Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-06-14

An 1ssAy Read before the Springdale
Osnisrsnos Of Friends, 9Th mo.
6tA day. 1879.
BY MAR N. SMITH.
The Sabbath school cause is a
wide, out-spreading field full of
flowers waiting to be gathercd;-
some blossoming with age, others
blooming with youth. But oh, how
skillful must be the hand that enters
in, plucks them all and plants them
in the "Garden of the Lord"
To picture the essential qualities
Of a Sabbath school Superintendent,
we feel our utter inability. tits far
beyond the little nook Of the great
work in which we have trembling
ly tried to labor, and yet we believe
the success Of Gods work in the
school is more in the Supcrinten-
dents hands than many may realize.
If SO, how arduous and responsible
are his duties. In every department
Of life there is nice fitness Of per-
sons to situations, hence it does not
follow that every good man will
make a good S. S. Superintendent.
A long list of qualifications might
be given, but we prefer to mention
but three; Zove, Eirmness and
Tact.
Above everything, his heart must
overflow with love to God; such a
devoted love as will enable him to
hold close communion with his Ma
ker, and feel that his everyday walk
is guided and directed by His Holy
Spirit.
He must be firm in the punctual
discharge of every duty pertaining
to his office. And he must have
tact.
Now this little word "tact'' may
seem to some very inappropriate,
but we think it has much to do with
the S. S. superintendent success.
With his earnest yearning for the
salvation of souls and this little
quality, he will be enabled by many
winning ways to draw into his fold
those who would otherwise tread
the highways. And during the ses-
sion Of school it requires tact in the
Superintendent to know just acAere
to be and achen to be there.
There is a sacredness between the
teacher and a class, and many times
it is better they be left alone; es-
pecially this may be SO with the lit
tie ones. The teacher may have
them gathered close about her in a
season Of near communion, their
little hearts drinking in the lesson
she is teaching, when the approach
Of the Superintendent may divert
their attention and golden impress
sion be lost forever. Perhaps at
the same time there may be another
class whose teacher feels faint-heart-
ed and weak, and, as it we're, upon
the barren mountains-ther result is
inattentive students. But the time
ly dropping-in Of the Superintend-
ent, who seems to have an intuitive
knowledge Of his needed presence,
who makes a few brief remarks on
the lesson. Home-scnds they are
to the hearts OF the children gather
ing their scattered thoughts, rivets
their attention, opening new value
in the teachers heart, dispelling the
gloom, and she is ready to teach
and the children ready to be
taught.
Thus we have two pictures; one,
in which the presence of the Super
intendent would do harm, the other
be attended with a blessing. With
what earnestncss, then, should we
seek in prayer to know just where
his presence and aid in the school
are most needed to forward the
work Of Christ.
The good Superintendent will not
only feel near to the children, be
loved by all, but will also be a tow
er of strength to the teachers; look
ing over them with guardian care;
strengthening the weak. praying
with them and for them. The
school is his vineyard, over which
he praycrfully watches that every
thing may be done by the laborers
for the salvation of souls-that moth
ing may be grated into hearts but
the truth.
AS Superintendent, as teachers,
as parents, let us strive to be labor
ers worthy Of hire; not coming in
our own strength, but with all hum
bleness of heart, trusting in Jesus.
We may not, as some shining work
ers, be able to convert thousands,
nor hundreds, but will it not be
worth all the world to us to feel in
that bright hereafter that one soul
has been lifted to the light through
| our influence. IF shadows darken
the way, or clouds thicken, look
through them to the light beyond.
How beautifully Sturgeon says
Goods promises are like gold, and
the Christian is the gold heater. y
I have lived on one promise for
weeks and want no other. l want
merely to hammer that promise out
into gold-leaf and plate my whole
existence with joy from it. How
glorious would it be could our lives
be SO plated with purity that joy
would be the constant breathing OF
the soul, and as we pass to tina,
higher life it will be but to realize
in its fullness the power Of God in
the salvation of souls.
The following II tho Presidents Let
ter accepting his Nomination.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, June 10.