Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-05-14
CLEVELAND, SABBATH SCHOOL CONyEN-
TI0N.
Permanent observation-disclosures Dis.
cussiOns,
Interesting Discussions and Speeches

Interesting Discussions and Speeches.
Special Correspondence ofthe CHRoNIoLEl
CLEVELAND, May Sth, 1873.
The Sunday School Convention for East
Tennessee, met this morning at Cleve-
land, in the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church at 10 o'clock. Mr.. Washburn called
the Convention to order and devotional
exercises were conducted by Rev. G. d.
Oviatt. Jno. H. Reynolds was elected
temporary Secretary. The Address of well
come was delivered by G. +. Bates, which
was responded to by Mr.. Washburn.
DTessrs. Hardwick, Cate, Rogers and
Angel, were appointed as a committee to
nominate permanent officers. While the
committee were in consultation the Con-
vention engaged in singing and prayer.
The committee returned and nominated
for President, G. l.. Hardwick, and for
Secretary, Will A. McTeer. They were
unanimously elected. J. A. Rayl suggested
that the same committee nominate one
Vice President from each county in East
Tennessee, but Mr.. Rogers asked that the
delegation from the counties be allowed to
do that, which was consented to. All min
listers and Sunday School workers were in
vited to participate in the convention as
advisory members.
Mr.. Washburn asked that delegates
would not nominate for Vice Presidents in
counties, those who were only qualified by
n positiOn-they would rather have Sun
day School workers and those who would
attend conventions, than those distinguish
ed by honorary titles.
Mr.. Atwell suggested that in the elect
int Of off l,ol hon
ted. He was Immediately unanimously
elected.
The question: "What are the chief ends
of the Sabbath Schools ?n was discussed by
Mr.. Mcdonnell, in which he claimed that
to teach spelling, reading, music, sacred
history and scriptural geography were not
the ends of the Sabbath School; neither
was it to cultivate habits of attendance
and respect to the house of God. These
were only means to the chief end, which,
he claimed, was the conversion of the chill
dren. A teacher must have the right ends
in view and be earnest and prayerful.
Mr.. Atwell thought the word ends had
better be stricken out of the question and
end be substituted, and claimed the chief
end was to lead children to the Savior,
Mr.. Washburn objected to this easy So
luton of the question. The Executive
Committee intended the word ends to mean
something more than the ultimate object.
He knew one county where therewere no
Sunday Schools, and no prospect of any.
1t was intended to bring out what
were the objects of Sunday Schools in
| such portions of the country as this. It's
| aims and objects might be different in diff
| ferent places, He thought benevolence
was one of the chief ends of the Sunday
| School.
Mr.. Atwell still Insisted on but one chief
end and employing other things as means.
Mr.. Rayl argued that you must raise
man and prepare him for the truth, and
that this was one end of the Sunday
School.
Mr.. Rogers wanted a compromise by
making the ultimate object to lead the
children to Christ, but the chief ends of
the sunday School to employ such means
in this work as could not be employed in
the pulpit, prayer meeting, &c.
After singing, the question "What is
meant by uniform lessons? and what adj
vantage have they over the old plan ?" was
brought before the Convention.
Mr.. Gaut did not wish to say
great deal unless some one would
oppose the one lesson system, for he
apprehended the discussion would all be
on one side. He would, however, define
the uniform lessons to be where all would
study the same lesson at the same hour
but not in the same grade. Time would
not allow him to mention all the advanta-
ges, but he could mention two:
LIST 1t facilitated the fastening of general
truths upon all the school,
% 1t was much cheaper than the old
plan.
Mr.. Ramsey thought cheapness a great
advantages but would mention two others.
1t enabled the Superintendent to have
teachers meetings, and to throw the school
into general class.
Mr.. Angel thought each school might
have its own uniform lessons by suggest
ing from Sabbath to Sabbath such subjects
or passages as desired for the school
to study or each denomination
might have its, or we might
use the International system. Mr.. Angel
also mentioned some of the advantages.
Mr.. II. Jory had no objections to the def
nitions given, but thought the advantages
many every way, instancing the copious
references printed in connection with the
lessons. Was from Ducktown, Polk coun-
ty, where they have four schools.
The pastor at this place always lectured