The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-11-10
Renorf On Sabbath Schools.

We copy the following report on Sab
bath Schools from the Knoxville Daily
Press aud Herdld.; 1t was written by
Rev. MIR. OTIS, of this place, and was
unanimously adopted by the Synod of
Nashville:
| OF the four Presbyteries in connection
with the Synod, only one, the Knox
| Vile, has sent in report on Sabbath
| Schools. Your Committee is not. there
fore in possession of the facts necessary
| to enable it to make anything like full
report of Sabbath School operations in
our churches. We have, however, by
conversation with Ministers and Elders
from different parts of the Synod, gath
cred some important information, and
by consultation among ourselves, come
to some conclusion in regard to the gen.
eral work, which we hope will 5e of
some service to the cause.
l. In many of our churches, perhaps
in the majority of them, there is much
| and earnest attention given to this
cause, and in them it is prospecting, but
in many others there is lamentable
degree of indifference in regard to the
work on the part of both the ministry
and the people. We are afraid that
| some of our Ministers and Sessions do
not, at least practically, recognize the
fact, that it is as much a part of their
solemn and official duty TO "teed the
lambs, " as to "teed the sheep" of the
"hocks over which the Holy Ghost hath
made them the overseers." We would
therefore call the attention OF all to the
action of the General Assembly, where
in it is recommended and ordered that
our schools be placed under the control
of the Sessions OF the respective Church.
es to which they belong, and that the
standards of our own Church, especially
the Shorter and larger catechisms, be
regularly and faithfully taught in all OF
them.
/. We would respectfully suggest to
the Synod to recommend our Ministers
and Sessions, wherever it is practicable.
to hold special and regular services for
the Sabbath Schools OF their respective
charges, in which the children and
youth shall be instructed in their pre-
cious privilege snd sacred duty to re-
ceive Jesus by faith, to profess his name
in hope, and commune with him at his
table in love, while they are yet chill
dren.
8. We recognize the great end of the
sabbath School to be, to lead the chill
dren, through the instrumentality ofthe
word taught, into spiritual regeneration
while they are still in the morning of
lie, that is, TO teach them to know, and
induce them to remember their Crea-
tor now i'm the days of their YOUTH" and
as the spirit OF regeneration is given in
answer TO prayer, we would therefore,
respectfully suggest that the Synod re-
commend and urge the duty upon all
Ministers, Sabbath School teachers,
no - NIL Gl,Yr ln- 90 l.
united, earnest and continuous prayers
for this special object, and that, in this
behalf, sabbath School prayer-meetings,
wherever practicable, be Instituted and
regularly maintained, and that all Sab
bath School teachers be eXhorted to
make special prayers for the conversion
OF each and every member of their res
pective classes.
4. We would also respectfully request
Synod to recommend the formation Of
Teachers Meetings, for study and pray
er.
5. We would have all our schools re-
commended to adopt the one-leSson
system of instruction, and to use our
own publications in connection there
with, especially the Earnest Worker
and Children's Friend.
:. One of the greatest hindrances TO
to be found in the growing evil OF the
non-attendance of children on the pub
lie worship of the Sanctuary, and Of
adults on Sabbath School exercises; we
think that this evil has grown out of
the erroneous idea entertained " some,
that the sabbath School is the Chill
dren's Church" We would, therefore,
emphatically state, as the true doctrine,
that there is no church for the children,
separate and distinct from the church
for adults: and we would urge our Min
listers and all our Sabbath School labor
erS to guard their own minds. and the
minds of both parents and children,
against this erroneous doctrine, and to
be careful 10 give it no countenance in
the separate and special services that
have been recommended for our Sab
bath Schools. And as a means Of cor
recting this evil we would recommend
the formation of classes of adults in our
schools, and that the children be faiths
fully instructed in their duty to attend
upon the regular stated services of the
sanctuary.
d. We direct the attention of our Pres
byteries and Churches to the order OF
the General Assembly, requiring reports
from all the Churches to their respective
Presbyteries at the Spring meetings,
and from the Presbyteries to the Gener-
al Assembly, and urge upon them faith
full compliance Herewith. We would
also respectfully request Synod to re-
quire similar reports from the Churches
10 Presbyteries, and from the Presby
teries to the Synod at the Fall meetings.
j. VI. Il. OTIS, ChAl'H.