Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-26
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CONvEN-
TION.
Second Days Session - Interesting
Debates-The Southern Chautau'
qua The sunday school Mass
Meeting.

Second Days Session Interesting
Debates-The Southern Chautau.
qua The sunday school Mass
Meeting.
The convention met pursuant to adjourn
ment at O'Clock 8. m. yesterday, the
Introductory services Of prayer and praise
being conducted by the Rev. W. 81.
La Prade, Of Augusta. with Mr..
Kruger at the organ. After singing the
beautiful hymn, "Reioice and be glad"
fervent PRAYER for wisdom to direct the
work Of the convention was offered up by
Mr.. Is Prade, which was followed by the
HYMN, 81 need Thee every hour" prayer by
Rev. J. W. Waddell, and the song, "Oh,
where are the reaperss" another prayer by
Rev. J. ". Wsddell, closing with the hymn,
precious Promises" These services Of
praise have been a very profitable and en-
j-yable part of the services of the session,
and have been participated in by many
visitors to the convention.
At $50 the convention was called to order
by the President, who announced that the
first business in order was the hearing of the
report OF the special committee on the sub
ject Of the Southern Chautauqua, referred
to them at the last annual session. Through
the Secretary of the committee, Mr.. s.
Root, the following report was read:
REPORT.
The committee appointed at the last meet
ing Of the Georgia Sunday School Association
to consider the practicability Of establishing in
the South common centre for the meeting Of
Sunday school. educational and other assOcia-
tiOns for the good of our people, take leave to
make the following report:
The constantly increasing habit Of the
American people to go in the country during
the summer months, and the general dissipa
ton at most Of our fashionable watering
| places, has led to the establishment OF many
| places Of resort where people can enjoy pure
air, fine scenery, agreeable, social intercourse,
| and high moral and educational advantages.
| Several OF these are familiar to us, but Chau-
| tauQua Is the best known and most useful be-
| cause of its location, its broad and liberal
/ plan. and the spirited way in which it is con-
| Quoted. The fame OF this place has extended
throughout the Protestant world. and its
visitors are not only from all parts of the West
ern States. but from Europe as well. Many Of
| our Southern people are in the yearly
habit of visiting this celebrated resort. but the
| distance is great and the expense considerable,
so that it is thought proper to consider the ex-
pediency Of attempting a similar enterprise
nearer home.
Mr.. W G. WILDLY, of DeKalb county. has
| suggested the matter at former meetings of
| our association, and at the meeting in Griffin
| last August the committee which makes this
report was appointed.
| considerable correspondence and wide in
| terest has resulted. the public prints and many
| distinguished people throughout the country
| having manifested warm approval of the con-
| templated enterprise 1t was considered in
| dispensable that legal corporation should be
| formed, and a charter has been drawn for that
| purpose. subject to the approval OF this body,
| II the matter is decided upon. probably an ex-
ecutive will be appointed by this body to ar
/ range the details.
The present committee consider the enter
/ prise feasible, and trust it may be speedily
carried forward.
| In conHectiOn with the above report, the
| following letter was read:
HoUsToNIA, DEKALB COUNTY. GA,
May %, 1882.
| Thomas Moore Esq, Bolton
| DEAR BRoTHER-YOu ask me to give you my
views as to the location of Sunday school as
/ semby, modelled as far as practicable after
| Chautauqua, and hasten to reply. The need
of such an institution in our midst was painfully
/ apparent at the session of the International
| Sunday School Convention in Atlanta in April
! 1873. a serious drawback in the way of such
| an organization was that in large number Of
/ the Southern States there were no State organ-
/ z3tions TO give proper force to a movement of
| this kind. The impetus given the Sunday school
/ cause by the International Sunday School Con-
vention has removed in part that objection
! and it is a source of qualification to know that
] AlAOsb VI AllC oOAIACAh GtaSCo NV nave bOobC
/ organizations.
The first most important step to he taken is
/ the incorporation Of a company of men thor
/ Oughly imbued with a spirit OF unfaltering zeal
/ for the work and consec-ation to it. The OBJ
/ 5ects of the association should be clearly de
/ fined, and the stock placed in shares, so
/ that men OF small means can subscribe to it.
! With an organized body oS working men, do
/ not doubt Of success.
The location for the Assem- bly, is one Of great
| Importance. Among the essential requisites
/ are:
/ Accessibility by rail.
2 Pure air and water.
| g. Scenic attractions.
| A. Freedom from malarial diseases and cpl
/ denies.
! A place may be accessible but i5 it lacks the
/ other requirements it will not Ge a desirable
/ location.
In canvassing this question ye RI ago. and
/ viewing the entire field came to the conclu
/ sion that a location somewhere in what is
/ knoTn as the Piedmont belt was the only one
where all the requirements could be met.
! Years Of reflection have but strengthened my
1 convictions.
The climate scenery and attractions of this
/ belt are attracting yearly an increasing num-
her OF people during the summer from the ex-
/ treme south. This point settled, the neXt to
/ be determined is at what spot In this belt
/ should it be located. This problem is easily
/ solved. Tallulah Falls, Of national reputation,
4 is the place Here every requisite can be met
The completion of the Rabun Gap route
/ through TO Knoxville. Tenn. renders it aces
]
/ points, while the great Richmond and Dauville
/ Railroad, with its network of lines. opens up
/ all other sections to it. Qnte an important
point, too. is gained in having the active SYM
/ pathy and cooperation Of this vast corporation
I in such movement The matte of transpor-
/ tatiOn will enter largely into the attendance,
/ and cannot well be overlooked. This location
| is as near the centre as can be had to meet the
/ requirements of the case.
These are my candid convictions, and are
| given for what they are worth.
Th.oa of IA net hos
/ taught me that we need more enlarged views
/ of the Sunday school work, and that it should
! be elevated on its true plane-a Bible school
| where parent and children, pastor and congre-
/ cation. unite in studying the Word OF God
/ This education must be brought about through
| the means of this assembly, and, under its in
/ iuence we may hope to see the church put on
/ new strength. and the cause of missions largely
/ benefited OF course, this assembly can open
/ its doors to all benevolent and phianthropc
! associations, and the grand old woods around
/ Tallulah Falls made to ring with the voices of
a common humanity, joining in song, and
I prayer, and speech, for the moral and social
| elevate Of our race. So mote it be.
Fraternaliy, W. G. WHIDBY.
! On motion the report was received and
| the matter referred to a special committee
Of nine. to be appointed by the incoming
/ President.
| On motion the regular programme was
postponed for the calling Of the counties
which had not yet reported on the condition
of Sunday schools within their respective
| limits.
Pierce county was responded to by Mr..
II. Bunker, who reported an improved in
terest on the subject among the people. In
his own immediate neighbour BOD they had
a fiourishing school, which brought together
all the children OF the community exec oting
five. There is no county organization, but
the delegate would carry back some of the
enthusiasm of this convention, and at the
neat meeting Pierce county would be fully
represented.
Tsttnsll county was represented by q. W.
Shepard. He reports seventeen schools, with
a membership of about five hundred and
ffty-four. We have a county association
organized. The Sunday school work is i'm
proving.
Ware county was represented By Mr.. e.
s. Roach and W. A. Thomson, who reported
some progress ia that county, but the curse
of the whisky traffic had spread a blight
over the face of the land. Some succ essful
attempts, however, had BEEN made and a
number Of fOurishing schools were in pro-
gress.
Talbot county had Mr. James Mcneil
for its spokesman. No county organization,
which is much needed. Che field is inviting,
and good results would spring from earnest
work in this section.