Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-18

the morning. 1t was not enough that the
teacher believes what he teaches, but he
must have the spiritual preparation-a near
ness to divine truth and the author of divine
truth. The class should be made to feel that
the teacher desires his salvation and is labor
ing for his good. This is to be obtained by
seeking for it in prayer, meditation and in the
use of all the direct or indirect means that
may come to hand. Seeking to make the
heart right, cultivating tender and affection
ate spirit the heart will be full and the hands
will find something to do.
II. F. Knowles of South Paris, said he
would prefer teacher with a tender heart,
filled with the grace of God, to one simply
intellectually trained.
Capt. Cyrus Sturtevant of Portland made
some very affecting and eloquent remarks in
relation to the work of the Allen Mission in
Portland. We can get tender spirit, not
by reading and praying, altogether, but by
going into the highways, seeking out the lost,
feeding and clothing them. and bringing them
to the Sunday School.
w. f. Eaton of Portland, said that in doing
Gods work every man should understand his
own power and the special work for which
he is adapted.
Rev. Mr.. Yates of Buxton, thought that
Jesus was the great model for the Sunday
School teacher. We shall be fully prepared
if we drink in the lessons which He teaches.
All the books in the world will not give a
holy inspiration; this will only come from
communion with Jesus.
The last half hour of the forenoon's session
was spent in answering questions from the
queston-box, by Rev. DR.. Gardiner. This
was very interesting feature of the occasion.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
On re-assembling prayer was offered by
Rev. Mr.. Penney of Augusta.
Children from several of the Sunday
schools of the city were gathered in the body
pews of the church, as the opening exercises
were to be devoted more especially to them.
They sung with great spirit the familiar hymn
commencing,
''sha we gather at the river"
Rev. DR.. Gardiner addressed the children
in very interesting manner for about three
quarters of an hour, illustrating his address
with objects brought from the Holy Land,
which were calculated to familiarixe the
minds of the children with incidents of bible
history and the truths of the Word Of God.
He exhibited a pod somewhat similar to
bean pod, called carob, containing seeds and
which is a specimen of the husks which were
the food of swine and which the prodigal son
craved without receiving. He showed a
lamp similar to that with which Christ illus
trated the foolishncss of the five virgins; the
veil worn on the faces of Mohommedan chill
dren, who never allowed this interesting part
of their bodies to be seen in the streets, and
wooden sandals worn by them olive wood
from the Mt. of Olives; root of an olive
tree from the garden of Gethsemene; pone
granite from Palestine. The passage
''are not my tears in thy boitle?' always
seemed mysterious to him until he saw the
passage illustrated. If we want to remember
the loved ones gone before, we put away some
memorial of theirs, lock of hair or other
little keepsake; but these people among
whom he had recently been, preserved the
tears OF their friends in bottles, one of W hich
was passed around among the audience He
obtained it in the'isl of Cypress and it was
made of common clay. He also showed a
bottle of water taken from the river Jordan :;
pearl ornament representing the agony OF
Christ in the garden and the visit of the
ministering angel.
The entire audience listened with the mast
intense interest to the remarks of DR.. Gardi
ner. Especially were the children charmed
with his obi ect lessons, and they could testi-
ly at the close that they had more firm re-
lance upon the tr uths of the bible.
Rev. Mr.. Ladd of Waterville, followed in
few remarks relating to the enjoyment of
children who have become christians, claim
soul was the sweetest and the best.
Mr.. Baker of Topsham spoke of the pro-
lection that the influence of religion gives to
life and property.
The hymn was then sung commencing
"IIeaven is my home"
Mr. Palmer Of Bath, from the committee
on constitution, reported constitution for
the organization of the convention, which
was adopted. 1t provides that the name
shall be the ''Maine Sunday School Associa-
tion," the object of which shall be to promote
the interests of Sunday schools in the State.
Any member of an evangelical Sabbath
school may become member. An executive
committee from each denomination and the
State at large to have charge of the business
matters; to select delegates to the national
convention, and to appoint corresponding
secretaries in those counties that have no as
sociatons.
The following is the Executive Committee
as reported and accepted:
S. Baker, Orono, a.,
+. NJ. Haynes, Lewiston, at large
c. Sturtevant Portland.
o. NJ. Cousens, Hallowell.
Eli Jones, China.
Isaac w. Hawkes., Manchester.
Rufus Deering, Portland
A. l.. Gerrish, Pittsfeld.
S. III. Burrage, Waterville.
S. l.. b. Chase, Bangor.
G. III. Palmer, Bath.
S. Toothaker, New Sharon.
Mr.. Rufus Deering of Portland, Treasurer,
made report in detail, which was accepted,
showing that the sum of S65S56 has been re-
ceived, and S4G6.25 expended leaving bal
ance in the treasury of Sl92.3l.
The subject Sunday School Concert"
was opened by Rev. Mr.. Penney of Augusta.
These concerts, he said, were originally de-
signed for special seasons of prayer for the
Sunday school He read one of the olden-
time programmes of the exercises, in which
a cordial invitation was given to all to attend;
scripture were to be read, hymns sung.
short prayers offered and the collection in
variably taken. This is very different from
the manner in which they are now conducted.
1t has been matter of regret with some that
the change has taken place, they having the
impression that these concerts have become
! places of exhibition rather than prayer. He
| thOu oht the CHANCES that have been made