The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-05-23
OUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
Annual Meeting of the Cumberland
County Association.
Large Attendance and Great Interest
In state Work.

In State Work.
The evangelical Sunday schools Of this
county are organized into union associa-
ton, holding an annual meeting and con-
vening at such other times as may be deemed
expedient.
The annual meeting for the current year
opened yesterday morning at 9.15, in the
Second Parish church in this city. A good
number was in attendance at the hour of
opening, and the meeting was promptly
called to order by President Fl. Fl. Nevens Of
Woodfords.
An interesting social service was led by
Superintendent W. w. Mitchell.
The pastor of the Payson Memorial
Church. Rev. James G. Merrill, d. D.. greet
ed the convention with earnest words of
welcome, showing not only the true spirit of
hospitality and good fellowship, but live
interest in the Sunday school work.
The statistical secretary, Rev. B. P. Snow
of Willard, stated that the population of the
county is now not far from $4,000. The
number of school age between. and 81
years of age) is 2S,962, while the whole men,
bership of the Sunday schools cannot much
exceed Qncluding officers, teachers and adult
classes) 1900. These figures suggest re-
newed and urgent effort to enlarge attend
ance on Sunday school instruction.
The question "How to keep a
suitable Sunday school register" was
considered In clear and practi-
cal essay by Ernest Turner of Chestnut
street Methodist Sunday school. Mr.. Turner
exhibited chart representing the register
used with decided success in that school.
The subject was discussed by the conven-
ton. A vote showed that systematic reg
lister was not now kept by all the schools
represented The subject and its discussion
made salutary impression.
By change in the programme the i'm
portant topic of teachers meetings" was
brought before the convention by Superin-
tendent Lewis O'Brion of Portland. 1t was
insisted that the teachers meeting is now
necessity and that no school should regard
its duty discharged until it has attended to
this matter. Start at once the teachers
meeting if you now have none, and, no mat
ter If the number be small, perseveringly
follow 1t up. There is success to be had in
this line.
In discussion of the topic Rev. j. G. Will
son emphasized the object of the Sunday
school namely the winning of souls and edi-
fcation of Christians. and said the teachers
meeting should of course consider the lessen
but also should be designed to deepen Chris
tian conservation along the line of Sunday
school teaching.
Rev. j. M. Lowden felt that the teachers
should, by the meeting, be prepared to teach
accurately and Discriminatory, drawing
from the verse and passage those truths and
lessons that are really in it, and no other
truths The things in the lesson are the
matters to be drawn out of it. Draw out of
the passage its meaning. not read into it
your own meaning. The difficulties in the
way of such meetings were we'll brought out
by Rev. e. M. Cousins, MI. Mcdonald
and others added stirring remarks
The second department of the subject,
"How to conduct the Teachers Meetings"
was presented by President Nevens. He
insisted that study of the lesson should be-
gin early. Read on Sunday, and prayerfully
read, the lesson of next Sunday. Then
think and study diligently through the week.
The teachers meeting it not to study the
lesson; that should be done before, but to
consider what is the leading truth or truths
of the lesson. and how to impress the central
or leading truths. Let the meeting be one
for free suggestion and questioning on the
part of the teachers.
The true teachers meeting gives the
weaker teacher the strength of the stronger.
Inc experienced worker renders aid to the
kAnn k.n- Dt.r
impaired to each teacher. The paper Of
Mr.. Nevens was very practical and full of
The subject of .Children's Meetings was
considered in a fresh, earnest address by
Superintendent Fl. +. Merrill of st. Law
renee street. The experiment of meeting
in connection with this church has proved a
great success, with its singing, plenty of
Scripture recited by the children and the
time almost wholly given to the children.
ing and it is beneftting, the Sunday school,
the church and all religious interests.
A vigorous paper on state Work" was
read by Superintendent E. S. Everett of the
Chestnut street Methodist church.
The needs of the sparsely settled portions
of our state, urgent needs, the fact that
these can be met better than in any other
way by the State International Association,
and some of the ways in which the state
work meets these needs were set forth with
VI
benefits greatly all schools which send rep.
resentatives to the state conventions and in
terest themselves in efforts for the needy
districts
The local committee made a yery conve-
nient arrangement for the basket picnic
dinner and contributed literally toward all
that was needed on the tables.
The social service at the opening of the af-
ternoon session was conducted by Mr.. "A. F.
Cox of Portland.
The "Home Department of Sunday
School work received very clear and effec-
tive explanation by Rev. e. p. Wilson of
Woodfords. who showed the method of en-
listing, enrolling and securing systematic re-
ports from the shut in" and all others who
cannot be at the regular exercises of the
school at the church. The value of this de-
partment was emphasized by others In dis
cussion of the subject.
,, The value Of the ..'Superintendents'
Superintendent Brunei of the First Baptist
church, Portland. These organizations are
especially adapted to give larger. more in
spring view of the Sunday school work.
The Portland Union has already proved
decided help to all schools In the vicinity.
These unions may be formed in villages and
In country districts, as well as in the cities.
Interesting remarks followed by Rev. Geo.
b. llsley. of Bangor, president of the State
consider alton in this connection as second to
none that could come before Christian peo-
pie. The superintendent union is adapted
to promote and forward the work In direc-
tions most important.
Rev. A. N. Dairy OF Saccarappa addressed
the convention on the Conversion of Chill
dren." Beginning with the statement that
70 per cent of our Sunday school member
ship is composed of children under 10, he af-
firmed that children may believe, and trust
as Christians, and become the best of mate
ria! for membership in our churches. These
children may not only believe intelligently,
but they may and do serve faithfully as
Christians. Many difficult problems of to-
day in church, and state, too, would be soly-
ed II we could secure the conversion of the
children.
Systematic Giving was the theme of
finely written paper by Superintendent c. F.
Morse, of Free street Baptist Sun
day school, If teachers will
OF the year to agree to give each week def
mite amount and make record Of the name
and sum they will be surprised to see how
the giving will increase. Tell the children
what they are to give; let them give to help
not the school but for the needy in our own
state or elsewhere and they will rejoice to
give, gain the.habit of giving, and become in
terested in all good objects.
Mr.. K. S. Everett spoke of the success of
systematic giving in his own school.
A topic of much interest, personal effort
by the teacher outside the class ROOM" was
eloquently treated by Rev. J. F. Clymer of
Pine street Methodist church. We must en-
ter into the daily life and interests of our pu-