Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-09-16

| organization ofofficers Executive COMMITTEES
&C., and Charles P. Rady, Richmond, CORES
pond1ng Secretary. the work was commenced
The objects have during the time been clearl
set forth among which the compilation of sta
| tistics of Sunday- School work and proyidin
for needy parts of ths State. giving assistanc
in forwarding and diffuslng the benefit of Sur
day Schools, are prominent.
Rev. 9. F. Fry, of The Augusta B lptist Assc
citation, long known and identified with SINH
lar work under the charge ofhis denomination
| was selected to iuaugurate the movement il
Augusta comfy. To that end, he issued a cal
requesting Sunday school organizations of tn
| County of all denominations to assemble b.
| representation in convention at Laurel Hi
Baptist Church Saturday and Sunday, Septem
Der 18th and Nth instant.
| The programme issued by Mr.. Fry systemati
cally orsided the two days del berations into
number OF hea IS embracing every possibl
question which could arise for discussion, ant
in the preparatory work for completing coun
| ty union organization TO each department o
head, speakers were assigned from minister
and laymen representing all denominations.
At an early hour Saturday morning, delega
| lions and visitors assem- led in strong force
The temporary organization was proceeded
with by Mr.. Fry taking this chair, and Mr.. Al
bert Lee, of Middlebrook, acting as Secretary
The objects of the convention were explained
| by Rev. N. B. Wickham of the American s. s
| Union. After which, the rise and progress o
Sunday schools were referred to by differen
| speakers.
A permanent organization Of the convention
| was then acc )mpished by the selection of Mr.
| w. e. Shelton, an experienced and jealous su
| perintendent of the Methodist E. Church South
| as President; Mr.. Albert Lee, of the Lutheran
church, Secretary; Rev. Thos. Sharp of the M
| E. Church, Assistant Secretary, and ]. s. Gill
liam, Baptist, Treasurer.
| Tie Vice Presidents are as follows Messrs
Daniel Shreckhire, Luth ]. M. Laid, Bap't
| W. A. Norman, Presby'n; Franklin Myers
Meth E.; J. c. s. Myers. U. B.; Christian Eakle
NJ E. s.; Henry Early, Thinker; and jacob
| Hildebrand, Mennonite.
Rev. G.. A. Lee, Luth.; Rev. j. II. Taylor
Bap't; D. L. Snyder, M. E. c.; ]. Z. Kagy, M. e
G. South; ami Benz. Ellis, Presby'n., were, witt
the President and Vice Presidents. constituted
the executive committee under the constitu
ton subsequently adopted.
Under the head of Relations OF the Church
to the Sunday school, )" Revs. Messrs. Wilson, o.
the Methodist church, and Mr.. Sprunt, of the
Presbyterian church, and others, briefly ad.
dressed the convention.
How to conduct the Sunday school" coming
up. r. Myers, VIM. "a. Norman and Christian
Eakle, experienced superintendent, were
heard with interest by he convention.
With various other matters of interest during
The services, but not necessary to report, the
first days session closed. About four hun
dred persons were present throughout the day
The second days session commenced under
very favorable auspices, the attendance being
mnch larger than on the first, which was more
than was anticipated.
Under the head of gu Sc and abuse of Lesson
Helps, Mr.. Jno. W. TCdd, of Staunton, a super
intendent who had been specially appointed
TO discuss the question, responded very fully.
He introduced many Illustrations in support OF
the value of lesson papers They were not,
however, free from abuse, in that they tended
TO supplant. the bible, which should be in con-
nection with them. II teachers would employ
them properly, good results would follow, and
they should not be used in presence of the class
He referred to the existence of movement to
have practical effect in the coming October,
when the Bible was to be restored to its former
place in the Sunday schools.
Rev. Mr.. Lee followed, and was decided in
his views as to the harm lesson helps were pro-
duc1ng. If these agencies were continued,
skepticism and infidelity would ultimately
increase in alarming proportions.
How to teach to win souls to Christ" coming
up for discussion, called out number of speak
ers, among whom were Rev Mr.. Fry, ]. w.
Todd. j. G. S. Myers, ]. Taylor Elyson, Of Rich
mond, Christian Eakle, Albert Lee, Rev }. Ell.
Taylor and Rev. Thos. t. Bushong, OF Ohio, OF
United Brethren Church. Mr.. B., who is a ma
tive of Laurel Hill neighborhood, referred to
the home of his youth in touching words, and
proceeded to discuss the question very fully.
his remarks Astounding with scriptural Illus
trations. He paid a glowing tribute of affection
to Mr.. Todd, his Sunday school teacher when
he was boy attending the Augusta Church
School. Referring to the interest existing in
Sabbath school unions in Ohio, he said he
would be proud to bear the Intelligence he
could OF the movement in Augusta to others
| in the West, who like himself had many ties
| to bind them to their native Valley homes.
At II O'Clock, the Model Sunday-School
Teacher" was announced as the subject and
| one honr allotted to it, with Rev. Allan Curr
as the speaker on the programme. Mr.. Curr
responded in such an entertaing manner, as
all who have heard him can well imagine,
Having been both teacher and superintendent,
and knowing the value of promptness, he gave
many illustrationsi in accounting for the decline
of interest resulting from delay on the part OF
teachers. With this he contrasted the other
side of the picture of the success and increasing
growth of schools resulting from promptness
and zeal on the part of those resp in their
management. He gave in his own pecu lar
manner many amusing illustr ations coming
under his own experience and of others he had
observed. in awakening the attention of both
teachers and scholars and how he answered
the enquiries of superintendent whose school
waned in interest. No other than a full
SIX etch would do justice to one so entertaining
and it is to be regretted that it cannot be given
in the space available now.
The programme for Saturday afternoon an.
nounced story for 1he children-"The Prince
of the Golden Thread" but it was passed over.
1t was recalled, and Mr.. Curr requested to de.
liver it, and it being evident that the audience
intended to take no refusal. he had immedi.
ately to resume the stand. 1t is fairy tale
and must be written in full OR heard to under
stand it. The entire assemblage hung upon
the words of the gifted speaker as his impress
sive utterances carried them along through
| scenes of beauty, romance, and fearful perplex
lIy, WIN Inc singular Q6lV6rance of the
Prince who passed through ALL The applica-
ton to life commencing with childhood was
made strikingly appropriate.
Another principal topic of discussion was
"Why the Sunday-school should not clos,
during the winter" To this proportion Rev
J. II. Taylor, pastor at Laurel Hill, was special
ly assigned, with the President, MIR. SHELTON, t,
follow him. The Reverend speaker was per
fectly familiar with the subject and assigned
numerous reasons why schools should not b
closed during winter. He had advised tina
course to be pursued in his congregat ions will
the best results. He said it would be Just a
proper to close the churches for the winter
The children attended the other schools durin
winter. In fact, it was, he said, the only sea
son many of them had for such advantages T,
every ima ginable objection, this diligent and es
teemed pastor had strong arguments this on hi
side to answer.
Mr.. SHELTON in following, said the field wa
already CLEANED, and it was hard task assign
ed him. when all his thoughts had teen antici
pated, but he could not too strongly enfo-c
with his approval all that had been said.
The large assemblage responded to the re
quest for aid to meet the expenses incident t.
the publication of the proceedings in pamphle
form and other expenses to be incurred durin
the year in furthering the object of the union