The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-07-08
Personal RecOllectiOns--NO IS.
By d. MACKLEY.

While great Improvements have been going
on in ALMOST everything during the past thirty
years, am not sure that any improvement has
taken place in the mode of conducting Sabbath
Schools. | am sure that no improvement has
been made in tire manner of keeping libraries, or
in the quality of the books used Nearly all Of
the Sunday School books which have examined
of late years, are stories Of the conversion Of
little children, These stories are so unnatural,
that not many sensible children believe them.
The books used Ia the Sunday SciIoul established
byJ A. Bingham, were published by the Amer
lean Sunday School Union, and were Of more
interesting and useful character. One of the
first that read, was entitled Elements of
Astronomy II was the FIRST work GA Aslron-
omy that had ever seen. 1t had diagram of
the Solar System, with full explanations, which
were so plain that any child of ordinary ntelll-
gence could understand them. Another was
called the "Delcware and Iroquois Indians"
which was kind Of history Of some of the first
settlements In this country. 1t was highly in
teresIing. And 80 were many others. was
much interested in reading one entitled "The
Ceylom Mission" 1t contained map of the
Island of Ccylon, with full description of the
country, and the Inhabitants before the mission
aries went among them, as well as full history
of the mission.
II does not take many months or years at most
at the present time, to get through with
Sunday School library, and appeals are being
made every year for funds to keep up the stock
If Than ba oEa
and they were used until worn out. do not
know what system is adopted now to know who
have the books, or whether there Is any system.
Then, the system was almost perfect. Each
teacher had little class book ia which was
written the ualno Of each pupil in his class. 1t
was ruled both ways, and the date of each
Sabbath placed at the head of the columns.
When pupil got book, the number on that
book was placed opposite his name, under the
proper date. On the next Sabbath, when he
returned his book, cross was made over the
number, to show that his book had been re,
turned. If any one failed, it was the duty of
the teacher during the next week, to look up
the missing book.
Large numbers of verses in the Testament
were committed TO memory each week. The
pupils rccited these the first thing after the
school was opened. The word of the pupil was
not taken as to the number committed, but he
actually rcclted them. After this, was reading,
and comments upon, and explanations Of the
verses read. Then distribution Of books sc.
Matters were not so much hurried as now, The
children could go from one to three miles, and
get ready for business by eight o'clock. Preach
ing, when there was any, commenced at eleven,
SO that the school could last three hours. have
often thought that it was mere farce to have a
Sabbath School hurried through in one hour, as
is done in this town. 1t is simply impossible to
sing three times, pray once receive and give
out books, and then do anything else right, in
one hour. But then persons will differ about
such matters.