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

n OSlC SdtO was pAOooSA WIZ
lesson from the fact that it was fair
illustration of the manner Of con-
Quoting those exercises.
Mr.. Lozier said the lesson was
specimen lesson of classes of
that grade, and those leading ques-
tions were perhaps such as were nee
essary to a class of that size. He
thought brother Thayer hit it ex-
actly.
Mr.. Chafee was asked by DR.. An
drus if he agreed with that position.
He said he did not
Another gentleman said if Mr..
Thayer was a teacher his system was
admirable. If he was an examiner
the questions were perhaps improper.
Rev. Mr.. Hart, of Shawneetown,
admired the lesson, because it
brought it down to the present day.
from ages gone by.
Another delegate said if there was
any application of the lesson, he fail
ed to see it.
A delegate objected that the crit
les did not confne themselves to
the question. which he thought was a
comparison of the systems of teach
ing, and to see if the system practiced
by each of them was as good or bet
ter than that shown.
Mr.. Bowdon said he would not
lose sight of these leading questions
which suggested the answers; he had
seen a class converted by these means.
A delegate said he would like TO
have brought out another truth that
was not presented, and that was that
although We all like a boy better who
has not gone astray. yet Gods ways are
not our ways; His thoughts are not
our thoughts.
A lady delegate approved the
method, as it reached the heart. She
desired to make a suggestion, that
hereafter when methods are being
criticised the scholars should be
withdrawn from the convention, as
the effect of the lesson on the minds
of the children was obliterated by
what they might mistake for an at
tack on their teacher.
Mr.. Chafee said he wanted to ex-
plain that kindly criticism should net
be unkindly taken. His were meant
in all kindness.
A delegate said he approved the
method, except that one of the teach
ers' answers was hardly direct enough
that with regard to dancing. The
answer was too much like the boy
who. when asked what he would do if
attacked. answered. what would
you do2"
4 delegate said there was no fear
of Bro. Thayer taking ofense. He
was used TO criticism and hard knocks.
H was an editor.
Singing hymn No. l. Tell me the
cd, old story"
A letter was read from ME. j. Il.
Osgood, expressing regret for his in
ability to be present.
Rev. A. McElroy Wylie, of Brook
Ign, was called upon to take Mr.. Os-
goods place-speaking upon the fol-
lowing topic: Children; How 10
Train Them 10 Christian Character
and Habit" He began by speaking
of the importance Of this subject,
both upon Bible grounds and the
grounds of our own experience, testi-
flying that the faithful, consistent
Chris tan life, is the great means for
privately extending the knowledge of
Christ, and referred to the testimony
of Christ and st. Paul on this subject.
He related the incident of the
accomplished infdel in Brooklyn,
who said 20 DR.. Spencer that he had,
satisfactorily to himself, answered all
the written or spoken arguments in
favor of christianity; but there was
one argum ent 10 his own house he
could never answer, and that vas the
quiet, devoted life of his pious aunt
who was the means, finally, of leading
him to Christ.
Mr.. Wylie, after referring to the
important coupling of character and
habits, said that in their christian
establishment and developmeai ~. they
must stand upon the following tripod
/
continued and faithful use of the means
| of grace and ordinances of the church.
The law of assimilation in the soul is SIM
| liar to that OF the body. We may smile at
the question the boy put to his father over
the hogshead OF pork, when he said
Father, why not say grace over all the
winter?" But the father wou, have
rightly replied by saying, Why not eat
mora mo during the winter" The same pr r1c
cess must be continued, spiritually, and
slowly sxsimilate divine knowledge and
truth through the faithful and contin-
ued use of the ordinances aud means of
grace. We should have supervisory or
6 CARNATIONS in ali our churches, something
on the Methodist c ass-leader system, in
order To hold the young TO a etricter use OF
all these blessed means.
2By draw1ag them wei into social contact
with christian people, the first law of de-
velopement is subOrdinatton to the divine
realize oar greatness in the gre 3tness OF the
divine. The second law OF DEVELOPMENT
is the coordination OF the human In the
| social aggregaling element. The man
| who stands alone is selfish. Habits and
character are also acquired by habitual re-
spect to the social demands OF our nature
We must in our churches, as the best
| working organizations do in London,
New OTk and Brooklyn, throw around
the young the refining ana developing in
| huences of christian society. We thus
meet two important requirements: First,
, we form and ratifY correct and ever
improving taste. Second, we establish
an esprit de corps, which we all know is
so powerful III any organization, for the