The Portland daily press., 1891-10-16
SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION ENDED.
Rev. w. n. Clark of Mechanic Falls
Elected President.
The Convention Opposed to Opening
the Worlds Fair on Sunday.
More Thorough Organization and
Better Work Resolved Upon.

devotional exercises led by Rev. Mr.. Scott and
singing led by Rev. AS Laid. This was followed
by season of prayer. Owing to the small num-
Der present 1t was voted to suspend the regular
order, and the audience listened to
some remarks about work In Springfield
of the practice school of Christian Workers
by Rev. Mr.. Armstrong of that city who has
charge Of that school, There are many from the
West coming to this school to be fitted for Sunday
school work. When the students come out OF the
school they are fitted to be state and foreign
missionaries, Sunday school superintendent and
pastors assistants.
The committee on nominations presented the
following report which was accepted and the
officers elected, Rev. E. M. Cousins being made
secretary pro tempore:
President-Rev. W. I'll. Clark. Mechanic Falls
Vice Presidents-Revs. o. w. Folsom. Bath !;
2. 8. Cummings, Rockland; Mr.. B. G. Jordan, Al
secretary--Rev b. P. Snow, Yarmouth.
associate Secretary-C. r. Morse. Portland.
Executive Commttee-E. s. Everett, Portland;
Rev. G. d. Crane, Newcastle; Geo. l.. Crossman,
Saco; d. +. Small, West Falmouth; W. X. Allen,
Finance Committee-LewIs o'Brien. Portland;
Z. K. Drlmmond Materville; A. $. Riggs, Farm
ington; q. L: Bailey, Winthrop Centre; f. b.
Sands, Lewiston.
The election of officers was followed by the ad-
dress Of Rev. Leroy s. Bean on strategic Points
In the Sunday School Crusade" He made
strong, eloquent and rather sarcastic address on
he methods employed in Sunday school at the
present time. He derlded the custom now In
vogue Of allowing children to enter the classes
with Lesson Leaves in the hand. He believes in
| graded schools and written examinations as re-
quirements to advancements from grade to grade
An invitation was extended by The Winter ST.
Congregational Of Bath to the convention to meet
there next year, and the invitation was accepted
by unanimous vote
Rev. Mr.. Bean was followed by Rev. @. s. Cum
mings Of Rockland, In an address on Whose are
the Young Men?" The title, as he expressed it,
should have been more properly "Where are the
young men?" Statistics show that about five per
cent only of the young men of this country ar Q
connected with any evangelical church. He gave
some very interesting facts concerning the state
of affairs 10 this state. In Brunswick, Belfast,
Bridgton, Thomaston and Rockland, whose COM
bined population is over %, 900, only 188 young
men are church members Rev. Mr.. Cummings
maintains that large majority of the young men
contract their habits of immortality and vice in
| the public schools while they are under the age
Of 10, and he believes that the public schools in
this way DO more harm than the saloons
The reports of the different counties briefly re-
| ported that the work progresses very tavorably
all along the line. The few who are not organized
will be by next year. and steps will be taken for
the organization of the different townships be-
fore another year.
MIR. Reynolds again gave the convention some
common sense remarks about township organiza-
ton. and tried to- impress on the minds of those
present that sin union there is strength"
The committee on resolutions presented the fol
lowing, which were approved by the convention:
Il R9SOL2,ed That w a nj In I'D fnr a
| great work accomplished during the past year,
and pledge more faithful service for the year to
2. That we discern advance in wider and deep
pose manifest.
3. That we highly appreciate the faithful and
| March, as rendered during portion of the past
| year, and we commend him to the prayerful coop
Grafton OF Sunday school workers.
4. That we regret the Incompetence of the re.
ports OF our work, caused by the meagreness and
| laaccuracy OF statistics given us; and we most
earnestly recommend carefully and hone silly
kept record OF each school, which may be fur
nished when required.
b. That we reaffirm our belief in the use of the
best means for securing better teaching in our
Sunday schools. and recommend the classes of
annual instruction which are annually In session
at our assemblies; and we do heartily recommend
the organization of normal classes In our Sunday
the state the School for Christian Workers in
Sprlnheld, Mass, as an Institution worthy OF our
prayers and support.
which the Bible Society of Maine sustains TO our
ssSunaday school work and we recommend that all
prayer and Offering for its support.
.. That we heartily endorse the thoughts pre-
| sented to us by Brethren Reynolds, SchaufRer
Bean and others to the effect that the quarterlies
| and other lesson helps have no place in the class
while teaching the lesson; and we recommend
that throughout the state every attempt possible
| be made to establish the use OF the Bible only
That we unite with other Christian workers Of
Inc country In urging that the Worlds Columbian
Sabbath; and the secretary is hereby instructed
to communicate this action.
That we reafdrm our conviction that the use of
RANGES to tie coming in Of Chriss tx KiSgGom and
we declare anew our purpose to fight the giant
| evil through the instruction of the young that
| they may intelligently WELD the sword of the
| That we are truly grateful to the Pine street
| Methodist church and Sunday school for their
most cordial greeting and generous hospitality.
| 1oyed with gratitude and pleasure. We also ex
press gratitude to the Superintendents' Union oil
Portland for nntiring and painstaking service,
That we feel especially grateful to our fellow
| workers and Sunday school leaders, Brother Rey
nolds, Schaufier Spalding and Miss Harlow fol
presence and helpful and inspiring services and
| words OF instruction and encouragement, we
would express our hearty thanks.
| For the committee,
/ A. L. DUNN,
GEORGE L. CRossMAN.
1t was voted to have the secretary send to the
| executive committee of the Worlds Fair the reso
luton asking that the fair be closed Sundays.
Rev. W. ii. Clark, the newly elected president
in fitting phrases thanked the convention for the
honor conferred upon him. He also conducted
the closing exercises and pronounced the bene
| diction.