The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-08
Mass.lIeetinE OF Officers, Teachers,
and Friends Of the sunday-SchoOl
6,Huaa.

A mass meeting composed OF the officers,
,eechers, and friends of the Sunday-school
cause, representing ali denominations In this
city, was held at st. Marks church last night.
The church was crowded with attentive and
interested persons.
Msior Robert Stiles, president Of the Sua-
day.School Union Of Richmond, presided
over the meeting, which was opened with
prayer by Rev. DR.. Read.
Rev. DR.. Read, Rev. T. G. Dashiell, Rev.
DR.. BIeasoe, Rev. DR.. Kepler. Rev. Da'lzs
Tucker. and Rev. DR.. Biting occupied seats
in the chancel.
Major Stiles introduced the exercises with
a short account of the history Of the Rich.
mopd Sunday School Union. he stated that
the Union proposed to bold public meetings
occasionally for the purpose OF bringing TO-
gether the workers Of ali denominations IN
council, that by comparison OF views the
practical working Of the schools may be inn
proved.
He announced the question for discussion
to be, "How TO secure the attendance OF the
scholars of the Sunday school on the regular
services Of the Church," and stated that as
it was practical question he hoped to have
practical addresses.
Coloue, T. j. Evans said that all the
schools In the city bad been greatly blessed
by the results of the late Convention Of oil
denominations held In this city. The
scholars named In the questions are not the
little children. They may 60 home. and
sometimes ought to do SO. at the Grace
Street Baptist church a goodly number OF
the scholars attend church services, but there
are many who do not and it is to be re-
GREETED. Two means of attracting are short
sermons and good singing.
MIR. J. D. X. Sleight, superintendent Of
the First Presbyterian church Sunday
school, said that perhaps one of the ressors
why scholars do not attend is that the SER
vices are sometimes too solemn and deep.
A good lady said she trained her children
10 90 10 church, even though they 60 to
sleep. The late lamented Rev. Or. Moore,
pastor OF the First Presbyterian church In
Richmond, made 1t regular practice to say
something directly to the children. he bad
often seen two thirds Of the scholars Of his
school in the church.
Mr.. Dashiell suggested that perhaps in
some cases this evil might be traced 10 the
rule OF the teachers to absent themselves
from the church on Sunday to take amuse.
ment, Teachers should set examples by at
tending their own churches. 1t is 10 be re-
GREETED that many take the Sabbath to visit
other churches for qualification. 1t would
| be better for the ministers to make all por-
| tions of their sermons suited to interest the
scholars who attend. A celebrated minister
once adopted the plan of even dropping all
| big words. Let odr language be simple and
affectionate.
Mr. Asa Snyder, superintendent of Cente.
| nary Methodist Sunday school, remarked
| that in his school about seventy per cent. at
tend the services of the church. We get
the teachers to impress it Oh the children TO
| attend church. Sometimes the benches are
too high, and the limbs of the young chill
d rem 90 to sleep as we'll as their heads. Pa
| rents do not talk over the sermons enough to
interest their children. Find work for the
young people to do, and keep them EN-.
ployed. a serious drawback 10 young men
who fail to attend during the week is be-
cause they 60 to other meetings.
| Major Stiles said that in the Grace-Street
Sunday school there are large number of
German children. He would like to know If
there are any German children in other
schools, and if 80, whether they attend
church. The most of these children 60 from
bis school to the Lutheran church.
Msjor j. B. Cary, of Seventh Street Chris
tian church, stated that about fifty five per
cent. OF the members of his school and all
the teachers are members OF The church, and
therefore attend church services. We find
more difficulty in getting members OF the
church to attend the school.
Mr.. M. NJ. Gillian, superintendent OF the
Second Presbyterian SCHOOL, said about two
thirds of the scholars of his school attend
church. Let the teachers impress on the
| children from the Bible to honor God, Gods
| ipio tho fponharo
teach the scholars that the pastor Is the best
teacher they can have-often talking with
the children in school about the sermons
preached by the ps s:or. Make the children
feel that they may do good by attending
church services regularly, Teach the scholars
to give to charitable objects, supporting the
] missionary and other causes. This idea OF
doing something for Jesus will form con.
Meeting link between the school and the
church. Teach the scholars we'll, and when
they attend church the pastor will see the
children noticing him, and will study to
preach TO them. .,
Mr.. Thomas Potts, of the Monumental!
SUNDAY school, remarked that about three
foprtbs of the scholars attend church at the
Monumental. He thought that it was mainly
due to the services, which are adapted to
their understanding. He could not conceive
of scholars being 80 brought up that they
would not desire to attend church services.
Rev. Dr. Bledsoe, pastor of Trinity Metho-
dist church, said: There are many scholars
who do not attend church on Sunday. They
| { ell fatigued from the Sunday school eXer'
aises. The little ones ought to 60 home
Then there are some who must return home
| 10 allow paren's to 20 to church. "l
am not apologiZ'ng," said he, "for those
who do not attend, because there are
many who ought to attend who do not
Many young gentlemen and ladies wander
away to other churches In order to have .
short walk. This Is wrong. Somehow the
error has creBt In that the school and the
| church are separate. and many think thai
they may 20 away after doing the work o.
the sunday school. Parents and teachers
should fire. quently ask the scholars il they
q, to churcn regularly. 1t will baVe bene
fetal etfret. The pulpit should study to To-
terest the children !; and they will find 1
takes more study to preach to them than tC
the older persons in the audience. The
scholars should be Identified with the ser
vice of song 10 the church. Let the pastors
90 in the schools, as do. and shake hands
With every one; they will then feel attached
to the minister, and gladly 60 up and heal
him preach. Aeont four ffths of Trinity
school attend church."
Msjor Stiles said this discussion has re-
yealed the fact that this evil is not as great al
was supposed. II IL shown that much
larger number attend than we thought ). tha
we should have short aud earnest preaching
to the children; that teachers should attepe
church and set an example; that the young
D ople should be organized tor work; tina