The Portland daily press., 1872-11-15
ca..bsvisua County .. 9. Convention

SECOND DAY.
The Convention opened with devotional SER
vices, after which verbal reports were made
| from the various schools
Some of the delegates thought that too limit
| ed time was devoted to the Sunday School
This matter ELECTED quite lengthy discussion
ON the question of dispensing one preaching
SERVICE and devoting the time to the school.
Ihe general opinion, however, was against this
plan.
The subject of Normal Sunday Schools was
preached by Mr.. j. A. Locke of Portland His
idea was to educate for this special work. Ami
mated discussion followed, resulting in the APP
pointnent of committee to consider the ques-
ton. AT a later stage of the meeting this com
tee presented a report favorable to the project,
and suggested the establishment of S. S. In
stitute in each town in the county; also, the
employment of an agent by the county to over
see the whole matter 1t was decided to devote
portion of every county session to practical
Illustrations of the best methods of teaching
Rev. Asa Dalton Of Portland, opened the
question: "Who should be teachers?" and rails
ed the query, "Why, with enlarged facilities
for study, and understanding of the Bible, we
have SO few good teachers and recommended
the selection of teachers of decided pety, ma
ture age and duly cultivated intellect
DR.. Burbank of Yarmouth, read an excellent
essay ON Sunday School music
Cyrus Sturdvant of Portland, spoke of the
value of little children in the concert exercises.
''Wden are scholars too old to attend the
Sunday School?" Rev. Mr.. Hannaburgh of
md xuac fI,a er,+
never. The Sunday School ought not to be con-
sidered the nursery of the church, but portion
OF the church itself. 1t is the church working
in m sre familiar methods
+. A. Smith, Cyrus Sturdivant of Portland
and others discussed this subject
Sabbath School concerts and how to conduct
Them" Upon this subject the convention ex-
pended itself, minglng sarcasm and humor
with veins of sterner thought. F. A, Smith,
MI Mckenney, Rev. A. Dalton and others
threw themselves into this subject with good
deal of heartiness. Mr.. Smith left his concert
arrangements to committee and secured all
he desired in concert. Capt Sturdivant de-
pended upon the children to make his (Allen
Mission, Portland,) concerts interesting Mr..
Mckenney gave out subjects to the classes and
pre- arranged everything himself. Rev. A. Dali
ten deprecated the tendency toward the dra-
matte, he would not impress the children with
the ideas engendered by the stage, foot lights
and such paraphernalia.
The last topic discussed was, 'sTime to be APP
propriated to the Sabbath School," This was
opened with good degree of earnestness by Mr..
E. H. Tobey of Portland He thought noon an
unpropltious season. The people Were tired
and hungry, and wanted to discuss the sermon,
the news of the week and the fashions The
Bible should be studied. Preachers ordinarily |
convey little Biblical information in their SER /
mons; what the people need is Bible knowl-
edge.
The evening was devoted to the temperance /
work in our Sunday Schools.
The following officers were elected: Cyrus
Sturdivant, Portland President, with i've Vice
Presidents; Secretary, John Kurdish, Bruns-
wick; Treasurer, Rufus Deering Portland.
The following committees were chosen: Coun-
ty Committee--J. A. Locke, esq, Portland, Hon.
W. ID. Vinton, Gray, Rufus Deering, Portland.
On Credentials-T. W. Mckinney, Portland, J
Z. Bailey, Rev. Mr.. Bean. On Business-W. |
ii. Vinton R. Deering, j. Crawford. Perma-
nent Organization-F. A. Smith, j. S. Claff
Resolves-F. w. McKenney, P. B. Snow, Rev
Mr.. Cross The sum of $32 was raised by con-
tributions for incidental expenses.
The place of holding the next convention
was left with the executive committee. The
attendance on the last day was good. The peo-
pie of Yarmouth generously entertained the
delegates and their friends. The meeting COM
pared favorably with its predecessors, and TAX
en- as whole, evinced progress in this new de-
partment of Christian effort. 1t has developed
a general desire for higher standard of relig-
ious knowledge.