The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-06-09

meets, uniting In common prayer and l
for the Divine blessing, s
Ices not go away with spiritual '
strength renewed-with greater love (
10 his fellow men-and with renewed
determination to go work in the
of our Lord.
| sometimes think that the term
School, as applied to our Sabbath
work, is misnomer. LIZ conveys too
much the idea OF q common or day
school.
Originally they were schools. The
first that was opened In Philadelphia
was to instruct poor children to spell,
read and write. There are some such /
schools yet, and a lingering remnant |
of the idea is still found in some
places. (happily growing more scarce
every year, and soon, | hope. to be |
unknown). where the infant and some |
of the younger classes are taught, by
the use of spelling books and letter
cards. Many Of our churches are
schools Gin one sense) where the Cos
pei is taught, and yet how different
the idea from that involved In the use.
of the term school.
Our Sabbath instruction, whether
in the family, Sabbath School, or
church. should all be directed to the
same end. viz: the cultivation of re-
ligious life; implantipg correct ideas
of our duty to God; opening blind
eyes; and turning from the power of
Satan to God, and growth in grace and
in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour. Jesus Christ.
To effect this is needed the aid of
every one whose sins have been
washed away in the blood Of Christ.
All those gifts which God has dis
pensed to his Church, should be called
into requisition. For this purpose a
manifestation Of the Spirit has been
given to every man to profit with it.
/ If all are not apostles or prophets, it
matters not. because teachers, helps.
&C.. are needed, and the diversity of
gifts are all called into requisition, in
the Church of our Lord. The hand
cannot say to the foot, have no need
of thee. This view enlarges and dig
nifes the field of labor In our Sab
bath Schools. Such labor equally
improves the teacher and the scholar
both are taught of the Lord. As the
arm of the blacksmith grows strong,
and the muscles become fully devel-
oped, so the spiritual life, feeble
though it may be at frst,) of those
who are born into the Kingdom OF
God becomes developed and increased
by this kind of labor. IF every mem
Der Of the Church felt the RESPONSE
bility which thus rests upon them,
our Sabbath Schools would soon be
filled with adults and children; those
without would be gathered In, and
the work of the Lord would prosper
in the land. Setting before us this
high stasdard, let the work of this
Union be directed towards its attain
ment. In the short time we shall
spend together, we cannot expect Q
great amount ofprdctic1l instruction.
the programme has been arranged
with view to some of it. We shall
have some specimens of the most ap
proved methods of teacbiDg-some
practical addresses, and we hope fol
that freedom of expression and lib
; erty of action which will call out the
experience of many, both men anC
women, and give us the benefit of les
sons learned by years of labor anC
thought. There is a vast amount Of
material in many quiet person,-wt
hope TO get some of this, and earnest
ly invite all who have experience tt
participate 10 the work of the Con
E vention. Ready tongues do not al
/ ways convey the most solid informa
) tion-huent speakers are not Away
; practical workers, We greatly prefer
to have the hard earned experience o.
: a difident brother, or sister, rathe
. | than an eloquent address from on
: who is theoretical. We desire to ad
/: vance beyond the first principles"
! haviDglearned the alphabet and spell
] | ed some words, let us take some lesson
e in reading. We are all. at best bu
0 novices. but let US have the most ad
b vanced knowledge and experience o
f those who have pursued the sub
iect the farthest We would not
however limit inquiry from those VIII
know but little-we can only learn b,
l seeking information. To accomplish
3 all this. our words must be 'feW ant
savory;" our thoughts must be con
densed into concise language, an
time must be used spariDgly.
We welcome strangers and friends
from other States, and extend to ther
a cordial invitation to feel at homt
2 with US. and to take such part in our
:, proceedings as they may feel incline
o to do.
e The present condition Of the Sab
b bath School work in our State, wi
T claim the attention of the Union, ant
!, We hope to have full reports from al
S the Congressional Districts
:, Our annual meetings, heretofore
! have given a great impetus to tn
:, work. Since our last, organization
: have been effected In many counties
: and much has been done to advanc
e the work. There is yet ample fielC
/, probably but small portion of tn
# $4,000 children and young persons
e between the ages of six aud twenty
one, who reside in our State. atten
i Sabbath School. The religious in
: struction of many of these is great
5 neglected. If we would perpetual
= our free Government, and contlnu
e the political privileges which we ar
4 now permitted to enjoy; if we woul
check the progress Of crime; if "
+ would elevate the fallen and lift u
+. the debased, it must be done by dill
r fusiBg the knowledge of the Hol
r Scriptures - that blessed book =
s conscious that from it we obtli
e all correct ideas of morality and viz
8 tue; of duty to our fellow men; {
d God. his attributes and purposes; {
|, the Son and sent of God, He VIII
# died for our sins. We delight to up
Q hold and to honor it as amongst th
richest of Gods blessings to mat
r In the family, at the common schools
It in the Sabbath Schools-everywhe
e it should be read and studied, and it
truths instilled into the youthful
l. mind. Teach them its lessons 0
J. honesty. of morality, of Justice aud Q
=, Z 60 n, Iin;nl IL - =.