Smyrna times., 1866-10-17
Sunday School Convention.

The Philadelphia Methodist Episcopal Con
ference Sunday school Convention assembled
at Union Church on Wednesday morning. =
The Convention is composed of two delegates
from each school in the Conference and the
preacher in charge.
j.. W. Hicks, Esq, was chosen temporary
Chairman, and G. W. Higgins, Secretary, af-
ter short religious services.
The following gentlemen were appointed
Committee on Organization.
n. Phila. District-W. G. Robinson and j.
II. Thornley,
S. Phila. District-T. A. Fernley and Ed.
Perry.
Reading District-Dr G. Cooke and J. Lent.
Wilmington District. ID. Curtis and j.
King.
Easton DiStrict-W. B. Gregg and Col. Fer
gusOn.
Snow Hill District-W. Rink and K. T.
Thompson.
The following delegates were appointed as
business Committee: j. +. Smith, T. Perrins
&. W. Lybrand, L. Collins, j. b. Mccullough,
R. Scofeld, W, II. Fries, F. Ellis, H. S.
Thompson, L. Edd, W. Rink and r. L.
Thompson.
The Committee on Permanent Organization
reported the following as officers Of the Con
vention.
President, General Albright. Vice Presi-
dents, Rev. DIR. Cooke, DIR. A. Wright, Rev.
j. Dickerman, G. NJ Brubaker Esq, Rev.
A. Wallace, John Shalcross, Esq, Rev. J.
d. Curtis, f. A. Ellis, Esq, Rev. H. A. Cleve-
wand, 7. o. Ayres, Esq, Rev. w. Rink, II. F.
Thompson, Esq. Secretaries, Rev. r. II. Pat
tison, Rev. j. S. j. Mcconnell, j. Il. Salter,
Esq, IL. Sutton, Esq Treasurer, j. H..
Thornley,.
Bishop Simpson made short opening ad-
dress He said the Convention had been call
ed for the purpose of extending the system of
Sunday schools and Christian education. The
object and design of Sunday schools is, first, to
give them clear understanding of the Holy
Scriptures; and secondly, the early conversion
OF the pupils to God; and thirdly, their duty
% themselves and the community at large
Sunday schools, he said, were supposed to he
modern institutions; but Christ asked oues.
tions OF the ministers of the law. The custom
among the early fathers were to call their chill
dren together for instruction but it is modern
IN its missionary operations, bringing the en-
tire youth of the country under systematic
training in the principles of religion.
1t is also modern institution, in that as il
specially seeks the early conversion Of children
to save them from evil habits and early temp
tations lie said that the MethOdists in thei
early history were censured for this idea Of
/. paul. DuI uOW ~ 10 duOpCCo ny Ill uCuOLulud
tions. Secondly, it educates the youth to
common sympathy with humanity, and cult
Yates large liberality for church interest
through its missionary and other collections
The reverend gentleman referred to the cente
nary collections now being made for the cause
of education, and said that during the session
, of the Illinois Conference $4,000 was raise(
r at one meeting; $4,000 at Canton, Ohio
$4S, 900 at one meeting at Pittsburg, and $700,
r 600 in New York.
I A resolution was adopted recognizing al
) Ministers as delegates to the Convention.
r The following gentlemen were appointed a
Q committee on finance j. Dickerman, j. H
a Thornley,, r. J. Carson, G. w. Evans, j. Lin
danwith, and j. Campion.
= The afternoon session was devoted to expla
nation and exercises connected with the Teach
It ers' Institute. The exercises were conducte
C by the Rev. j. III. Vincent, and the singin
e was under the charge of Mr. Phillip Phillip,