Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-12-21

eral have united with the church from
this school. The pastor reports the
Supt. as being very efficient. There was
favorable report from the NJ. E. school
at the same place. In the Craftsbury
M. e. school, probably the largest in the |
county, much pains is taken with the |
younger children in music, and they are
much interested in the school generally.
Twenty from this school have nnited
with the church in the last year. The |
Baptist school of Derby, though not large.
is composed of a respectable share of the
congregation and maintains its usual nros-
perity. Some had been baptized into the
church from the school. The other
schools at Derby were favorably report
ed upon. The West Glover Congl school
had maintained its average attendance
and had given several members to the
church. The other schools in town were
not reported. Mrs. Jameson of Irasburg
gave carefully-prepared and interesting
report of the M. E. school. j. E. Cham
berlin, Supt., reported for Cong1 school.
Bro. M. S. Chamberlin gave an account
of the Baptist school at Jay, how it had
been divided and subdivided, but still sur
vived and fourshed. He paid a compli-
ment to young lady teacher, who was
always able to recruit a large class of
small scholars, and to entertain and ben
eft them by her teaching. Three broth
ers had recently come into the church
through the influence of the school. Rev.
Mr.. King reported for the Cong' school
at Lowell. He had a word to say about
what he thought to be detrimental in de-
voting so much time to the Christmas eel
ebration as it is now conducted. Favor
able reports were given from the M. E.
schools in Newport. Owing to a failure
on the part of the Corresponding Sec. to
obtain statistical information, and the alb
sence of representatives from others
schools, they were not reported upon.
The subject ''How to Keep our Young
Men in the Sunday School, was opened
by Rev. c. B. Moodey of Barton. The
speaker had given the subject much
study, but had been unable to learn the
secret of this desirable thing. He found
it possible to retain the larger portion of
the young men whose parents were mem
! bers of the church and attended the school
| themselves. but impossible to maintain
hold on those whose home influence did
not lead young men toward the church
and the school. Judge Stewart Of New
| port, q very successful teacher, had
struggled hard with the problem set
forth In this question, with unsatisfac-
tory results. Rev. Mr.. Jenne of Albany,
had found the secret of keeping his class
well filed with young men in enlisting
the services and the presence of the
young ladies. He had proved, rs he
thought, that mixed classes We're most
successful. His remedy seemed pleas
ant one, at least.
The subject Are Our unday Schools
| Improving" was quite eXtendedly and
ably discu sSed by Rev. A. Scribner of
Newport, and Judge Austin. Mr.. Scrib-
ner thought the reports of the day, OBJ
seryation and statistics all went to show
that in number and influence they were
impr owing. Never has there been so
great number of helps, leaves, quarter
lies, commentaries, teachers meetings,
conventions, ETC., as there are to-day !;
never have so many able men been en-
gagged in work upon the lessons as now,
and never has there been so wide an in
terest in bible lesson study as to-day.
But while all this is true the speaker
feared that the multiplicity ofhelps might
have caused the people and bible students
to allow the lesson to get itself, that
there has become too little hard study,
investigation and thought in the truths
of the bible. He feared the Injunction to
''search the scriptures, after the manner
of the Bereans, was being overlooked.
He referred to the custom sometimes
practiced by prophets and good men of
old, who called the people together and
read to them out of the scriptures, the
laws of God. This was the primitive
method of teaching the scriptures. Mr..
Scribner alluded to the necessity of pray
ing for the light and help that come from
the Holy Ghost in the study of the word
of God.
Judge Austin's remarks on this subject
were somewhat in the line of the above.
He referred to an article in late number
of the Century in which some criticisms
on modern bible teaching appeared, and
thought it well to seriously and carefully
ence to Improvement and our own special
needs. He spoke of the many very ex-
: cellent helps, put out by non sectarian
publishing houses which employ the best
talent in the country to prepare suitable
instructions and helps for the bible STU
dent Mr.. Austin thinks that from yeal
to year, there is a tendency to rely more
and more on the bible text. He referred
to the striking figures, the beautiful i'm
agery and wonderful style of the writings
of the bible. These beauties, with the
fact it contains the ''Wonderful words Of
life" ought 20 make it most attractive an6
important to all.
On the subject ssWhat has been accom-
: plished by the Sunday lSchool Union il
the fifteen years OF its existence, Geo
II. Blake spoke of the social, educational
and spiritual good resulting from The
!, annual gatherings, and the friendly ant
: harmonious relations enjoyed between
the various churches Of the county. HI
referred to the good influence on TIL
Christian people of the county, and tb
henefcient results which might we'll b.
expected in the future from these gath
;, erings.
Judge Stewart gave some intercstin:
historical facts, spoke of beneficial re
= suits in regard to the financial manage
ment of the schools, the better method
of teaching than obtained formerly; til
discussion of not less than 25O subjects