The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-10-08
.sECOND DAYS SESSION OF STATE
CONVENTION.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
VARIOUS TOPICS DISCUSSED.
HeW CAH THE SCRIPTURES BE BEST
TAUGHT Nv THE SUNDAY SCHOOL2
A General Discussion.
&c, Sc, &c.
MORNING SESSION.

MITTEE.
The Committee on Business reported that
they would be ready 10 present a statistical
report and a report on permanent organza.
ton Tomorrow (Frlday).
The same committee made the following
l. Thst Rev. j. 4. Hutson, Of the Amer-
can Suntiay-Schoo Union, be requested to
give statement Of his work at some con.
veneut time during the session OF the Con-
vention.
.. That Rev. George'E. Baker, of Staun-
ton, be requested TO exhibit blackboard eX.
ercise before y class of children during the
session Of the Convention, illustrating the
method Of teaching by the blackboard.
5. That three superintendents Of this city
be selected to give fire.minute addresses eN-
bibiing the method Of work in the city
schools, aud that the superintendent be re.
Quesied 10 answer all questions propounded
TO them during five minutes more.
On motion Of Colonel Evans it was re-
solved that the Committee Oh Business be
instructed to inquire into the eXpediency Of
this Convention sending forth an address to
the Christians of Virginia on the subject OF
Sunday schools, and if eXpedient to report
bow and when such an address Shall be pre-
pared and sent forth,
RELIGIOUS WORK AMONGST THE coLoRED PEOPLE.
On motion of Rev. 7. !. Dasbiell the fol-.
lowing resolution was referred TO the Com
mittee on Business:
Whereas religious work amongst the co.
lored reople is one that in certain 10 'atiOnS
presen,s difficulties of a peculiar kind; there
fore
Resoircd, That this Convention recon-.
mend the establishment of Sunday schools
for The benefit OF the colored race, and that
the Committee on Business be requested to
receive aud report such suggestions as to the
conduct of such schools as may be helpful to
the parties interested and who may desire
information.
QUESTIONS FOR ANSWER.
On molten of r. y. Dunlop. of Peters
burg, 1t was resolved that all questions to
be answered he submitted to Drs. Hatcher
and Bicd>oe, with authority TO reject such
lis haye been ans wereG in substance, or such
rs are not deemed worthy Of answer; also,
thlt all questions be submitted prior 10 the
meeting for answer.
DIR. HUT OS's ADDRESS.
On motion, the Conveu'ion next resolved
to hear the address of Rev. j. A. Hut>On,
d. d., Of the American Sunday-School
Union. He said In my work | have seen
buudreds Of young men on the downward
road TO luin; | have met professors of rcl-
gion opposing the Sunday-School move
mcnt; in Georgia / saw a whole county
without a Sunday school; Dauy Sunday
schools not well organized and destitute of
. pln N
In Georgia and Virginia, in six months,
have organized 100 schools. In Virginia the
work IS on tn" Increase actually doubling
in many counties. Throughout the whole
land the work is On the increase. The
sun has risen on the Sunday-School work,
and will soon reach the meridian, when all
t he children shall be taught of the Lord. In
the beginning this great cause advanced
slowly but now it is like tree planted by
the rs-tourishipg and abundant in
fruit.
The work Of this Convention should be to
see that Il Sunday school is established in
every neighoorhood where none exists. The
State should be organized in State and
county organic ltions. have been working
in the Piedmont region, and established lOS
schools (ahout one fourth colored); most OF
them in connection with poorer churches,
but some in destitute neighborhoods. |
always organize them as Church Sunday
schools where | can, and when l cannot,
then union schools.
HOW TO KEEP SUNDAY SCHOOLS IN ACTIVE oPE-
RATION.
DR.. L. r. Cbiles, of Manchester, being de-
tanned from the Convention on account OF
sickness 10 his family, the Convention re-
solved TO take up the question submitted TO
DR.. Chilts: "What is the best mode Of keep
ing the Sunday schools in active operation
in the country in winter, and in the city in
summer"
Mr.. B. T. Hancock, OF Chesterfield. said
that the schools in the country are larger in
summer and smaller in winter, while in the
cities the schools are smaller in summer and
larger in winter. 1t is not for want of dl,-
position that the country schools close in
winter, but first, it is habit; second, in
the winter the mornings are too short, and
before persons can get TO church the time for
preaching has arrived; third, the SCHOOLS in
the country are generally in large churches,
and it takes so long 10 heat the houses that
ctalrcb.time comes before it is warm enough
to hold schools. The way to keep up schools
IN the couctry in winter and in the city ln
summer is TO create a religious Sunday.
schoo! enthusiasm that will stop at no ob-
stacle, but keep them going all the time.
MIR. John b. Turpin, of Halifax, thought
that the way TO meet this question was to
feel the responsibility and resolve to keep up
the school. A continuous communication OF
life and labor is necessary TO the success OF
the Sunday school work. It Weakens the
Interest in the work to cease during any por-
tom Of the year. We must believe it can be
done, and It will be dont'. Believing much
wall aec' mplish much in any work. In
school in Halifax be had as pastor eXhorted
The brethren 10 try. They did try, aud sue
cess was the result, aliuous they had fall
ure during the previous year.
Rev. c. X. Ross, OF Albcmr 'rle, fully agreed
that enthusiasm and belief art' the very things
needed to accomplish this work. The coun'
Try schools do not pay enou:, b attention 10
heating the churches. If ihe friends in
he country could be induced TO build fires
md commence beating the ch arch early in
be morning, or the night before, like it is
zone in the cities, then grea t dt1ncuity
Sou!d be obvlaed. Let Us recon- mend that
be present Sunday school helps bt' adopted,
md then 20 many teachers will not he need
d. Some of the schools in Albemh lie aose
q winter more from habit than . 1ything
sc; but we hope soon TO overcome l ue dlt-
icuI,les and keep open al the time.
MIR. james Alexander, OF Charlotte, fhIes
aid that they were tying TO orercona tnlS
,ad habit, and hoped 20 succeed. He So ohe
# the work now being accomplished Dy
.ey. Mr.. Ross as worthy of the support Oh
Il good Sunday-school people.
DR.. John E. Edwards, OF Richmond, be-
eyed that it was an error that Sunday
chools in cities suspended in the summer.
hey are thin by absence, but he. did DOT
now OF any that suspended. There are
lways enough to stay TO keep them up in