The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-27


The state Sabbath School Convention.
A STATE Convention of Sabbath School super
intendents and teachers and others interested
in the work of Sabbath Schools, is to be held
in this city tomorrow, and promises to be
gathering of more than ordinary interest The
objects of the Convention, as stated in the call,
are first, to obtain an accurate view and survey
of the State in its Sabbath School relations;
and secondly, to devise and ways and means
by which to impart increased vigor and eff
cheney to the Sabbath School work of the
State.
As conducting to the first named of these
ends, statistics of the Sabbath School work in
the State, more minute and thorough, than any
heretofore collected, will probably be pre-
sented. These statistics relate to the following
items, viz.:-Names, locations, and denomina-
tions of schools; number of teachers and
scholars; average attendance of teachers and
scholars; number of conversions of scholars
during the past year, and also since the or
ganization of the schools; teachers meetings;
mission schools; Sunday School concerts;
number of sessions each Lords Day; number
of volumes in libraries; number of teachers
that were once scholars; amount of contribu-
tions to Christian and benevolent objects dur
ing the year; what proportion of whole number
of children in the community are in Sabbath
Schools number of teachers that are church
members; and length of time during the year
that schools are kept OPEN If anything like
full returns upon these topics shall be made,
the actual condition of the Sabbath School
work in the State will be pretty accurately
disclosed. What that may be, is matter of
interest to all concerned.
The second object of the Convention-to
wit, to devise ways and means by which to
impart increased vigor and efficiency to the
Sabbath School work of the State-may be
expected to form the staple of its discussions,
addresses, and exercises generally. The field
of inquiry and discussion thus opened is
broad one. The Sabbath School work has
become one of great Importance, and has
drawn to it the best talent of the Church.
And yet it may fairly be questioned whether
it is accomplishing all that it might do. In
so large a gathering of superintendents and
teachers there ought to be many, and there
doubtless will be, whose practical experience
has qualified them to give valuable hints
upon the best methods of conducting schools.
We observe that Professor Hart so well
known as practical teacher, and as a writer
upon educational topics, especially those con-
nected with Sunday Schools, is to give an
address before the Convention. Other dis
tinguished gentlemen will also address it.
The main interest, however, we judge, will
attend the discussions upon the floor of the
Convention. 1t is there that the action of
mind upon mind, the piquancy of questions
and answers, the familiar detail of practical
experience in the work of organizing and
teaching schools, will lend the highest interest
to..the proceedings
The Convention will doubtless be largely
attended, as the number of persons in our
own city connected with Sunday Schools as
teachers must amount to several thousand.
Full details of the proceedings will be given
daily in THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.