Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-02-05
SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.
An Interesting Programme at scr'
Gay Nights McetfBss

=, Notwithstanding the many 9th
,,a meetings held on Monday evenin
a. that Of the Sunday School Unio
Il in the Fourteenth Ward Assembl
ct Hall was fairly well attended, repr'
. sentatives being present froA nearl
a all the schooi- Of The city. Staz
n Superintendent ~. c. Cutler presto
r led.
n Opening prayer was offered b,
IS Superintendent t. c. Griggs.
"a Sister Heesch, accompanied b,
! the choir, sang 'Utah's Vales' AM
!. little Oracle Freeze recited, "Ai,
, CountEy's Flag
!, Assistant Superintendent J. G
a kelson, of the Eleventh Wan
schOol, gave an address on the sub
ject of Sunday School Work" H,
thought that most of the worl
of the Sunday schools devolved
) upon the teachers, as they came
in immediate contact with the
children, and thus exercised a irort
direct influence upoh the scholar
: than did any Of the officers of the
school. The speaker said that one
Of the most important points which
the Sunday school teacher should oh
serve TO ensure success is TO obtain
a knowledge Of the disposition Of the
children under his care, aud adopt
his teaching and methods rs much
as possible TO suit the capacity and
disposition of each member Of his
class. The second most important
requisite was that the teacher should
be fully prepared TO instruct his
class, understanding the lesson well
himself before he came before his
class; and last, but not least, all in
struction in the Sunday school
should be presented in a way 10
make Undressing and attractive.
"Great God, attend, - was excel
lenuy sung by Sister Rose Cushing
and the choir, and Sister Alice
Lidile next reeited Don't run in
debit
Elder William Bradford, of the
Sunday school mission of this
Stake, then spoke, His subject was
the ''Grading Of Sunday Schools. -
He called attention t- the excellent
results which followed the change
In teaching in one large class all the
primary children in our Sunday
schools. No one would deny the
great advantages of this method
over the old one, now happily dis
carded, of teaching small class
es of children and combining
the instruction almost entirely
to the reading Of few verSes by the
members Of the class. The present
system of teaching the smaller chill
dren In one large primary class, and
the teaching being done systematic
ally was accomplishing much good.
The work done in the theological
classes, where principles and not
books were taught, was also accom-
piishing much good in giving the
young men and women of Israel A
thorough knowledge of the Gospel. |
Thus the primary and theological
classes were the pride OF our Sun
day schools but the intermediate |
classes were still in a more or les
chaotic condition. This was much !
to be regretted, and should be early |
remedied by having the interme- |
diate classes organized and con-
Quoted on the same plan as the pri-
mary. and theological classes. They |
should be combined and taught |
systematically, with moral instruc-
lions and less reading than Il now
practices. If this was done the
children would make steady prog
ress from the infant department |
through every grade TO the theologi-
cal class. The progress it is so
much desired that our schools
should make will never be-
attained till every department is
organized and conducted similar To
the present advanced methods of the
primary and theological classes of
our schools. In the present disor-
ganized condition Of the interrne-
diate department, it was the excep-
ton and not the rule for a student to
obtain thorough and systematic
knowledge of the PRINCIPLES of the
Gospel. For this reason some of our
most active primary teachers have
expressed their regret at seeing their
pupils promoted TO some interme-
diate class, as, for the want Of system
and better organization, they would
not make so rapid progress as they
had before done.
The speaker thought that flour
schools were fully organized and
each department was taught with
more system, and had a more direct
object in view, the frequent reviews
which now have so little meaning
would have an added attraction,
their object being to note the pro-
gress made by the students and to
determine their proficiency prepar-
atory for promotion. Parents also
would be led to take deeper in
terest in the Sabbath school work,
aiding their children in their studies
and encouraging more punctual and
regular attendance.
The point had been raised that
his union Of classes would be OBJ
ectionable because it would do
away with some Of the teachers. AL :
'hough 1t would make it possible TO !
with fewer teachers, vet il :
need not do away with any. Their
abors being Joined, they would OBJ
ain better results from their com ,
'ined efforts than could he possible
otherwise, even granting that all :
he teachers were equally capable. :
The want of room was another
obstacle. To obtain the best results I;
ach department should have n sep r
rate room to meet in. But the sys-
em could be made successful even
n one room, and the work could be =
one just as tremendously rs under =
he present method.
Assistant General Superintendent .
ieorge Goddard and Stake Superin- !,
endent John c. Cutler made a few =
and the meeting adjourned IL
'r one month after the benediction =.
ad been pronounced by Elder S. r .,
iarks. a
The singing exercises were IL
lpitally rendered by the Eleventh =.
Yard Sunday School choir, under al
lie direction Of Brother III. A.