Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-06-03
CHURCH SCHOOL CONVENTION

The Second Annual Convention
Of Church School Boards and facul-
ties was held in the Social Hall,
Tuesday, June 3, 1890, commenc-
ipg at 10 am, President MILFORD
Woodruff presiding.
TIL meeting was opened with
singing ave thank Thee, o God,
for a Prophet, "and prayer was Of
fered by DIR. J. E. Talmage.
4 President Woodruff stated the OBJ
ject Of the meeting to be the adj
vancement Of the Church School
system. He spoke Of the many
many difficulties in the way Of this
advancement, and the assistance
which will accompany the laboreIs
in this branch Of the work Of Zion.
He blessed the labors being per-
formed, and expressed his gratifica-
ton at what had been accomplished
in the past.
General Superintendent X. G.
Maeser followed, expressing his
realization Of the Importance of this
gathering. The speaker proceeded
with the relation of his observations
in the schools Of Zion,and the sense
he felt ofthe responsibility and b!ess-
| ings Of those who have taken an in
terest in this movement. What has
been done in the past is the work of
God, whe, by His Spirit has ena-
bled the laior to be performed ac-
ceptabIy.
The circulars issued to the various
boards by the General Board, and es-
pecially Circular No. 5, point out
the path that is to be pursued, and
the requirements Of that circular
viii not be fully complied with for
some years to come. But God has
accepted our simple means and eff
forts and has multiplied them in the
minds Of our students to an astonish-
ing degree. This is the result Of the
influence Of Gods Spirit, and TO
| Him must thanks and glory be Civ
en-. This Is said for our mutual I'M
derstaDding, and this expresses the
whole sense Of the church school
work.
The speaker laid several points be-
fore the convention. II baA been
decided that for the first year each
Of the teachers labor under an an
nual license, and after that time
he may pass an examination aud
obtain n regular certificate. This
matter was explained at some length,
the necessity being referred TO Of be-
coming better acquainted with one
another.
In regRri to the spirit of the
Gospel It is not fully sufficient that
the teacher should have the certi-
ficate Of standing in the Church and
n knowledge Of theology, but ne
must have living spirit and testi-
mony which he can impart 10 others.
Principals, n-some instances, have
not been fully appreciated and un-
derstood as to the extent Of their |
LAHORE. Their work should extend |
beyond the classroom, aud their |
mission is 70 that stake in which they |
are called to labor, their work being 70 |
impress upon the minds Of the iu- |
habitants thereof the necessity OF |
fosteringour churchschOoleduca
Theis influence should be felt in the
Sunday Schools, Y. NJ. NJ. /. A. etc,
50 as to extend the power Of this |
education, that Others may be in |
duced TO be identified with It. All
teachers should be exemplaryli in the
performance Of all dutIes and labors !
In the Church, carrying an in |
fiueDce in the community in which |
they live, and should be above All
gossip.
Another Important point Is in
connection with text books, dis
cipline, etc., which have in some
cases been established somewhat
arbitrarily. The general board, at
the last convention, appointed COM
mites on these various subjects,
AID their IabOrs will be resumed to-
day. Textbooks should not be
changed without the consent Of the
general board, but suggestions as 10
the advisability Of such changes will
Be in order.
Special examinations for Church
school teachers will be held at Lo-
gan, Salt Lake City, Provo, Gun
niEon, and Cedar CITY, either OF
which places can be chosen by any
OF the teachers.
II taachare go ,.-,r4r1 T.. -.
institution, requests should be sent
70 the General Superintendent by
July Is, and the suitability OF teach
ers TO the various schools will be
considered. NJ -
Some OF the committees Were re-
quested TO remain after the meeting,
and those who intend building
should furnish plans Of the BUILDING
to be erected.
Primary schools have been
thought necessary 10 some places.
where academies, seminaries, etc,
cannot very well be organized.
Principals nj Church schools are
requested 10 furnish notes coucern-f
ing the institutions to tile editors Of
local papers, where the latter exist.
In some instances teachers are
not very careful in keeping records
d work, as required in Circular No. =
J, and care should be exercised In
this regard. Twenty-nine schools
are now in existence, and ten more
will open very soon.
Those who have not completed
heir course In certain branches NAV
De permitted 70 attend school AZ
'ome Institution, and this will cause Z
scarcity Of teachers
DIR: Maeser closed by asking the !
blessings Of God on the work. !
President Woodruff asked that
nose who are called upon to teach
he youth would make the effort TO
'eep up in the various branches, and
I the same time bear testimony be- G
ore the congregations TO the work v
cling accomplished in these schools. +
te stated that In only one stake G