Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-17
Evening Session.
A FINE ADDRESS By BISHOP pETEREIX.

FINE D By BISHOP PETEREIN.
A large audience assembled last even
ing, in the First Presbyterian Church, to
listen to an address by Ri. Rev. Bishop
George w. Peterkin. After singing and
prayer, Rev. j. S. Pomeroy, President OF
the Convention, introduced the speaker Of
the evening.
The Bishops subject was "The Seed is
the Word Of God" He began by speak
ing of the great struggle experienced in
the formation of the Sundsy-school. Chill.
dren were trained and brought up in the
fear of the Lord before Sundsy-schools ex-
listed, but they have done a won
derful amount Of good since
their Inauguration in impressing
the youthful mind of the existence and
omnipotence OF the Divine Being. The sd-
vent OF a general popular movement had
resulted in the present extensive Sunday
school organization, which has done more
for the spreading of the word Of God than
could be estimated. A farmer being asked
how be raised so many sheep, replied; by
taking care of the lambs" This is the
whole thing in a nutshell. The seed
should be implanted in the children that
it may grow up to besr good fruit, The
sword of the spirit is the Word OF God, to
help children on their march to manhood
and ~womsnhood fight against the
evil enemies that constantly cross
their paths. We can easily
see the vast importance of impressing upon
their minds the need of this most potent
and and powerful weapon. Think Of them
as the virgin soil where the seed is soxn
that q bounteous harvest may spring up.
The seed is the work OF God If the Sun.
day School Is the nursery ofthe church as
it is often called, should it not be conducted
in conformity with the church? Our first
care must be to SOW good seed. Look well
to our Nurseries that the right seed may be
sown. l consider it more important to
minister to children than to grown people.
II children are not led to Christ there is
danger. The great object is to firmly
SOW the seed in the child's heart. We
should, in order to properly teach the
youthful mind, mediate much upon the
great truths and facts of Scripture.
We have witnessed a wonderful success
in this Sunday School work IN the past ten
years, and it is decidedly encouraging.
We want not only the study of Gods word,
but we also want its application. The
most needed translation Of the Bible is q
translation into modern and definite sppt
cation that each one may apply its great
truths to himself. There are two things
that are needed in the work. First,
\ large faith in Gods Word,
md second, larger faith
those to Whom w teach that Word. We
must never think Of any child being
the love of God. There is
lot q heart in any child, although
hidden behind q barrier of sin and crime,
,ut can be reached by the Word of God. !
We who are preachers teachers and Chris
isns, to fit us for work need the Word c
thoroughly Infused into Us in order to lead t
he youthfal mlnd and not have the blind }
the blind. God has given into our !
lands His Word IS 9 sword but it IL to be .
eeretted so few of us are suHi. o
iently convsrsant of the use .
f the sword to ward of =
ne enemy's thrusts at she time needed. u
me cutting power Of the svord is Its edge, {
nd the cutting power Of the sword of the j,
Word is its pOint'sp and application. There ia
we should always be prepared. 3
The Bishops address vas plain and in a