Smyrna times., 1867-04-03
Smyrna M. Z. Sunday School.

Smyrna III. e. Sunday School.
| Report of AsJury NJ E. s. s., Snvrna. for
| the year ending Feb. 2Sth, 1867, read at a
tate meeting Of the Association, by the iSu-
Perintendent, f. H. Chatham, and requested
for publication.
AT the commencement of the year just clos
ed, the school was in fine working order, a
number of improvements having been made by
the retiring Superintendent.
The greatest difficulty seemed to be the Sc
curing of q good attendance at the morning ses-
sion. In order to make it more interesting,
and thus attract the pupils, the following or
der of exercises for each Sabbath in the month,
was adopted: First regular exercises Second
sermon to the children; Third, Catechism !;
Fourth, Missionary Catechism and addresses
When there was fifth Sabbath in MONTH
the fourth morning session was taken up with
the regular exercises, SO as to bring the mis-
| sionary work on the last Sabbath. The above
plan, with the practice of singing by the school
before public worship in the church, has sue
ceeded so well, that, at no time during the
year, has there been any thought of abandon
ing the morning session, much less any action
in that direction. A good attendance of chill
dl en- at the morning service in the church, has
also been secured. The scholars have met on
Saturday evenings to practice new pieces. This
is needtul in order to make the singing pow
er for good. The Sunday school should not he
turned INTO Il singing school on the SaJJdh.-
The exercises of the prayer meeting, which
is held on the afternoon of the first Sabbath
in the month, now consist of singing familiar
pieces, experience by teachers and scholars,
and prayer. At times, numbers of the pupils
have sought salvation, publicly. OF these,
some have been converted in the school room,
others, at the altar place of the church, and
not few at camp meeting. No. of conver-
sons during the year, 81 The school has
been graded lst Grade, Infant Dept; End,
Scholars in easy reading lessons; Sd, Pupils
reading in the testament who commit to mem
ory the passages forming the lesson, only the
teacher having No. Lessons for Every Sun
day in the year 4th, Those who use Judd s
Lessons No. / ; 5th, The Bible classes using
Judd Lessons, No. , All of the same grade
have the same lesson. The number of pupils
has increased to 4O2. One Scholar, Thomas
Price, has died during the year. lie spent his
last moments trying to sing. one of our sweet
Sabbath songs, and rejOiced in the hope ofsoon
wearing white robes washed in the blood
of the LIANT" Number of officers, Is. There
are, at present, % female and male teachers
in the main school, and female teachers in
the Infant Dept
The first male Bible class has greatly increas-
ed in numbers. The principal female Bible
class has steadily advanced in numbers, dill
gence in study and in piety. 1t is a cause Of
devOut thanksgiving to Cod that so many Of
the adult members of our church have united
with the Bible classes, thus aiding most eff
ciently in retaining the large pupils. These
two classes and five surplus teachers enable us,
without much difficulty, to supply vacancies =
There is now a record Of all the scholars, in
which they are placed in classes and in proper
grades. Centenary Offering, $2l5; Missionary
Contribution, $500.
The silver medals awarded for the month to
the class giving the largest amount is now
worn publicly by the members of the class, in
turn, and it is considered no small honor to OBJ
tain it. Nothing has prevented a regular ses-
sion of the school but Love Feast. Two pri-
yate collections, one public collection, picnic,
and an exhibition of scriptural paintings, have
assisted in our efforts to owe no man. Amount
received from all sources during the year, $2l4.-
81. Expended, S2l3.74, leaving balance in
the hands of the treasurer of 63 cents. Most
OF the classes have been supplied with boxes
for their books, &c Bibles, testaments, uuesy
tion books, catechisms, &C., have been procur-
ed; Singing books have been purchased and
resOld to the scholars for less than cost and,
| from time to time, new books have been added
TO the Library. The last addition was arrang-
ed in sections, which greatly facilitates distri-
button, allows no two scholars to select the same
volume, and gives book suited to the capaci
ty of the pupil. The number of exchanges
during the year was 5000; which, when we
take into consideration the fact that Sunday
school library book is read by almost every
member of family, shows that the Library
itself was q great intellectual and moral in
structor. Fellow laborcrs in the glorious work,
the Lord has given you marked success during
the past year-be encouraged; and while we
give God all the glory through Christ, let us
remember that we are His instruments in max
ing impressions as lasting as eternity, and give
ourselves to diligent study, much prayer, and
personal effort for the salvation Of the chill
drsn that, at the judgment seat, we may hear
when we receive the crown promised to those
faithful unto death, we may find it studded
with many stars.