The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-06-26


church. in Stoystown, June IL, IL, and Is
The first Convention held by this asso
citation, last year at Berlin. was such q de
cided success that many of those presen
expressed the fear that the large attend
ance of delegates, the lively interest nan
ifested, and the general enthusiasm crea
ted was due mainly to the novelty of the
enterprise, and that the interest nigh
probably perish with the first meeting
But when, under an u~nfavorable sky, the
wagon loads of delegates began TO pour in
to Stoystown Tuesday aiteI noon, and the
Committee of Entertainment, with faces
radiant with expectation, were ready tC
assign all TO comfortable quarters. we be
gan to think that the success of this Asso.
citation, and the permanency OF his or
ganization depended not on its novelty,
nor upon its place of meeting. but upon
the genuine interest of the Sundsy-schoo
workers of the county.
The fact is, that the meeting last year
simply prepared our schools for effective
work during the year, and thus 10 come
with more favorable reports to this second
Convention; to come better prepared 10
ask questions, and more eager TO put into
practice the many suggestions offered at
such q meeting of Sunday school workers.
The first session was held Tuesday
evening, June IL. As we passed through
the beautiful arch of evergreens over the
gateway, before entering the church, we
were somewhat prepared for the surprise
OF the decoration within.
Busy hands had been there twining the
evergreens into garlands, and setting them
with resets of beautiful flowers. Spruce
from the mountain side, fern from the
rocks, and flowers from the gardens spake
TO us in exquisite taste the word "Wel-
come" And, lest any might fail to in
terpret these silent tokens of respect, there
was placed above the altar a beautiful
banner with the inscription Welcome"
The house was well-flled with eager
listeners, and the fist session consisted of
an address on Past and Present Sunday
schools" by Rev. J. W. P~oflinberger,
an address of welcome by Rev. Welch,
and a reply by the President, Rev. l.. l..
Sieber.
We were considerably amused as the
first speaker opened TO us the door of the
Sunday school of our ancestors, and
showed US, in almost living picture, the
uninviting place and the still more unin-
viting teachers and teaching; and as he
contrasted those good old times with the
modern Sunday-schoOl, we were convinced
that the world moves in this direction as
in all others.
The address OF welcome and the reply
were well calculated to enlist the co-opera-
ton of all in attendance at this Conven-
ton, and to inspire each one with a zeal
for the work before us on the following
day.
On Wednesday morning the Conven-
ton was fully organized with new officers
for the ensuing year, and delegates and
reports from the different schools repre-
scnted, were received.
Sex ministers of the ten in our Confer
ence were present, and the number OF lay
delegates numbered one hundred and
thirty-three. 1t is matter of regret that
a few OF our ministers, either from pres
sure Of duties or from want of interest,
were not present at this Convention.
Brethren We need your encouragement
and you need ours.
a summary statement of q few inter
esting facts may not be amiss in this no.
tice. In the 10 schools presenting reports
there were reported 242 teachers, 1921
SShOAdio, ~of augsburg OCdNuCics anu Soh
tributions during the year to the amount
of $500 60. We consider this quite a
ilattering average for the Lutheran Sun
day-schools among the mountains. An
average OF 100 pupils to every school, an
Augsburg teacher in the hand of every
teacher except five, IN average contribu-
ton of 40 cents per year, nearly a penny
for every Sunday. Take down the min
utes of your Synod, and see how much
less will be the average of your adult
membership toward Benevolence.
Figures look very nice sometimes in the
aggregate, but not so interesting when
put to their proper places. These reports
show that some schools with not more
than ten or twelve teachers have succeed
ed in placing the Augsburg teacher in
nearly every family in the school, and
thus running the number up TO as high
as fifty copies, while other schools get but
one or two in the whole school, perhaps
the minister and the Superintendent.
The same facts are true of the contribu-
tions. Some schools nave adopted regu-
lar systems and are surprising themselves
at the amount they can raise in three
months, while others with no system have
hard work to raise the amount needed for
their lesson leaves.
Let us not only have zeal, but let this
zeal be properly directed and systematized
aud we will find that the figures in the
next years report will be greatly increased
and our work will be every way more eff
cient.
If We want our churches TO be trained
in the grace OF giving we must begin in the
Sunday-school.
The following topics were discussed dur
ing the sessions of Convention
Hast the present system of Information
al Lessons been a success FL. l.. Sieber.
2 "What are the best methods of gath
ering persons into the Sunday-schools -
Rev. WIN. NJ. Spangler.
3 what are the best methods of teach
ing the doctrines of the Bible as held by
our church REV. A. NJ. MILESTONE.
4 How can we make the Sunday-school
more devotional?"
) What relation should the pastor sus-
tain to the Sunday school of his charge 2"
Rev. Miller.
G SHOULD Total Abstinence be taught
in the Sunday school ?"-S. Philson.
Besides these a great many referred
questions which came through the aues-
ton box were discussed.
The variety OF topics and the freedom of
discussion gave opportunity to touch on
nearly all the practical workings of the
Sabbath-school. There was undoubtedly
a mutual encouragement and edification la
the discussions of this Convention, and
there was but one expression of regret and
that was that the meetings did not continue
a week instead of three days.
The Convention closed on Thursday
with a Children's Meeting, in which we
tried TO impress the little ones with the
fact that we were interested in them and
that through the Sunday-school we ex-
pected to win them Tor Christ and his
cause.
Ii is due 20 the good people of Stoys-
town, to say that IT is a rare thing to see
meetings so well attended both day and
evening, as we saw them attended during
this convention.
We enjoyed a good time together and
only hope the words fifty spoken may lin
ger in our memories until they find ex-
preston in vi labors in the respective
schools which we represent, that the
Sunday-schools OF our county may be
stimulated TO new exertions and the cause
of Christ be promoted. We were glad
to have Prof. Harrison of Gettysburg in
our midst who has labored successfully in |
this county in the interests of the College.
lie rendered valuable assistance in our
discussions.
The officers for the coming year are,
President, o. p. Knepper: Vice. President,
o. p. Shaver; Secretary. Jacob j. Zorn;
Treasurer, Samuel Philson; Executive
l.. L. Sieber, A. NJ. Whet-
stone. j. w. Pofinberger, VIM. II. Rup-
pei, Samuel Philson.
The Convention adjourned TO meet at
the time and place designated by the Ex-