Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-06-14

1
listened to.
It was voted that the president be
ordered to send greetings to the Texas
Association now in session.
After announcements, the doxology
was sung and an adjournment taken
The afternoon session opend with
reading the following telegram which
was sent to the Texas Association il
session at Tyler, Texas: 1.-THE Kansa:
S. S. workers greet you in Christ
Read LIST Corinthians XIV, $685."
Prof. Excel lead in singing 'Reyive
Us Again" Prayer by D. c. Ridgway
followed. More singing. DR.. j. G
Haskell, of Lawrence, discussed The
topic, Past History of of the S. S. Ser
vice of Our Churches. He traced thu
s. s. work from the days of catechisn
study in the days of yore down to the
sessions of Robt. Raikes' schools ani
then down to the present system o.
work. The speaker delighted the re
porters by saying that Raikes' wonder
full success was due to judicious adver
Using.
At the close of the address, ten min
utes was spent in song service, aftel
which Prof. Excl sang a solo. A ris
ing complimentary vote was rendered
Prof. Excel by the crowded assembly
1.-THE Present of the S. S." was tn,
subject of strong dissertation by DR.
C. Humble, of Wichita. His remark.
were full of thought, well arranged ant
held the audiences attention to thu
close.
1.-THE Future of the S. S." was The
subject of an able discourse by Rev. W
NJ. Spar. He trembled for the State
if intellectual culture should not be
supplemented by christian training
He made strong plea for more earnest
labor and proper recognition of the
Importance of the Sunday School in
our land.
The remainder of Thursday after
moons session was taken up by forci-
BILE and instructive address by Rev. w.
F. Crafts, the great Sunday School
worker, on ''Detriments to Bible
Study" The gentleman had just got
ten off the train from tedious railroad
ride but yet he held his audiences
closest attention to the close of his adj
dress.
In the evening, the opera house was
crowded, aisles, rostrum and windows,
with an eager, expectant throng gath
cred to listen to the treat in store for
them.
Prof. Excel conducted, in his mimi
table manner, a half-hour's song and
praise service, at the close of which he
sang in thrilling tones solo, "Hand-
writing on the Wall.''
Rev. D. G. Miner, of Manhattan,
then spoke on 'How to conduct the s..
S. for best results" His address was
directed to discussion of the superin-
tendent's work. Among other things
the superintendent should not be elect
ed by the school at large. must have
governing power, enthusiasm, love for
children and sense of the Importance
of his position. In many things he is
a model to his scholars and they look
to him for examples. The excellent
effort closed with plea for a fuller,
wider devotion to the work.
The talk was practical, helpful and
drew the audiences thoughts to a
higher appreciation Of the superinten-
dents work.
After some more singing Rev. Will
bur F. Crafts was introduced and
spoke for an hour on 1.-THE Instincts of
Childhood" He began with compar-
ison of ancient literature with the
Scripture, showing that the latter was
the only book that recognized children.
Then he took up, one by one, the in
stincts of child nature as enumerated
by Froebel: Activity, love for soil, i'm
itation, formation, imagination,
rhythm, investigation, social instinct,
God-trust. The thought that we must
get close to the child actually and in
thought if we would influence him,
was made prominent. This,too, opens
the door to influencing those of older
growth, for
Men are only boys grown tall,
And hearts don't change much after ALL"
The lecture was strong, thought-in-
spring and practical, punctuated fire.
quently with sallies of humor which
put the great audience in broad smile.
Magnificent word pictures held the lis
teners spell-bound as they almost saw
the scenes so plainly depicted.
After dismissal, the delegates,
and the audience, in response to
an invitation from T. E. Dewey, ad-
jouned to the lawn of Hon. C. 81. Le-
bold, where a reception was given by
Mr.. Lebold and the committee on ar
rangements. Special electric light lines
had been festooned around the trees
and scores of arcs, made the spacious