The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-05-16
Communicated.
WHAT WAS RESULT OF THE NATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION?

1t is natural TO Judge the greatness
of any movement according to what
it does to promote civilization, and to
advance the cause of Christianity.
Hence we look at once for the results
of this assemblage of the nations best
Sunday School workers. If it has
accomplished anything that will bet
ter the moral, social and religious in
terests Of our nation and of the world,
we are ready to award it the palm of
praise, but on the contrary, if nothing
can be said of it more than "the del
egates had 9 pleasant meeting" "that
it was harmonious" and that reports
indicated a progress in the work,
many would be very 10th to view it
in the light in which it deserves to be
considered. These are all good fea-
lures and are praise-worthy, but alone
they will do but little to advance the
Sunday school cause. Passing these,
as well as the many good, practical
truths and hints which were suggest
ed by the speeches Of these eminent
laborers in field, let US see whether
anything was done which bids to be a
benefit to our Sunday Schools and
thus to the cause of Christ.
Two of the most prominent features,
1 suppose, are the tendency to an
evangelical union of the different
branches of the church, and the ap-
pointment of committee of ten to
prepare an International Uniform
Series of lessons for the use OF our
Sabbath Schools.
That such conventions have ten
dency to remove the partition walls,
which have so long estranged the diff
ferent denominations must be appar-
ent to all. 1t is an everyday de-
monstrated fact that men very fire.
quently do not differ atall, when they
once understand each others views
perfectly. Especially is this true of
Christians. While they disagree as
to outward forms, order of services,
etc., vet on the essential points of sal
vation they have no dispute. By
being kept apart, having no inter-
change of views, not comparing each
others ereeds, these differences grow
to huge dimensions. The act of Gre
alton is again repeated-a world is
made out of nothing. Now at such
places and at such times, these so call
ed conflicting elements are brought
together and 10y a very intimate
mingling and cOmmingling, they
become one mind, one heart and one
voice, unconsciously forgetting their
churehly denominations. They seem
to abandon the extremes in which the
different views so often terminate
and fall back to the golden medium. !
If the Indianapolis Convention added |
any thing in this direction, and all |
present seemed to be of the opinion !
that it did, it has accomplished some
thing for which posterity will always
hold it in grateful remembrance. The
greater of these two prominent fea-
lures, was the appointment of the
Committee already referred to. This
consists Of five clergymen and five |
lsymen, selected from different de-
The delegates of the
British Provinces were requested to
appoint 4 committee of conference
with this committee, that the series
might be international, at least as far
rs Canada an d the United States are
the interests of the Con-
yention eliminated in this uniform
esson question. An intensity of
ieeling, during its consideration, per-
Eaded the convention, which surpass-
ss the power OF pen-description. The
inal and almost unanimous decision,
n its favor was hailed by the vast
assembly arising and singing the
OoxOlOgy. These men of exp er-
Ience, practical as well as thought
Iul men, were Of one mind as to the
utility and demands of this uniform
series. They presented strong and
-orclble arguments and which were
not wanting in number. The one
which probably carried the greatest !
influence, was that throughout our
and, thousands of Sunday school l
cholars, teachers and officers would
IL be studying, teaching and praying !
yer the truths of the same lesson.