The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-10-08

subject he selected was Cne traveller VINO fe'l
among thieves on the road from Jerusalem
to Jericho. A hasty map Of the two towns con.
nected by the road through The rocky fust-
| nesses Of the Jordan was executed, and if the
little boys and girls who usually compose Mr.
Bakers classes give as close attention as the
older scholars be was then instructing bis
system is indeed success.
Successive examples were used, embracing
the passage Of the Jordan, the woman at the
we'll of Sychar, the raising Of Lazarus, and
many others, the most interesting of which
| was the declension and reclamation of the
prodigal SON. The successive gradations of
the prodigaps fall were shown by steps lead.
ing down and marked successfully by capi-
tai letters. The first letter, 3D." stood for
/" Departure the next step was "Deser-
tion -; and so on until at the foot was De-
struction." But before reaching the lowest
grade the line was turned, and the steps led
up, each marked as before, but with different
letters, the first turn Of The course being Re-
flection," the second "Return," &C., till the
former level was attained in the final "Re-
ception."
The plan adopted met with decided APP
probation, as it clearly demonstrated the pos.
sbility of getting the eye and attention OF
the audience.
The second means pointed out to arrest
aud keep the minds of the children was the
change of position. The children are all
made to stand and make gestures appropriate
to the recitation.
The third method used was concert in mo-
ton and in recitation.
By these three means Mr.. Baker claims
large number Of children can be taught with
esSe and effect.
At the conclusion of the lecture several
questions bearing upon the subject were
asked, among them one by q gentleman who
claimed that the blackboard method could
not be employed in all cases, and pointed
| out lesson to which he thought it iDappll-
cable. At glance, however, Mr. Baker
selected prominent point as the centre of
interest in the lesson, around which he
grouped the Others as auyiliaries. Further
| mention Of this nest interesting and COM
paratively novel method of imparting Scrip
turc knowledge is, however, impossible.
ElGHT SESSION.
The Convention resumed its session Just
before O'Clock. and was opened With ap-
propriate religious exercises. There was an
immense congregation present, and the
| greatest interest manifested in the proceed
ings.
DISCUSSION RESUMED.
The Convention resumed the discussion Of
! the question, "HOw can the Scriptures be
| best taught in the Sunday SCHOOL,"
Rev. Dir. Huston addressed the body, in
! the course Of which he stated that he did not
| believe the time was far distant when the
whole congregation of the churches would
be formed into Bible classes.
Dir. Dunlop, of Petersburg, presumed
| that the chief desire of the teacher was to
bring his child TO Christ. He believed that
| first the facts Of the Bible should be taken
| and the children taught them. He regarded
promotion in the Sunday school as decidedly
advantageous. He preferred not TO use the
question-boOk, but to adopt us far IS possible
the lectnre.room. A teacher ouglt 10 go
into bis class with only Il small piece OF pa.
per, upon which be may have his references.
Keep alive the interest of The class By plying
them with questions.
RELATIONS OF THE PASTOR TO TIE SUNDAY
SCHOOL.
The special order Of the evening was next
proceeded wth-yiz , an address on the rela.
ton of the pastor 10 the Sunday school.
Rev. John E. Edwards, D. D., addressed
the Convention briefly on this subject.
Rev. S. A. Steele had been appointed to
address the Convention on this subject, but
indispositon prevented his attendance.
Dr.. Edwards had been invited 10 fill his
place, and accepted it. The speaker, after in
Producing bi>.subject in q very amusing man
ner, said he thought that the question could
be answered in word. He was the head
Of the Sunday school; the superintendent
of the superintendent, and the teacher OF the
teacher. Now, if any superintendent or
teacher don't like that, they must take it in
the best way they can. [Laughter.l lie
then proceeded to give in detail the duties
of pastor to the Sunday school, and to dis
cuss the relationship Of Sunday school to
the pastor. He thought that the idea
was growing one that the Sunday school
aud its officers and the church and its pastor
were separate aiilirs. He thought that Que
duty of the pastor was to see that The Sun.
day school was properly differed, and that
the Sunday school is not perverted 10 world
ly purposes. Before taking bis seat, and af.
ter he had finished the address, the speaker
took occasion to alludc TO the solemn occa-
sion, and to express his qualification that this
Convention was assembled in Richmond, and
that he felt sure great good would result
from it.
Rev. Vernon FAnson, from Sussex, said
that the city churchmen bad so idea of the
difficulties which surrounded the church
and the Sunday school in the country. He
thought that the question under discussion
did not apply to tue country. He did no.
agree with the reverend gentleman who had
preceded him. He wanted some older min
i-ter from the country to get up and tell him
| the duty and relationship OF the country
preacher to the Sunday school. He Thought
he could 60 back to his people and tell tnem
| that this great Convention is a power in the
land, and will n the end be the means Of
| bringing millions of people to Christ.
Rev. j. d. Whitley, Of Isle Of Wight, said
| that be had just as soon miss the service Of
| his church as to miss tie service of his Sun.
| day school. He was not satisfied unless he
| could lead all of the services in the Sunday
scnooI. The relation Of the pastor TO The
superintendent ought TO be as close as one
| lover with another. They ought TO be con.
| fideutial; 20 arm in arm, and with heart to
| heart. he agreed with what DR.. Edwards
had said.
Major Robert Stiles said that the church
| was obliged to take care OF the people, and
the Sunday school was part Of the field OF
the church. He looked upon the pastor and
synod of bis church as The head of all.
A COLLECTION.
Colonel Thomas Evans moved that the
| order OF business b. suspended in order that
| the Finance Committee might present re-
port looking 10 collection Of about $500 to
pay expenses of printing, &;.
A member suggested that there should be
no interruption in the proceedings; that the
next address should be made, and the colec.
tion taken up afterward; and if anybody
| left before the collection we would know
| why they went away. [Laughter.]
The collection was then taken up.
% motion of Mr.. Seight, q vote of thanks