The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-05-19
Sunday Schools.

Rev. II. T. Sloan, u. H., last week published
In the .lssocintr Rcformcd Presbyterian II very
interesting pastoral letter on the subject of
"Sunday schools, in which the a"thor oilers
some practical suggestions rs to The success
full conduct OF these schools. As every Chris
tian must feel more or less interest III tho
subject We copy u paragraph or two. Except
for its length, we >houldb be pleased To gircou
readers the bctctit Of the entire letter. Mr..
Sloan says:
pointStn the external routine deserve
attention. EcuilOIiy OF time and due orucr
OF arrangement, aiming to give AS much IN
SlrIctiUu as possible within the time alIottcu.
There must he devotional exercises, and all
required To attend and participates: but let
them DC hric;. pertinent, ami practical, allow
ing ample time Tor recitation. bible reading.
exposition, cnlrciii>inG, Psalm singing, &c.
Children love to sling, and should c,lriy learn
to praise God.
The subject matter Taught should nc Bible
trutn. historical. biographical, dOctrlnnl. ANA
practical, all Illustrated and enforced by hrs.
Iian life, maxim. 1t appear that CrlStlahlty
Gang ~co:I!urt and encourages the living, anu
support. and reward the dying. Such matter
Will counterfeit iniidcl poison and dcly the
sowing vi Satanic larcS us well rs furnish ar
NOR for the responsibilities ana cOllllCth vi
life.
It Is well, like Timothy. to "know tho
Scriptures from Il child, which are ahlc 70
make us wise unto shiratiUn.' Yet the IN
Struction may b" diversified, us lar aS coin-
paliblc with unity of design, that the young
may bc instructed! In the way OF snlEa!loh
and Savingly united to Christ. With inns
end in view, let all instruction be nricl, expos.
itory, tender. pungcil addressed 70 NV
hearts and cOnScicncrS ~ well rs 10 the un-
,irrStauding and memory. Eut no inctiou,
however fascinating. should be hlio"Gu 10 SC-
ucr>cGr c~atccliaticsl instruction. inns mas
- So, .,.l lt,,l glhI ~ IDllu
WANTING. Despite all modern Improvement
-c:lrdS. lesson papers. black boards, &c.,-li
will br f0undt that some OF the Ola Staila"la
catcclllSmS are better for primary classes. ~
doctrine cnuhciated or duty cm!oiicu' p"cH
cd by a "rnuS Slycth the Lord, some, peru
ncnt text of scripture, ought to be co:lS I'M
pressed upon the mind as li~cortrOFcrtlDle
i%ruth-thc final appeal in all eases OF contro'
ycrsy. Thus the young rGce ~ rc .ne er"e" the
scriptures us the only rule OF mlth anu pfac-
But notwithstanding tho numerous and Il
had almost said unSpcaknblG advantages D!
S;bbath SchoDIs .ln connection with INC
church, 1t IS uundd difficult In practice 10 keep
up lively interest in them. llchcc, tic nc.
ccSSi.y of trying to discover some mcllou, ny
which to keep up AN unt;Iilihg, EroWihS III,
tercst, and inQulrlnS Wh2t arc lhc oei9S'' VI
There should be q sense on the part Of a
,cachcr OF individual responsibility us a Co
worker with Christ. and q desire to do gonH.
II longing for souls, hat they may be brought
to Christ, and God in all things be g!orliied
thereby. This kind of spirit will make teach.
crS pumctual. p~ains,uking, and prayertnl-no:
satisfied iAercly To interest ana Instruct, OUT
Striving fM the conversion and Sunctilicati"n
Of every member Of the class. IL IS also II
mistaken notion, that on any evidence Oh ac'
Ginning interest or the approach OF an uhpro,,
pit;uuS season. it would be better 10 suspend
i;,r q while and then take IL new start. This
furnishes the very prctcXt which some desire,
TO Quit tho school, perhaps never TO return,
and ncccSsitatcS IL reorganization. ana niucil
effort TO &c, them buck TO the point. at winch
things left or. Ii the winter be cold ana the
house uncomfortable, let it ue made as COM
Portable as our dwellings. Better continue
the school in the face OF diincultieS nhu us
,nI,r,mr,nruts. even with diminished mem.
beers . better improvise ~eNpedient. change
text books, offer prizes, get mp Il celebration
or do anything to excite renewed interest
than suffer the whitening influence Oh suSpcn'
.i,n