National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-23
2 SUNDAY MASS-MEETiNG
Ia iIie Interest Of Sunday SchOOIs-MeIn-
OrizInG Scriptures.

OTiZInS Scriptures.
Tn.. sunday School Union have begun
: series Of sunday school mass-meetings, to be
held at convenient times for the purpose of main
tanning an interest in the general work. The
ian rried last year of holding mass meetings, to
which nj the schools OF the District We're invited
IA, found to be unsatisfactory as there was no
place Of sufficient size to accommodate such
large number. This year the better plan has
I.cn adopted of inviting the scholars of two or
three schools to attend such amccting and yester-
G.v afternoon this plan was successfully inaugu-
El-yJ IT the New York Avenue Church. There
We quite large representations from the Sun
day schools connected with the Calvary Baptist
Ncw York Avenue, and Congregational Churches
present. besides others interested in the Sunday
school work. The singing was led by Mr. F. b.
Smith. and consisted of the hymns used i'll the
Sunday schools. An organ and piano served as
81 compartment. The president of the union,
NJ. COJh, introduced
REV. : H. GREENE,
w'.o spoke of what Sabbath school children can
10 il a very interesting way. He said that a very
Important work that the children could do was to
bring in others to the school They were more
successful in this than their teachers They were
a.-O elective as preachers Of the Gospel, carrying
away with them the text of Scripture and hymns
tie word in season TO many thoughless and sin
III. heart Judge W. l. Peabody, of Omaha, in
Speaking Of what children cannot do, said that
they Cpvlj not do the work of the teacher The
teacher has 4 responsibility in securing the sal
va-iau If the scholars, and should make this duty
the one Of paramount importance The next
speaker was
EX-JUSTICE STRONG,
VINO spoke 9th Importance OF committing Scrip
tl,re texts to memory in a very interesting and
,rotable manner. He said that he had been con-
rec.cd with Sunday schools for sixty years of his
lie a. a scholar, teacher. and a Superintendent
lie Was always interested in everything that per-
taiita 10 this work if he had not been he would
2ni nave persisted in the work for so many wears
n The early days Of the Sunday school the children
Committed verses of Scripture to memory and
the. .veited them to their teacher. This was the
Nar6 OF the Sunday school at that time and it was
Carried 70 such extent that large portion of
The scriptures was committed TO memory. He
s,.aW Of several who, i'll this way, became able to
repeat the whole of the New Testament from
mglnor. with the exception of the two chapters of
g-1cal2gics lie was one of those and he was
happy 10 say he could do it to-day. The effect of
Ini> mas been that he always
CARRIED THE BIBLE
with him wherever he went on the streets, in the
'.'':,-1oom. and travelling. Tins memorizing can
b'olle e2serin early years than later on inlife He
thought that it would be hard for him to commit
Nom'lch 10 memory. This practice Of committing
Nclgtnre verses TO memory, he thought, was an
exceedingly valuable o e, Perhaps not TO the ex-
lrni il was done in earlier times, when there was
nothing else TO 6e learned. He did not mean to
Undervaluc the agencies now employed in Sunday
Sth.ol "orl-the question books and international
lessons &c.-5ut there was nothing that could take
"te place Of the Scripture texts Upon the conclu-
s. u OF Justice Strong's address the meeting was
dismissed