Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-07-16

M. McWhorter-were appointed to re
port on the matter.
President Magruder urged upon tn,
members of the convention the impor
tance of buying the Sunday schoo
books from the Southern Publishing
House.
TUESDAY EVENING.
Session was opened with prayer by
Rev. L. H. Graybill, of Augusta Cir.
cult, after which number of additional
delegates reported.
The Topic-The Catechism in connec.
ton with our uniform Lesson System
was then taken up.
ADDRESS OF REV. G. G. BROOKE.
An address on this subject was deliv-
cred by Rev. G.. G. Brooke. &
The address was an able and interest
ing one, and the importance of using
the catechism was urged in an impress
sive manner. The catechism simplifies
the great truths embraced in the Bible
it systematizes and renders them more
Ineligible to the ordinary mind. The
catechism should be taught by ques-
tioning children in 1t at home, in
the school, and in the church. In: the
first and third our church is up with
others, but in the second we are be-
hind the age.
He spoke strongly of the defective in
struction in the Bible. in our public
schools, where it is sought to be exclud-
ed altogether. The church will never
be able to cope with this tendency until
parochial Methodist schools are estab-
lished all over the country.
Thorough instruction in the great
truths of religion and morals in the BIZ
bic will do more to maintain and pre-
serve the public safety of this county
than all the constitutions ever made,
and all the legislative bodies in the
land.
The speaker then gave very inter-
esting running narrative of the use that
had been made of the catechism in teach
ing the truths of religion and the doc
trines of the Christian church during
The last fourteen hundred years.
AT the close of the address the Presi-
ient urged upon the convention the inn
portance of the "Topic" under discus
sion. He thought the catechism was
being neglected in favor of the more
popular and pleasing lessons, which
have proved so attractive to the chill
dren. He remarked that it was now
proposed to incorporate the catechism
In the lessons so that they might be learn
ed together.
Rev. A. Roby, Of Mt. Sidney, made a
few remarks, upon the importance of
teaching by interrogatories, and thought
that the catechism was the best means
3f impressing on children the truths of
.he Bible.
Rev. DIR. Rogers, Presiding Elder, of
East Baltimore District, after few hui
norous Introductory remarks, said =
Teaching the catechism is difficult
ask. It is dry subject and distasteful
20 children. This was fact and must
be admitted, but nevertheless it was
luty to make children do that which
hey do not like, when it is for their own
good. The aid of parents must be sought
% compel their children to learn the
for the teacher is in no posi-
ion to enforce his wishes on this SUBJ
ect; and the pastors must lend both
teachers and parents the aid of their adj
vice and encouragement.
He stated, that it is urged that chill
lren do not understand the answers
given in the catechism, and admitted
that it was true; but still if they commit
ted them to memory they would never
forget them and in after life would un-
derstand them and know and feel their
The only rule he knew by which to
induce children to learn their catechism
was for the teachers to furnish every
child with catechism, with the name
of the Sunday School upon it,, and let
the child take it homo with him. And
when they return to school ask them if
they have learned anything in it, and
DO not expect them to know very much
at first. They will thus gradually take
aud interest in it and will soon be fami-
liar with the doctrines of the scripture
and, having a reason to giveIfor their be-
lief, will never in after life fall away
from the church in which they first inn
bibed the truths Of the blessed gospel.
Rev. G. &. Brooke again urged in a
most earnest and impressive manner the
great Importance of early and systematic
in the oateehism. He wanted
the Convention to adopt a::resolution un-
der which every member of it would feel
it his sacred duty to establish in his
Sunday School class of catechumens.
The following resolution was then of
fered:
Resolved, That the members of this
Convention recognize the importance of
the duty imposed upon them by the ac
ton of the General Conference to teach
the young of our church the great truths
upon which it is founded, and pledge
themselves to do all in their power to
sustain the effort now being made to o.
dopt thorough system of catechetical
instruction in our schools.
Rev. Isaac w. Canter thought the In
ternational lessons were superseding the
use of the eatechism. It is certainly true
that the oateehism is being less used
now than in years past. He favored the
resolution and hoped the members of the
convention would feel bound by it and
would at once introduce into their schools
the study of the catechism.
Rev. DR.. Wilson urged the adoption
of the resolution and spoke of the lament
able Ignorance, existing among children
and adults in the church, of the eatech-
ism and the great truths of the christian
religion.
The resolution was unanimously a.
dopted.
The reports from schools were then
heard and the convention adjourned un-