Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-12-20

Let teachers meet in conference, and after
prayer for divine guidance agree to make a
thorough canvass. Then apportion the
city or town into districts of convenient
size. Then let each teacher take district
and visit every house and talk to every
child There are but few places but what
will contain many children who go to no
school. Even in small village of fifty
families, where the speaker resided, and
where we might suppose every child would
he in the Sabbath school, many were found
who went nowhere to school. You might
attend church next Sabbath and see many
neatly dressed children, and you might say
certainly the children of Plymouth are well
represented in the Sabbath School. But
inquire q. little more closely and You will
find there are many soiled and ragged chill
dren who are not there Men so construct
machinery as to adapt it to the laws of ma
ture and thereby accomplish important re-
suits. The wind pump at the depot is so
built that when the wind blows upon it, ii
moves and raises the water. Let us use
the Sabbath School properly and we may
confidently expect the Holy Spirit to
breathe upon it and make ii an instrument
Of great good.
DR.. Biackall said, There is an important
word in the question--thc word all. Some
think the Sabbath School is only for chill
dren. But il should include every mem
Der of the church. One way to enlist all is
to make thorough canvass Of the field
Make the school interesting. Have the
room comfortable and attractive. Not long
since he visited a school where every mem
Der of the church was in it, In such case
there is no difficulty in getting teachers.
Rev. Mr. Chapln remarked that there is
prejudice on the part of young ladies and
gentlemen in reference to Sabbath School.
They think they are abore the Sabbath
School. Ii should be adapted to all classes
Of persons. Books should be selected suit
able TO all grades OF scholars.
Rev. Mr.. Clarke said, We ape using one
means now to enlist all in this work by
holding a convention. Let there be con
veniiOn in every township. Advertise thor
oughly, 30 that every body will know what
is going on. Organize schools everywhere
so that every child will be within reach of
one. Let pastors preach on the subject
frequently.
Singing-"Never be afraid to speak for
Jesus"
On motion, speakers were limited to five
minutes.
Topic--Tae s iperinfendcnt His Qualif-
cations.
DIR. Blackail. Must be man of God. \
school will neser bc better than its superin-
tendent. Must he warm hearted Not an
iceberg freezing every one coming in CON
tact with him. Must be a good business
man. Systematic; prompt in all his exer-
ciscs. VIII teach pnnctn ility by example
Should be a good executive. The best su-
perintenden; he is acquainted with is one
who thoroughly controls his school: yet the
children love him.
DIR. Morris. Super.n ;endents should de
vote at leas; one hour day TO preparation
for his laborS. Ralph Wells gives twenty
seven hours week. But then he devo;es
his whole time to Sabbath School work.
No superintendent has right TO expect
success unless he makes thorough prepar-
alton. He should furnish "a library for his
teachers. The teachers library advertised
by TomlinSon Brothers, i09 Dearborn ST,
Chicago, is excellent. Superintendent
must be mast of the school Must realize
his responsibility and discharge it fearless
".
Dr. Blackall He should not magnify
his office above his pastor. The pastor is
pastor Of the Sabbath School as well as the
Church.
Topic-The selection Of e5Eeers and teachers
-Hoc skon IL be done.
Rev. Mr. Chaplin stated that the ques-
ton he would ike TO have answered was.
how should officers and teachers be chosen?
DIR. Blacka.l thought that the officers
should select the teachers. Let the whole
school vote for the officeIs after being
nominated by teachers.
Rev. G. II. Thayer. We are under the
necessity sometimes, especially in the coun
try, of selecting persons to teach who are
not religious. You must get the game
within gun shot before you can bring i
down. When persons are brought into
school You have an opportunity of educa-
ting them. They viii catch the spirit of
the school.
Rev. Mr.. Noyes. The question is, what
is the relation of the Sunday School to the
Church? If they are Independent of each
other though aiming at the same end, then
the officers should be chosen as such. But
if the Sunday School is considered as part
of the Church, then the members of the
Church should make the choice.
II. G. Thayer, esq, thought that teach
ers should be selected by the officers
They understand better their adaptedness
to the work. Teachers may he trained for
the work in the Bible class. They sholld
be of mature age.
Song-'Our home with Jesus
Next topic-What Constitutes a successful
feacaer'
DIR. Morris. That is a successful teacher
who brings children to the foot of the cross;
who brings the largest number iuto the
church. 1t was great mistake forty years
ago that children were not fit to be men,
bers of the church until they became of
mature age Few children were asked to
come to Jesus. Sobbath Schools were
mere training schools in head knowledge.
Robert Raikes though much celebrated,
was a mere teacher of Bible knowledge,
a. IN r n n