Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-07-12
SUNDAY SCHOOL CON-
VENTION.


Association convened in the Methodist
church at Westfeld, June 30th. The
Convention was opened by Bro. Jenne,
who led the devotional exercise, after
which the convention adjourned till
after dinner. The afternoon session
opened with praise meeting led by Bro.
G.. W. Stowell /; prayer by Bro. G. H.
Parker; address of welcome by Bro.
Chase. He showed the Importance of
time, and how much depended upon our
rightly improving it. He gave a cor
dial welcome to all schools represented,
hoping that the convention would be
the best one ever held in this county.
The different topics assigned for the
afternoon were discussed.
"Helps to Bible study" opened by Bro.
G.. S. Butler, who said that we had va
rious helps in the class of literature de-
signed for that purpose, and did not
think the time had come when they
should be laid aside. For good reasons
the names Of the publications should not
be mentioned, as they were denomina-
tional and might create hard feelings,
yet each denomination had them, so
that all classes could be suited. There
might be trouble in selecting, as some
in the same school, might want one
thing and others an other, but he
thought that a uniform class of publ
cations designed as helps to Bible study
should be used in the same school.
Cheap literature should be avoided. The
needs of the sabbath schools demanded
the best. These helps should be taken
in to the schools to aid the teachers in
asking the questions, but the teachers
should not be entirely confined to them.
| He thought that teachers sometimes took
too much liberty without these helps.
Helps should be consulted outside the
school, so as to get good idea of the
lesson.
The opposite side being called upon,
Bro. Austin thought the opposition was
not there. Bro. Bates thought that
there was too much dependence put upon
these helps and not enough upon our
selves to find out the meaning of the
word of God.
End, "Dicfiulties in the Scriptures. /"
Bro. Clapp to whom this was assign
ed being absent, Bro. Austin took it up.
He thought the difficulties were in our
selves, such as lack of knowledge &c.
Seeming contradictions in the scriptures
which. if they did exist, would ruin
their value, would upon close inspec-
tiOn disappear. These contradictions
are in US, and not in the scriptures.
The word of God is its own best comen-
tator, and by turning from one writer to
another we should find them all in har-
mony. In order for any one to do this
quickly concordance is needful. That
there is no contradiction between Paul
and James, as one treats upon one sub
ject, and the other upon an other, and
although one treats of faith and the
other of works, yet there is no contra
diction in their writings. To get over
these seeming contradictions, comenta-
tors should be consulted, and pastors
should be consulted by the teachers, as
they are supposed to be better posted in
the matter. The Holy Spirit is one Of
the best teachers of the scriptures, His
help should be invoked at all times by
every believer; the Holy Spirit gives
light to the mind, and is the guide
promised in the Bible to bring to oul
remembrance the scriptures; if we rely
upon the Holy Spirit, He will bring the
word to our remem brance just when
needed. Study the word, and then ask
God to tell us just what it means. He
then spoke of the mysteries of the scrip
lures, that there are some things we car
never understand, and we should bt
; frank to acknowledge it. rather than try
to explain what we do not know. W.
get light as we advance in the knowl
edge of God, and understand some
things now that were once dark to US
Teachers meetings should be patronized
as by comforting with one another {
good deal of light can be obtained. Bro
All B. Blake thought there might b,
difficulties in the scriptures as there ar,
difficulties in everything. The Bible
was written in different language anc
at an early period, and this might &C
| count for some of the difficulties, bu
there is enough in the Bible that il
plain to save our souls. Bro. Stowel
said that secret things belong to God
but the word is revealed to us and t,
our children. When we come to any
thing we cannot digest we should lay i
one side, as we would bone. only tax
ing such things as we can digest read
lily.
3rd. "What do our Sunday School
, most need p Bro. Fletcher being absent
, Bro. Boardman responded and asked
the pertinent question: What does
fisherman most need =? Water, line.
hook and bait. We most need the pres