Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-25
THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF GEOR-
GIA.
Ninth Annual Convention OF the
state Acknowledgements Days FRO
eeedIngs.

Pursuant to notice, the delegates repre-
senting the various Sunday schools in the
State OF Georgia belonging to the Georgia
State Sunday School Association assembled
at the lecture room Of the Independent
Presbyterian Church at $50 O'Clock yester-
day morning. The edifce was early filed
by the delegates representing the assoeia-
ton from all portions Of the State, including
many ladies, who bore the blue and white
badges designating the members OF the asso-
citation. The assembly revealed conspicu-
ouslY the prominence Of young manhood
and womanhood on this interesting occasion.
The association, which has for its object
the promotion of the prosperity and ett1-
cheney of the Sunday schools Of Georgia, is
DOW in the tenth year OF its successful
operation. l. has succeeded in the concen-
tratiOn Of Christian effort in reference to
this important interest Of Christianity and
modern civilization, and the enthusiasm
manifested OF this, the ninth annual con-
ventlon, indicates the firm hold 1t has taken
upon the minds and hearts Of its member
snip. 1t is not sectarisn in its char cter or
scope, but opens the broad field of Chris
tan communion and fellowship.
The present officers OF the association are:
Presldent-HOn. Nj. a. CanQIer.
SecretsIy-J. C. Courtenay.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Rev. a. G Thomas, Chairman; W. P.
Boad, J. c. Kimbsll, Thomas Moore, R. B.
Rsppard, Rev. J. c. Berrien, JnO. VI. Green,
J. II. Attwsy, J. j. ToOn-
The introductory services Of thanksgiving
and prayer was led by the Rev. J. G. Ber-
rien, OF Atlanta. The beautiful hymn,
'COme thou fount Of every blessing" was
sung, Prof. Kruger presiding at the organ.
The reverend gentleman followed In fer
vent prayer, invoking the divine blessing
upon the proceedings Of the convention, and
upon the cause 1t has met TO further.
The prayer was followed by singing the
hymn ''Oh for heart to praise my God"
the reading Of the 1921 Psalm and singing
when all thy mercies, On my God"
The Rev. Mr.. Norcross, OF Atlanta, led in
prayer, after which "COronalion-Al hail
the power Of Jesus nsme"-was sung in
fine style.
Prayer Jy Rev. Mr.. Raymond, after which
the song "Nearer nv God to Thee" was
sung, and the introductory exercises closed.
FORMAL OPENING OF THE CONVENTION.
After the conclusion Of the religious exer-
cises the formal opening Of the convention
took place.
The President OF the association, Hon. NJ.
a.
| and introduced to the body K. B. Reppard,
who made the address Of welcomein the fol-
| lowing language:
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
| Ladies, Gentlemen and Delegates to the Ninth
! annual Session Of the Georgia State Sunday
| School Contention:
| The pleasant duty has been assigned me Of
| delivering to you the hearty welcome of the
| citizens of Savannah TO our city. and to our
| homes. and TO our hearts. This is more than
| an ordinary assemblage which has come from
! the mountains TO the sea shore. They are
| representatives Of the grandest cause on Gods
| earth. Wethank Him who is above all for the
| pleasure of having among US so earnest body
| OF workers. We trust your coming together at
| this annual convention may mark new era in
| the Sunday school work of our State We wei
! come YOU as citizens Of a state we are all
| proud 70 acknowledge as our own. We are
| bound by ties Of a common cause and com
| mon sympathy, aud have one end and aim.
