Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-02-25
THE LUTHERAN CONFERENCE.


Tuesday Afternoon--The entire afternoon |
session was taken up in the discussion Of the |
two questions 'sThe Work Of the Holy Spirit |
in Quickening Believers" and 'The Work OF |
the Holy Spirit In Converting Sinners"
The first question was opened and ably dis
cussed by Rev. ]. Peter, of Mannheim, and
further elucidated by Rev. G. NJ. Aurand, of
Maytown.
The second question was opened by Rev.
w. r. Evans of Columbia, who in the
. absence of Rev. II. A. Letterman, of Dauphin.
was followed by Rev. II. ID. Holloway, OF
Middletown. A general discussion Of both
questions ensued In which Revs. milestone,
Of Lancaster, Cook and Studebaker, of Harris
burg, Reimensnyder and Stall, of Lancaster,
Evans, of Columbia, and one or two others
participated. The discussion was spirited
Tsesdav Epcniag.-There was an audi
ence Of several hundred present in
the evening TO hear sermon ON
ssChristian benevolence" by Rev. A. Ii.
Studebaker, of Harrisburg. The service was
opened with the singing of a hymn, and this
was followed by the reading of the Sth chap
ter of Paul's second epistle to the CORN thians
by Rev. Ii. s. Cook. Rev. J. II. Lesher, of
Hummelstown, led in prayer, and after
further singing President Eckert introduced
Rev. Studebaker.
As the basis of his remarks Rev. Studeba-
ker called the attention of his auditors to the
chapter of the Scriptures just read 1t teaches
tnat nDerdllty III RlN1ng tOWaus suFpviN
of the church is one of the Christian graces,
and only those who possess this grace can
fully realize the truth of the text " II is more
blessed to givethan to receive III the grace
of liberality abounded among CHRISTIANS, ,he
minister instead of having to beg his people
to give for the support of the church, would
find them begging him to receive
their contributions Paul found the
Macedonians "How that in trial Of
Joy, and their deep poverty abounded
into the riches of their liberality =
praying with much entreaty that he receive
their gifts. Those who give grudgingly be-
cause they feel it duty to give cannot
realize the pleasure of those who give for the
love of giving. The grace of liberality may
be obtained through conservation and prayer,
and the acquisition of this grace should be
prayed for az devoutly as any other OF the
Christian graces. In congregations where it
is lacking, the mere taking up collection
chills the worshippers and they feign to fear
that the important matters OF religion are
being interfered with in the mere desire to
get money. Christians who are so ready to
retrench their contributions TO the Lord
should remember that the Lord has many
means of retrenching on them-war, pesti-
lence, famine, the locust and the grass-hop-
per are some of the scourges He uses to re-
mind man of his dependence on Him.
The reverend orator was rather severe on
three classes of people to be found in all con-
Rregations first, the rich who give literally
abundance of their means; and secondly,
those who give nothing on the plea of pow
erty, though they could give by the practice
of selfdenial and thirdly, class of rich and
poor alike, who seem to have all the religion
knocked out of them the moment collec-
ton is talked of The grace of lberality may
be developed by exercise as surely as muscle
may be thus developed, and the preacher
held it to be the duty of every one to lay by
daily for the uses of the church certain sum,
in accordance as God has prospered him.
There are many who give but little during
their lives and who provide literally for the
church i'm their wills. Some of these are
canonized, whereas the amount of their
posthumous gift is scarcely enough to pay
the interest on what during life they owed
to the Lord.
The speaker held that the great need OF
the church of the present and future is
money. The spread of the gospel requires it,
the Christian people are able to provide it
the missionaries from all lands are calling for
help and our answer to them is 'we have not
the means 10 help you.
At the conclusion of Rev. Studebak er s
discourse, Rev. w. A. Milestone was intro
duced and spoke at some length of the sacri-
fices--the gifts-required by the Lord under
the old dispensation from the time of Abe
to the coming of Christ, who, under the new
dispensation, gave Himself to save sinners,
while His disciples gave up everything to
further His kingdom. The duty OF sacrificing
something of giving TO the Lord is duty
enjoined at the beginning and continued
through all time and Christians can ne
more shirk this duty than they can the faith
and the prayers enjoined on them. The gif
ay be great or little according to the crcum
noes of the giver. God judges not by
what we give, but what we keep. The
speaker ventured the assertion that there is
not congregation In this or other cities thai
does not spend more money in the skating
rinks than for the cause of home or foreign
missions,
Discussing Important Questions.
Wednesday Morning.-After devotional ex
ercises, led by Rev. J. Fishburn, OF Millers
burg the question Of "How to get scholars
into the Sunday school ?" was discussed by
Rev. NJ. p. Hooker, of Steelton. His points
We're lst To have the pastor deeply inter
ested in the work I'd. superintendent af-
fable, attractive and earnest; Sd. Teachers
efficient punctual and willing to work out
side the school as well as inside 4th. Church
members having the interest of the school at
tending children; 9th. Comfortable and at
tractive school rooms and 7th. Good school
supplies OF books, charts, pictures, etc.
Rev. Q. Reimensnyder followed with a
general endorsement of Rev. Hocker's propo-
sition. He added that there were in the
United States 7, ,0O0,0 900 children who did not
attend the Sunday schools. Ministers,
superintendents and teachers should go out
among the homes of these children and
gather them in. Another means is the agita-
ton of Sunday school work in the com
munity, and holding out inducements for
parents TO attend the schools. Rev. Reimen-
snyder related several instances in which
flourishing schools had been built up by
these means i'll communities where before
there were no schools.
Mr. Reehling, layman, followed with his
experience in building up schools by the aid
OF good music and district conventions.
Rev. Holloway said that he did most OF his
church work through committees, each of
which had certain defined duties to perform.
The Sunday school committee was expected
TO go out amonP the people, especially those
whose childre; = not attend the Sunday
school, and ascertain. - circumstances, and
II they need aid TO purchase clothing for
their children to assist them.
How to keep scholars in the Sunday
school Y' was next discussed. Rev. j. II.
Lesser said the subject was so closely con-
nected with the preceding one that many of
the same arguments used would apply to
both questions. Much depends on the con-
dition of the school; on the superintendent,
teachers and school surroundings. II these
be attractive and inviting there is no trouble
in keeping the scholars. 1t is with the Sun
day school as it is with our homes some are
30 delightful that children do not want to
be anywhere else and some 30 unpleasant
that they would rather be anywhere else. He
favored good music, anumber of instruments
organs, horns flute, etc, when they can be
mad. Presents to the pupils had good effect.
Above all the superintendent should be
affable and wise. The teachers should be apt
TO teach gentle, kind and impartial. They
should be familiar with the lessons for this
purpose, preparing themselves before hand
The difficulty Of getting good teachers shows
the necessity of reducing the number of
classes in the school and increasing the size