The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-10-20

w d. Williams, Sterlingi G. Humble,
Wichita; II. L. Gates, Great Bend r. B.
Foster, Osborne; r. z. Sherman, Stock
ton.
Lawrence was selected as the place for
the next convention. An effort to change
the time of holding the next meeting
was the occasion of several motions,
much debating and voting, but it all re
suited in leaving the time as it is, octo-
Der /.
DR.. Coriley opened the discussion on
the topic: obstacles TO greater success
In Sunday school work and how to re-
move them" which were outlined as
follows:
1. The light estimate placed upon the
work by professed Christians. They
speak well of it, they admire it. but
they do not sustain it heartily, nor send
their children regularly to it.
2 The scarcity Of good, faithful teach
ers. There are some faithful ones, but
there are too many who are not faithful.
Spasmodic teachers always spoil their
classes.
How to meet the difficulties. is
question:
/. We must have better schools. We
must awaken enthusiasm. Sunday
schools must do good work to be appre-
eiated.
q We must give more time to the
work. We must give time to make
some progress. Our pupils must feel
that they are going forward. Here We
may learn something from our graded
schools. Let US grade our Sunday
schools. Let boys go into the bible
class, so they can feel that they are do
ing something besides going TO Sunday
school. Can We not do something in
the way of grading our schools: Our
national committee must do something
more than to grind the old meal over
and over. The speech was pitby one.
Dr. Jones spoke on THE Defects in
Kansas Sabbath schools" Defects are
not the proper things to have 10 Sunday
schools. But presume we have them.
l. AS workers too many of US fail to
appreciate the object of the work.
2. This leads 10 a loose method OF
teaching. We fail TO teach like we ap-
preciate the great truths we pretend to
teach. In this way we fail toimpress the
pupils with the truths of the gospel. A
preacher once said that the father of the
prodigal son had kept the fatted calf a
dozen years on purpose for the return of
his Maynard son. See the carelessness
! here.
3. There is too much formality in lit
tie things.
4. There is not enough preparation to
teach. We go to the class empty of the
real lesson.
5. We never change. We go over the
lessons in the old way, over and over, as
DIR. Cordley suggested The boy can go
to sleep or play and know the lesson we
teach. He is never startled with new
thought. The remedies for these defects
are: First, absolute conservation to the
work; second, then let the Holy Ghost
come upon you and your preparation
and teaching of the lesson. The Re
vealer takes the deep things of God and
shows them unto US; third, we need an
clement of worship in all our school ex
ercises.
T. B. Sweet then read a telegram from
Withita saying there had been seven
convictions for violating the liquor law,
with more to follow. The long meter
doxology was sung Justify, and an an
swer dispatched H. G. Jackson, d. ID !,
of Kansas City, was introduced and
spoke words of encouragement. Hecon-
graduated US for the temperance as well
as for the Sunday school work. The i'm
portant thing in the Sabbath school is
the teaching. We are here to learn best
how to teach Gods word. The speaker
thought if proper care was given to the
Church Encampment" organized in
this state better results could be secured.
The teacher must know more than he
proposes to teach. There must be meth
cd in the matter taught. AS the Spanish
proverb has it "take the skillet by the
handle" We must have good methods
of teaching or fail.
w. H. Reed, of Kansas City, was call
ed out, and under the influence of a chill
said one of the difficulties in Missouri
waslaziness. Think of lazy Christian;
but we have them. Another defect is
the contemplate stinginess. He knew
Methodist "cavorter'' who is
worth thousands of dollars, who
wears blue jean pants, and pays less
than ten dollars year to the support of
the whole church work. Another class
is too ignorant to know where to find
the Second Gospel of Luke. Another,
and the meanest class of all, are the
grumblers. Grumbling Christians and
preachers if they get to heaven at all
will get there by the exemption act.
But we are going to put these all out,
we will. We can do all things through
Him that strengthened US. Reed Ill
ways brings the house down.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Devotional exercises were conducted
by Rev. Bosworth, of Atkinson.
In the absence of DIR. Lackey the first
topic for discussion was laid over, and
the second topic, Sunday School Libra
ries and Papers" was taken up and dis
cussed by DIR. Jackson, of Kansas City.
The speaker was inclined to believe that
books were not so good for city schools
as good Sunday school papers. The
story books in the libraries are not very
instructive, but some of them are very
sensational. But we nut in some way
counteract the influence of the nickle
novels of the day. But the parents ought
to know what books their children are
reading. Read the book yourself and
know whether your boy is reading a
good book or not. Country schools no
doubt had better haye library books.
But after all the children must have
their papers. They can take papers
home and keep them.
The rain prevented a general rally of
the boys and girls, so it was concluded,
in "Illinois STYLE" to have an half hour
devoted to the children. The boys and
girls came to the front while the old
people went TO the rear. Mr.. Reed, of
Kansas City, was requested to conduct
the singing. Hold the Fort was sung
and Rev. Miner led in a short prayer.
1--WE Praise Thee, o God" was sung, and
then Rev. Williams, of Sterling, made
the first speech. He caused the little
ones to tell what it was to be good and
get good. The first thing in life is to be
good; then TO do good.
VIM. Reynolds, of Peoria. Illinois,
made the second speech. A boy said |
Mr.. r. came five hundred miles to speak |
to the children. He said yes, and made !