The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-03-31
Sunday School Convention.

ject
Sunday School Conventions.
ADDISON AND RUTLAND COUNTY AssoCIA.
TON.
The first union convention Of Addison
and Rutland County Sunday Schoo!
Workers Association occurred at the
Congreg ltiona church in Brandon, com.
mencing on Wednesday evening, March
25th. A devotional meeting opened the
first session, Wednesday evening, con.
Quoted by Rev. Il. Mills, of Rutland, and
the exercises were concluded by bust
ness meeting.
Thursday morning. the Rev. Franklin
Tuzbury. pastor OF the Congregational
church. delivered the address Of vel.
come
Then followed discussion on The
Mode Of conducting Sabbath Schools"
The discussion was opened by J. i. Bar
ker, Superintendent Of the Middlebury
Methodist Episcopal Sabbath School
He referred to the officers necessary
superintendent, librarian, secretary and
treasurer There must be o programme,
not changclcss one, not the same in
every place, Never sing moro than two
or three verses; this should be followed
by prayer it should be Sabbath School
prayer, short, simple, but one that shall
interest the Children. Responsive read
ing was a great blessing. A collection
should DO taken every Sabbath, to teach
the children and youth to give, for this is
worship and our duty. He would occupy
an hour for the school. In closing, he re.
ferred to the different methods of teach.
ing by blackboar exercises, object
lessons etc. he would close promptly
at the time specified.
Rev Mr. Mills followed with discus.
sion, and said the Scripture should be the
textbook lie would not dwell upon the
minor points Of the international series,
but on the general subject and sense, up
to the close. The questions should be
put in rotation. He would not have
preaching teacher in the school and dc.
nouuced the stereotype method of asking
every one to speak to the school.
b. w. Marshall said a rut would not
satisfy the children. He referred to the
old man who wrote out his prayer and
put it at the head of his bed then in
stead Of praying, said 80. Lord, those
are my sentiments" So the order of
exercises in the school should vary. II
in the spirit, pray, sing, or relate an in.
teresting story No one rule will apply
to every school. Long prayers are out
Of place.
Mr.. Cowles, Of New Haven, said the
order of his school was not the order for
any other. He said the interest of one
school could be aroused by certain means
and another in some other way. Most
ofall, lay down no rules, but follow those
methods which will keep up the interest
and freshen it every Sunday.
An interesting feature of the conven.
ton was the question drawer, which
every o1c interested 10 Sabbath School
work was desired to patronize and many
, practical question was brought before
the meeting. Rev. Mr.. Mills opened
the box. The first question was "How
shall the pastor spend the hour of Sab.
bath School ?" As a general rule they
should be in the school, but exceptional
cares must interfere.
2. Should pastors read the programme
of couoty convention? lie should, or
if he does not the superintendent shou d
in the school.
3. What shall be taken as q measure
of success in the Sunday school teacher ?
4 How may the family take part in
Scripture reading and prayer? The
family and the servants should be gather
, ed, each reading followed by singing and
, prayer. at the conclusion Of which the
Lords prayer should be repeated.
What part should the congregation
take in the Bible reading? Some favor.
ed decidedly the Psalter service, but
others favored the congregational reading
in whisper with the pastor.
, 6 What is the best method OF arous-
ing temperance interest? Rev. Mr..
Partridge. of Salisbury. spoke on this
, subject, saying every church and Sab.
bath school should be temperance So
ciety.
7 Are Sabbath school teachers to ex
pect immediate results or conversions
We should look toward results, and ex.
I pect them as the fruit Of our labor.
8 How are concerts benefit to Sab
bath schools If properly conducted
they promote an interest and knowledge
| of the word Of God
. 8 Should class of boys have an un
. converted man for teacher? Circum
stances alter cases.
9 10 Should a dancing church member
be Sabbath school teacher7 Emphati
\. cally, Mo-
A hymn was sung and the benedictioI
r pronounced by Rev. f. Tuxbury.
b The third session opened at l.30, Hon
' Ii. Lane, of Cornwall, in the chair.
@ A Bible reading was conducted by Mr.
D. u. Cole, OF Castleton. Differen
A persons ia the audience read texts bear
n ing on the subject of the blood of Chris
(. to wash away sin.
e The subject Of Bible Teaching wa
f taken up.
e intermediate Class. by Hon. II. Lane
!. who considered it the most important AM
e interesting ctass in any Sunday school o
!. community. This class are passing