Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-10-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Proceedings of tho state Convention.
WsdnesdGy afternoon. A musical service
conducted by Prof. W. G. Fisher, of Phil
gramme. Bringing in the sbeayes - and
I" How can I live without Jesus were
sang by the congregation after which Mr..
S. B. Herr, Of the Y. NJ. G. A. sang a
solo.
An address ON Zone hundred years of
Sunday school work" by E. Payson Por-
ter, esq.,, of Philadelphia, followed. 1t was
an able presentation Of the Sunday school
cause which he claimed was rs old as his
tory, and quoted many passages from the
Mosaic writings, from the prophets, the
Psalms, the gospels and the apocalypse to
sustain his position. He spoke flatteringly
Of the old school Mt Ephrata, this
county, established about 1740, as being
the pioneer Sunday school Of America
and Of modern times and then referred
to the ragged school," established in
Gloucester, England, by Robert Raikes
one hundred years ago. He admitted that
Kaikes was not by any means the first who
had established Sunday-schOOls, but he
was the first who had systcmatised and
regularly organized them, and was there
fore entitled to the same honor as is Morse
for the invention Of the electric telegraph
for though other telegraphs had been in
vented long before the time of Morse.
some of them being very ingenious. Morse
was the first to utilize the telegraph and
bring it into general use. Mr.. Porter pre-
sented a very interesting review Of the es-
tablishment and history Of Sunday y-schOOls
from the time of Raikcs to the present day,
showing that from his small begin
ninss in the "raggcd schools" wherein
were Il few paid teachers, there has grown
a great army Of volunteer teachers, and
Sunday school scholarship Of over Il, ,OOO,-
600, of which number more than Onc-half
is accredited to the United States. To
properly control these immense masses,
organization and systemizatiOn are neces-
sary. The field must be surveyed to as
certain what is necessary to be done, where
the work is most needed, and what are
the best methods Of doing it. knowledge
as to these facts may be best ascertained
by conventions like the ono now being held,
where an interchange of sentiment and
opinion may be had. AS important fac
tors in the good work he regarded the use
of the Bible in the Sunday schools rs OF
prime Importance. Readings from the
scriptures by the most accomplished elO-
cutionists should be given in the schools
and conventions, and responsive reading
Of scripture lessons was also recommended.
In the Sunday schools Of to-day We see not
only the little children, but adults, men
and women, and the religious wants of
these should be supplied. The orator
stated, as an encouraging fact, that within
the past eight years 12i 900 Sunday school
scholars had become members Of the
Christian church.
Hymn-"The old, old story"
Mr.. James Mccormick, OF Harrisburg,
was next introduced and delivered an ad-
dress on the question GLOW can We retain
the young men and women in the Sunday
school ~ He answered that You must let
them know that you wanted them there !;
must work to retain them, and by your
work make them desire to remain. Be
genial, winning, patient and persevering,
and they will not only be induced to stay
in the Sunday school, but will desire to
stay. If there he young men who do not
attend the school ask them to attend, not
once only but repeatedly, and get others to
ask them. Work for what you want and
urge others to help you. In this way the
speaker had gathered around him class
Of about 200 young people, who took a
great interest in the school. and who he
thought had been greatly benefited by it.
Mr.. Hare, of Philadelphia. being called
upon for his views stated that he had 4
large class of young men and women who
had been gathered into the school by much
the same means recommended by Mr.. Nc
Cormick. and he found no difficulty in re-
tanning them. Only let them know that
you want them and work to keep them,
make the school instructive and attractive
and there will he no difficulty. Where
there is will there is way. Ii the pupils
leave the school there must be some fault
with the teacher. Great lcarnin. is not
necessary to retain them impart to them
some of the practical truths Of the Bible,
that they may carry them out Of the
schools and take them with them to cheer
and encourage them in their daily labors
and struggles with the outside world.
Rev. X. Crittcnden suggested that in
some sparsely populated districts there
might not bc found teachers qualified to
take charge of such schools. ard give in
structiOn to young men and women, and
he wanted to know what was necessary in
such cases.
Mr.. Mccormick answered that there is
in all communities some one who loves
Christ and who knows that Christ loves
him, and who wants others also to love
and be beloved of Him. Such person,
even If not learned, can do much good, il
he properly supplies the gifts he has.
President Whitney said there were three
things wanted to mako such schools sue
cessfu!. The teacher should have learn
ing, piety and common sense.
The question was further discussed by
Rev. /. ii. Torrcncc, Mr. Woodstock and
others. after which Mr. Stark, Of Carlisle,
delivered brief address on blackboard
deliniation. showing how pupils might be
interested by u few very simple drawings.
His illustrations consisted Of drawing OF
Jacobs Ladder, and 4 skeleton lesson Ito
be filled up by the class) Of the hymn
''Ncarer my God to Thee" On the walls
of the chnrch were hung number Of finely
lessons. The convention, after singing the
dOxOlOgy, was dismissed with Il benedic-
tion by DR.. Terrence.
Wednesday Erening.-COnvention met ut
7O'clock. "Jesus, Lover Of my SOUL"
"The story of Jesus, "SOwing seeds Of
gladness were sung by the convention.
Rev. DR.. Shumaker read the 3!th psalm
and offered a prayer.
Rev. DIR. Dubbs, of Franklin and Mar
shall college, delivered an address on the
" Affairs Of childhood" He opened by
historical narrative of the altar of Carmel
descrated by Ahab and Jezebel, and af-
rcpaire6 and restored by the