The Portland daily press., 1875-05-21
BY TELEGRAPH.
MATTERS in MAINE.
Maine Sunday school Convention.
AReyiew of the Work of the Convention
-An Interesting Session.
Especial to the Press.l

special to the Press.l
LEWISTON, May 20.
The annual meeting of the Maine State Sun
day School Association came TO a close this af-
ternoon. The sessions of the convention have
been fully attended, and the exercises have
been of an even more than usually interesting
nature. Freshness and vvacity have marked
the discussions and addresses from the very be-
ginning. If the tone of the convention is to
be the text for Sabbath School work in Maine
during the coming year, many old ruts Will be
abandoned and methods and forms which are
more venerable than vigorous Will be discarded.
The Rev. Mr.. Ecob of Augusta, sounded tue
key note of the proceedings when he urged, III
his opening address, that the same experience
and patience and perfected appliances should
be brought to bear upon Sabbath School work
as in our system of secular education. When
compared with the parallel features of the high
and grammar schools, the methods adopted in
Sunday Schools are feeble, he thinks, and the
results scanty.- He asks, with an earnestness
which must not be measured by the surface
humor of the conceit: SHOW long would our
system of education stand in the state if the
school report read like our Sabbath School re-
ports? How would this sound? The high
school in Bangor has been greatly blessed this
year. Five scholars it is hoped have been led
10 see the meaning of the subjunctive mood:
ia Bath they have been so mentally quickened
as to begin to love study; in Portland eleven
have come hopefully through the multiplied
tion tabe@"
Strong ground was taken by several of the
Al - &c H.
literature that finds lis way into the Sunday
School libraries. The Rev. Mr.. Cousens of
Kennebunk, thought that the spirituality of
the Sunday School was often much hindered
by the miserable teachings of books which
pun port to convey moral lessons Even some
of the stories which are uuexceptionable in
tone, are wretched dishwater in substance.
There was very general attack in this too
common species of Sabbath literature, and
resolution was offered looking to its expurga
ton.
Last evening the Rev. c. S. Perkins of Port
land, opened the discussion upon the question:
''What means shall we adopt to interest the
masses in Sabbath School work?' He COM
mended the international system of lesson pa
pers as calculated to increase both attendance
and interest. He also thought that the Sab
bath School should be given more time. He
did not see how, with two preaching services,
the Sabbath School could reach the masses of
the congregation. With one preaching service
the Bible service could be largely attended.
More time, the church being responsible for the
Sunday School, and better teaching will make
the Sabbath School what it should be. Capt.
ur1i Of info nod tbo
es" as meaning those who do not go to church
at all, and thought that Sabbath workers should
go to the by-ways and hedges where the masses
were to be found,
The delegates to the convention held wide
awake prayer meeting in the vestry this morn
ing. At o'clock there was business meeting.
Mr. Deering of Portland, favored circulating
pamphlet copy of the dongs of this conven-
ton. The subject was referred to special
committee, who reported that the proceedings
would be published in connection with Sun
day School paper published in Portland, con-
sisting of Messrs. Palmer of Bath, Woodbury.
ard Deering of Portland. A congratulatory
dispatch was sent to the California State Sab
bath School Association, in concurrent session
with that of Maine. Rev. Adm Baker, Capt.
Cyrus Goss, and John Grerson reported as del
egates to the International Sunday School Con-
vention.
Rev Q. B. Peckham of Halowell, spoke on
Sunday School work in counties He favored
an outline map of the Sunday School work in
Maine. He hoped many Sunday School work.
er5 will attend the grand Sunday School Con-
vention to be held at Winnepiseogee Lake, He
wants to see town and Sunday School organiza-
lions extended.
Mr.. Shaw, of the Christian Mirror, referred
to the influence of the first State Sunday
School Convention and the profit it had been to
himself. 1t resulted in a county convention in
Oxford and the adoption of uniform lessons.
were most effective.
Resolutions were adopted in favor of Bible
services at the churches; in favor of expurgat-
ing trash from Sunday School libraries; and
thanking the people of Auburn for hospitali-
ties extended. 1t was voted to send delegates
to the National Convention, to be held at Chi
cago in June.
AT five o'clock the convention adjourned ssne
de- M.
Vagrant GirIs-Bark Arrived.
Especial to the PREss
RocKLAND, May 20-In the Police Court to.
day four girls, from seven to eleven years of
age, were sentenced to be sent to the Industrial
School at Hallowell for vagrant habits
Bark Martha Mcneil of Th )maston, Jordan
master. arrived here to. day in ballast from
HaVre.