National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-03
RELIGIOUS.
Sunday School Teachers Institute.

MORNING SESSION.
The Sunday School Teachers Institute, under
the auspices Of the normal class OF the Y. NJ. q.
A, was opened yesterday at 1880 o'clock, in the
lecture-rOom Of the Congregational church
There were about $50 teachers present, represent
ing tWenty-eight different Sunday schools.
Upon request Of the normal committee, William
Stickney, ESQ.,, occupied the chair. The opening
devotional exercises were conducted by DR.. Ran
kin, who read Timothy, Ill, and uttered fer.
vent prayer.
The chairman made a short address, WELDON.
ing DR.. Vincent Of N. Y, the instructor Of the
institute. Before DIR. Vincent was introduced,
DR.. Shields was called upon for a few remarks
and repeated the prayer extended BY the Chair
to their Instructor.
DR.. Vincent was then introduced and com.
meDced the instruction OF the morning. He ex-
planned that the design Of the meeting was not to
hear one address, but many remarks Therefore
the instruction would be carried on in a conyersa,
tiOnal manner The topic for the morning was:
Our work Of winning and instructing souls"
souls and not necessarily little souls as there are
thousands Of adults enrolled in our Sunday
schools, which are rapidly becoming institutions
In order 10 more fully treat the topic under
confederation, he prOpounded the four follow
ing questions, namely:
What proportion Of our Sunday -school scholars
are members Of the Church,
What proportion Of your teachers are professed
Christians
Why are not more OF our Sunday school schol-
aTs members Of the Church?
Why do not our teachers understand the true
These questions ELECTED various answers and
siderable discussion. Drs. Presbrey, Rankin,
e1Ii- Mr.. Beard and others participated In the
discussion, = II was craving near me Tine Ior
closing the morning session, ..I. ,...---.-,.."-.
the discussions, giving results and adding appro-
pirate remarks OF his OVID, suggested by questions
from teachers. collection was taken to deiray
the expenses Of the institute. The session closed
with singing and benediction by Dr. Hall.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session commenced at go, there
being larger attendance than In the morning.
The session opened with singing, after which DR..
Butler offered prayer.
The programme announced that the afternoons
work would be an investigation into the manner
Of conducting preparation class. The instructor,
DR.. Vincent, urged the necessity Of the prepare
ance with the Bible, but also In a knowledge OF
the peeuliarities Of children and methods Of
teaching. The teacher should have an intimate
atapt it to the class and how to most etfectually
teach it. He made careful distinction between
preparation class and a teachers class.
After few general remarks upon the subject
Of preparation he organized model preparation
class. Joshua vii, 1926, was selected as the text
The follOHingnamed gentlemen were appointed
to take charge Of sections Of class, each section
having under consideration particular attribute
of the text: Messrs. Eastlack, @. Richards, Nc
kim, johnson, G. NJ. Richards and Drs. Rankin
and Parker.
A few minutes were allowed for an investiga-
tion Of the text. Then followed a full exposition
Of the lesson, the gentlemen appointed giving
a report from their several sections OF the class,
and the teachers debating the points as they were
offered. Drs. Rankin and Vincent involved the
institute Just at the close Of the session. in very
interesting discussion relative to the text but the
debate was necessarily cut short by the arrival OF
4 O'Clock, the hour set for adjournment. collec-
tion was taken and hymn sung. Benediction
was pronounced by DR.. Parker.
In the evening, DR.. Vincent delivered an ad-
dress entitled Lighting up Lesson" before
large assemblage DR.. Vincent is an eloquent
and forcIble speaker, and completely commanded
the attention Of his hearers during the forty
minutes that he occupied. His address was full OF
practical hints to teachers and pithy remarks chat
interested every one.
After DR.. Vincent concluded aquestion box was
Instituted, and the instructor was overwhelmed
with slips Of paper propoundlng questions. The
question that edited the congregation most was,
'tTen tie best MODE for an English teacher, who
can't talk Indian, to teach an Indian, who can Z
talk English, about God" DIR. Vincent thought
that this question should be thoroughly invesi-
After the usual collection and benediction by
Dr. Shields the session closed.
There will be two sessions to-day, (held In the
main hall Of the church,) one at 1880 o. m,
topic preachers Glass;" and one at $50 p.
NJ, topic, Normal Glass" During the morn
ing Mr.. Beard, the artist, will give some Illus
In the evening DR.. Vincent will deliver the sixth
lecture in the Congregational course; subject,
THAI BOy.n