Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-05-31
WHOLE NUMBER 1868

some schools a banner is given 50 the
class raising the most money.
Qaes. How sl.all we best retain our
young men and women in our Sabbath
schools ?
Ans. 1. Uave an adult male and fe-
male Bible class, taught only by some
competent gentleman or lady. Let the
boys and girls pass from the lower to the
higher ones as soon as there is the least
disposition to think Il am too big to go
to Sunday school" 2. Let tile parents
not say Go" but "Come."
Ques. Is is right to hold teachers meet
ings on the Sabbath day to transact bust
ness ?
Ans. We ought to be willing to spend
week day evening in so blessed a work.
What are "stocks" and "dry goods" and
posting accounts when compared with
the salvation of souls
Qnes How are Sabbath schools to be
carried on, if none but those who feel
that they are born of God are to be
teachers ?
Ans. 1t is not always practicable to
say that none shall teach except profess
sing christians. There are degrees in
coming to Jesus. Many are seeking the
light in a very modest way. No notori-
ous sinner should teach Better have
larger classes and fewer teachers. There
are always christian women who are anx-
ious to do duty in the school. Seek them
out
Ques. Should pupils be allowed to re-
cite questions and verses more than once,
and be rewarded each time 7
Ans l think not The system Of re-
wards is not judged to be the best policy
Sometimes it is well.
Q~fs. Why is it that so many of the
Sabbath sch ools report no conversions :
Ans. Something wrong. Too little
knee work perhaps. The ideal Sunday
school has more or less of fruit in con
versions. -searching,-less depen
dence upon instrumentalities, patient
waiting and dependence upon the Spirit
will give success.
Qucs. What shall be done to get more
vim into our superintendents !.
.Aas Let the teachers manifest intense
enthusiasm for their work. Bring the
superintendent along to the county con-
vention
Modes of Teaching" being under con-
sideration james G. Doty. Esq, said
The qualifications of supt, as laid DOWN
BY previous speakers, are applicable also
to teachers In addition to what has al
ready been said on that subject, would
say that sup't and teachers, should be thor
oughly in earnest and pnt their souls in
to the work If the teacher is prepared,
the next question is what mode of teach
ing should be adopted? In general terms
VIC might answer, that different natures
require different methods, and that one
should be adopted which seems best
adapted to the characters under our i'm
IN diate charge. But to investigate the
subject more carefully, as a preliminary
inquiry we ask. what is to be taught
Truth. The object of secular education
is to train US to think-to grasp thought
- not simply to instil knowledge. On
the other hand the real object of the S
S. teacher is to inform the chil,i-to
form in the child what never existed
there before. The naturally depraved
heart must be regenerated AMI sancti6ed
and the soul, wandering from the paths of
virtue, restored through faith in Christ to
the lost image of its Creator-and all
this through the effect of divine truth up
on the heart How is this truth to be
communicated
1st. Teach Precept By precept un-
derstand rule TO govern us morally
permanent principles, such as is denomi-
mated the moral law. Let all the schol-
ars familiarize themselves with these
precepts
End. HOw shall these precepts be
taagAts By memorizing them. This is
important, because when old the memory
fails. What is learned when young, for
the winter of old age, is remembered
when all else is forgotten. If anything
is to be memorized, what is more impor-
tant than Gods Word D.?
Sd. Not only inculcate precept but also
dortr'ne. Not abstrusely as a theolo-
gian, dealing in "ologies." Children can
master doctrines, if taught in the right
way. The existence of God, his a,tri-
butes-man, his origin and fall-Christ
and his work, though involving the pro-
foundest mysteries, are all within the com
4
master them as eaily as it learns the al
phabet or the rudiments of arithmetic
and grammar. Children are inquisitive ;
they ask very hard questions. A child
sees chairs, carts, &C., asks its mother
who made them The answer is, man.
Who made the trees, horses, &C. ,
God. God made things with life-man