Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-08-04
Our Epn mi tsburg Letter.

liable young horse belonging 10 NAL A"
~ Sing near this place wasinstansly killed
BY lightning. His son who WAS blowing
at the time was rendered insensible by the
shock and the other horse was considera'
bly, stunned.
Our section was visited by another heavy
rain on Tuesday evening, accompanied ny
wind and hail, but done but little damage.
The oats crop has been harvested and Is
very fine one and the corn is very prom.
is,ng. The Rev. Mr.. Gring, newly elected
pastor of the Reformed church arrived
with his family on Tuesday and took pos
session of the parsonage which has been
recently fitted up for his reception.
ST.. BARRIE.
A Union SUNDAY SCHOOL MEETINa.-
The Maryland Sunday School Union held
a union meeting in this town on Monday
evening, in the U. B. Church. Notwith-
standing the inclcmency of the weather
the house was we'll filed. The exercises
were va red and impressive, and the effect
will be long felt IN this community. Ad
dresses were made by the leader, r. L..
Morling, ESQ, of Baltimore, State Super
intendent Vim. A. Baker, and Kevs W.
C. Wire, II. Wisler aud Geo. II. Mock
Music was furnished by a quartette from
Baltimore city. led by Prof. ]. A. Swing
lev, Mrs. Fannie J. Aspel, Miss Lille q
Welsh and Miss Laura NJ. Sheer. The
singing was superb and highly artistic The
readings by Miss Walsh were delightfully."-
and Increasingly rendered. The audience
was chara ed. We give below the address
of Mr. Baker.
NV Dear Christian Friends and Sunday
School Workers We are in your midst
this evening through the kind and cordial
invitation Of christian friends aud CO.
workers in the great cause we represent,
and we have gladly accepted the invitation
that we might have the opportunity OF
commingling our thoughts, prayers ana
songs of praise to our kind Heavenly Fa
Their. 1t is very gratifying to us, in look
ing over the history Of the great Sunday
School work, to know that 1t has attained
to such a measure of influence, and to APP
rreciate the fact that sectarinn prejidlces
are fast melting away, and christians are
uniting in this grand work Of saving the
children. Not much of this spirit is now
to be found, but all are seeiug eye to eye
and shoulder to shoulder.
The true ideal Of Sunday school effort
is beginning 10 be comprehended. Sunday
school teachers understand the holy nature
and responsibility of their calling as never
before, and churches are engaging IN lhls
department of their work the purest anu
best material. 80.
The statistics for the past few years will
show unparalleled spiritual results, mani,
tested in the large accessions to churches
from their schools. Nav we not argue
from this that the first great end in Sunday
school teaching, namely, the conversion
of scholars, is becoming more fully recog-
nized.
The Maryland Sunday School Union, in
whose employ have been laoorins for
fifteen years, has for its great ann the uni
fication of all Sunday school workers
throughout the State, as well rs organizing
and building up poor and weak schools
and we are happy to say that improved
methods of instruction and all that relates
to the best interests Of the Sunday school
are now mere than ever occupying the at
tention of the best minds In the church.
The desire of the Union is TO bring young
hearts, everywhere throughout our com.
monwealtb, under the power of Gods
truth by carrying the Sunday scheol and
the church into every destitute community.
Although large number of schools
were organized during the past year, yet 1t
was the principal design Of the Union,
through its missionaries, 10 build up those
already organized and in operation. Owing
to the want of intelligence and tact very
often the school officers fall into one rou
tine of conducting them, aud soon the in.
terest dies and the school IS much lmpeded
in It's progress Here comes in the great
work of the missionary, showing how TO
teach and keep up the interest, 1t is vain
TO expect a school to rise above the level
Of those who manage it. If the superln-
tendent is slipshod in his arrangements,
not punctual in his attendance, or per
ft,nctory in his official duties. II he lacks
enthusiasm, GOODNESS and encouragement
will pervade the whole school SO after
the schools are organized, they mus! be
kept iu good working order to make them
a success. The missionary can then give
instruction how to do the work, wake up
enthusiasm, and then with the lnterna
tional Lesson papers explain to them the
proper way to teach class, and how to
properly superintend school.
Through the agency OF the Board of
Managers three white and two colored
missionaries, besides the State Superin,
tcndent, were in the field last year, and
the following is summary of their work
No. Sunday Schools organized. .... Az
No Sunday Schools reorganized,.".. .
No children gathered n............ 1850
No. of officers and teachers. ...".... 3''6
Total membership ::....... 1880
No. Cards given to children 10 enter
Schools. .........':.I 'oou
No. Families visited, .............7,7s4
No. County Sunday School Conven. -,
tons held. .................. IL
Union meetings held, .................54
Sermons and addresses delivered by
Missionaries, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. o34
Miles travelled by Missionaries, mostly
on foot, .................. .o,uaU
Thousands of tracts, religious Journals
and periodicals were distributed us they
went from school to school.
Now, then, let the skeptic ask what the
Sunday School has done? Our answer
will be, that it has furnished more minis
tore moro rhristian laWVerS more chris.