Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-11-06
[From our Special REPORTER
The Rutland County Sabbath
School Association.
FAIRHAvEN, Nov. 5.

mittee, B. w. Marshall, Rutland, chair
man, F. F. Parker, Castleton, Geo. Z.
Newman, Poultney.
The convention opened at 8 o'clock.
From nine till ten was a service OF
supplication and sacred song, conducted
by Rev. Bro. Mills, of Rutland.
The members present at this early
hour was not large, at the commence
ment of the devotional meeting, being
| mostly the early risers from Rutland
'.Sweet Hour of Prayer" was sung,
and Rev. Mr.. Foster, of Pittsford, led
in prayer, followed by Rev. Mr.. Mills.
Crock of Ages" was sung, followed
by Bros. Allen, Austin and Merriam in
prayer.
''Jesus / My Cross Have Taken" was
sung, and Bros. Marshall and Meeker
followed in prayer.
The congregation sung 81 Love to
Tell the Story" and Rev. Bro. Glenn
ents, of Mount Holly, offered prayer.
The President then took the chair.
and the convention for business formal
ly opened.
The Morning Light is Breaking was
sung, and Rev. Mr.. Tator, of Castleton,
led in prayer.
During the progress of the meeting of
prayer, the people from Fairhaven, Cas-
Teton, Benson, West Haven and other
towns came in, in such numbers as to
make good congregation by 10 o'clock.
The pleasant November day and the
good roads helped to make the opening
fuller than otherwise it could have
! been.
The spirit of the devotional meeting
was full of promise, and all felt the
Master was present, and that it was
good to be there.
Rev. Bro. Walker, of Fairhaven,
gave the convention hearty welcome
in behalf of the Christian Sabbath-school
workers of Fairhaven, in a few brief
and pertinent remarks, rejoicing in the
! fact that the churches recognize more
| fully the Importance Of the Sunday
school work, and the whitening fields
before us. among the children of the
| present, hoping that all might feel at
home, and have a pleasant time, and
profitable for the cause.
What is the true position to be
maintained by our Sabbath schools with
regard to the subject of temperance and
temperance work being the first topic
on the programme, was opened in dis
cnssion by Rev, Il. NJ Holmes of Ben
son, AS Walter Scott. dying said "Giye
me the.book." When asked what book,
replied There is but one book, the
Bible me the book - So there is
but one position for. the Sunday school
to occupy, viz: total abstinence, and
earnest work and pure example by all
officers and teachers :.
Not only temperance in one, but in all
| things. Total abstinence from rum and
| from toBacco-babits of smoking and all
other evil habits destroy ones Influence
on the temperance question. Total alb
stinence pledges should be circulated
and signed in all our schools, and the ex-
ample of all officers and teachers ought
| to be pure. ~.
Messrs. Merriam of Rutland, Barber
Of Benson, G. D. Spencer of Fairhaven,
heartily endorsed all the first speaker
had said in favor of pledges, and pure
example ia. temperance work and total
abstinence. ~.
Rev Mr.. Clark of West Haven, asked
| if we were to.nlake total abstinence attest
of teachers acceptability and OF church
membership. XII. -.-s..
Rev Mr.. Mills of Rutland, replied,
9 Yes, by all means The members of.
bis church are pledged anew every
month to total abstinence IEe spoke
at length of the temperance cause in
England and of the work and its pro-
gress through the influence of Bands
of Hope" conIleeted with many if not
most of the Sabbath schools ia that
country. ....-.' -.--..
Messrs Sheldon of Fairhayen, and
Bennett and Cole of Castleton, endorsed
the total abstinence principle. One
thought more responsibility rested on
the women in our schools and churches
and families, Shan they yet met or felt
Another, that the teachers had power
in their hands By intoxicating these prin-
ciples, and instilling haE,6d for rum.
The next topic discussed was "What
helps, and what preparation should Sab
bath School teachers have in order to
make their labors most profitable"
- Pottle, of Fairhaven, spoke of
the different papers and monthly period
icals he had to read, giving his prefer
ence, but the Bible and Concordin are
the best and should be used most of all.
Searching the Scriptures, studying the
lesson from all points are essential in
preparation, and also Christian expert
ence and prayer-always looking to the
conversion of the scholars.
Rev. Mr.. Holmes thought teachers
are depending too much on the Sunday
school papers for an analysis and liter
probation of the lesson. The grand aim
is the salvation of the souls coming into
the schools. How can this most surely
be done? The mind should be filled
with fresh thoughts and truth, and the
heart be filled with the Holy Spirit in
answer to prayers Let teachers see
and feel this responsibility, and be pre-
pared to meet it.
Dea. Allen thought too many teachers
undertook to teach too much. The sim
pie truth of the lesson to be enforced on
the minds of the class is the all import
ant question and work of the teacher.
E. n. Merriam thought the first essen
tial thing is the help of the Holy Spirit.
"'If any man lack wisdom, let him ask
of God," etc. Then get all the help you
can-get the different expressions of the