The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-07-07

The Pennsylvania State Sabbath School A4so.
citation convened at Reading on the 18th ut.
Rev. Stuart Mitchell was the only delegate re.
ported from Columbia county. The session be-
gan at night with chldrens meeting in the
Academy Of Music The house was packed fall
and then was not able to contain all who came
There were good addresses and delightful sing
ing. Reading has many fine voices well train
ed.
The two following days were spent in practi
cal discussions. Owing to various causes the
attendance was not as large as usual. The Lu-
theran Synod was sitting in Reading, and there
were some important conventions in Phladel-
phsa besides the al-absorbng Centennial Ex-
hibiton The friends of the cause in Reading
made the stay of the delegates very pleasant,
following up Rev. Mr.. Radclili's pleasant words
of welcome with their hosptable attentions.
The Committee of Arrangements, of which Mr..
w. G. MCGOWAN was chairman, did their part
elegantly.
The time and place of next meeting were left
to the Executive Committee with the hope that
it might ba held in central or western Pennsyl-
vania. The principal resolutions are a. fol.
lows:
|. The reports made to the Convention indi-
cate steady increase of interest in the Sabbath
school work, and the discussions show that with
n variety of practice on incidental points, there
is growing uniformity of views in reference to
the important questions. The magnitude and
value of the work grow upon us as we consider
it. In the methods and appliances of Sabbath
ophanI instrupiiDp ~ ImprDypmpnt. ia
which the comparison of views in such conven-
| tions as this, the many excellent Sunday school
| periodicals, and the use of the uniform lessons
| have contributed.
2. We would record with gratitude to God
that during the past year there has been an un-
| usually large number of accessions to the COM
munion of the churches from the Sabbath school,
and we would emphasize the early conversion
and sar ctifcaton of the soul as the great end Of
our efforts, and the power of the Holy Ghost as
| tnat which must secure it.
8. In view of the ruin Of so many young peo.
| pile by means of corrupt literature, we gratefully
| call to mind the fact that the Sabbath school Ii.
brary has been the means of producing and cir
cuating such a great body of pure and sound
| reading matter that there is no need of intro
ducing into our schools any that are not good in
point of Christian doctrine, and refined in point
| of taste and we would urge care to select only
such for the Sabbath school libraries.
d. The systematic and organized efforts o
those who,are interested in making drunkarGs o
our youth call upon us to resist them, and to save
our children by connecting with our Sabbath
| Schools earnest efforts on behalf of temperance
5. As representatives of over seventy thousanc
Sabbath School teachers, and some seven hun
dred thousand scholars, of many religious de
nominations, we cannot but express our deel
interest in whatever affects the observanc,
of the Sabbath day, Regarding it IS AN inesti
mable blessing to the whole community-tc
those who chafe against its restraints, as well a
to those who are in sympathy with it; regard
ing it as blessing, especially to the laborint
classes and their children, we thoroughly disap
prove Of the attempts to make use of the powe
and prestige of the Centennial Exhibition fO
overriding the laws of the State in order to ro
us of our day of rest and worship. We there
fore most heartily commend the course of tn
Centennial Commission in closing the Exhibi
ton on the Lords Day; and we promise on
influence in every proper way, to uphold tn
laws that protect it.
6. We return our sincere thanks to the Firs
Presbyterian Church of Reading for the use q
their building, and to the citizens who hav
shown MS such cordial greeting and generou
hospitality, and pray that the blessing of Go
may rest abundantly upon them and upon thei
children.