The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-29

lc. - A<S INA SF THE SUNDAY.
SCHOOL CAUsR.--A meeting of officers and
teachers Of the Sunday schools Of the seve.
raj denominations of this city was held Iast
evening at the Seventh. Street ChristIan
church. In the absence Of the nresident tho
CHAIR was occupied by Mr.. Lewis n. Fray
ser, second vce-president of the Association.
Inc meeting was opened BY singing the
beautiful hymn, "Oyer There,u and bv
prayer, led by the Rev. George f. WilIiams
oi the venable-Street Baptist church.
mr. Frayser explained the general object
ol the Association-the cultivation of mn.
Cuai good-Wiil-and the subject for imme-
ulate discussion, "The best mode of i'm
Pressing religious instruction on the hearts
and minds OF the childrcn,V ''~'''
mr. slelght being called on, remarked that
.hete Wefet great variety OF opinions on the
suo]ect He then proceeded 10 make an in
'eresting discussion Of some OF them.
hr. W. Willis thought the Sunday school
teacher should speak by authority" if any
man speaketh, let him speak As the oracle.
OF God.' The duty of the teacher iGto teach
the Bible as the word of God-not apolo-
getically. He must speak by authority di-
recc 10 the hearts-as Jesus did-not as the
Scrlbes, but with authority.
Dir. >. b. Winston was deeply Interested
IN the subject. BE thought the first step in
bringing the children to the knowledge of
!!uth was 70 win their confidence and aifec-
tion' Love and confidence were essential to
,n tme reception OF truth from any source.
ms was cultivated by kind words and deeds
and sincere intercourse. But this was onIv
| the first step. He thought that many Sun
| day.school hours were spent in useless
geography and dry learning, to the prejudice
of the live learning of the Gospel-tbeolopy
IN the place Of good old English knowledge
| OF God. And the practical method must be
"Dy taith through grace y and the teacher
| must learn the way and lead the way.
MIR. L. y. Evans could say amen to all that
| had been sald. A teacher can't teach with.
ont preparing himself. But certainly there
! ought to be method and system in teaching
| such as was presented in recent one-lesson
| systems. He thought the free use of pictures
| Of great profit. The teacher must first be
interested in the school, in the lesson, and in
! the scholars. lie thought tue great truths
! of the Bible should be taught in detail, and
as the Word OF God, so as yiyidly to impress
| the Word of Life upon the human heart.
But the scholar must be ruled by love.
He that's forced to goodness may be good,
Yet Ills but for that aim
] While he that's won by softncss and example
Gains habit
| MIR. Gillian thought the Saviour should
be the model teacher. The first duty Of the
teacher was to impress the truth on the
mind. That prepared the way for the heart
| The greatest teacher be knew used to pass
up and down his room, impressing different
phases Of the same leading idea. Bot for
this purpose the teacher must study vel
and familiarly; then to impress the heart
| So fbo to,o o1,or No hDnoct uuC
earnest.
| Eev. Mr.. McGilvary thought several things
were necessary. The teacher ought to de.
termine on some one great idea which he
| desired to impress and meant to impress
| The first aim Of the teacher should be TO tiS
the attention Of all the children on himself
| Major D. n. Walker thought the great
| work of the Sunday school was to prepare
the hearts Of the children to receive the good
seed Of the Word.
Mr.. w. D. Gibson congratulated the meet
ing on the union of Christian brethren in
the great common work Of instructing the
young. Hc was proud to be one Of the
great Sunday-school army.
He had found it useful to give out some
subject 10 bis school for the children to bring
the following Sunday-to bring texts to
prove or illustrate. The plan interested the
| children, occupied their minds, and im-
pressed their hearts.
Mr.. w. Ii. Williams said that the great
responsibility of the teacher is to teach by
their lives.
Mr.. Fitzgerald was delighted to see so
many scholars. lie was greatly in favor of
the free Use OF the biographies of tho holy
men of the Scriptures.
| "Lives Of great men all remind Us,
We may make our lives sublme"-
| so especially the lives of the saints gone be-
fore--"over there"
Mr., Grubbs was asked how he managed
his flock. He said he taught old men, who
| might be in danger of despistng his youth.
| He thought the all-important matter Was for
the teacher thoroughly and earnestly to pre-
pare himself. He was greatly in favor OF the
one-lesson system. He prepared his lesson
| for old people very much as he did for his
| little children, and got many Of his best
ideas from them. BE thought every Chris
tisn ought TO belong to Sunday school as
! teacher or schoiar
| Mir. S. 81. Price thought the whole ques-
| ton would have to be left open for the good
sense and piety Of each teacher, who himself
should be taught CT God" The use of the
"sword OF tne Spirit, which was the Word
| CT God" how far to be used each teacher
must study out. The circumstances OF
teacher and scholar during the week were
| often much against the cultivation OF right
eousness. Child and teacher "must seek
first the kingdom Of God and His righteous
ness.@ and keep that before them, and they
must help each other during the week.
| Tie meeting then adjourned, after appro-
pirate religious exercises.