The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-03-13

.s.. e=assssss-sSs&- .,.sfsgsass~. 80.
"A r CPS himself. He learned to read IN
teaching hi class. or the
Mr.. E. 7. Motley desired to hear tne
r;aws of the members as to the best me1hou
for arresting and retaining the atten'ion u
class. rory
DR.. ". R. Vaughan made rev very
excellent remarks in support OF Inc essa 500.
He thought the causes of failure 70 lneJ
rest the children in many of the scnools
was attributable to their failure In i n
esting the children in religion. IheS
should teach them Christ and Hin cl9o
fad. He had tried it with the naPples'
results. Rev. William r. Mcdonald s ps
oested that Mr.. Wiley J. Palmer, OF no
Ieigb. N. c., who had much experience as
a superintendent, be requested to aoares'
tne Convention on this topic.
On motion of Mr.. Hiden, of PORTSMOUTH,
in order that the question under discus
sion might be rendered more compreneeh-
sive. the Convention decided to hear tne
assav ON "Methods of Instruction., anu
consider the two papers jointly with tna !,
an G Onalifications of the Good Teacner.
The gentleman who had been selected 10
nrenare this essay, Mr.. John hart, presll :
dant of the Albemarle Female Institute, OF
Chaplottesville, then took the STAND, ana
raod q very lengthy, carefully-consldered,
we'll dipested, and elegantly written paper.
We conld not make O condensation OF the
assav without doing the author great In
iustice, The members were enthusiastic
&C = ba narfOrmannP.
" M. wiley J. Palmer, of Raleigh, was
now introduced, and addressed the mouse
for a few minutes, giving his views on Tue :;
subjects under discussion. he traceu Dill
the difficulties in the schools to the want
, of energy, enthusiasm, and capacity, IN
the superintendents and teachers, ana 10
the supineness of the pastors in the cause;
Mr.. f. F. Rice remarked that he had
come here to learn his duty, and he was
inst beginning to find it out. He thought
the two essays contained all the necessary
information on the subjects of which they
treated. But he wanted to know what
tbev should do with that. class of Chris
,, tians who never entered school-peopl!e
who were too ignorant to teach and toe
! wise to learn.
A motion made by Mr.. A. A. Sands to
limit speeches to five minutes was adopted
Rev. Z. S. Duunaway, Of SpotsylVanla
offered the following resolution; which
was. on motion, lad on the table:
1" Resolved, That in the selection Oh
teachers in schools it is desirable to secure
those who are pious, whenever practicable
. but when this is impossible or Impractical
: bic. we must not fail to avail ourselves OF
tbe services Of those who are moral and
S intelligent though unconverted."
The following substitute to the above,
t offered by Rev. J. G. Richardson, was pre-
vously tabled:
= /" Reso!ved, That it is the earnest con,
: vction of this body that unconrerted per
, sons should not be employed as teachers II
the Sabbath schools"
Rev. John Pollard, Jr., approved the
remarks of Mr.. Palmer in regard to the
neglect Of the schools by the pastors. He
thought they needed to be rubbed up upon
this point and reminded Of their duty. He
was in favor of employing unconverted
persons of good moral character as teach
ers. He thought them capable of instruct
ing children properly, while at the same
time their course of instruction, in many
instances. bad led to their own conversion
For example, there were over one hun
dred received into the Church during the
past year.
Colonel A. Fleet, Of King and Queen
rose to correct any wrong impression that
might have been made the previous eve
: ming in regard to any misunderstanding OF
bad feeling between the members from
, the country and those from the cities. lie
, could answer for the country members
that nothing cf the kind existed on their
part. In speaking to the question, he re-
, marked that he was the oldest teacher in
the house, when he was interrupted by
Mr. William Sands, of Richmond, who
, told the Colonel that that honor belonged to
him, for he had been teaching ever since
he was twenty years Of age.
: Colonel Fleet said he would take back
bis remark, as he was not aware when he
made it that Mr.. Sands was present. He
then SAID he was not in favor Of rejecting
the assistance of unconverted persons.
Pastors, too, he thought, should take more
, interest in the work.
Rev. ". S. Briggs was much pleased
with the paper read, but he thought the
only qualification necessary in teacher
was the proper amount Of intelligence to
, understand and interpret the Word Of God.
He had seen the happiest results, both to
the school and church, from the employ
ment of unconverted teachers.
Rev. 7. S. Dunnaway said he could not
see the propriety Of laying his resolution
on the table. He agreed with Colonel
Fleet, that unconverted teachers could be
very properly employed.
Mr.. John A. Washington, Of Caroline,
moved that the question of employing un-
converted teachers be referred to the
laid on the table.
Rev. +. L. kreagle held that he who
would be a successful teacher must study,
and 90 prepared to instruct. He thought
religion and pety in teacher were as ne
cessary qualities as they were in a
preacher.
Mr.. A. II. Sands now called for the
reading Of the essay on Bible classes, that
It might be united in the discussion with
the other subjects before the Convention.
BIBLE CLASSES.
Mr.. Joel 3. Watkins, into whose prac-
ticed and able hands the subject had fallen,
proceeded to read & very elaborate paper
on the subject. The object of the class,
its mode Of instruction, and method of
being conducted, together with the pro-
per subjects of Bible literature to be
studied, commented upon, and written
about, were ali fully discussed, and in
very mastery manner. The closing por-
ton OF the essay was very pathetically
drawn, and not only the eyes of the
reader, but Of many of the members, were
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