The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-05-13
suxDAx-scHoo1 CONVENTION.

Il
to the State Sunday School Convention assembled
In Trinity Church yesterday morning, at 10
| O'Clock A. M. The attendance was large and the
representation influential. comprising clergymen,
superlntendents and teachers from nearly every
district In the State. The number present may
| be roughly estimated at two hundred.
The church was prattlly decorated for the oc-
cason by DR.. James R. Mood, Mrs. L. Stelne and
the ladies attached to It's Sunday-school. Baskets
OF beautiful flowers hung as pendants to the gas
! fixtures around the galleries, vases OF MOWERS
| were arranged on the rostrum, aud the window
in the rear Of the pulpit was fairly enshrined in
evergreens and roses amid which peeped ont the
words
"Friends OF Jesus-Welcome."
| A novel feature Of the convention was the pre-
sence Of sort Of rotatory song book; in other
words, handsome oak frame, ten feet high. In
which were adjusted several rollers. These roll
ers operated by crank, unfolded long sheets OF
paper, on which were printed in large type, visi-
ble hundred feet distant, succession OF hymns
adapted to Sunday School devotions-a unique
and convenient mode Of dispensing with hymn
hooks. 1t was, in fact, perpendicular panora-
ma OF "Psalmody Divine" On the opposite side
Of the stage was blackboard, to be used for the
purposes of the convention, while scattered In
front was an abundance of tracts papers and
Sunday school literature.
The Committee OF Arrangements, appointed to
superintend affairs incident to the occasion, con-
sisted of Messrs. G. P. Frazer, Ii. Wheelan, W. e.
Houston, Jr., f. A. SilcoX. and ]. Adger Smythe.
These gentlemen, handsomely sustained by others
attached to the various churches, have laborcd
zealously for the comfort and accommodation OF
their guests. The consequence is that large
number OF the Christian gentlemen are quartered
Ia private families throughout the city.
The convention was called to order at 10 O'Clock
A. NJ. by Mr. r. O. Gllchrlst, superintendent OF
the Sunday school of Rev. DR.. smythe's Church, of
this city. He made the following remarks:
Friends ana Srothers-Chasieston greets your
presence aud we welcome you to our hearts and
homes. Commerce, agriculture and politics
have already summoned IN convention the sons
OF our State who have deliberated long anu earn
estly touching those matters which concern her
material prosperity, and by which she may oe
redeemed from the corruption and misrule which
| threatens to destroy her. But this conYoca:lon
OF earnest Christian men, Is by far the most i'm
portant OF all that have yet assembled, for though
| fmpelled by the same thought and seeking the
same end, we propose to employ means that have
| never yet failed and which have the sanction or
| their Divine and OmDipotent author.
Realizing that, In few short years, not our
State alone, but the whole country, must pass
into the keeping OF other hands, and they aithougn
| now lust grasping the thread OF life, vii! then
| guide the helm, perhaps amid breakers, ,pore ap-
pallinp than any we have seen, or eise into
| sure and quiet haven, we seek TO prepare tne
youth OF our land for the great and momentoqs
therefore second In Importance to no religious ln-
stItutlon OF the age; an integral portion OF the
| Church OF Christ, 1t stands, as II were, a. the
very portal Of life before either the broad or mar
| row way has been passed by the tender feet OF
| youth and seeks to guide their first steps into
| the way OF pleasantness and peace.
But, brethren, the Sabbath-school OF To-Day IS
not the Sabbath-school Of dfty years ago: Then
| II was in the germ; now 1t has developed into
stately tree, whose spreading branches Shelter
| millions, and whose fruit Is for the healing OF
sat,sned with the attainments already made, but
are ever seeking after greater light and improved
means to accomplish the end they have In view,
which Is nothing less than the conversion OF tue
| young and evangellzation OF the world:
You have therefore responded TO our lnvltation,
| and now meet with US to give and receive tdings
that might cheer and energize to contribute your
well earned experience, that others may take
| heart and do likewise, and, by mutual counsel,
advance the best interests OF .he Sunday.school
cause, and make 1t q greater power IN the Woria.
Let US then, as we enter on the solemn duties
this hour inaugurates, look to the only source OF
wisdom to guide our deliberations, and remem.
'tNames and sects and parties fall,
And Jesus Christ Is Lord OF all. f"
Then shall our hearts be sulckened to greater
sense Of the importance OF the work, and we VIII
all return to our respective homes ana duties 10
pray better, study better, teach better and work
better, SO that each In his own place may ACCOM-
pllsh greater results.
Again do we welcome you ALL anu pray Gous
blessing on your deliberations.
TEMPORARY oRGANIzATfoS.
On motion of Mr.. C. E. Chichester, MI. +: b. Ell
ford OF this city, was chosen chairman, pro tenn.
Mr.. Elford also added his words OF welcome to
those which had been uttered by the preceding
speaker, and, on concluding, called upon Rev. f.
Fl. Bulst to open the convention with prayer
The hymn "Joy to the Lord'' was then sung,
after which Captain Chichester moved that cont
mlttee OF thirteen on permanent organization be
appointed by the chair.
The motion was agreed to, and the following
are the gentlemen named: Mr.. G. \. Ayeri OF
Charleston; w. K. Blake, Spartanburg: S. B. 7.
Fields, Barnwell; d. J. Bradham, Clarendon: DR..
Thomas Abbott, Coleton G. A. Norwood. Dar-
lington; Jacob Gibson Edgeleld; DR.. Isaac Branch,
AbOeville; Robert Mckay, Greenville; E. Raw
llngs, Lancaster; Rev. F. Auld, 0rangeburg; A. NJ.
Kennedy, Kefshaw; ]. E. Walsh, Horny.
The committee having retired Mr.. Gilchrist
moved that tile interval be occupied in religious
eAeTClSeS. lllC Wso aSiCCu w. iioJSio
md the singing OF hymns followed, Professor
Hoffman presiding at the organ.
At the suggestion OF Mr.. Gllchrist, silent prayer
for three minutes was offered by the entire cOu-
yenton In behalf OF Rev. G. C. Gadsden, now ly-
Ing III in the city and Mt the end OF that time, Rev.
Mr.. Adams. OF Charleston, by request. specially
invoked the Throne of Divine Grace for the speedy
recovery of that well.known and beloved clergy.
man.
brief address was now made by Mr.. Gchrlst
on the general subject OF Sunday schools, and tho
necessity for O convention OF teachers like the
one assembled; and another hymn being sung.
the committee on
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION
returned and reported the following gentlemen as
permanent officers OF the convention. The report
was agreed to:
For President-Rev. W. ". Hicks.
Vice. ce.PresIdents-W. K. Blake, Spartanburg;
Hon. J: T. Walsh Horny; DR.. smeysr. Eewberry;
vile: R. 8. Hill. Anderson; R. D. Sem. Rchland;
A. NJ Kennedy, Kershaw Kirk Robinson,
Orsngeburg; Rev. E. J. MeJnardie, Chester ]. J.
Dargau, Darllngton;J J. N. Johnson, Marion; Dr..
y. 8. Strait, Lancaster; DR.. Ii. NJ. Shuler, Collie.
ton; James Bailey, Abbevile; Rev. w. A. Clark,
Barnwell.
Secretaries.-Over F. Gregory, Charleston;
A. II. Kirby, Spartanburg; A. B. Towers Ander-
son.
Executive Committees A. Nelson, Charleston
R. 6. Chlsolm, CharlesEon; A. L. DePass Ker-