The Evansville journal., 1870-08-20
POsey County Sunday School Con-
YentlOn.

POsey County Sunday school Con-
YentIOn.
NEW HARMONY, Aug. z, 1870.
Editors Journal:
A report of the proceedings of our
County Sunday School Convention,
Just closed, might not be uninter-
esting.
The Convention met in this town
on Monday evening.
The opening sermon was preached
by Rev. A. Taylor. of Mt. Vernon.
Subject" The Sunday School as an
auxiliary to the work Of the Chris
tian Church" 1t was an earnest SER
mon. full of thought, practical, and
showed the highest appreciation of
the Sunday School cause.
Mr.. Taylor. at home. is a Presbyte-
rian, but sinks denomination alism in
Sunday School Conventions, and in
deed, / Judge he is not hurt with it
anywhere. He is q man of true liber-
ality, willing to work in harmony with
christian men everywhere. The same
gentleman conducted the opening re-
igious exercises on Tuesday morning,
and earnestly urged upon the Conven-
tlon the importance of prayer as an
element Of success in the Sunday
School work. At the close of the de-
Votional service, a number of dele
gates being present from Mt. Vernon,
Poseyville and other parts of the
county, our organization was effected.
and the usual officers elected. Presi-
dent, Jno. Il. Hugo; number of
Vice Presidents, as is the custom.
Louis Pelham was elected Secretary /;
K. A. Pitts was afterward elected En-
rolling Secretary, and A. III. FIetageot
Treasurer.
The first topic presented, was The
model teacher, opened by Rev. w.
Il. Erwin, and followed by general
discussion. The sense of the Con-
vention seemed to be, that devotion
to the work, thorough understanding
of the lessons, perseverance, patience
and punctuality, must be prominent
features in the character of the model
teacher.
The next topic was q very practical
one, How to open, conduct, and close
q Sunday School" The Convention
was addressed by Superintendents
Fretageot and w. l.. Sullivan, Prof.
Richard Owen and Rev. s. L. Blink
ley. The Superintendents detailed
the methods pursued in their respect
i've schools. and discussed the rela-
tive advantages of their methods.
Prof. Owen gave some interesting
items from his school at Blooming
ton. IL was an interesting exercise.
The subject of teachers meetings
was then taken up and presented by
Rev. s. il. Blnkley. The speaker, in
his usual excellent manner, showed
the importance of these meetings, the
impossibility of any high degree of
efficiency In any school tnat neglected
them. He urged them upon all su.
Derintendeats present, whether from
town or country, and showed how
they might be made most effective by
illustrative institute exercises.
The next question was even more
important, What shall be done for
the further advancement Of the Sun
day School cause in our county?"
A. H. Fretageot, A. w. Spain, Peter
Kivett, T. IT.. Truscott. and w. Il.
Erwin entered into the discussion.
Two difficulties were indicat-
ed In reference to the country
work. Denominational jealousy and
a chronic state of indifference. To
meet these difficulties one speaker
suggested that denominational teach
ing be banished from the schools,
and instruction be confined to the
broad ground common to all the
Christian Churches. To meet the
second difficulty, the friends Of the
cause must give money and work, un-
til the schools are made attractive.
L. A. IL i
unless they want to, but if you can
make them want to, the work is done
to your hand" This can be accom-
plished only By making the schools
attractive.
"A committee was appointed to
draught plan for holding township
conventions next year throughout the
county. The committee was selected
from different parts of the field.
The ConveAtion then adjourned
with the benediction by Rev. John
Schrader, of Poseyville.
/ must not omit to mention that
the choir, made up of singers from
Mt. Vernon, P0seyville and New Har-
mony, led by Mr.. j. NJ. Barter. with
the instrument in the hands of the
accomplished performers, Miss Ollie
Sullivan, of Mt. Vernon, and of Miss
EIeanora Schnee, Of New Harmony %
interspersed the exercises with excel
lent music, and contributed largely
throughout to the success of the Con-
vention.
At2P.M. the Convention reass4m-
bIed. The religious exercises were
conducted By Rev. j. 9. McReynoIds.
of Mt. Vernon.
Mr.. Taylor then addressed the Con.
vention on The Duties of Ministers
to the Sunday School Cause"
Rev. b. @. Swami, of Carmi, Ills.
and Mr.. s. N. Curnick, of Evansville.
were then introduced to the Conven-
ton. and the latter being called upon,
spoke to the subject under consider
alton, Prof. Owen also made some re-
marks.
Prof. Owen then read a fine ad-
dress to teachers. / regret have not
space for even a synopsis.
The members Of the Convention |
showed their appreciation of its ex- |
cellency by Immediately rendering a |
vote of thanks 10 the author.
L. Pelham reported the statistics Of
the cause in the county for the past
year. The report showed slight de-