The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-06-26
SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1880.
The Sunday School Convention.

The Sunday School Convention.
The fourth annual county Sunday
School convention for Garrett county
under the auspices of the Maryland
Sunday School Union, was held at
Grantsville Friday, Saturday and
Sunday last. The people of Garrett
county have become SO deeply in
terested in this work that they
look forward from the time one CON
vention closes until the next one
commences, with fond anticipations
of pleasure. -Four years ago, when
the first convention of this character
was held in this county, it was com
posed of few earnest men who were
anxious to promote the interests of
the Sunday School work. but who
really knew little of the difficulties
of country Sunday Schools, and still
less OF the means by which those diff
ficulties were to be overcome. But
through discussions of the various
questions that arese end free inter-
change of opinions as to the best
mode of overcoming the difficulties
which presented themselves, the
work has steadily progressed, schools
have been organized in almost every
neighborhood in the county, large
numbers of officers and teachers are
actively engaged, and hundreds of
children have been brought under re-
ligious influences and moral training.
To-day thhe Sunday school work is
conceded to be one of paramount
importance, and we are glad to be
able to say that the people of Garrett
county are fully alive to this fact.
There was time, and that time was
net"in the long ago." when it was
deemed difficult undertaking to get
up a Sunday school convention in
this county, but that time has passed.
There was time, too, when it was
difficult to procure homes for dele
gates, but that time too, has passed,
and now wherever convention is
held. our people are ready to open
their homes to all who are connected
with this great work. II we say the
convention which has just closed at
Grantsvilie was grand success, we
feel that We express the truth very
feebly indeed. 1t was, to all outward
appearances at least, an overwhelm-
ing success, from every standpoint
from which it can be viewed. The
good people of Grantsville opened
their hearts and their homes to dele
gates and visitors, and entertained
them fright royalty" and the effort
seemed to be on the part of each to
make all within his influence COM
Portable and contented. At every
session of the convention, the church
in which it was held was crowded to
its utmost capacity. and the interest
never tagged from the time the first
session commenced until the close on
Sunday night. We are confident we
express the feeling of every one
present at the closing of the conven-
ton when we say we were sad at
parting with the friends with
whom we had been SO pleasant
ly associated for a few DAYS.
But notwithstanding our sadness
we could not control the inevitable
and the convention closed, and all
that is left of the convention of 1880
is the good or evil which we have
done. Let US hope that when the
account is made up and the balance
sheet of cur lives is presented for
inspection, the fact will appear that a
great amount of good was accomp.
lished at the Grantsyille convention.
These conventions have become a
power for good in our county. The
various protestant denominations
meet and fraternize with one common
object in view. No sectarian
lines disturb the harmony of these
proceedings, and we are constrained
to say, "behold how good and how
pleasant it is l9r brethren to dwell
together ia unity" Then, too, our