The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-06-16
OHIO STATE SABBATH SCHOOL
HnRrNI InHInIEAAr

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session until Thursday evening, June
Sth. The attendance was large, there
being three hundred and fifty eight
delegates enrolled. and many more who
did not attend throughout the entire
session, and failed to register their
names. The Convention was presided
over by Mr.. G. NJ Nichols, editor of
the Springfield Republic, and its pro-
ceediDgs recorded by b. j. LOOMS,
Secretary.
The session was harmonious and in
teresting, perhaps beyon precedent in
tirc history of the Association; An
address OF welcome was made on the
first evening ny Isss,v. z. +. Z. -.tt, of
Dayton, and responded to by Rev. j.
f. TwitcheIl, of Cleveland. Col. Rob
ert G widen of Gallon, presented Cen
tennial review of the work in the State,
which was deeply interesting. The ex-
ercises of the first evening wera of
character to betoken the good time
that followed.
On Wednesday the Convention con-
sidered 1.-The Sabbath School in its re-
suits; Ca) to the Church; (b) to the
family; (c) to the community" The
discussion on this topic was lively and
full of good thoughts. Also '"The Aim
of our Teaching" under several heads,
as Regeneration, What 1t Is" etc.
| This topic excited some diverse state
ments, but all agreed that we ought to
expect the early conversion of the
children.
The next topic was ''The relation of
the Press to the Sabbath School"
Some severe structures were made upon
a portion of the press, especially Sun
day sensational papers; but upon the
whole the conversation developed the
thought that the press is great auxil-
iary to the Sabbath School.
| A sermon to adults and children
was delivered By Rev. A. A. Z. Saylor,
D. D., President of Wooster University,
This discourse was listened to with un-
divided interest. The subject was
'sThe Healing of Blind Bartimeus,"
and as the doctor possesses powers of
graphic description, it made 5eep
impression.
Rev. A. b. White, of Springfield,
gave ''chalk sermon to children"
which, though not witnessed by many
children except those who are grown
up, was quite entertaining to many.
1t is question, however, whether the
reverend gentleman's drawings ON the
blackboard were not more amusing
than instructive. In order to succeed
well in blackboard exercises, II man
should be somewhat of an artist, or his
diagrams and illustrations sill degene
rate into amusing caricatures. The
figures this time were Bible and a
lamp, and the lesson had many fit ap-
plications.
On Thursday Rev. E. s. Chapman,
of Dayton, gave an illustration of
teaching, having the Convention for
q class. The lesson was Acts 5. 27-42.
This gentleman also used the black
board as n help, having the different
steps in the lesson well arranged. his
divisions brought into view only one
at time, the rest being concealed by
a revolving curtain. Those who wit
messed and participated in this exer-
else were well prepared for the lesson
of the following Sabbath. 1t was, per
haps, as successful an effort as any
made during the Convention.
| Rev. ID. A. Randall, of Columbus,
read very fine and instructive paper
on Sacred Geography" and as Mr..
Randall has visited the place, he de-
scribed in the Holy Land. he was quite
instructive. He showed the import
ance OF knowledge of Bible Geogra-
ply in teaching in the Sunday School.
Rev. ]. A. Worden, of Steubenville,
gave lengthy lecture on Normal Glass
Work, which was, perhaps, the most
comprehensive thing given to the Con
vention. His eloquence and fine de-
livery gave great force to his effort.
His classification of the duties, qua.ifi-
cations. methods and spheres of teach
ers was fine in arrangement, and sug-
| gestive of efficient work. The effect
of the reverend gentlenan's production
was. however, diminished in the minds
of those who have heard Rev. j. II.
Vincent on the same subject, as the
suspicion of an effort at imitation WAS
excited by certain tones and manner
of the speaker, and the remarkable
analogy between his paper and that of
Mr.. Vincent at the international Con-
vention at Baltimore. Men of able
parts do not need to be imitators.
The exercises in the evening were OF
social and experimental character,
consisting mostly of short speeches in
reference to difficulties and encourage
ments in the Sabbath School work.
The Finances of the Association are
not in a very encouraging condition
This seems to be the most difficult part
of the machinery to manage. The at
tendance and the speech making were
delightful, and relished by all; but the
IL a
trouble. The Association is in debt,
and the hard working and efficient cor
responding Secretary, Col. Cowden,
has not been paid as he should be. 1t
is hoped That the Sabbath Schools OF
the State will send in their dollars to
wipe ont this debt.
Upon the whole the Convention was
a success. The Dayton people know
how TO entertain a Convention, and
they did it. The host of Sabbath
School workers will go out with re-
newed zeal and knowledge.
Many other things of interest and
worth occurred during the Convention
that perhaps there is not space here to
say anvthiig about. IL might, how
ev..r. IL. remarked that while the Asso-
citation is intended to be a union, and
while efforts were made to hold de-
nominational features in obeyance,
the spirit of sect would now and then
slip out; not purposely, perhaps. but
from a chronic habit that some church
members have acquired of thinking
and speaking of their particular church
This was seldom, however, and the
Convention may be written down as a
real success. X.