The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-11-25
Cumberland County Sunday school Con.
vent ON.


A convention of sail the evangelical SUNDAY
Schools in Cumberland county," in the Ian.
guage of the call, began two days session at
the rooms of the Young Mems Christian As
ISOLATION yesterday morning. The attendance
at the opening was small but the members
gradually increased during the forenoon.
The convention was called to order by j. A.
Locke of this city, who nominated Brown
Thurston as temporary chairman, and w. II.
Hobbs temporary secretary. Prayer was Of
fered by Rev. A. w. Pottle of the Congress
street NJ E. Church. Messrs. r. Deering of
Port and, w. H. Vinton, of Gray, Ezekiel
Strout of Standish, and II. H. Burgess and
s. G. Chase of Portland, were appointed a
committee on nominations
Thirty minutes were spent in devotional ex-
ercises, conducted by the chairman.
The committee on nominations made the
following report:
For President. Joseph A. Locke of Portland.
Vice Presidents, w. Fl. Vinton of Gray, D.
B. Kicker of Portland, John A. Waterman of
Gorham, Brown Thurston of Portland, 5. P.
Benson, Brunswick.
Secretaries-W. H. Hobbs and f. A. Smith
of Portland.
Committee on Credentials-H. III. Burgess
A. j. Chase of Portland, - Cobb of New
Gloucester. ~
Committee on Business and Resolutions
Rev. A. X. P Small, j. Fl. Coffin, Portland;
Rev. w. F. Elton, Cape Elizabeth; Chas. A.
Stackpole, Saccarappa; Rev. B. A. Sanbern,
Freeport.
The report was adopted, and on taking the
chair, Mr.. Locke made few remarks touching
the objects of the convention and called up the
first topic prepared for consideration: What
can be done to extend the Sunday Schoo'
work throughout the county?
The speakers were limited in time to ten
minutes each, and the discussions took wide
range Rev. A. X. P. Small of Portland
opened the debate. A general knowledge OF
the wants of the different sections, frequent
conferences and exchange of sentiments and
experiences, and plan of procuring good
model for school work would, in the speaker.
Judgment be beneficial. Mr.. Vinton of Gray
said ndivid nal work is needed. The great OBJ.
stacle to Sunday School success is the apathy
of parents and church members We want
light, too 1t Sunday School has light, let
it shine out and illuminate aud witty associate
organizations. Mr.. Ezekiel Strout of Stand
ish though the men of social influence should
take hold of the work. In his town the young
women were interested but the young mer
were backward. This class should receive es
pecial attention. Mr. Brown Thurston sug
gested that a permanent organization could
best reach the Sunday schools in The county
We desire, he said, to get a complete record o
every school and the name of the Superinten
dent, and this would become channel through
which good would flow. Rev. L. W. jackson
of Gorham would have more time given t.
Sunday school exercises The thirty minut
sessions which had been referred to by SOM
OF the speakers scarcely allowed time for tn
teachers and scholars to get to work. Teacher
should also obtain more intimate knowledge
of the work than they usually have.
The second topi Are we sufficiently avail.
to the Importance of the Sunday Scboo
work?-was opened by Mr.. RUFUS Deer,np n
Portland. The uniform answer OF the sneak
ers was in the negative. Mr.. Deering remark
ed the want of interest in Sunday schools b
church members. Not twenty-five per cen
of them in this city ever visit the schools
Again, our children do not receive suitable il
struction at home; for in few families is rel
gion a subject of daily conversation and il
struction. We need also to awaken an int
est by greater persistency in Sunday school !
Dor. Mr. o. NJ. Brooks of Portland said
was equally the duty of church members
well as teachers to sustain and encourage Su
day schools. The schools should become
more prominent part of the Sunday wor
Rev. Kendall Atkinson of Cape Elizabe
found in his observation that the success
Sunday schools and Bible classes was in
great degree measured by the amount of enc
gy Infused by the pastors. Mr.. Chase of Ne
Gloucester urged an that increased Christi;
vitality was necessary. Rev. E. P. Thwil
suggested as q means for removing sluggis