The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-11-17
Sunday school Conycntion

\
: About one month ago tho Sunds
School men ofthis city asked their brett
rem throughout Maury and adioinin
counties to meet them at Columbia O
the 9th OF November, for the purpose
devisiE9 means for the promotion of th
great Sabbath School cause.
The delegates to the Convention. an
large number OF our citizens, met a
the Cumberland Presbyterian Churc
last Thursday night. and organized.
Rev. w. H. VERNON opened proceed
ings with singing and prayer. On mo
ton, Capt. JOSEPH II. RUSSELL was call
ed to The chair, and the Constitution
and Bylaws were read and adopted.
An election OF officers under the Con
stitution being the first thing in order
Capt. JOSEPH Ii. RUSSELL was unani
mouslv elected President; RoBT. HAT
TON, OF Marshall county, and w. j. AN
DREwS, Vice Presidents; A. S. HoRsLEY
Secretary, and j. I. WILLIAMSON, AS
sistant Secretary.
According to appointment, Rev. a
w. SMITH delivered an address Of wei
come to the delegates from Maury ano
adjoining counties. He said that W.
! bave great cause for congratulation II
the interest manifested III Sabbath
Schools at the present time. Not many
years ago Sunday Schc were moi
cared for by the different denominations
It has not been great while since the
words. mo Schools held Here" were
posted up on the walls OF McKendret
Church. Fortunately, that day of pref
udice has passed, and this Convention
is one evidence of the fact. He ex'
tended hearty welcome to the dele,
gates.
On motion, it was adopted that the
meetings be opened with singing, read
ing thescrip;ures, and prayer, and closed
with prayer.
Rev. Mr.. SMITH having said in his adj
dress of welcome that he invited the
children to come, and would protecI
them, Rev. J. 81. p. OTIS said that he cor
daily joined him. lie liked 10 have
children everywhere. Any place or in
stitution without them, was like a gar
den without flowers.
The President reminded the people
that all ministers, Superintendents,
Teachers, and adult pupils of Sabbath
Schools, were invited to participate in
the proceedings of the Convention.
On motion, the Convention adjourned
TO meet Friday morning, Nov. 10.
FRIDAY MORNINGS PROCEEDINGS.
Convention opened by Elder JOHN A.
WALKER with singing, reading chap
ter of the scriptures, and prayer.
On motion, it was ordered that a roll
be made out of all who would report
themselves IS delegates to the Conven-
ton.
Before offering the following resolu-
ton, Rev. Mr.. OTIS made a few explain
atOry remarks. \ great many mana
gers of Sabbath Schools have no verv
definite idea of the real end and obiec.
of these nurseries of the church"
Some good people think Sabbath Schools
are merely or mainly places OF enter
tainment-he was almost tempted to
say, amusement-for the children.
There are others who think Sabbath
Schools are only good for religious en-
joyment. He thought Sunday Schools
were places of entertainment for the
children; they did afford religious en-
joyment to the young and Old. But
there is something higher and nobler
/ han these in the mission OF the Sabbath
Schools: the conversion and salvation
of the children, through Christ. The
resolution is as follows:
ResoIUed, That the object and aim OF
tho Sabbath School is 20 gather IN the
children and youth of the church and
community, and 10 lead thCse gathered
in them To Christ, through the truth
taught. and TO assist them to grow in
the knowledge and grace ofJesus Christ.
Rev. a. W. SMITH endorsed the reso-
luton. 1t had the ring of true metal i'm
it. Very few things outside the scrip
lures but had some alloy in them; but this
was twenty-five carats fine. The reso-
luton was adopted unanimously
On motion, slips with the words,
the relation of tue Church 10 the Sab
bath School" were distributed among
the members, TO induce them TO discuss
the subject. Rev. Mr.. OTIS objected to
the phrase, as it suggested that the
church and the Sabbath School were
two distinct things. Which he did not
think Was true; they were one and the
same. He offered the following resolu-
ton:
ReSotred, That the Sabbath School is
the church teaching the truth ofthe gos-
pei TO those gathered in it, for the end
OF their conversion and sanctiiication,
through the truth and ~ the grace OF
the Spirit.
JOHN y. WALKER endorsed the reSo-
luton. lie thought it was time the false
idea that the Sunday School was the
"Children's Church." was removed
from the minds of all those who enter
tain it. The resolution was adopted by
a unanimous vote.
The "Relation Of the Pastor to the
Sabbath School," being under discuss
sion, Vice President ANDREWS, by re-
quest, expressed his belief that the min
lister should attend the Sunday School
regularly.
The President ated his chair, and
made few remarks. upon the subject.
He believed it was the duty of the pas
tor to always be present in the Sabbath
school, and control its action. The
should really be his as
sistant, and look to him to decide all
delicate points that come up.
Rev. A. W. SMITH wished to know If
the gentlemen wished 10 do away with
the idea OF putting a layman in the Of
flee of superintendent II so, he was
opposed to them. The minister should
90 into tine Sabbath school as Its pastor,
and not as its Superintendent or teach
er.
On motion, the Convention adjourned
for dinrer.
FRIDAY EVENINGS PROCEEDINGS.
Convention assembled at o'clock,
Vice President HATToS in the chair.
On motion, the following resolution
was adopted;
RESOLVED, That we now hear such in
formation as every member may be able
to impart in regard to the origin, rise
and progress OF Sabbath Schools, as they
now exist in this part OF the country.