The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-05-30
Columbia county sunday school
G>nnyPnttnr.


The fifteenth annual convention of this
society was held In the NJ. e. Church at
Mifflin, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 9th
and 2sth. There was present eighty dele
gates, representing forty schools from the
various townships in the county.
The session was called to order by its
president, Rev. A. Houtz.
Rev. J. Horning the pastor of the M. f.
Church of Mifiln gave few impressive
welcome words, which were responded to
by the president. The secretary in making
his report gave the following statistical in
formation
Number Of Sunday schools In the county,
1iS number of schools kept open all the
year 20 number Of adult scholars, 1925
intermediate scholars, 3430 primary,
35i0 total, 1866. Number Of teachers
and officers 1S45 total membership, teach
ers, officers and scholars, 13, 410; number
of schools holding devotional meetings, 5;
schools holding meetings for lesson study,
Is; weekly services, 25 !; monthly, 10 !
quarterly, 40 annually, II schools hav-
ing concerts, 10 schools using blackboard
and charts, 20 schools using internatio-
nal series Of lessons, 1903 number OF
teachers and scholars received into church
from the Sunday school during the past
year, 300.
Rev. U. Myers of Catawissa gave very
fine address on the topic, ''Thc 5. S. as
sphere of labor and education for church
h.r Tho ;Jna ho a1y yaprpI
was that all newly converted members of
the church should enter Sunday school
class taught by some competent person
who regularly prepares the lesson before
trying to teach his class.
Rev. G. B. Dechant of Catawissa, on the
subject of Sunday school worship-said all
scholars should be taught to worship from
infancy. That the repeating Of the apos-
ties creed should be engaged in by the
entire school in a reverential manner.
Rev. Hornng of Mifilin was called upon
to respond to the topic, "Relation OF Sun
day school to the church," and gave as III C
one great difficulty in securing the atten-
dance of Sunday school scholars at church,
| was first the neglect of the parents at their
| homes, who were not strict enough and
second the fault of the teacher in not urg-
ing the class to attend worship in the sane
| tuary.
The subject of rs. S. Treasury and the
congregation" was opened by b. F. Zarr,
who took the position that the church
| should defray all the expenses of the Sun
Il Il. H. &C.. In,
lence only. He was met with considerable
opposition, and the subject was well dis
cussed, showing followers on both sides
of the question.
The subject of temperance in the Sunday
school was introduced by Aaron Smith
who was followed by several speakers who
thought temperance ought not to be re-
stricted to the use of intoxicating drink
alone, but to the use of tobacco as well.
Rev. d. NJ. Henkel d. d. of Catawissa,
on the theme ''Prayer and exercise of
Faith by Teachers" said reading the Bible
is God speaking to us, prayer is we speak.
ing to God. God will grant those things
unto us through prayer that he would not
grant did we not ask for them.
On the subject of teachers meetings Mr..
A. w. Spear said it was an excellent place
to awaken new suggestions from individ-
uals that could not be brought out other
wise. The different qustions asked and
answered would call forth new ideas. Al
such meetings questions should be freely
asked. Some even thought question box a
good plan TO adopt at such meetings.
In considering the question of "Lesson
, Helps and how to use them" The most
prominent suggestion was that we should
not confne ourselves entirely to the lessor
, arranged for each Sabbath, but should vary
J the questions, and each sabbath give a
, short review of the preceding sab5ath's
) lesson.
The committee ON choice of place
for convention next year, reported that of
Espy, May 26th and eth.
While discussing the subject of festiv al
the following resolutions was made. "Tha
in the sense of this convention the hold
ing of festivals for the raising of money TO
the Sunday school tends to evil" Upo
> a standing vote being called it resulted, Al
yeas to 6 nays.
Rev. j. Horning, f. P. Manhart, G. b
Dechant, c. X. Garfield and A. w. Spea
were elected to assist the District Vic
Presidents in organizing institutes in eacl
township in the county.
s The treasurer gave his report showing
II balance of $2O.O5. The collections of I'll
l. delegates and otherwise were $49.73, NAL
i ing t)tal inthe hands of treasurer G
u S69.7S.
+ The committee on resolutions being call
l. ed to report gave the following whicl
!, were unanimously adopted.
l. That we have heard with pleasure frol
u some of our Vice Presidents that success
i. ful institutes have been held under the
of auspices, and that the number of schoo
40 that are open during the year have bee
'e largely increased; and that we trust th,
al this important work will be continued u
le til every township is organized and eve
s. school open during the whole year.
2. That the report of the secreta
- showing a membership of 1870 in the Su
day school, or about 40 per cent. of Il
population of the county, is most gratif
ing, and that the thanks of the conventi
- are due our secretary for his diligence al
success in collecting the statistics.
ed 3. That 1t is the aim of the Sundi
school to promote the knowledge of B
lical truth, and to engage in acts of divi
"A, worship, and that it is no part of its aim
lie lmpart instruction in secular studio
neither is it intended to take the place
home training on religious topics.
as A. That no church member, young
IA. old, can afford to neglect Sunday scho
4; work either on account of the benefit
~ himself or others.