The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-06-11

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was changed to monthly and was
named The Sunday School Teacher
Quite number of schools at once
adopted it. During the first year,
there were published 1000 copies
of the Teacher, and 10000 of
the lesson paper. But before the
close of the year, Mr. Vincent was con-
vinced that he was called to labor in
his own denomination. He therefore
withdrew, and went East, but continu-
ed TO prepare the lesson throughout
the year. Rev. Edward Eggleston
then became Editor. He took up the
scheme where his predecessor had drop
ped them, and by his personal force
and literary skill, he brought it into
wide repute, and raised the Teacher to
the front rank as the very best expo
nent OF S. S. thought and work. With
in or yrs. it attained a monthly
circulation of $4,000 copies, and the
scholars lesson plan more than 35O0OU
But one thing quite necessary to the
success of the movement, was the regu-
lar recurring of the National Sunday
School Convention. There had been
none for ten years, and its need
was greatly felt. 1t need not here be
detailed how this convention was hail
ed, but it met in Newark, N. j. April,
1869, aud was one of the best ever
held in the country. AT the semi
annual convention of the Albany Co.
Sunday School held in November The
committee on Union Lessons reported,
that of the "a schools connected with
their convention, 2S were using Union
Lessons. Of these, l3 were using the
series published in the National Teacn-
er of Chicago, and 6 were using the
Berean Series. Of the schools using
the Chicago Series, 4 were Presby-
terlan, were Baptist, 3 Reformed, l
Congregationalst and l Lutheran.
Of those using theBerean Ser
les, were Methodist | Baptist,
and l Union. Coming to feel more
and more the need of Union Lessons
a committee were appointed to ar
range for a convention to be held in
indianapolis, in 1872 at which time the
subject might be again presented and
earnestl y urged. Mr.. Jacobs was char.
man of the committee, he presented
the subject and foundthe response
gu te general. After an earnest
discussion it was decided to ap-
point committee to arrange list
of lessons for 1872, it consisted of
Drs. Eggleston, Vincent and Newton,
and Rev III. G. McCook, and B. f.
Jacobs. They met Immediately, and
insisted that the outline of the scheme
must be formed that day. DR.. Newton
and Mr.. Jacobs, were obliged to leave,
but the rest began the work of select
ing the lessons. After brief work,
they sent card to the publishers, say
ing, that at that late hour they found
it impossible to prepare list of lessons
that would be at all acceptable to the
public, and they thought it best to de.
fer action until the matter was thor
oughly discussed before the National
Convention. Mr. Jacobs returning and
hearing of this, recalled the notice and
called meeting of the committee. He
said "We have been appointed to do
certain work, and not to discusss
whether it shall be done or not and we
have no right to decline TO proceed.
Mr.. McCook declined TO take any part
in it, and DIR. Newton had not returned
but the remaining three made the Sc
lectons for 1872. The list was taken
before the Indianapolis Convention and
after considerable debate was adopted.
A committee was then appointed to
select a seven years series of National
Union Lessons. The Committee con
sisted of J. II. Vincent, Warren
Randolph, John Hall, Richard New
ton, A. L. Chaplin, Geo. II. Stew
art, b. f. Jacobs, p &. Gillett, A. G.
Tying and II. p. Haven.
j. NJ Gibson and A. Macailum, from
Canada, were afterward added. But
while this plan was seen Uoo) good
enough to be national, it was believed
that it would be made better if it were
international. So while MIR. Jacobs
was seeking the national idea, Dr.
Vincent was in correspondence with
Sunday school men of London and
Edinburg, with the hope of making it
international. By some of these men
it was thought to be impossible, while
others received it with joy,and thought
1t would be grand thing to have the
teachers on both sides of the Atlantic,
studying and teaching the same lesson
hu
and anxious to DO all in their power TO
bring it about. BY earnest and per-
sistent work it was brought about and
the scheme was made International.
and it was not until this point in its
development was reached that the Sun
day school idea OF our time was fully
born. The arrangement of the first
seven years lessons was as follows:
The first year was divided between
Gen. and Matthew. The second be-
tween Exodus and Mark. The third
between the period including Saul
and solomon and the] of Joshua
and the Judges and John. The
fourth and the first II chap. of Acts.
The fifth between the kingdom of Is
rael and the missionary career of Paul.
The sixth between the kingdom of
Judah and Mark The seventh was
an attempt to glance at the remaining
portions of scripture and gather as
much as possible in the lessons of a
year. AT the National Convention
held in Atlanta, Ga, June 2S, 1873,
new committee were chosen charged
with the duty of selecting the course
OF lessons for the ensuing seyen years
The committee consisted of Rev. Vim.
cent, Methodist, Rev. Hall, Presbyter
ian, b. f, Jacobs, Baptist, Rev. Ran
dolph, Baptist, Prof, Gillett, Motho
dist, Rev. Newton, Episcopal, Rev
Palmer, Presbyterian, Rev. Cunnyng
ham, Methodist, f. Fairbanks, Congre
gationalist, Rev, Broadus, Baptist, DIR
Baugher, Lutheran, Rev, Warden
Presbyterian, MVica, Rev. Pres. an,
Rev. Potts, Methodist The Englisl
committee appointed by London Sun
day School Union were f. Z. Hart
ley and w. III. Groser. Th
manner in which this committe