The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-10-27

Schools Was postponed until later as was that
| OF Model Sermons" by DR.. Carruthers, and
that also of ILLUSTRATION in Sabbath School
Teachings" by Mr.. Toby.
"The relations of pastors and church mem
bers to the Sabbath School, was opened by
Mr.. j. A. Locke. He thought that the pastors
| should visit the school and talk with the sev-
| eral classes and find out their wants. II he
| hasn't time to hear their lessons he has the
| time to talk with them. He was afraid too
few pastors took interest in their Sunday
| School,, they were too apt to look upon them as
| mere appendage of the church. The pastors
should remember that they can derive much
benefit from the schools. Let the church
members, men aud women OF ability, come into
the Sabbath School aud their influence will be
felt and the power of the school increased by
awakening an interest in schools If they are
not willing to do it then they cannot complain
II the schools grow weak instead of strong
How much better for parent and child to 90 to
the School together, than for the parent to send
the child OH alone every Sunday. The child is
more apt TO go joyfully if the parent goes with
MN. he takes more interest in the school if
he feels his parent does too. Again, the time
will come when the Bible will vanish from the
Public School. Iu this country church and
State are not united, and the time must come
when the Bible will be put out OF the Public
Schools, and the only way to do is to extend
the interest in the Sabbath School il we wish
10 retain the Bible in the Public Schools in
this State. for long time to come at least
Every church member ought t. be Sunday
School scholar. Time can be found among tho
few lazy moments of Sunday afternoon
for church memters to come forward and
assist the Sabbath School teachers. The Sun
day-School needs good fund for its library,
its maps, etc. This fund should be kept up.
At present the funds of the Schools are mostly
devoted to missionary purposes. This should
not be.
Rev Mr.. Chase thought that the early Chris
tians did 20 much because Of their spirit If
people nowadays were as much interested rs
the early Christians we're, great work coull be
accomplished. We dld't think the aged how
ever, would have much change worked upon
them by the Sabbat b. School, the good work
was to be accomplished among the children
de had been astOnisbed to see how Christian
mothers aud fathers had failed to take interest
in the welfare of their children in the Sabbath
School. The record shows that very few chill
dren who go to the Sabbath School are ever
brought before the Criminal Courts Also
that very few besides Sabbath School Scholars
are converted He thought that the small
, oumber in attendance on the Convention was
a thermometer to indicate how little interest
was evinced in this important subject in he
county. Thought that children should be in
strncted in their lesson at home Sabbath after
noon, and then when the pupil come next
Sunday 10 scnoOl, they will know something
about the lesson. Then again he believed in a
verse OF Scripture being committed by the chill
dren to recite after breakfast every morning
W. Il. Vlnton of Gray was not Respondent
at the want OF numbers present at the Conven-
ton. He was pleasantly surprised at those
he saw We must remember that their bust
ness prevented their coming though their
hearts were with the Convention AS regards
The duty of pastors he should be satisfied ifthe
pastors would do what they thought ought to
be dole and Econscientiously. He believed in
their being independent and standing up for
what they thought was right. Vice always
will pay a tribute to virtue, and minister |
never should cringe to worldly feeling. In the
Sabbath School he thought the minister should
lead. 1t was his most important field A man
trained merely Intellectually is only the better
prepared for wckedness if he chooses You
must bring him over to moral training by the
Bible and then the flesh covers the bones and
his life becomes Christian life Consequent
ly there is no field open to man like the Sun
day School. He thought if he was a minister
in Cumberland County and saw so much
apathy as is seen in congregations he should
be discouraged. The only anchor that must
stay the pastor is the knowledge that he is
working for the future even if he can't see the
results. 1t is like book that survives after the
death Of the author. Now where can the min
lister hope to SOW seed that will bear moro
even if he dies before the harvest is gathered.
