The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-05-21
OHIO BaptIst 5. 5. s.Conyentlon.
First Annual Meeting z at csIum bus
brief Summary OF the Proceed

Introductory religious exercises
conducted by Rev. NJ. Dawson, OF
Toledo. Professor w. III. Doanc,
Of Cincinnati, presiding atthe or
gan.
After half an hour spent in
religious devotion, the President
delivered his address of greeting to
the Convention. lie greeted the
members Of the Ohio Baptist s. s.
Convention to. day for the first time
as distinct organization in this
its first annual meeting. II was
the great importance OF the work
that prompted the thought of this
separate season for their meeting g
1t was feared by some that the
interest would not be sufficient 10
bring the members OF the Church
together, and that tho attempt
would be failure; but it gave him
pleasure 10 greet SO large number
to day, putting to rest all fears as
to their want ofintcrest in the Sun.
day School work.
Rev D. A. Randall, of this city,
delivered the Church's s wclcome.-
In this able and well written ad
dress the following points were
made: That the Sunday School
is an efficient instrumentality for
enlarging the church and saving
souls, as seen, lst, in the fact that il
begins with its subject early: "a by
furnishing q most essential element
Of education; Sd, by furnishing edu.
cation which, as it fits for lite, fits
also for the higher destinics OF
eternity. 1t is because you are
thus engaged in this heaven.born,
heaven bound work, we welcome
you to our house of worship. to
our homes, TO the warm affections
and sympathies of Christian hearts.
We have. as a Church, been pray.
ing for you that you might come in
the fullness of tho blessing of the
Holy Spirit, that you may have the
direction of wisdom from on high,
that your hearts and ours may re.
ceive fresh conservation to this
holy work that you may return to
your homes, and we remain in ours,
all better prepared by holy a.
nointing, to labor more efficiently
in this noble Sunday School cause,
and train our children more effect
ually for usefulness here and
glory hereafter.
A communication from Rev. A.
G. Bycrs, Chaplain of the Ohio
Penitcntiary, was read by Col. G
W. Harrington, extending an in
vitation to, the members of the
Convention to hold special relig
ious services in the chapel at G
o'clock this afternoon. The invita-
ton was accepted.
The report of the Corresponding
Secretary was then read and &C.
cepted.
E. d. Jones, of St. LOUIS, ad
dressed the Convention on The
first topic in the programme, "The
Sunday School Teachers great
Work, and how best Accomplish
ed" The speaker said, to come
right to the justice of the matter
there were three things for the
Sunday School teacher TO do. He
is to teach, to convert and to train
children for Christ. After giving
a complete alphabetical list &. of the
characteristics which the teacher
should possess, he summed up hi'
argu ments by saying that tn,
teachers If, is the life of his teach
ing, and that his work must b
systematic, | ard and constant.
At ten minutes past four, The
Convention adjourned to meet a
the Pcnitcntiary at hall past foul
p. NJ.
By half past four O'Clock, thu
chapel Of the Penitentiary wa'
completely filled. After the OBJ
jects of the meeting were briefly
stated by the Chaplain. Dr. Byers
Ii. Thane Miller, of Cincinnati
conducted the exercises. 1t was
strange scene--a sight seldom
witnessed. The grea. room, tb,
vast audience Of persons, with thei
striped uniform, the members o
the Convention and other visitors
to the amount OF four or five hun
dred, crowded into every available
portion of space, and filling ever,
aisle; the black dresses of citizens
and the gay drapery OF ladies min
, gled with the stripes, formed
singular and unique mosaic. Ant
when, in tho earnest concludin!
prayer, thousand melted heart
followed those uplifled hands
strong men were humbled; ther
, were few dry eyes in all that grea
assembly. Sighs followed tear:
and from several parts of the room
groans of anguished hearts wer
mingled with the voice of prayer
: None who witnessed it will soo'
forgot that meeting of the Sunda.
School Convention with the con
victs OF the Ohio Penitentiary. |
many a depravod heart is not mad
better from that meeting, we great
: ly mistake the result.
EVENING SESSION.
The attendance at the Sabbatl
School Convention, tonight, wa
quite large. A half hour was spen
in devotional exercises, after whic
the question, "How to interest al
classes in Sabbath Bible instruc
tion2" was discussed by Rev. /
M, Ellis, OF Cincinnati; DR.. Blackel