Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-10-25


by friends of the college. The debt has
been reduced almost q thousand dollars
during the present year through various
ways, and, that there is al present an in
come through rents and interest on bonds
of three hundred dollars, The board also
reported that the school has again been
opened by Rev. Geo. Aughinbaugh, D.
D., as IN academy for young ladies and
young gentlemen. There are eighteen or
twenty students in attendance with the
prospect of further additions in the future
DR.. A. is assisted in his work by two eff
ficient lady teachers.
: The discussion Of the subject matter Of
this report was made the order Of the day
for tomorrow morning at 10 O'Clock.
The Sunday school question was then,
according to former appointment, taken
up. The first speaker was Rev. John
Titzel, who made strong appeal in favor
of series Of lessons based on the order
of the church years, as against the present
arrangement Or the adoption of the inter
national series. He showed that the aim
of the Sunday school lesson should not be
to teach geography, history or archaeology,
but spiritual truths, and therefore the
great fundamental truths Of Christianity
He also criticized the notes printed in the
Guardian as explanations OF the weekly
lessons, the same being marked by errors,
both in philOlOgy and in theology.
Rev. Moses Kieffer followed liz 4 plea
for our own church symbols. our history
and UNCONVENTIONAL life, which does not
necessarially bring us inte anIagOnism
with other denominations or in opposition
to the international series. Rev. VIM.
Rupp, after giving an account of the man.
agement of the Sunday-school board and
the many difficulties i'll the way Of the
committee preparing the lesson papers as
now in use, offered the following resolution:
Resolved that the order of the church
year should be followed in our Sunday
school lessons.
Rev. G. Clever then took the floor and
spoke strongly in favor of adopting the
International series of lessons in full. He
made it of primary Importance that this BE-
done, for, according to his thinking, we
will be forced into line with other Pro-
tcstant denominations sooner or later.
Rev. Spangier kieifer then closed the
debate of the afternoon. Though in favor
of series of lessons based ON the order Of
the church year, yet he did not consider
the adoption of any particular order as 6:
matter of life or death. Too much stress
is laid on the machinery and apparatus of
teaching. What is more important is the
Christian character of those teaching.
Friday Etening.-A Sunday school meet
ing was held at Trinity Reformed church
at which there was present 4 large audi
ence. The first speaker of the evening
Rev. John Titzel, of Altoona, spoke in
substance as follows: The necessary
qualifications for Sunday school teacher
are that he be 4 living member Of the
Church of Christ that he he properly ac-
quainted with the truths to be impaired,
aud that he have an aptness for teaching
this qualification being gift rather than
an requirement. Tho best preparation
consists in studying the lesson, using all
helps to knowledge, and above all. in
prayer. As to the best methods OF teach
ing, each man must, to some extent. con-
suit his own peculiar qualifications. We
had better not depart from the spirit Of the
Heidelberg catechism in this respect. 1t
forbids the use of all such things as pic
lures, or any representation Of spiritual
ideas in material forms. This tends to
lead TO ratiOnalism, if not consciously, un
consciously. The ordained way Of God is to
proclaim and teach his word by the voice
OF living men.
Rev. Carnal,an, after dwelling on the
great Importance Of teaching the young,
urged the necessity of a preparation not
only of tie mind, but, which is Of greater
Importance, of the heart also.
This speaker was followed by the lsevs.
A. II. Kremer, d.. d., Mickey, Clever
and Geo. Adams.
Saturday Morniny-Aiter the opening
services the synod resumed the topic on
the Sunday school question, which engaged
the attention of synod at tho hour of ad
journment yesterday. By an action of
the synod yesterday, the consideration of
tho report Of the regents of Mercersburg
college was made order of the day for ten
o'clock this morning that hour having
arrived the synod resolved itself in 4 COM
mittee of the whole with Rev. J. NJ. Titzel
in the chair. The report was read and
discussed at length, when at the close of
the hours of the morning session the COM
mittee rose and reported progress to the
synod.
Saturday AflernOon.--Aftcr the conclu-
sion of the service preparatory to the holy
communion, the sermon being preached by
&. F. Hoffmeier, synod resumed its busi-
ness session. By previous arrangement,
the Rev. DR.. Geo. W.. Glessner, u former
pastor of Trinity congregation of this
place, was invited to deliver an address on
his pastoral work in this charge, so years
ago. He was listened to with pleasure rs
he related the trials and labOrs of his early
life in this field.
At the close Of this address the synod
again went into committee of the whole
for further discussing the report Of the
regents of Mercersburg college. After
some remarks by different members Of sy-
nod, Rev. VIM. Goodman offered the fol-
lowing resolutions, which elected some
deb tie and were finally adopted
''Resolced, That if possible the property
of Mercersburg shall be saved to the
Reformed church for educational purposes.
'Resolued, That the board Of regents be
recommended to make the best possible
terms with creditors of Mercersberg COL
lege, and refund the debt at rate not
exceeding five per cent.
':Resolced, That this synod guarantee the
annual payment of three hundred dollars
$4,000 for the term Of five years to help
meet the interest of the funded debt.
g. Resolued. That synod is gratified to
learn that Mercersburg college has again
been onened under the efficient and ell
couraging management of Rev. Geo. w.
Aughinbaugh, D. d., and synod heartily
cOmmends the institution to the confidence
and patronage of our people,"
Tho Synod OF Pennsylvania.
At the fourth and closing session Of the
Presbyterian synod of Philadelphia, vote
was taken upon the question of the disso-
luton of the synOds and was carried. On
Jan. !, next their union into one body will
kn1r 4ffn nk 7, Al