Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-08-20

condition of the Church in the West He was
also pleased at the prosperous condition OF the
| Sunday school cause at large.
| Revs. E. M. Peterson and j. G. Cranberry
called upon the country delegates for reports
| upon the condition of their respective schools.
Rev. FL. Z. Bacon, of Chesterfield Mr. Will
| liam Cattlin,- of Hanover; Colonel Samuel
| Downing, of Lancaster; Mr.. Retter, Ettrick s.,
| near Petersburg and William G. Crenshaw, of
Nottoway, in answer to the call, gave each in
teresting and highly encouraging accounts of
their schools.
DIR: w. w. Bennett presented report from
the Committee on Business recommending that
the Convention proceed at once to collect infor-
| nation from delegates present as to the present
condition ofthe Sunday school work in the diff
ferent sections of the Conference and State here
represented.
The report was adopted, and it was ordered
that the roll be called, and other reports be
presented by the members.
Pending this, the Committee on the Propriety
of Establishing Permanent Sunday School
Society entered with their report; and, on mo-
tlOn, the subject at that time under considera-
tion was laid on the table, The committee were
then directed to present their report.
The report was read and it was resolved to
vote upon it by sections
The preamble was adopted with only one
dissenting voice.
In the evening session, the other articles of
the constitution were then taken up separately,
and passed with few amendments.
The following are the general features of the
constitution
The society will be styled the Virginia Sunday
School Society of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, with the objects of extending
Sunday school influence by collecting and dis
seminating information and exercising foster
ing care over the Sunday schools represented in
the Society by certain ways and means mention
ed. The Society is to consist of the Sunday
schools and Sunday School societies of the Vir-
ginia Conference and the other Conferences of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in the
State Of Virginia The officers consist of a
president, ten vice presidents, secretary and
an assistant, a corresponding secretary and a
treasurer all to be elected at the annual meeting.
There shall also be an executive committee of
twenty five members, which will hold quarterly
meetings in Richmond. The constituent schools
of the Society are to make quarterly reports of
statistics to the Society through the executive
committee.
On motion of Mr.. Bidgood, the following
named gentlemen were appointed as commit
tee to report nominations for permanent officers
and recommendations for members of the Ex-
ecutive Committee-viz.: Messrs. Bidgood
Downing Chancellor, Moore, Dawson, Walters,
and Duncan.
The Convention then adjourned to meet at 9
o'clock Friday morning.
THIRD DAY-FRIDAY.
The Committee on nomination of permanent
officers for the Sunday School Association re-
ported the following:
For President, Bishop D. s. Doggett First
Vice President, Asa Snyder, Richmond; Sec
ond, r. NJ. Smith, Petersburg Third, Joseph
@. Deming, Norfolk Fourth, A. B. Rucker,
Lynchburg Fifth, W. 7. Sutherlin, Danville !;
Sixth, John w. Harrell, Murfesboro Seventh,
Colonel Downing, Lancaster; Eighth, DR.. Chan
cellor, Charlottesville; Ninth, Colonel J. A.
Clarkson, Charlotte ; Tenth. J. A. Carter,
Loudoun; Secretary, G. P. Rady, Richmond,
Gloucester; Corresponding Secretary, W. w.
Slower, Richmond Treasurer, William Willis,
Jr
Executive Conam1attee.-Dr Edwards Chase,
James Ell. Peay, 7. w. Pemberton, w. G.
Gray, O. +. Weisiger, E. NJ Reford, James H.
Walford, George L. Bidgood, Rev. w. w.
Bennett, D. D., Rev. N. Head, d. D., Rev.
2. A. Peterson, Rev. R. N. Sledd, and Rev.
G. w. Langhorne, Richmond; W. T. Davis,
Petersburg ; M. Moore, Danville j. w. South
ALL Murfreesboro' N c.; DR.. Joseph E. Broad
water, Accomac; John e. Early, Augusta
James W.: Ford, Fredericksburg Colonel
Macon College; W. c. Crale, Powhatan, Rev.
T. N. Conrad, Winchester; n B. Hendry,
Staunton; Colonel E. R. Farrar and w. T.
Chandler
The report of the committee was adopted,
and the officers nominated declared elected.
The following topics were presented for con-
sideration:
lst. How should Sunday schools be organized
and managed so as to attain the greatest in
terest and efficiency?
l. What officers are necessary?
2. Their qualifications and duties.
3. Preparations of the teacher.
4. What are the best methods of instruc-
ton?
1st. The aim of the teacher.
I'd. The books to be used.
3d. Preparation of the teacher.
In regard to the first topic, the following re-
solution was adopted.
ResolUed, That we consider the institutions
of the Sunday school as next In Importance to
that Of the church ministry, and that it should
not be given an undue prominence over either
of the others.
Resolred, That the following officers should
be connected with every school; superintend-
ent, assistant superintendent, librarian, treas
urer, and chorister.
The following in reference to qualifications of
| officers was adopted
Resolred, That the primary object ofSunday
school instruction being to train children in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord, in order
to guarantee success in this work it is of the
first importance that the officers and teachers of
Sunday schools should possess genuine piety
| and the spirit of conservation to the cause in
| telligent acquaintance with the Bible, and such
subjects as may serve to explain and illustrate
Divine truth and they should specially study
and fully prepare themselves on the lessons to
be taught. But while we express these views
of the qualifications of Sunday school workers,
we would not discourage those who may feel
below this standard.
The next question upon the order of exercises
was taken up; and Mr.. Snyder submitted a
programme now in force among most of the
schools in this city. This was adopted.
1t was the sense of the Convention that the
aim of the teacher should be the salvation of
the pupils As to the books to be used the fol-