Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-04-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK
THE PREsBYTERIAN TEACHERS
IN CONVENTION.
what was Said and Done at Yester-
day,s Weeks sessiom-Dharacter
and Object Of Sunday schools and
Their Mission.

Special Correspondence Of Gazette and journal.
MDDLETowN, April 14.-Promptly at
10 o'clock this morning the Rev. Mr..
Htonecipher of Dover, chairman of the
middle division of the New Castle Pres
byterian Sunday school Association, called
the meeting to order in the Forest Pres
byterian Church, this town. There were
but few delegates present. Devotional
exercises were conducted by the chair
man, during which time other delegates
arrived and at roll-call representatives of
IL Sunday. schools responded as follows;
Milford, Mr.. and Mrs. Gilchrist; Port
Penn, Misses Eaton, Stuart, Walter and
Mr.. Walter; St. Georges, Miss Belle Davis
and J. F. Clark; Westminster, DR.. W. G
Phelps; New Castle, w. p. Patterson;
Middletown, Mrs. M. +. Buker, Miss
Mary Lippinoott and Miss Bessie Ander-
son; Chesapeake City, j. M. Reed and
Miss Julia Warner; Dover, John A. Niehol-
son; Drawyers, James Janvier and Joseph
Whitlock Grace, the Rev. W. w. Reese;
Elkton, DIR. lamar.
The Rev. w. w. Reese of Grace, Sec
retary, read the minutes of the4last meet
ing, which was held in Dover. After they
had been approved, A. G.. Cox, superin-
tendent of the M. e. Sunday school of
this town, was by unanimous vote in
vited to a seat among the delegates.
The first subject for consideration
being the character and Object of the
Sunday-sohools,n the Rev. Mr.. Mclean
of Odessa, took the floor and spoke for
fourteen minutes. He said the Sunday
school WAS not branch of the church,
neither was il children's church, as
.1an,Nla NV Foolish ay,n,feh IN nalt IL
He did not approve of the session nam
ing any particular lesson leaf, as he
claims IL is only done for the benefit of
publishers of the same, but insisted that
each school be allowed to buy and use
any lesson leaf or paper it may desire.
He insisted that superintendents of Sun
day-schools should be members of
the church and men of God. The Sun
day-school should be made attractive. 1t
is not for general instruction, but he
thought children should be taught sacred
history and geography. He said he
wished the Sunday-school children could
be taken on an excursion TO Palestine he
thought it would be one of the blessings.
He denounced favorites aud did not think
parents or teachers should designate
child or scholar as the "lamb of the
flock" The mother of Ingersoll un-
doubtedly considered him the "lamb of the
fiock.n Children should be taught that
they must be born again.
Mr.. Reed of Chesapeake City, thought
that the Sunday-school was the nursery
of the church and necessary to its growth.
Poor and Goddess homes should be
visited and the children brought to
Sunday-school.
After selection by the choir, the
"Relation of Sunday-school works to
home instruction" was announced as the
subject for consideration, Edward Rey-
nolds of Middletown making the opening
address. He said that as rule parents
leave too much of the child's spiritual
training to the Sunday school teacher.
Parents are responsible for their children
and should allow them time to read books
from the Sunday-school library, and the
church should use great care in selecting
these books. Parents should devote an
hour each Sunday to Bible talk with their
children.
The Rev. j A. Nicholson of Dover,
agreed with Mr.. Reynolds, and insisted
on reading the lesson leaves aud helps.
The Rev. Mr.. Patterson Of New Castle,
said the Sunday school could not take the
place of home instruction. He does not
approve of the lesson leaves, as they have
q tendency to draw the child's thoughts
from the Bible.
The Rev. w. w. Reese said he didn't
believe the leaves were intended to go in
Sunday schools, they were only for sug-
gestions. He feared they would lay aside
the Bible.
The Rev. w. W. Reese, secretary, arose
and asked to be excused and allowed to
return to his home because of sickness in
his family. He was excused and the
Rev. Mr.. Patterson of New Castle, was
made secretary pro tenn.
The question "How to secure partici-
patton of the general church members in
Sunday school work." was then opened
by DIR Phelps of Galena, Kent county, Md.
The speaker, DIR. Phelps, gave the
teachers sound advice, and limited Mt the
neglect of parents and members of the
church and thought teachers could do
much good by visiting their scholars, and
especially interest themselves in the
growth of the schools. The Rev. Mr..
Cater said the brother should have added
s'all church MEMBERS" as they should
have an interest. After q few remarks
by the chairman the convention at 10. IL
adjourned until 1.30 O'Clock in the after
noon.
The afternoon session was opened with
devotional exercises. The choir furnished
excellent mnsic, Miss Rachie Wilson pre-.
siding at the organ.
j. A. Nicholson of Dover, was called
upon to open the discussion on the cate
chism, ''Duty, value and method oi
teaching" Mr.. Nicholson, among othel
things, said 10 be beneficial it should bt
taught and learned while young. HI
believed it to be of great aid in bringing
souls to Christ.
Mr.. Alexander favored it's use. Mr.
McLear regarded it as the grandest thinG
in existence. It was noticeable feature
that while the catechism is claimed to b.
of great necessity in teaching children
none of the speakers ventured to give hi
method of instruction. This would hav
been of great benefit to number o
young teachers, who were present, an,
hoped to hear similar expressions.
The subject preparation needed TO
proficient Sunday-school teaching" wa
taken up by the Rev. Mr.. Patterson o
New Castle He said that teachers shoul'
visit their scholars, and each night an,
morning pray for them separately
Teachers should make an especial effor
to fit themselves for the duties assumed
After few remarks on the same sub
Iect by MIR. Gator and others, the subjec
of "Defects in Sunday-school work an
the remedy was announced by the chai
and Mr.. Gator gave the teachers his ide
of improvingthe schools. He too referre
40 the lesson help and leaves, he favor
their use and believes them to besupario
to all other methods of teaching, but b
insists on the scholars trying to remembe
what he or she learns from them and nc
to sit mum during quarterly review
Mr.. Oaton's views were endorsed by
number of the delegates.
This being tho last subject for discu
sion the chair stated that the associatio
had been invited TO hold its next sessio
at Milford. The invitation being a
cepted. IL was decided, after some debat
TO meet in Milford on Wednesday Il
10th of November next. At 5 O'clock
: recess wns taken until 7.30 p. IN.
The church was we'll filled. The NEE
ing was called to order by the chairma
who, after the opening exercises, intr
duced the Rev. DR.. Worden, gener
secretary of the New Castle Presbyte
Teachers Association. The speaker fore
himself to be Sunday-school worke
He said that the Sunday schools are doil
more for the temperance cause than |
the other organizations combined. IL
st. Louis strike was referred to by d
speaker as "warning from God, and
does not see how the country is to exi
under such difficulties. He thinks '
had better take the American eal
-. l..