Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-07-16
the same duty upon all co-laborers in
ollr GREAT work

the same duty upon all co-laborers il
our great work.
| also sincerely trust that we shall all
not only in this but in every thing per.
tanning to our blessed work, submit our
selves unreservedly to our masters will
and without mumuring in any field tt
which we may be called.
Finally, brothers, pray that the
spirit and power of God may rest upon
the deliberations of this convention, that
the desire to fit ourselves more fully fol
the solemn and responsible duty Of ed
ucating the young mind to receive the
truth as it is in Jesus, may thoroughly
pervade every heart, and that in the fu-
ture we may all he enabled to look back
upon this convocatiOn, as the means in
Gods hands of powerfully advancing
the work of His Kingdom within the
bounds of our beloved Conference.
| ''ToPIC.n 1.
The topic of the day, care our schools
conducted property, and are the study
of the scripture and the conversion OF
the scholars the sole objects ofou Sun
day school system ?" was then taken up.
Rev. DR.. Alpheus w. Wilson, who
was appointed to discuss the topic, spoke
of the old-fashioned Suoday schools OF
former times, chiefly intended for the
children of the poor, who were gathered
in Sunday afternoons, taught the SIM
plest rudiments, and then dismissed
with an old hymn or two. Now they
have become more elaborate, and the
education in form has thoroughness.-
He did not object to the change. AS to
the proper conduct of them he thought
they were perfectly conducted when
they were, identified with and actually
a part of the church. A Methodist
church should have thoroughly Metho-
dist Sunday school, which should be
known as readily as the Methodist
Church.
He objected to making the Sunday
schools undenominational. The methods
of the Methodist church aresmatters not
only of convenience, but of conviction,
and he supposed members of other
churches regarded their own in the same
light. The young people of the Metho-
dist church are growing up in ignorance
of what Methodism is. Many of the
grown people know more of the consti-
tuition and legislation of secular bodies
that of their own church. AS for him
self, he absorbed Methodism in the Sun
day school, and he wanted others to do
the same. This early education saved
errors and follies later in life Metho-
dist economy has grown as a tree; it is
not a piece ofmechanism which artificial
workmen can Improve.
When the General Conference substi-
tuted the word ''person" for "childrenn
in the Sunday school resolutions it
changed the whole character of the
school it put in operation the true scrip
tural idea of the family it broke down
the barrier between the old people and
the young of the church. Wewant sys.
tematic instruction in the schools
Parents who send children to Sunday
school should 60 there too to see how
they get on and aid personally in ad-
vancing them it was a solemn duty
Converting scholars was not the only
object of Sunday schools. They should
keep them converted, watch over them.
keep them in the way to the last.
Rev. DR.. Samuel Rogers urged the
teaching in Sunday schools of all the
peculiarities of the Methodist church,
He believed the Methodist church was
a feeder of other churches, and thought
with Brother Lafferty that the hole
ought to be plugged on. He thought
more teaching and less singing would
probably be better.
Rev. G. T. p. Collins thought the
teachers IN the schools needed instruc.
ton regarding the doctrines before the
scholars.
Judge King, of baltimore, thought
books snd theories were good in their
place, but nothing but the Holy Spirit
could give an understanding of the doc
trines.
Hev. ]. l. Miller, President of the
Staunton Female Seminary, and Rev.
e. e. Biting, of Baltimore, were intro
duced to the Convention. The latter
gentleman said that while of 2 different
denomination he agreed fully with what
had been said of love of church, While
In different clans, with different cries of
the Slogans, we are yet all Scots at heart,
and lighting enc battle under one great
leader. When We part we part with
love, part to meet again at the feet of the
Master,
Ihe convention, at the close of DIR.
Fittings remarks, arose voluntarily.
and when the applause subsided sung a
verse OF the hymn, Together let us
sweetly live"
Icy. Dr. Rogers then made a short
andSeloquent frsternal speech. saving
that we We're all a part of the Kingdom
of Christ.
Rev. George T. Tyler, of Easton, Nd,
compared Sunday schools which thsived
on picnics, entertainments and excite.
ments generally tc those who. by arti-
iieial stimulants, brought on dyspepsia,
While those that fed on the doctrinal
teaching spoken of by Drs. Wilson and
Rogers grew strong and healthy.
Mr.. ]. H. Pope, of South baltimore
mission, urged the teaching of the doc
trines in the schools, and eloquently re-
lated occurrences within his obserya-
ton.
Mr.. j. Bosley Bond, of baltimore.
thought there was too much singing in
the schoals-too much for the grown
people, not too much for the children
He thought it would be advantages af.
ter the opening of the school to let the
grown people go off ia themselves. and
he thought the children might 90 on
with their singing. He thought church
soclables, popular in baltimore. were
injurious and against good taste. pood
sense and good religion.
Mr.. Charles 3. Bayly replied to Mr.,
Bond on soma p0intc u.1