The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-10-07

see the standard Of teaching elevated, and b.
advised the teachers TO make a start at tn
bottom Of the ladder, if necessary, and witt
Gods help climb up high. The best teacher
should have charge Of the smallest children
He favored teachers institutes in every city
and county. To illustrate the best methods o
teaching:
Teachers meetings conducted BY
tcacher-seated around q table--open with
prayer--dscuss the question involved in tht
lessons--let teachers have special parts as
signed-geography, &c. Thus holding 60
cial meeting. -
Teachers who wish TO learn to teach and
have no opportunity will do we'll to visit the
temporal schools and notice how they qucs.
ton and teach the children. .. ....-
Rev. j. A. Huston, agent American Sun.
day-School Union, thought there was a need
for earneStncss as we'll as literary training.
Men whose hearts are fully alive to the work
never lose sight of the fact that we need
earnest teaching.
Dir. 3. T. Hancock, of Chesterfield, said
this was the graudeSt Sunday-school meet
ing ever assembled in Richmond. Hc cIme
as young man, and when he heard the
qualifications necessary to make q Sunday
school teacher be felt that such things were
almost jmpossible; but by the grace of God
all things are possible, and it is the duty Of
every teacher to use all means to tit him or
herself for the proper teaching OF the chill
dren. We need, to be successful, much
training Of the heart, mind, and soul.
Mr.. c. &. Griswold, Of Richmond, re-
marked that for forty years he had been
worker In the Sunday school, and felt deep
love for it. He thought discipline was one
Of the most necesSary adjuncts Of q Sunday
school. The Sunday. school teacher should
be good disciplinarian. He should also
study the children and Rarn to adapt him
| self to the child.
| Major Stiles, of Richmond, followed, and
said that the idea Of Sunday-school uni
| rersity for the training of teachers was
| good one. and though it might not be appli-
| cable under all circumstances, yet it is posi-
| Bile to hold teachers meetings, and the breth.
rem in the county should get together at least
orce month to talk over the conduct Of the
school. The great difficulty is that teachers
| who need most training do not attend teach
ers' meetings. The discipline of the school
is also great necessity, and not easily exer-
ciSed.
David Richards, of Knoxville, Tenn, said
the rule laid down by the Scripture, " Love
God with all the heart," is all that is needed
for good Sunday school teacher.
II. +. w. Soutbron, OF Richmond, thought
that love for The children was the great con.
trolling power for good in the Sunday
school.
Colonel 7. J. Evans said that the future
teachers of the Sundty school must come
from the classes. and if we train up the
scholars Alright they will be the best CT teach.
ers. One OF the difficulties of teachers meet.
ings IS that the teachers don't come. A
teachers prayer.meeting held one hour be-
fore the opening of the schools is an admlra-
Bile and feasible plan.
Rev. William E. Hatcher next took up the
answering Of questions placed in the box
during the session of the Convention. His
style was prompt, clear, and forcible. The
answers were given in good feeling, accom-
panied with illusions that were eGJJyed
greatly by tie Convention.
The Convention then took recess until
7:30 ?. II.
NIGHT SESSION.
The Convention met pursuant to adjourn
ment at j o'clock, and in the presence OF an
immease congregation of visitors the busi-
ness of the Convention was conducted.
Hon. T. J. kirkpatrick in the chair.
The exercises were opened with prayer by
Rev. William II. Christian, of Lynchburg,
and singing by Broad-street choir.
INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS.
Rev. T. G. DashielI, Of Richmond, de-
ivercd the introductory address. After
giving the origin Of the call by which the Con-
venti0n was assembled, he said the Sunday
school cause is more than an auxiliary of the
Church-the children are part and parcel Of
the Church. Pastors Of the churches should
be in sympathy with the children aud always
ready to instruct them. Sunday schools
should not be closed in the summer in the
city or in the country in the winter.
The attractions OF the Sunday school
should be such as will lead the pupil to Je-
sus. The cultivation IF true plety Is the
best method of making schools permanently
attractive. In teaching the Scriptures let
the teacher master the whole subject, and be
ready without foreign helps to teach his
class. Sunday-school libraries should not be
simply used as Il means OF attraction. Con-
siderlng the quality Of the books sometimes
found in libraries, it is questionable II tnc
time spent in their distribution is advisable.
Parents have share Of duty to perform
in connection with the Sunday school. The
design OF Suuday-school instruction should
be to start the Child out ia the world
prepared to illustrate in life the beauties oil
Christianity. Let Sunday-SchOol instruction
leuce-train them to listen to the orphans
call and hear the cry of the widow. No man
can truly estimate fully the results of Sun.
day school teaching.
HOW TO MAKE A sUEDAY-sCH0oL ATTRACTIVE.
Rev. W. L. Baker, of Staunton, next ad.
dressed the Convention on the question
"HoW 10 make the Sunday. school attrac-
tive, and what attractions are proper ana
allowable"
He said: 1t should be lawful and allow
able to make the Sunday-school attractive.
If updoubted improvements are admissible
jn temporal schools, why should they not be
introduced in the Suuday.school? Make the
rooms light, airy, and adorned. Let the sing
ing be attractive ana appropriate, the gospel
reading alternate. Let the teacher have unlc-
terruDted time to teach. For lessons, the
international Series Of Lessons are the best
now known. The black board may be used
sdyantageouSly. After review of the les
son let the classes rise and repeat passages OF
Scrip.ure that will make deep impres 'ions
for the future. Use the catecHism, recitingi IN
classes or divisions. Encourage the scholars
TO make contributions for benevolent par
poses. let them do it by classes,a occasional
ly make known how much each class accom-.
plishes. The musc may be made attractive,
| but should not be made scientific eSh'ol-
ton. Let church and juvenile tunes alter
nate. Have primary department for smaller
children. Let the exercises OF these primary
drparlmenls be OF such character as VIII
interest the children. Concert exercises
under proper restraint may be INDUCED
in but never make them so as to
draw the child's mind from the truths
taught in the Sunday school. Excursions,
pic.nics, &c, may be indulged 10 if kept in