The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-12-25
THE INSTITUTE.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NORMAL
INSTITUTE.
FOUR DAYS SESSION HELD Al
HsLLsDALE UNDER THE AU-
SPICES OF THE N. r..
CHURCH.
The Sunday School Normal Insti.
tute. the prospective session OF which
has been q matter OF much interest
among church going people and Sab
bath-school workers OF the county for
some weeks past. convened in Under
woods Opera House, in this city, on
Tuesday last at 80 p. m, and contin-
ued in session until Friday evening. -
The Institute was opened by singing
from the Grown OF Life" that beauti-
full hymn entitled the "High Com
mand," which was followed by q read
ing OF the 103d Psalm by Rev. A. II.
Gillet. OF the NJ. Z. Church, OF this
city; and which was followed by an
earnest, inspiring prayer by Rev. Mr..
Cogshall, OF Coldwater. Then the
cheering hymn entitled. "Cheered by
the Promises" was beautifully render
ed by the choir.
Rev. A. II. Gillet here made the ad.
dress Of welcome in his most happy
and pleasing manner. He spoke as
follows:
As a nation, we have Just closed our nrst
century, and with the close OF that history al
ready written. we may, perhaps, turn from
our enjoyment Of the record we have already
made In the past toward the future The
history OF the past hundred years has been
full Of momcntous events. OF the progress
we have made during every decade Of that
time We may be well proud. and yet i doubt
doubt not that every loyal American citizen
Is looking with some anxiety toward the years
that are 10 come. Is the century past To he
duplicated Ia the century 10 come Are the
forces which have worked out such glorious
results for 10 In the past hundred years des-
tined 10 continue In operation, and will the
results be as glorious In the future as they
have been In the pasti
Can We expect. from the circumstances In
which We ind ourselves to-day, that after
the battles material. spiritual, and In
tellectual Of the next hundred years. have
been fought, we can cav that upon all fields
we have conquered Is there not some cause
for apprehension. apparent TO every thoght-
ful man and woman. "a they look Into the
future; as from the masslng ot large num-
bers Of uneducated foreigners upon our
shores. the constant accumulation OF the un-
thinking and unlearned In our great cities. aud
their consequent pauperization. inducing law
lessness like that witnessed In the recent
strike through which We have passe11 Are
there not some clouds gathering along our
horizon foreboding the possibility that all NAV
not be peaceful aud quiet during the years 10
Gomez IL we turn from these effects Of igno-
rance. We are met by the still more startling
ftct that our schools arc rapidly becoming
. s,cularzed, and that the power Of the gospel
az far as the secular schools are concerned. Il
losing, 10 some degree. In some Of our cities
at least. its foothold. l. there not some dan
ger from the growth Of skeptcism ON the one
hand and the increase Of Ignorance on the
other' Are not ihcse prophetic OF danger
10 our future history where lice
the remedy for these much-to-bo feared
resultsi Upon what mighty force can We
lay our hands 20 avert the disasters which
nav come IN the future? What influence can
VIC bring a. bear that will stir all the life Of
our country with hcalthful. vigorous, noble
spiritual. a. we'll as intellectual life Our
schools are doing gTantly for the intellectual
culture of our age, aud the ages
that are 10 como. The Increase of colleges,
and universities and the exaliation OF the
Al.
vcrsities bespeak q broader and deeper Z 'u-
ture for oil our American citizens-
But what II this culture has a
secular tendency; what II Ia the large pro-
vision for the body and mind, the higher na-
turc be overlooked In this educat,oni What
II in giving our attention 10 the mind. We for
get the heart...so that with the broader deep
er culture Of the mind We destroy the balance
between the moral and intellectual powers.
What eau preserve the balance between the
intellectual faculties and the heart. and what
is the agency that shall take hold Of the
moral part OF mans nature. and develop it
equally with the intellectual II seems
20 me as / look over this congre-
gatlon, this afternoon. that In YOUR
presence here. aud IN the interest which see
upon your faces. / ind the answer 10 this
great question. The Sabbath School Is taking
a mighty hold on our country aud Is destined
Ia the future 10 deepen Its hold
on every side and In every place; and the
multiplication of these educational Institutes
for the benefit Of teachers In the Sunday
School. bespeak an interest that l. 10 Increase
With reference 10 the moral training of our
youth. Already men aud women are evil
IDENTIFY beginning 20 be interested In the great
question as 20 the condition In which our
country Is placed, and turn with earnest
prayer and longing hearts towards this branch
Of education for the Influences by which more
-
and which VIII preserve the moral balance
that will bring about the desired harmony be-
tween the moral and Intellectual From the
Sabbath School. must come the Influence.
that will develop the moral aud spiritual
future Of the cOmiug generations and so Sc
cure the desired result But am rot here 70
speak upon the themes which appear on the
programme 81 our meetings. nor 90 trespas'
on the territory that has been allotted 10 9TH
ers. ! simply Indicate what would be desire
able as the result Of our gathering. We
feel that your presence here l. the result Of
Interest Ia the Sabbath School And
tura from this gathering 20 the Chatau-
guas. the Petoskeyis. the Lake Sides and the
thousand Islands, and there lnd the infuen-
ccs from which the highest and best
results are 20 Oe reached IN the prep
arauon Of teachers for their work
! sec ln them an expression of deep anx-
iety with reference To the culture aud educa-
ton of our youth. | am glad IL Ia so. for
here Il seems To me IA promise for the m.
tare. aud our work here f. simply In accord
ancc with this desire. and the expression Of II
Oh your part and on the part OF those who
have had TO do with the organization Of this
Institute: and | am glad. this afternoon, 20
welcome you here. with this thought In your
mind, with this motive prompting oil your ef-
forts. | extend 10 you then this afternoon a
cordial welcome: and trust that through ali
trafIarfuore az Ft4fa Nrsfffnfs fhfa NhnffarkF
anxiety We feel for the growth OF the best Of
Influences, the growth OF religion, which i %
influence for good our land. brings us together.
and will send US away with more intense real
10 our respective places, TO study these sacred
pages. and 10 the quiet communion with the
Father Uf all In our closets. Let us try "a
commence with the very beginning Of the
ses sion 81 this institute by taking our desir e.
aud anxielies, aud even perhaps foars. 90 Hin
who pitieth us even a. father pitieth his
children, and with strong mastery faith 10
that name which has accomplished 40 much
Ia the past and which Is ample for all the
needs Of the future. Let us now turn oui
thoughts 20 that which Is Immediately before
as. In the hope that we may AL be blessed and
prodted by these gatherings,
Rev. Mr.. Pope, OF Ann Arbor, who
who was to have made the opening ad
dress OF the occasion, entitled "Ths
Pastor and the Sunday School" wa
unavoidably detained from being pres.
cnt on the opening day, and the vscan
cy was filled by a "Conversation" b,
Rev. Mr.. Vincent, Of New York, on The
place and purpose Of the Sunda,
School. The first great important
thing to do is 10 teach the fundamen