| We come together as representatives Of the
| grandest cause we can conceive the safety, the
| salvation, and the eternal welfare of human
| souls. And we see expressed in your counte-
nance the burning zeal, the intense enthusiasm
in cauee which we are so proud
| to represent. 1t has long been
| our desire to have closer bond Of union and
| symp sthy among the Sunday school workers
/ OF our State; and, for years past. we have been
! watching for the privilege OF welcoming to our
| midst the earnest and Jealous Sunday school
! laborers in cur Masters vineyard. If the dele
/ gates from North Georgia have more Of zeal,
] more of enthusiasm. than tn Sc from Southern
| GEORGIA, grant that they may be the leaven
/ which will leaven the whole lump. We would
/ say bring your unwaveTing love from the
| mountain: bring your zeal and enthusiasm
/ from every section Of the State. and let us
| meet together on one common plat
/ form, with one common Lord, with
( one faith and With one purpose. We
would welcome you in behalf of the officers,
| the teachers and the workers or orr city. We
! are glad to have you among u While we be-
| lieve we have an earnest and thful band Of
/ labOrers in our city, we are ASST ! that an in
| terchange of ideas and plans will promote
| citizens Of Savannah, we welcome you
! to cur fair city. We feel that
/ Of cur dfrest need stood by Us and sent aid to
/ the suffering. as those who shed tears when
| pestilence came down upon us with such terri
| bic results. You who opened your houses to
! our refugees and sent relief 10 the sick and
| diving, We welcome you. as we trust. to homes
I warmed by these recollections. We can never
I forget your kindness. We welcome you IN De-
/ half OF the fifteen hundred children who have
| looked forward to the approach Of this mass
| meeting as a time which wall be very precious
! in their memories. and as one OF tbs happieGt
/ periods in their lives, aId in whose behalf we
] have gathered here together to-day. We vel
( come you as representatives Of the broad
Christian platform on which we stand inter-
1 denominatonal. bound together with love and
| fellow workers in a common cause Aud, last
/ Of all welcome you in His name in whom we
| all hope for better life beyond this vale of
tears II our words fail us in expressing to
| you the warm welcome felt for you in our
| hearts we will endeavoF by our actions, which
| speak louder than words, TO show that we do
| welcome you in spirit and in truth.
The Chairman, upon behalf Of the con-
| vention, responded in a few well-timed ex-
! tempore remarks, returning thanks to The
brother for the welcome so heartily eX-
tended. He said probably words need not
| have been spoken to express that welcome,
! for wherever Savannsh's fame has been
/ heard Of it is understood that Georgiaus are
| at home IN her beautiful city, especially so
! when they are those who seek the good of
I their fellow creatures. Georgia was born In
I; Savannah, and as Georgisns we but return
( to our home when on our mission Of good
! we visit this beautiful city. We are here to
/ work for the grandest cause that ever
| engaged the attention of man, work that
has for its loving embrace the children of
! whom our Saviour said is made up the king
| dom OF Heaven. We are glad to know, the
speaker said, that 500 children and the
warns hearts of these fathers and mothers
greet us, which is enough to inspire US with
increased effort in the grand cause. Then,
brethren here, taking counsel together, we
Invoke the blessing upon US and upon them.
On motion Of Secretary CouFtenay a com
! mittee Of three on credentials was appoint
/ ed, the committee consisting Of Messrs.
] Root, of Fulton county; Sweat, of Pierce
! county, and Estes, OF hall county.
On motion Of 4. b. Reppafd, duly sec
onded, all delegates present from schools
\ throughout the State be seated as delegates,
/ under the restrictions Of the constitution.
Ga motion, q committee Of Eve on nomi-
nations was appointed, as follows: II. T.
| Train, First Congressional district; Peter
Pelham, Second district; Thomas Moore,
Fifth district: P. R. CsrteiyOn, Seventh dis
trict; j. " Wallace, Eighth district.
The minutes Of the last annual conven-
ton were read by they Secretary, and, there
being no objection, were approved SIS read.
REPORT or THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
The following report OF the Executive
Committee vas read 6y the Secretary, which
was adopted, and the thanks Of the conyen-
tlor rendered to the committee for the
same:
The Executive Committee respectfully offer
the following report to the Georgia State Sun
day School Association at their ninth annual
session, in the city Of Savannah. Ga, May "a,
1882:
Since our last session, which was held at
Griffin, there appears TO have been consider
able want Of interest in cur State Sunday
School Association, ana we regret exceedingly
that we are not able to present to you as
favorable a report as we had hoped when we
started out upon the work from Griffin. Vari-
Gus causes have conspired to prevent the full
filment of our cherished desires, and at
times We have been greatly discouraged; but,
still perseverDg, we have now some hope
that the association viii take new life at Sa-
vannsh. aud more thoroughly and efficiently
organize the entire State 50 that the coming
year may be the most successful that the State
Association has ever seen.
During the last three months of 1881 the peo-
a. -.