The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-22
STATE SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
Another Interesting Meeting Of the
Convention Held in the Baptist
Church Yesterday.
The Morning and Afternoon Spent
in Discussion Of Sunday
School Work.

0OAOOA "OAAs
Addresses by A. H. Nelson and W. s. Bell
ut the Evening Session-Pro-
grammc for To-day.
The programme for the morning and
afternoon was carried out as advertised.
The most important topic was the discus
sion of the subject, ''Do not present Sun
day school methods tend to mechanical
preparation and teachings of the lessons?"
The meeting was much more interesting to
all delegates, as they had an opportunity to
become better acquainted, and the pro-
ceedinRs were animated throughout. An
other interesting topic was, "The superin-
tendents' difficulties" which was ably
handled by the numerous speakers. The
proceedings were interpreted with songs
and informal discussions which were found
to be very interesting and which will doubt
less result in much good to the Sunday
school cause in Montana.
The state Sunday school convention
opened last evening with the usual song
service under the direction Of j. w. Eddy,
choirister.
A change was made in the programme as
was heretofore published and the address
by Mr.. Nelson was omitted, and Rev. ]. W.
Sanderson, of Bozeman, spoke upon the sub
iect, "The New Territory" Mr.. Sander.
son said in the beginning THAT he wanted
to boom new territory. That it is q terri
tory that is easy of presumption. Ihat IT
is territory that has been before specially
surveyed and yet was one that has been
much neglected. This new territory is the
young life facing us at Sabbath school and
in our Sunday school classes. 1t is the life
of the children. Although we may boast OF
the greatness of our state and its many re-
sources, yet Montana is nothing compared
Il is young region that will need irriga-
ton, and the water for the same is the
water of life; nothing else. The opportun.
tiles for cultivating this new land should
be grasped while they are at hand.
"It is more true than ever before that
now is the accepted time for us to work IN
this field
At the conclusion of this address there
was another song, after which the president
introduced MIR. VIM. Reynolds, who spoke
for short time upon the subject, '"Tem-
perance in the Sunday School," He began
by saying that it was not his purpose to de-
that q temperance lecture is not in place in
Sunday school convention. He did not
believe it was wise action for an organiza-
ton of this kind to adopt any particular
line of policy in reference to temperance.
II am not a specialist; I believe in teach
in its regular definite order. I believe We
can not teach the gospel to-day without
teaching temperance. ! would not allow
any teacher in the Sunday school who ls
using liquor. I believe in having temper
ance organizations in connection with our
Sunday school work. I believe in pledge
in Sabbath school. The liquor traffic is
gospel more than any other to-day.
If we want to destroy the evil of intern
perance we must strike at the roots of in
temperance itself. And l am happy tc
know that the great specifc-the great cure
for all sin, is the gospel. :,
After another song by the convention the
Rev. w. s. Bell, missionary superintendent
of the Congregational churches and Sab.
bath schools in Montana, spoke at some
length upon Normal Lessons
He said he was glad to be with the con-
vention, and thought he could appreciate
perhaps form some estimates of it's results
He said he believed it to be truth that III
you have any right next Sunday to stanl
before your school or before your class as {
superintendent or as tea cher, it is because
God has called you to that work. This Sun
gay SCHOOL WOrk Is u very llpuTtauG Oue
We are not always able to see it's import
ance, but in this case think we can. The
greatest need of Montana to-day: her great
est need in the future, is men: and the Sun
day school is doing the work of furnishing
men consecrated to the Lord Jesus Christ
The Sunday school is a responsible worl
and if God has called US to the work, that
call implies that We are to prepare for it
One of the greatest hindrances to good
work in the Sunday school to-day is the
lack of preparation on the part of teachers
The teacher should have knowledge, fol
knowledge is essential to good work. The
teacher should know what he is to teach
and be thoroughly conversant with the
bible. He should have retrospective knowl
edge and should be familiar with chronicle
gy and geography. The bible is a divine
revelation and he should know something
of how it came into it's present condition
We should know something about the pur-
pose of teaching the bible and how we may
best apply its truths to the condition of oul
hearers. How are we to secure this knowl
edge that is SO desirable? 1t can doubtless
be best secured by the normal class and
hope that one of the results of this conven.
tion may be the formation of norma
classes throughout the state of Montana.
! Following Rev. Bells address the conven
tion joined in the song praise Him, Praise
Him." after which the benediction wal
pronounced by Rev. Spencer, of Bozeman
and tho convention adjourned.