The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-11-21
Perry County Sabbath School Convention.

Perry county has q "plucky'' s. s. Associa- |
ton; for in spite of the terrible weather of
last Tuesday, the convention assembled ac-
cording to previous announcement, in the
Court House in Bloomfield, at 10 o'clock a.
M, and although but few began the meet
ing there were about forty delegates pres
ent during the entire session, and, with the
Sabbath school children and people of the
town, they filled the Court House both af-
ternoon and evening-notwithsta the
weather-and continued in session until
Wednesday noon. "If the same "pluck'
pervades the county, it is not hard to see
that few years more will give every coun-
try school a winter session, instead of freez-
ing up half the year from weather too bad
for Sunday schools, but considered the best
weather of the whole year for weekday
schools.
The convention was opened by the Presi-
dent, Rev. s. E. Herring, and in the alb
sence of Secretary, Mr. Isaac G. Black, was
appointed Secretary pro tenn. The town
ships and boroughs were called for their
| delegates, many, even of the distant ones
responding with good delegations, and soon
after the speeches began to rattle. To sum
up the results of the convention as briefly as
possible, it has been thought best to publish
the conclusions arrived at and endorsed by
the convention on the six questions discuss
ed, and if eye" absentees do not agree with
said conclusions, write to your Pet Editor
! o,l ha will ,,,,ll;c1, olc to
the Newport convention, the Cd Tuesday of
! May next, and fight the battles over again
then and there. Remember one and all
that the last Sabbath of November is ap-
pointed for n collection in the Sabbath
schools of the country for Chicago and the
North West, the money 20 be sent to VIM.
Weir, Esq, of Harrisburg, as per the coun-
ty papers of Nov. 1st and 14tb.
Question /. What about teachers meet
ings?
Resolved, That tie convention earnestly
urge ON all Sabbath Schools, the practice of
weekly meetings of the teachers, presided
over by the Superintendent or Church Pas
tor, for preparation of the lesson for the
following Sabbath. Also, the convention
believe that where it is convenient, much
good may be done by making such meet
ings Congregational, and inviting all church
members to participate in the same study
of Gods word as the Sabbath school is en-
gagged in, and such meetings may be held
Immediately after and on the same evening
as the usual weekly prayer meeting.
Resolved, Also, that the convention adj
wise in addition, a regular monthly or bi-
monthly business meeting of the teachers
and officers Of the school, conducted ac-
cording to the form of some written but
brief constitution prepared for the school.
Question Q. What is the definite object
of the Sabbath school teacher?
Resolved, That the definite aim of the
Sunday school teacher should be to lead the
child to a practical experimental, christian
knowledge.
Question 8. On the subject of anecdotes
and illustrations i'll the Sunday schools.
Resolved, That anecdotes and illustra-
tions are beneficial in the Sunday schools,
when properly and practically employed.
Question A. On Sabbath school books. -
This convention believing that there is
nothing requiring the vigilant care and SUI
pervisions of Sunday school teachers and Off
GERS more than the selection of books for
Sunday school libraries that the pois on of
infideity and other errors be kept from the
children, gives this as its deliberate opinion
that no books should be allowed in the Ii
brary that fails 20 set forth Christ or beliefin
Him as its prominent and leading feature.
And without indulging in the customary
TRADES against novel literature, when all
agree that it should not enter q Sabbath
school library; the committee seek to define
this injurious literature and to point u rem
edy therefor. They define a novel as being
not merely work of fiction, but one that
has no moral aim. A moral may be appended
TO force the book on Sabbath school libra
ry shelves, but, for all that, moral and spir-
itual teaching is not the life and substance
of the book as with Christ's parallels and
Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress, in which
what is fictitious is merely the garb or the
dress in which the truth is clothed, and the
garb is a mere accessory, not the main
thing as in works commonly called nov
els. And as a remedy for literature
of an opposite character the committee re-
commend as the only efficient remedy, that
each denomination should have at the head
of it's publishing department responsible
committee for the purpose of endorsing
the works proper for its Sabbath school Ii
braries and only such should be used by
the Sabbath schools of that denomination
which would then have works not only in
accord with its recognized system of faith,
but also suitable for the shelves Of its Sab
bath school library.
Question B. What relation does the pas
} tor sustain to the Sunday school?
! Resolved, That the pastor is &c O6iciO
i. G. by virtue of his Office, superintendent
of the Sunday school, and should exercise
general supervision over tho children as
4 well as over the adults.
A Resolved I'd. That whenever it is posi-
! BILE he should be in the school to sec that
4. 4