The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-10-11
OUR GRAFTON LETTER.
Maryland synod Evan. Lutheran
Church,

NnuFcus
GRAFTON, Oct. 9th, 1875,
Editors Wheeling Intcscncer:
The Sabbath School mission meeting
held In connection with the Synod last
night at the Lutheran Church was well
attended. The meeting was opened with
religious exercises.
Rev. j. II. Barclay, Of Baltimore, was
the first speaker. | regret exceedingly
that am not able to report his speech in
full. Nothing but u full report Of it will
give n fair idea OF this most interesting
and eloquent address. lie is one Of the
most graceful, eloquent and logical speak.
ers in the country, lie is Chairman Of
the Sabbath School Mission Society Of the
Lutheran Church. lie said he had not
expected to speak, and should address
himself to the children. lie had just rG.
turned from Europe, but did not propose
to do ns most European travellers were
charged with doing-tell what he saw in
Europe and nothing else; yet he would
say that it had been his privilege to have
seen four Of the grandcst armies in the
world. lie had seen the army Of the
Union returning from iB victory over
the S0nLh the army OF United Germany
returning from beaten and dcSOlatcd
France; the army Of Victor Emanuel in
regencrated Italy, and the grand French
army returning to their homes after dis.
persing the Communists. These were
mighty aud powerful armies, but they
we're the means Of dcsolatiOn, destruction
and death. lie represented M army, not
40 numerous, yet equal In power and
grandeur. lie was proud to be the lead.
er Of this noble army OF 10000 little ones
lie then gave an account OF what the
mission was doing in the Masters service,
and how the Gospel wns being spread by
means Of missions. lie closed his beau.
tiful and instructive lecture rs follows:
:" As the traveller stands amid the noun.
tains that crown the beautiful Switzcr.
land, he behOlds, flowing down the hills,
the beautiful river Rhone, clear as Crys.
tai, bounding, dnshing, roaring, full Of
power but not long has II proceeded on
It's course when 1t Ia met by the turbulent,
muddy Aar. rherivcrs rush to the con.
lliCt the Anr sweeps to the banks Of the
Rhone, the lIhone overGaps the borders
Of the Anr; then they separate and How
awhile side by side, like distinct currents,
Anon they mingle again, and battling for
mastery they rush down In fierce conflict
through the mountain gOrges. For II
time IL seems doubtful which shall
triumph. But Il. the traveller stands in
Geneva he sces that the RhOnC has won
the victory; II has absorbed and purified
the Anr and now clear as glass II flows
toward the sea. So will end the conflict
between Christianity and heathCnism. II
Is war now nnd seems At times rs II the
pagan stream would Overwhelm the river
Of Righteousness but as surely ns the
RhOnc nbsOrbs aWl puriiics the Aar, 30
surely shall Christianity send its streams
Of purifying in such force and power
through henthCndOm that Mt last II will
absorb and bear II to glory purified re.
deemed aud saved to Christ"
Rev. ". Graves, Of Baltimore, next
addressed the meeting. lie said there
may be some who would be disposed to
ask "lHhnt Is the uSc Of Sunday Schools
in Lutheran Church2' Has not the
church multiplied her membership to
millions by means Of CateChetical In.
Strtiction and the preaching Of the word
in Goda hOuse2 This Is true, but the
Sunday School il the hnndmaid and help.
meet Of the catCChetical class and the
church. II is not intended to take
the place Of the church, One Of
the great merits Of Sabbath
Schools Ia that through them divine
truth Is taught TO those who would not
otherwise receive II. We can get those into
Sunday School who would not join the
catcchetiCal class or attend the regular
services Of church, Some complain that
but little il accomplished in the Sabbath
School. This ia often true, but II is gen.
orally the faultOf the teacher having no
heart in the work. We do not have
enough old teachers. People too, soon
get too old to 60 to Sunday School. We
want more specialized teachers" ,
After singing n beautiful Sunday School
hymn the meeting closed, and all felt II
was good to have been there.
BUsiSEss SESSION.
At the business session OF Synod on
Saturday there were many matters Of
general interest. Among the first was
The report Of the directors OF the Theo.
logical Seminary at Gettysburg, present.
ed by Rev. DR.. biehl. The report shows
that forly.twO students are in attendance;
that matters in general are in prosper.
ons condition; that next year the SEMI
Centennium Of the Seminary will be Gel.
Cbrated, II having been established in
1896 and that m effort will be made to
raise fund OF $4,000, the interest OF
which IL to be used for the contingent eX.
penscs Of the institution. In this con.
nection also, n letter was read from DR.
Valentine, the President Of the pcnnsyl.
vania College, Gettysburg, Pa, stating
that out Of eighty.four students in the
four college classes thirty had the minis
try in view; that he could not attend
in person because he was prosecuting the
work Of the general endowment Of the
college; that he earnestly requested the
members Of the Synod to make an effort
to send more students to this institution
Of the church; and that attention he given
to improving iIs financial condition.
These two institutions In their Condi.
tion and wants claimed the attention Of the
Synod for some time, and elected remarks
Of interest from some ofthc members.
DT. Stork, Of Baltimore, urged that our
churches should be opened to the PROBES.