The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-11-26
Cumberland County =. s. Convention.


wife were found guilty and fLed SIS and half
costs each.
Cumberland County y. s. Convention.
SECOND DAY.
Owing to the early hour at which the con-
venton was called the devotional exercises
were postponed half an hour. The first SUBJ
ject taken up was blackboard Exercise" in
infant class teaching by E. II. Tobey. Mr..
Tobey said that Pierce's liquid stating was the
most desirable as the composition ofthe black
board The black board was most desirable
aid in teaching scripture to children by illus
trating important texts and truths He illus
trated the text what shall a man give in ex-
change for his soup' by the drawing of pair
of scales, one side of the scales out-weghing
the other, in which the soul outweighed the
world. He thought the board should not be
used too much in the school lest the children
should tire of it. The acrostic was a favorite
method of illustration. For instance, "The
coming Of Christi" take the word Salvation
for that was the object of Christ's coming
Spirit of God descen ded. And rested up
on him Like dove, etc. The board is also
useful in teaching scriptural geography The
map in Parnee's Book is a very valuable
guide for these maps. Then lighthouse
may be drawn and the rays of light named, TO
show how the rays of Christianity radiate in
every direction. The text in Matthew VII
Judge not that ye be not judged" was
brought up in which the word measure" re-
ours thus, "the measure with which you judge
it shall be melted TO you again." He drew
bushel measure ON the board and supposed it
to contain hundred sweet apples each ex
pressing some good quality of charity. Charity
is as broad as that. And opposed to the bush
Ell measure of charity he drew little measure
only big enough to contain one little puckered,
wormy apple of envy.
Prof j. B. Sewall of Brunswick next spoke
on "Studies in Bible lands" Be thought the
nature of a country determined the character
of the people, In a mountainous country,
with hard soil and where labor was the
characteristic, he thought freedom reigned in
thought and action. If we study the physical
geography of the Holy Land we shall probably
see the effects it had upon the inspired men Of
that country. Now when you read the geo.
graphical descriptions of the Bible lands, given
by historians of the times contemporary with
the scriptures, you find them exaggerated but
in the case of the descriptions given in the
Bible you find them exact. Therefore tina,
keeps your faith alive in the scriptures. There
fore as teachers, as you investigate the facts
the soil of the countries you will find the scrip
lures will bear you out. When you heard OF
the battle of Gettysburg you took the maps
and found out the places, and located the reg
iments and officers from the description given
in the paper OF volume and believed in it, so
when you went to Mars Hill and from the
Bible traced out Paul's ascent of the steps and
saw all the surroundings exactly as stated
there it made it all the more vivid and your
belief was strengthened. Then, after having
seen and compared these scenes in Bible landa
you can make them more vivid to your schol
ars if you are a teacher in tie Sunday School
Stanley's Sinai and Palestine is very valua-
BILE reference book for teachers, in regard to
the Holy Land, if they have not been able to
60 themselves. Rev. Mr.. Porter's handbook
of Syria is valuable also, and so is Thompson.
"Land and Book" A valuable map is neces.
sary also and there is only one, to be obtained
of B. Westerman & Co. New York City, in
this country, made Sin relieuo" cost S..
Prof. Sewall we shonld state took the place
of Rev. Mr.. Porter of Lexington Mass. who
was unavoidably absent.
A few moments remaining, the subject of
"Uniform Lessons was taken up. Rev. E. P.
Thwing of Westbrook, said the system had
been adopted in his church and it worked ad
mrably. He knew of other churches that had
tried it and all liked it. Rev. Mr.. Twitchell of
New Gloucester approved fit, said that no
interest was taken in teachers meetings with
out it. The great difficulty in the way. is the
question books used in schools, which act ss
crutches for the teachers. He thought Mr..
Thwing's plan of mapping out the lessons for
the year, at the beginning of the year, a very
good one. He intended adopting book OF
Scripture lessons, just published at Chicago.
Prot. Sewall thought we could not improve on
the simple Scripture, which was the sword OF
the spirit. He thought if we would prepare
the Scripture as simply as possible for the age
of the mind We wished to reach we should ac-
complish all we desired. He approved of uni
form lessons. Rev. Geo. A. Tewksbury, West
Chapel spoke strongly in favor of 'Unform
Lessons" Rev. Mr.. Small spoke in favor Of
promise between the Question Book and the
Gard of Texts. He thought the analytical
chapter the most valuable part of the magazine
I'VE should have said these Question Lessons
are in the form of a magazine.)
The hymn was sung.
"There is fountain filed with blood"
The next topic of the morning was "Hov
should the Teacher prepare a lesson" opened
by Charles e. Baker, Esq, of this city. HI
thoueht the teacher should commence to pre-
mare the lesson as early as Sunday night, ant
then note down in a pocket note book every
thing that he thought would serve to lllustrat
the topic during the week so that when Sun
day came be could treat the subject exnaus'
lively and analyze it. The notebook Woui
serve in the future for record of the lessor
He should use the Concordance, the Bioi
Dictionary and books of reference in gettlp
up the lesson. If a teachers meeting occur
during the week add all thoughts he can &C
there. Then he should eudeavor to draw GU
his pupils ideas and opinions and if he foup
seeds of error try to eradicate them. Any wa
the teacher should be well prepared when
comes to the lesson.
".
cred this very important subject. Thong
roo much time was often wasted by the teac
ers in unmportant points; he begged the tie!
Another fault was that teachers oft-times {
liver q lecture to their class and when
scholar or scholars disagree on the point
want to argue it, they seen displeased. II
don't try to draw out scholars IDEAS.
thought teachers ought not to give their OF
IONS till the last scholar has given theirs.
Rev. Mr.. C. H. Gates OF Buxton thought
should endeavor to get at the hearts of pu
in every way possible
Rev. Mr.. Melcher Of Falmouth thought
should try to put the Bible In the pupils h
Cat Then the pupil will ask the question
.,.ahor will answer it. Let the teachers
an,ear as it we're, altogether
The hymn was sung .,,u..,
.ssball we gather at the river"
Miscellaneous questions from delegates