Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-02-28
Oualiflci atoms of Model Sunday School
Superintendent.
IBY REV. ]. o. SHERBURN.

10y REV. ]. o. SHERBURN.
rssa a Il 9s M9ngsss % Rsys ai
published by request of the Association,l
No phenomena of church progress is
more remarkable than the growing
prominence of Sunday school work.
As this work advances in rank, and
and claims larger share of our thought
and more careful planning for its success,
it becomes very mportont inquiry where
are the leaders for this work? 1t is
without doubt true that not many men
and women are well qualified by nature
and education for this position. 1t may
be true also that schools nave not always
had such conceptions of the qualifications
required, as would lead them to choose
their leader in the wisest manner.
In venturing to enumerate some of the
requisite qualifications eff q superintendent,
it must not be understood that no valuable
work can be done without a superinten-
dent who has all the marks or points here
mentioned. Man is so strangely made
that often one dominant excellency so far
overshadows his many defects that he is
able to achieve much, despite many
draw backs. The effort, then, will be to
mention some qualifications which are
highly desirable, and sure to aid in the
uperintendent's work. OF course there
are certain general qualifications which
are needed for this place in common with
public place. The superintendent should
be man of good sense and manly
qualities. This is necessary in order that
he may have the respect and confidence of
the school. A man who is marked as
under par in intelligence or good
judgment or good breeding is untitled for
the place. So a man whose reputation
for honesty or generosity or purity is
would not be fit for such
work. He might be ready talker, a
good bible student, a progressive man, but
lacking in such leading qualities of
manliness he could not fill such a place.
The superintendent of a Sabbath school
has to do largely with children, and
children put stress upon real character
which older people do not always
to do. Again, he should be a
man of real energy and push. This,
because be is to be the leader of an
enterprise. He should have boldness,
confidence, faith, because others are
looking to him, and are to be enspirited OF
dispirited by his bearing.
Thousands Of good men and women,
who have some rare qualifications for the
work. would forever fail
there, or attain only mediocre success,
because they are too slow, timd or indc-
lent. But these qualifications are only
general, and such as would be requisite 10
success in ordinary business or in any
public undertaking.
In addition. the Sunday school superin-
tendent ought to be a man of real picty
and devotion to God; but this is by no
means a specific qualification for this
work. A man should be all that in order
to be Il successful class leader, a good
steward or faithful father.
From these general qualifications which
have been only enumerated, though they
are of leading Importance, let us look at
some which are specially demanded for
this work. The superintendent should be
to some good degree Judge of character,
able to read men. and measure their gifts
and powers. He has to do largely with
the selection of teachers and tho assign
ment Of work. in various lines, to different
individuals. Hence he should be able to
Judge wisely and estimate accurately what
each is able to accom- plish. Much depends
upon this, for if the school is only organ
lied in hap hazard way the work of the
school will be done in much the same
manner.
Again the superintendent should be a
man well calculated to get along well with
men. Not arbitrary or domineering, not
easily put out of humor, or disposed to
fault finding. He should be always self
urbane and courteous. ANY
school would be ruined by morosc,
quick tempered, Or fussy superintendent,
even though he might possess other
qualities calculated to give success
A Sabbath school superintendent should,
be man of earnest sympathy
with the young. No man who has
forgotten his youth, or who fails to
appreciate the great changes that have
occurred since that time, is we'll fitted for
that work. No fossil or mere residuum
of former life can direct the vigorous,
throbbing life of the present generation.
The superintendent should know how to
appreciate and provide for the cravings OF
the young. without yielding to any
depraved tastes that they have acquired
His business with them is always to
stimulate and draw them out, but always
in the right direction, and by legitimate
means.
Another important qualification is a
real delight and zest In Bible study. 1t is
not strictly neoessarytha the superintend-
ent should be first class teacher, though
that gift would aid him, but he ought to
be an enthusiastic student of Scripture.
The work of the school is Scripture study
and the superintendent leads in that work.
Again he should be man thoroughly
alive to the great fact that men are lost in
sin, and need salvation through Jesns
Christ. The Sabbath school which does
not lead directly to the cross of Christ is
miserable failure. Along with many
other qualifications, all important, and in