Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-03-15
THE SABBATH SCHOOL CONVENTION OF
LEXINGTON PRESRYTERY


ers Of the Lexington Presbytery, with SEINE dis
tinguishea Sabbath School workers from other
parts ofthe Synod of Virginia met in the Pres
byterian church in Staunton, on Tuesday, March
9Th, at II o'clock, A. M. eTu 9lE
Rev. 7. D. Bell was appointed chairman, Mr.
Henry Walker enrolling, and Rev. r. c. Walk
er recording clerk, and the Convention proceeded
at once TO business.
Rev. VIM. E. Baker said: This Convention
is new thing among us-an experiment-and
it must start Alright to be successful. If God
smile upon US we shall prosper" And the con
vention spent a short time in worship.
~ The dim Of the Sabbath School," which was
the subject for the morning session, was discussed
with much animation: The true Aim ofthe Sab
bath School is to preach the Gospel to the chill
dren-to strive in every lesson, and always to
bring them NOW to Christ.
The Sabbath school is not human institution,
a something of mans devising, that is indepen-
dent OF the church and that may even be hostile
to the church. But, when rightly organized and
conducted, the Sabbath school is the Church
preahing Christ and Him c1uciJied, to the chill
dren. 1t is not voluntary society, but the
church doing church work. and, therefore, like
all other parts of the church work, under control
of the authorities Of the church. sa
Should the Sabbath school ever teach children
to read? Here sonic difference of opinion was
manifested. .Some-We may teach those, who
have no other means of instruction, to read the
Bi6le Others-No. We have not time for
that The souls already dead in sins may pass
into the Death Eternal while we are teaching
them to read. Use the whole Sabbath school
hour teaching the Gospel. And, fit is left for
the church to teach the rudiments acknowledge
let it be done in charity schools on the week
days. In this sentiment the Convention was
we'll nigh, ifRot entirely, unanimous. taa
The harvest is great-it is nodding to beckon
on the sickle The precious seed is falling and
perishing. Within the bounds ofths Presbytery
are ten thousand neglected'chidren. Christians
to the field.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
SUBJEcT-"ihc Relations Of the Sabbath
School to Family Instruction. The discussion
was opened by the men appointed-Rev. d. B.
Ewing and r. P. Kennedy after whom others
took part. sa
Has the Sabbath school, in fact, relieved parents
from sense of their responsibility and made
them more remiss IN home instruction? Some
ton; and that the Sabbath school was some what
to blame for this.
Others thought ifthere was anywhere dectlne
in the thoroughness of family training that it was
only in a feao favored families; that if you go be-
yond this little circle and take the community at
large you would find, on the general average
that family instruction in Bible Truth had ad-
vaneed, step by STEP with the Sabbath school
work, and that there was most G,nily training
where the Sabbath school work was most thor
ough. Such, Chalmers thought was the effect in
Scotland; and DR.. J. w. Alexander thought the
same Of the Sabbath schools in this country.
There is one point in which the family and the
Sabbath school both are injured by vice of the
times: The food of light literature is crowding
outthe substantial books that are food for thought.
Fight this giant evil bravely.
The Sabbath school and the home instructor
should and may work together and each may be
help for the other.
As parents who would be competent teachers,
employ, and find it best to employ those who
make teaching a business, to help them in teach
ing thair children secular knowledge; so and for
the same reason, and with the same advantage,
may they call in the help Of the Sabbath school.
NIGHT SESSION
1.-THE Teachef."-Never employ unconverted
teachers except in the rare cases IN which you
can do nothing else.
They do not understand and love the "Cross.'
IF yau ever employ them. pray fer them and
seek constantly, earnestly their salvation. IN
such cases, often the first fruit of such teachers
work has been their own conversion:
l. A first requisite in a teacher is piety.
? Not only piety; but more, and far more,
soarna, actve, grosoing p5etg, that longs Tor the
glory Of God Aangers fer the saIoaf'on OF the
c1itdren'S souls.
g. knowledge of the scriptures end sound
theology.
4. The teacher ought to be willing to take vows
Of fidelity upon him:
(a) will always be in my place.
(b) Or will procure good substitute.
(c) promise to study diligently for my work.
ID When any Of my scholars are absent, L
will visit them before the next Sabbath and find
out why they are absent
lei [ will visit my scholars regularly and
often.
If [ will aim to secure them all for Christ.
s. In teaching hold to these rules: l. Never
Tell child anything that by appropriate ques
tions, you can make child tell you; 2 Illus
trate. For children cannot grasp abstract truth
make parallels; g. Not toe many thoughts
one main thought at time.
6. Show the children that you LOVE them
this unseals their hearts to you.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
.sTAe Teacher as a Church Officer. Kew L.
D. Bell opened the discussion. 1t was remarked
til at the scriptres spoke of the Office of Teacher,
and that probably the Sabbath school teacher
came nearer the meaning of the scripture word
than the professor, in which sense it has so often
been taken.
The teacher in the Sabbath school stands In a
loose and underlined relation to the Church. And
q worker in the church of SO much Importance
should be known by the session in an official re-
lation Let the church consider and adopt this
plan something like it:
T. Let number of our church members be set
apart for thu teachers work
2, Let them prepare themselves for it; take
=, ~ee Of it, and be responsible for it.
s'ONE LESSON FOR THE SCHOOL"
r,., '>esaa adoption of this rule ably
urged by Mai Stiles IL al are studying the
~, 'oarintendent can supplement
i . ,ro.,. ~teFs and enforce theteach
ng of all by his closing 'ttp
The hymns aad prayers $50. go ~ 49, la,
1iza with, and deepen the impress. ~'f = '-'O
,on.
Bright scholars can be transferred from "0'
% higher class and be at once ready for
view of previous instruction. And not the leas.
Of its advantages is the interest it must give to