The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-01
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
A Mass II Getting of Teachers Held
Yesterday.
They Listen to an Address by DR.. Gilbert, and
Decide to Form State Teach
ers' Institute.

A mass-meeting of Sunday-school tpach-
erS and those Interested in this kind of work
was held yesterday afternoon at Calvary
Church. Rev. T. c. Easton, pastor, called
the meeting to order and stated that it was
expected Rev. Robert Mackenzie would be
present to preside, but he was prevented by
pastoral duties. The speaker would be only
too glad to take the Office but he was I'M
able to remain. lie therefore called on
Rev. John Hannen 10 preside.
That gentleman explained the objects of
the meeting TO be the forming of Sunday
school Institute in California in accordance
with the plans laid out by the American In
stitute of Religious Education of Indiana.
These plans were adopted as models OF a
system arranged by Rev. j. E. Gilbert Cen
eral Superintendent, who has been in this
city for some weeks giving practical lessons
on this branch of religious institution. Mr..
Hammer said he was glad to see so many
people present, for the Snnday-schGol In
stitute was a great force, and now that it
was started it only needed proper encour-
agement TO grow into powerful aid to the
Christian churches all over the State and
nation.
THE ADDRESS.
Rev. J. E. Gilbert, the founder of the
movement, was then introduced to the audi
ence and made a long address He referred
10 the Importance Of the teachers work,
especially of those who attempted to teach
what was in Gods book. Their RESPONSE
bility was very great, from the nature of
their task, the short time allotted and the
necessary work of preparation. While
other teachers in secular schools had five
DAYS in week of six hours day. the
Sunday school teachers were limited 10 one
hour of only one day in the week. The
issues depending on the Sunday-school
teachers were most mOmentouS. AS chill
dTen were brought under right ways OF
thinking and living. so they were prepared
for the duties Of life both rs parents and
citizens.
1t was a well-know fact of eveTyone's
experience. especially IN the matter or re-
lgIous training, but little can be done with
adults in the matter of conversion. The
church Of the future must be recruited from
children who received the careful teach
ing OF trained instructors in their young
days.
Mr.. Gilbert said he would not discontinue
preaching the word to adults by any
means; he would go out into the byways
and compel them to come In. But this was
only one branch Of the good work of the
church. He spoke Of the noble work done
by Moody and other eyangeists, but he
asked where would their audiences come
from if the children were not looked after?
MoMENToUs PROBLEMS.
The present time, said DR.. Gilbert, is full
of momentouS problems, that will have to
be met and solved in this nation before
many years. This nation is bound to have
questions OF public policy arise that must be
met by men and women OF trained Ideas oil
right and wrong, Of firm principles in re-
gard to temperance, social purity, Oboerv-
ance OF the Sabbath, who will be prepared
to act with frmneSs and with the united sup
port of strong public sentiment upon all OF
these national issues.
In referring to the work done by the
secular schools DR.. Gilbert was prepared to
give them all the praise necessary, but
they only touched one side of the education
of the boys and girls. Unless these had
their spiritual nature cared for he predicted
the result would be race of intellectual
sharperS, prone to skepticSm and unequal
to grasp the questions of the day either as
Christians or as good citizens. This age
vas one that called for skilled labor in
every department of life. In law, medicine,
mechanical arts and in theology the best
results were demanded and were obtained
only by employing skilled labor. In teach
ing the public schools no one could hope to
secure permanent position unless he or
she could show by examination and by
practice lHdO IUty Ntlt pltpdISu3 yet Jill
now the teaching OF Sabbath-ScbOols was
intrusted to anybody who was willing,with-
ont any evidence of fitness or of preparation.
The natural result was that the boys and
girls were driven away from the study of
The Bible and were lost to the churches.
A STRONG APPEAL.
In giving this warning DR.. Gilbert said he
was not speaking from a moral view of
the subject, but he had given the matter the
careful study Of twenty years. de closed
with a ferVent appeal 10 the audience to
support the present movement and thus to
help forward the most important measure of
the present century
A tier the address Rev. NJ. NJ. Gibson read
preamble and resolution in favor Of the
work proposed by Dr. Gilbert, and on mo-
tiUn they were adopted
The following committee was then ap-
pointed to carry out the organization of the
California Sunday school Institute: Rev.
w. c. Pond. G.. Geddes, j. w. Butler, H. L.
Gere, Rev. NJ. j. Ferguson, Rev. John Han
men, L. d. Code, T. Pullrn, w. NJ. Searby,
L. b. Benshley, c. Il. Perkins, DR.. n. Bird
and j. HorSburgh. The first annual cOnven-
ton will be held at Santa Rosa on June 9th,
10Th and 18th.