The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-25
Convention of Addison County Sab
bath School Workers.


The first meeting of this Association, for
the present season was held on Wednesday
Feb. 23, at Vergennes.
In the absence of the president the body
was called TO order by S. B. M.
Cowles. c. T. S. Pierce was chosen sec
rotary pro tenn. Singing by the boys of
the Reform school. The Introductory ex.
ercises were conducted by reading of the
scriptures and prayer by Rev. Charles Hib-
bard. After another song by the Reform
school, the first topic assigned for consider
alton. "The instruction necessary TO Sc
cure conversion, in the Sunday school" was
opened by Rev. T. II. Archibald, ID. d.
lie was followed by M. B. Williamson.
The discussion was continued by s. b. NJ.
Cowles, and Rev. Mr.. Heath.
The points made by the first speaker
were that the instruction should convince
children that they were enemies to God,
under the wrath of God, that their only
hope was in the atoning sacrifice of Christ,
and in the renewal of the Holy Ghost.
MIR. Williamson specially insisted upon
earnestness in the work. Mr.. Cowles ex-
emplarized the sense of responsibility while
Mr. Heath, in addition to what had been
suggested, remarked that all should be ac-
companied with earnest prayer.
The second topic Encouraging children
to profess Christi was opened by Rev. S.
Knowlton.
This was neglected from several causes,
and these were want of confidence in child
piety a harsh judgement of the faults of
children; misconception of the design of
admission to the church we are afraid that
they will dishonor their profession by back
sliding. The topic was farther discussed
by Rev. Mr. Torrey of Charlotte who spoke
of an early profession as the means of Civ
ing strength and activity in the christian
life; by Rev. c. ,iibbard, who insisted from
his own experience that children at very
early age may come to Christ. AT the con-
clusion of his remarks after another song
the convention adjourned until afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The session of the afternoon opened with
the president, Rev. L. r. Hooker, in the
chair. After singing and reading of the
scriptures, prayer was offered by Rev. c..
Hibbard and NJ. i. Williamson.
The first topic of the afternoon, "The
relation of parents to the Sabbath school
was opened by G. l.. Barker. He said
that the Sabbath school work was largely
carried on by those who are not parents.
The relation OF all adult persons to the
school, and their obligations are nearly the
same, but parents have special duty to
their own children Gle that prOvideth
not for his own, and specially for those of
his own house, hath denied the faith and is
worse than an iDfidel." If this is true of
temporal things it is yet more emphatically
80 10 spiritual things. What then is the
duty Of parents to their own children in
the Sabbath SCHOOL, TO be In the school,
and study the lesson with their children
10 watch the workings of the childrens
minds at home, and, at the right time, and
place, drop tue right word; to make it a
point to deny ourselves for the good of the
school; to prepare themselves for any pos
ition to which they may be assigned.
Rev. c. G. Torrey said We have had the
actual and practical presented to us and /
propose to look at the ideal. What rela-
ton does the christian life in the parent
sustain to the Sabbath school? There are
entirely two different species of christian
growth, the Pauline, and the Johannic.
The promise is to you and to your children.
Let the parent feel l must give myself to
Christ, not only for my own sake, but for
the sake of my children. The parent has
work to do through his children in the
school.
Parents should pray that their children
may be brought to Christ before the period
of conscious sin. Children under such ia.
h., o,,I
of the evil of sin.
Rev. C. A. Stevens said Is it not just a,
much the duty of unconverted parents to
be prepared to train his children for Christ
as that of the christian father? a-
S. b. NJ. Cowles, There has met with
us Bro. Langworthy who once said my
father never sent me to the Sabbath school
my father never said 60 but come. But 9
parent can do duty for his children who
does not himself 60 by sending his children
there.
Rev. T. II. Archibald, A conscious en-
nifty to God and to holiness is one of the
developments of christian experience and 9
great injury is done to children when they
are not led to feel this fact.
The next topic was "Methods of instruc
ton" which was opened by Pref. II. NJ
Dttltys uc hltGutiOu luust DC dTTc6tet
then it must be held to the subject in hand
Next impress upon the mind, and fix upor
the memory the truth to be conveyed. Tht
teacher must form a plan for himself ant
adapt it to the minds of his class. We may
cover the ground by such questions al
these, Where? When2 Thus we approach
the fact. Then what7 What in fact
What as matter for instruction? What as
personal Improvement? The three W.
NAV thus convey all the great things to bt
taught. Then there must adaptation to thu
class as a whole, and its individual mem
bers, the timid who need drawing out, tn,
ignorant who need instruction and the for
ward who need repression.
The convention united in prayer, led b.
o. p. Mead. 81
Rev. Mr.. Torrey, We need to max,
these things real to our classes. Th'
teacher needs to be so impressed with tn,
reality of the lesson, and thoroughly i'm
bued with it, as to make it vivid thinl
great primal fact The importance of con
Holy Spirit.
President C. B. Hubert, Of Mid
debury college, Any method of in
structon will fail if it does not begin witt
the study of the pupils thought Tho frs
thing for the teacher to do is to study hi
clas9. We make great mistake when w
suppose boy IS all brain. He has will ant
heart as well, and the members of oul
classes must be studied in order that the,
may be reached. There is in every one
conscience, and we need to teach from tn,
pulpit of that conscience. There are thou
sands of our children and youth who wan
somebody to show christian sympathy, ant
lead them to Christ. We do not come di
rectly to the point as we ought, and as w
might We need to study the lesson 6,
that it can be brought home. We need alst
conscious dependence upon the Holy
Ghost. Then our instructions accomplish
something, -
Rev. Mr.. Davis. A few days ago . chile