Most of the ministers have too much
to do. What can they leave out? Don't let
them leave out the Sabbath School. They can
not give too much prominence to that
Rev. Mr.. Luce of Chestnut St. Church look
ed upon the Sabbath School as matter that
should not be divided from the church and he
looked upon the teachers in the Sabbath
School az sub-pastors under the pastor He
thought it was easier for the church members to
tal their dutV than IN no fboir
own. He judged from the complaints of the
brother who had preceded him that the rea-
son why the church was not interested in the
Sabbath School was because the members
must become interested heart and soul in the
children in the Sabbath School. They must
be imbued with the feeling that they are aux
ious to be Christians.
Rev. Mr.. Porter thought there was no pre-
scribed method Of instruction which could be
used by all with equally good effect. Each in
dividual has some peculiar manner or charac-
teristic which induces him to use means to in
teerst and instruct which another would be ut
terly unable to use or appreciate.
Teachers must be learned 10 the Scriptures.
They must know the tools they work with.
They must draw their illustrations from the
new and great works of the day.
The discussion was continued by Mr.. Tobey
Dr. Smaller aud Geo. f. Emery. Adjourned.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The following officers were chosen for the en-
suing year:
President, Preniss Loring. Vice-Presi-
dents, Rev l. luce, Rev. Geo. w. Howe,
John A. Waterman, Lewis O'Brien, Geo. f.
Emery, f. A. Smith. j. A. Locke, Secretary,
w. q. Hobbs, Assistant Secretary. 8. b.
Haskell, Treasurer.
Model session was opened at 2 IL o'clock by
DIR. Carrutbers. He said there were two
methods of teaching, one take some particular
passage and draw from it whatever lessons it
taught; the other to take rome particular sub
lect and bring together all the passages relat
ing to it. He said he would illustrate both
methods. The first method was illustrated by
a'lesson from Acts 1863 and the words follow
ing which were taken up with great thorough
ness, together with the related topics suggest
ed oy the passage. The second methodswas il
Illustrated by reference to the subject of Re-
generation, its origin and results In closing
the DR.. told the teachers never to give an
opinion but to teach with authority from the
Living Oracles and never to have the class \
theatre Tor dispute, and clashing opinions. The
exercise was very interesting throughout
The next topic was Sabbath School Music,
upon which Geo: F. Emery, Esq. after yield
| lug the chair to w. H. Vintop, ESQ., address
ed the Convention. He asked, what do the
Scriptures teach in relation to Sabbath School
music? He referred to the passage teaching
| the disciples to speak to one another in Psalms
aud hymns and spiritual songs. He thought
| the Sunday School music should be devotional
as much OF it was not There was enough OF
such. He spoke of good music as one of the
great attractions of the SUNDAY School and
alluded to the advantage of introducing music
having reference to local circumstances. he
thought there should be more chanting. Mr..
Small spoke of the ephemeral nature of much
| OF Sunday School music and the heaviness OF
some of the rest, The legitimate attractions of
the Sunday School was the subject next in
trOdacd with some preliminary remarks by
the chairman, W. Fl. vinton Esq. Mr.. Brown
Thurston thought the dramatic element could
be introduced with advantage, though be
| would exclude everything not having ten
| dency to impress religious truth.
Mr.. Atkinson thought if any exercise tended
| to incucate religious sentiment, the more fas-
| cinating it was the better. He thought little
laughter would do no hnrt in the Sunday
School, and that too much of time was devoted
| to explanation; that more of the marrow and
vivacity of the gospel was needed.
DR.. Carruthers thought all were far too anx-
ious aoout attractions. The object of the Sun
day School was to bring scholars to Christ, and
we must depend upon the spirit of God to at
| tract scholars to the Sunday School aud keep
| them there.
Rev. Mr. Dalton thought dramatic perform
| ances in Sunday schools would without doubt
draw fnll houses; but the question was in rela-
| ton to their ultimate effect He thought the
| lallacy similar to that of those who thought TO
| eradicate intemperance by wine drinking. He
| agreed with Dr. Carruthers that the man re-
| lance must be placed upon the spirit of God.
| Tue cross of Christ was always eloquent. In
| the course of his remarks he paid an eloquent
| tribute to DR.. Payson.
| Mr. Deering said his experience in the Sun
| day Schooi had taught him that nothing could