Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-10-13
The committee soon reported the follow
ing topics for discussion in the Convention I:

service; and should not parents and children
as families, attend and join in the s. School
as well as the preaching services OF the Sab
bath?
5. The Importance of a thorough prepare
ton by Teachers; and for this purpose, is II
not best to hold a Teachers Meeting, imme,
diately after the S. School, when no Other
time is practicable?
4. The most effectual way to reach the
hearts and minds of the Scholars, and win
them to Christ; and the value Of the S.. S
Prayer Meetings for this purpose-how otter
they should be held, and the best mode Of
conducting them.
The first topic was briefly discussed, when
the convention took a recess.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Meeting at the appointed hour, discussion
of the first topic was resumed.
The chairman spoke in general terms Of
these Unions.
Mr.. Stanley Pope, of ~Strongville, Mr.
Wright, of Olmsted, and Mr.. McClsry, Of
Rockport, testified to the efficiency of the
Unions. They called out and engaged all
classes of children, and so helped break
down denominational and aristOcratic feel
ing in communities reached classes that
could not be helped in any other way; a
missionary spirit was awakened, which
promised to bring forth the most favorable
and blessed results.
Rev. John Monteith, jr, was called upon
to open discussion on the second topic. He
laid it down as a premise, that the Sunday
school service is a regular wOrshiping SER
vice, and that families, as such, should en-
gage in it. Otherwise the original idea Of
the family and of the church institution is
violated. Preaching is a direct ordination
of the Bible. Faith comes by hearing, and
hearing by preaching. And by the fool
ishness of preaching it pleases God to saw
souls. Now the fundamental idea O. preach-
ing is-what? The primitive idea of a
preacher was a herald, a crier of good news
to whomsoever he met in his way. The
preacher was related rather to individuals
than to crowds. Now he is a preacher who
addresses great congregations at stated
times. But the generic idea of preaching
consisted in the announcement, of one to
another, of the gospel. The herald was
fred with the communication, and he there
fore announced it in such a manner, that it
tended directly to make the soul of the lis
tener receive and accept it.
He proceeded to declare and show that
DR.. Todd's communication in a late num-
Der of the "Home Missionary" is a failure,
because he assumes that Sunday school in
struction is not preaching, and on that
ground objects to dispensing with q second
service on the Sabbath, or superseding it
with the Sunday School. The speaker de-
clared hat not only Sunday school instruc-
ton is preaehing, but it is the most effective
in use, since more souls are saved in this
city and everywhere, where Sunday schools
flourish, by this instrumentality than by
that of preaching from the desk.
In the early age of the church no such
service as ours (peaching stately to vast
congregational was in vogue. The syna-
gogue service was analogous to our prayer
meetings. There were no ordained preach
ers. Not until the third century were such
churches SIS ours built.
He passed to consider the question; Can
our double Sunday service, two sermons on
the Sabbath, be more profitable than a di-
vision of the same, in which the duties and
responsibilities of the service shall rest
ship of the church? He argued in the
negative, contending that the Sabbath ex-
ercise should consist equally of exhortation
and instruction. In all our colleges and
universities this policy is recognized and
enforced, with what advantage all know.
The principle should be imported into the
conduct of religious exercises. 1t gives the
lay membership a chance, and its only
chance, to express itself. And then it pre-
vents that breaking of the Sabbath which
too often results from crowding into it ex-
e~rcises for which there is no right accom-
mediation. The mind of the hearers is over
burdened, surfeited. We feed them so
much that they actually starve to death.
Rev. S. Gregg, of Bedford, spoke with the
same general view, alluding to the great
expectations which all INDUCED in the late
war, of the prodigious execution of the big
guns, like that at Fortress Monroe, and of
the Monitors. But these did not have any
appreciable effect in overtbrowing the ar
mics of the rebellion. 1t was our infantry
which withstood the shock So in the min
istry we need all the "big guns" we have
there, but we need the "~infantry;" we must
arouse the body of the church. We must
set the membership to work, and then we
will nave victories everywhere.
Mr.. Jay 0dell, of this city, thought We
were not doing enough for the children, and
spoke of his experience in organizing the
Sabbath School Union. He found some who
were not willing to -fOrego the second Sab
bath service for the sake Of accommodating
the Sunday school. They would let the
children go hungry, that they might in
dulge in excess. We need to carry the Cos
pei to the children, to those who never go
to church and the Sunday school. The
church itself will enjoy more so, and grow
more rapidly.
Rev. Mr.. Gillette had serious objections to
giving up the second service, for he thought
the Sunday school could not be its perfect
He was of the opinion that If
people were Jealous they would find room
disposition for two regular services on
The Sabbath, beside the Sunday school.
The Sabbath evening service he considered
If immense value, as it tends to restrain
many who would else go astray.
Rev. Mr.. Jenkins, of Independence,
claimed that we do not give the Sunday
Ichool adequate and just time and place.
We crowd it between times, and the effect
s, it gets crowded and CHECKED out. He
agreed with Mr.. Monteith, that it must
lave time, place and prominence. We shall
hen have great results. He thought it bet
er to preach with energy one sermon a day,
md then give place to the Sunday school,
han spend the afternoon preaching to .
congregation of sleepers.
Rev. Mr.. Hill thought that too much time
$ devoted to formal preaching. We can be
ar more efficient in deyoting a part of it to
he Sunday school. The time is, coming
when there will be but one sermon on Sun
and all the hive will be astir the rest
f the day. 1t is well to rally and arouse
he people in the morning with a discourse.
lie consumed his five minutes in speaking
+ the value of Sunday schools.
Loren Prentiss, Esq, insisted on the i'm
of parents accompanying their
hildren to the Sunday school. 1t disa-