The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-03-07
Conventi0n under the Auspices OF the
Young Mems Christian Association OF

Ottawa.
Among the noticeable features of the work of
Home Evangelization at the present time is this
of holding county Conventions, in which chris
tian lsymen bear prominent part in conduct.
ing religious sxsrcises-preaching, praying, sing.
ing. &C.. with view to the immediate conver.
sion of men.
The call for the Convention here was more e..
pecislly addressed to the Sunday Schools, az
comprising in their officers and teachers some Of
the most earnest christian workers in the county,
In response TO this call, supsrintendents and
teachers. together with pastors of churches from
various parts Of the county, came together on
Tuesday afternoon. The meetings were held in
the Baptist church Messrs. Moody and Morton,
from Chicago, were present by invitation, and
took promnest part in all the exercises.
| The Assembly was organized by appointing
Col. A. B. Moore president, Messrs. Baker and
| Hall vice presidents, and Mr.. Rockwell secre.
| tary.
| Col. Moore, on taking the chair, made brief
| speech, giving an account of similar conven-
tion over which it was his privilege to preside in
this city, some four years age, and remarked upon
the more favorable and encouraging auspices un.
der which this Convention opened than that
The programme for the afternoon having been
read tho first order called for reports from schools
in response to which number of reports were
handed In and referred to a committee, of which
Mr.. Amsden was made chairman, with instruc-
tions to make summary of the reports for the
use of the Convention. Then followed "expe-
rience and conference" which was explained to
mean free interchange of views on the inter.
ests, wants. DC, Of the Sunday School cause in
the county. The discussion shaped itself into
considering the question, how to have Sunday
School in every school district in the county,
and the result of the talk was, that it must
be done by the personal efforts of christian men
and women, and largely by those present. Dur
ing the discussion the question was also incident
ally handled, to the wisdom Of closing
The general voice was against closing schools as
long as a single teacher and scholar were willing
to attend.
In the evening all immense congregation met
in the main audience room of the church, to
hear addresses from Mr.. Cannon, Mr.. Moody,
and Others. We shall refer to this meeting in
another part OF this sketch.
WEDNESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The hour from to was occupied in deyo-
tional exercises.
At o'clock the Convention was called to order
~ the chairman. The first order was the read
| NJ do ~. o.,
vention. The summary presented by Mr.
Amsden, bnt having been carried off in the
pocket of the Secretary, are able to give only
such facts as We can recall at this writing. No.
of schools represented in the Convention, 21;
No. OF schools in the county, 81; No of scholars,
4,397; average attendance, 1861; No of teach
srs, 60.
The next matter for consideration on the pro.
gramme was, Hsing funds, for library. school
purposes, &c Mr.. Powell suggested as an effec.
tive way, to get up rivalry between boys and
girls; this answered for small sums, but when
larger sums were needed, the only way was to
put it squarely to parents and teachers, and tell
them how much We must have. Mr. Moody
thought that the main effort should be to i'm.
press upon the minds of children that they were
giving to Jesus, and he gave an instance in the
experience of Mr.. Tying, of Peoria. where he had
prevailed upon the children in certain schools
that were very poor and needed money, to plant
each mill or two OF potatoes, and bring the
produce to him for sale. The result was, in one
case, .wo or three hundred dollars, and in anoth.
er Il still greater sum.
Other topics were discussed, as to the duties OF
superintendents, mode of opening and closing
schools, Sunday school concerts, Sunday school
literature, &c. The discussion or rather oenver.
sation on these topics occupied the Convention
until the adjournment for dinner.
AFTERNOON.
Half an hour was spent in devotional exercises
Then came the discussion 81 helps needed for
teachers in Sunday schools. The discussion wa.
opened by Mr. Lewis, who was strongly in favor
of Bible Histories commentaries, maps, &c,
but above all, earnest prayer. Mr.. Morton, OF
Chicago, spoke lightly of such helps. He would
throw aside commentaries histories, &C., and
place his main dependence the patient and
prayerfui reading of the word and the guidance
OF the Holy Spirit. Mr.. Moody preferred the
aid of commentaries; Mr.. Whittlesey made
some excellent and telling remarks in the same
direction and the general tone of the discussion
was clearly in favor of helps, though no special
resolution was adopted on the subject. .,.f
Various resolutions, however, were presented
and adopted, but as they are lost in the poke,