Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-02

WAYCRoss, August 1.-The Sunday Schoo
Convention at Waycross has been perfect
success, far beyond the most ardent ex-
pectations even of the hospitable inhabl-
tants of that pleasant town. 1t has kin
died a fresh enthusiasm, impaired new
energy and encouragement to the work
ers In the Sunday schools OF the Wiregrass
district, and proved blessing no less 70 the
city people who were there than to the
good. kind-hearted, generous and active
country folks. It is a mistake to suppose
that the jealous men of the wiregrass have
no energy or enthusiasm in themselves-do
not voluntarily engage actively in whatever
works may be for the improvement and sub
stantisl, lasting betterment of their section.
After the meeting held in Savannah last
spring members went back to their homes,
only to 90 to work in the Sunday school
cause with all the powers of their strong
wills, and they are determined men, who do
not believe In any Of your halfway do
ings."
What has been the result of their labors?
Why, in counties that year ago, perhaps,
hardly knew what a Sunday school really
was, these earnest Christian men have
given "such long pull, such strong pull,
and such pull altogether that their COM
munities are now altogether dotted over
with Sunday schools. 1t was stirring to
those who have the least interest In this
work to hear the reports of the delegates
from Lowndes, Coffee, Clinch and the other
counties represented in the convention.
A great feature Of the meeting was the
presence of the female orphans from Savan-
nah, who contributed in no small degree to
the success and interest Of the meeting.
Their singing was excellent. For once, If
they have never been so before, they we're
''the observed of all observers" winning all
contented faces. The Waycross Sunday
| school was likewise very great help with
their singing.
But so many things should be noticed that
it is difficult to know how to make a judi
clous selection. The convention elected as
its President Mr.. E. j. Benton, of Clinch,
and, on his taking the chair, an earnest,
cordial and exceedingly happy address OF
welcome was made by that old veteran, Mr..
| w. H Thomas, responded to eloquently by
J. l. Sweat, Esq.
After singing by the entire audience, the
address of Governor Colquitt followed,
which was listened to with closest attention
throughout, and was a most apropos adj
| dress-just the right words In the right
place, and exactly what the convention
needed. 1t abounded in practical
| hints, solid and earnest advice and
most felicitous illustrations. His criticism
of the awfully solemn good people
of his boyhood was very amusing, and his
| appeals to make teaching more interesting
to the young were strongly put. There was
not a child present but received some bene
fit from that address. The older people and
teachers particularly were stimulated by it,
Fo1A rl,,
| had been impaired to them, and they felt
greater and stronger encouragement and de
| termination to 90 ON in their work. The
| address was truly model and masterpiece
OF its kind. A vote OF thanks was of course
unanimously rendered our worthy Governor,
| the convention rising to its feet. A more
| diguified gentleman, better Christian, or
more impressive, earnest speaker, as well as
| worthier man to occupy the office he now SO
| conspicuouslY graces, could certainly not be
found than the hon. Alfred H, COlquitt,
Governor of Georgia.
Addresses were made upon such topics ss
| the following: chow can we improve our
| present system OF county Sunday school
organizations?' "HoW to promote ca no
licity among Sunday school workers." "In
eXpediency Of Sunday school VACATIONS"
etc.
The five minute alks that followed most
OF these were full of life and spirit, such
men as Benton. Reppard, Pafford, Thomas,
| Query and Warde participating. The last
named, a Young man from Coffee county,
m ade decidedly favorable impression. His
| little talk, which was chaste, concise and
purely eloquent, was the most thrilling that
was made in all the meeting. Coffee county
may be we'll proud of such a man.
But time and space forbid any further de-
tails. The excursion to Waltertown in the
| afternoon was enjoyable indeed. The mill
of Messrs. Reppard Il Walter, there, is
huge affair. The whole party as they ram
| bled about seemed TO be perfectly happy,
| and none more so than the Savannah or
| phans. The writer had TO leave that even
| ing for his home, but left the convention
progressing finely and all looking eagerly
| forward to the next days proceedings, when
| the Governor was to make two or three adj
dresses, one Of them upon Temperance, on
| which the good people o. Waycross-aud
indeed Of all the surrounding country-are
| strongly aroused, aroused to degree that
would astonish the temperance workers in
| Savannah. All success to Wsycross and to
its Sunday school and temperance workers,
| and success to the true. warm-hearted men
of the wiregrass who were st the conven-
ton.
Let me say in conclusion that the people
were exceedingly kind in entertaining the
delegates, who were received with open
doors as well as open hearts, and the young
ladies of Waycross, by the way, are as de-
lightfully charming as they are beautiful,
and hardly less active and enthusiastic
workers themselves than they are fascinat-
ing, and unquestionably heart agitators.
Eff c.