon us and 81
IT labOrs. -,