The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-21

Grafton OF the Snbbath-Day Denounced BY
the Conference - Educational Matters
Help Asked for Randolph Macon College
Publication Iuterests-Fratcrral Greet
ing-PersonaI-Leave of Absence-Business
of the Afternoon Scssion, &C., &c.
The Methodist Conference met again
yesterday morning, pursuant to adjourn
ment, at 0:3O o'cock-BishOp Kayanaugh
presiding.
Religious services were conducted by
Rev. G. C.. Wertenbaker.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE RECORDS.
Rev. Mr.. L. z. Wilson, from the COM
mittee TO whom was referred the records
OF district conferences, reported that the
records OF the Richmond, Danville, Mur-
freesboro', Charlottesville, and Randolph
Macon District Conferences have been well
and accurately kept. The records OF the
Lynchburg District Conference have been
well kept, except that there Is irregu-
Iarity and confusion in the record OF
the report OF district colportage, and
are without the signature OF the
president and secretary. The Norfolk Dis
trict recordsldo not show that during the
afternoon sessions OF the first and third
DAYS there was any presiding officer, and
the reports OF the several committees are
not copied in an appendix OF the records
rs per reference Of the minutes. In the
Farmyille district the records have few
insignificant errors. In the records OF the
Petersburg Conference there appear de-
fective photography and style. The records
OF the Eastern-ShOre District Conference
were not in the hands OF the Conference
committee, nor were they at the last ses-
sion.
The report was considered, and recon-
mltted to inquire into law question.
sUYDAY-sCHOoL WORK.
Rev. f. NJ. Edwards presented the report
OF the Sunday-School Board. The organi-
zatIon OF the Board, says the report, was
not effected until the present session OF The
Conference, and hence no system OF work
was adopted for gathering or disseminating
information upon the condition OF our
schools during the wear. The Board has,
however, made inquiry as far as possible
since its organization into the history OF
Sundav-school work, with view Of ascer-
tanning how far the advice given by the
Conference IN the adoption of its last
committees report has been needed.
The following seems fair estimate
Preachers and people have been 10
no inconsiderable degree alive to
the great importance OF the first item in
the report-viz., that "much OF earnest
effort is still necessary to rouse that large
portion OF our membership yet remaining
unemployed in this indispensable depart
ment OF RELIGIOUS enterprise" Progress
has been made toward securing as many
4 IL, ralr Il Inc tlanr rD
members in the Church, but the desired re-
suit is yet far from completion.
.. There is apparent Improvement OF the
schools in thoroughness OF instruction.
Great care should be taken that the schools
do not degenerate into mere entertainment
on the one hand, or into tedious dryness
on the other. Seek not merely to please
the fancy without giving wholesome iniill-
ence to the immortals under their care,
and it is hoped the coming years history
will be marked by their entire conversion
to the true principles OF religious educa-
ton. Freshness in the exercises OF a
school should be and can be avoided. The
entire object OF teaching remains unat-
tained. and the work is worse than useless,
II officers and teachers stop short OF the
most earnest and faithful eXertiOn to give
such knowledge as is calculated to lead the
Young to the reception OF Jesus rs Saviour.
\ 3. The use OF catechisms Is earnestly ad-
vised. The previous report on this matter
has been but little Needed.
4. The Board urge the use OF our own
literature-that published by our own
house in Nashville. Hope is expressed that
! the time will soon come when every school
will be fully supplied with our own publ
cations.
:. The consecrated officer or teacher will
take time to study what he Is to impart to
those under bis tuition.
6. The Board is deeply impressed with
the truth that parents should in co0pe-
rators with Sunday-schoOl tOilers. Nothing
can supply the place OF home influence.
Education begins in the nursery, and hence
every effort should be made to impress pa
rents relative to their duty. Superintend-
ents aud others have here an urgent call
for activity.
I. Encouraging information has been re-
ceived on the subject OF continuing Sab
bath-school exercises during the winter
months.
s. The importance Of teachers meetings
is urged. They have not been sufficiently
regarded in the past.
o. The history of the year calls for graft
tude. The work as shown by the statistics
is encouraging.
The Church must be heroic enough to
oppose every form OF business that offers
temptation to the young. Oh, that the day
may speedily arrive when the business
world shall have been persuaded to avoid
all those phases OF traffic which in their
very nature make ''traps for the young"
Let the Church continue 10 educate to-
wards this grand consummation.
10. We find in our Conference 500
schools, 7,42l officers and teachers, and
1919 scholars increase over the last year
of so schools, $40 officers and teachers, and
3,7s4 scholars; total increase of persons,
4.I54. For all Of which we thank God
and take courage.
The report was discussed at length by
Rev. Messrs. T.. B. Wilson, +. j. Boggs,
L. NJ. Peterson, and others, and adopted
UNION SCHOOL STATISTICS.
Rev. s. S. Lambeth offered the follow.
ing:
Resolued, That the preachers in charge
be instructed TO include in the number oi
Sunday-school scholars" reported by
them to the Quarterly Conference and thC
Annual Conference, for insertion in their
Journals, the children Of Methodist parents
in attendance upon "Union school" " IN
neighborhoods where no Methodist schoo
has been organized.
Adopted.
THE BIBLE CAUSE.
Rev. X. n. >ledd, from the committee tc
whom was referred the subject OF the re-
lation Of the Conference to the Bible cause
submitted report. The report recog'
nizes the activity of Protestant christen
dom in the work OF the Bible-distribution
Since the beginning Of the present century
more than 200. .0O0,0 900 copies and portion:
of the Word OF God have been printed and