The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-01
A WORKERS TRAINING CLASS.
A Paper Read by Secretary CandllSh On
That Subject.
ITS METHOD, OBJECTS And PURPOSES.
Uow the First Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation Wa formed-An Agreement
Should lie ~signed-The Effect.

The annual district conference OF the Nor
folk district of the Young Mems Christian
Association of Virginia was held IN Newport
News yesteaday. The Norfolk district IS the
first one of the six in which the state is
divided, and comprises the following coun-
ties. Accomac Elizabeth City, Gloucester
Greensville, Isle of Wight, James City
Mathews, Nansemond, Norfolk, Nortaamp-
ton. Prince George. Princess Anne. Southamp-
ton. Surry. Sussex. Warwick, ork.
The district contains the following Associa-
tons Eerkley. Cape Charles City, EastVllIe'
Fortress Monroe. Hampton, Newport News
Norfolk. Portsmouth, Smithheld' ouHoIA'
William and Mary College.
The follow ng are the members OF the DIS,
trict committee. a majority OF whom at enied
the conference. W. -. VOORHEES, chairman
Norfolk j. D.. Langley. secretary, Norfolk
Berkeley. J.. T.. Whit Portsmouth W. D.
Dyre. suffolk, T.. II Parranore Hampton
G. C.. Kent. Jr.. Newport News; Colonel
Charles Bird. rortress Monroe. tate score
tary II. -. Williams was a.sJ in attendance.
Among the interesting papers read before
the conference was one by Mr.. Alexander
Candlish. secretary OF the Richmond Assocla-
tion. The paper. which had tor ls sublec
The Bible class. and has Il a place IN every
Association" read as follows:
THE BIBIE CLASS.
Has the Bible class a place in every Associa-
tiony
10 the majority Of Christian men this ques-
ton is answered in tie affirmative. yet, con-
sidering that people who know least of the
methods Of the Association Of lmparting
knowledge hold the opposite view, it may be
necessary TO elgcidate the matter by making
and answering a few questions relative to the
Word / Of Uod. What is I . Bible is q ques-
ton often asked by sceptic and not infre-
quently by the superficial peruser OF lts
sacred pages. and We answer that It 10 a IL
brary OF s~lxty-six hooks written by from
thlrty-two to thirty-siS authors speaking the
Hebrew, Greek and Chal aic languages, and
Its production emanated through the "
OF God IN men during a term OF sixteen cen
turtles that II was utterly impossible for the
different writers to cOncOct or arrange any
scheme whereby a cunnIngly-deylsed fable
could have been placed before succeeding
generations. And we also state that lts
spiritual teachings can only be gained by the
tuition which cometh from God through man.
THE FIRST ASSOCIATION.
Believing therefore that this book is the
power Of God unto salvation 20 every man
who believes its records. our Brother George
Williams. Of London. Eng. being fred by
NAI wv Va O0AH ALA - @ EANAAG AN"N#N WV
10 his fellOw-man. invited three young men
who were employed in the same place of bust
ness a. himself 10 meet him IN his rooms, and
there with prayer they opened God : Word
and sought by the AID of the Holy Spirit 70
obtain knowledge Of him OF whom Moses
and the prophets had written. and thus the
first ioung Mems Christian Association was
formed in the year 1871. Thus we see that a
Bible class was the foundation of q work
which now iourishes IN cities and towns,
having an aggregate membership OF over H.
000.
Personally. I do not see how any Associa-
ton can prosecute the work intended for 1t
except one or more Bible classes be held.
AS we are aware that there are young men
continually coming to our cities and towns,
and as they naturally seek out companions,
they visit the Young Mems Christian AssOcia-
tion, and, being in the minority Of cases well
received. are introduced 20 Christian young
men. who may. by God help. win them for
the Master. They are then invited TO attend
the young mems meetings and IT is at this
juncture. when a young christian starts out,
TINT he realizes the need OF Cod MOrd IN
his head. as well as in his heart. | consider
II necessary, there ore. that in every Assocla-
tlOn r conversational Bible class should be
held. and / mean by that a full exchange Of
ideas be fostered Ivy the teacher, that heshould
prepare himself by asking questions and
anticipating answers. and thus will he be IL
q position TO benefit the class.
THE TEACHER
The teacher who has the happy faculty Of
seeing a subject from many staudpoints is
best able 10 teacn a class. and thus be will no
able 20 put questions that will meet their COM
prehension. While the cla-s conducted on
the questioning plan Is preferable for the de-
yeloplng of young men, get. when the secre-
tary finds that they have not been used 10
speak in public. it is riht hat he should de-
velop them gradually IN answering questions.
Subjects taken up IN a conversational Bible
class should not be OF abstract form. Tut. on
the contrary. should be more easily under
stood, such as the miracles. parallels and
biographies.
Tie latter is generally appreciated, because
the majority OF men love 10 study human ma
ture, as they hnd so much material in their
own experience 10 draw from. IL is unncces-
sary tor every association 10 have a Bible
class Of the order described. because zeal
without knowledge ia dangerous. This is
shown often ia young men who arc earnest
workers. yet their knowledge OF the context
OF the verse may place them in very awk-
ward premises when in conversation with an
inquirer VIII has head difficulty instead of
heart difficulty. This Is shown very clearly
in a book entitled '365 Self Contradictions Of
the Bible. which. when each of the seemingly
opposite verses are placed together. convey 10
the superficial observer a strange cOntradlc-
ton OF the Bible. For instance. We read in
Matthew xvii, D. that Judas went out and
hanged himself, and We also read in Luxe x.
81. 60, thou, and do Likewise 81 followed by
the startling quotation, And whatsoever
thou dost. DO quicklyn-John xiii. .. The
context explains the seeming contradictions.
THE MgTHo
As to the method of teaching when we speak
of a conversational class, it may be well TO
state the method. Surprising the topi card
stated that the lesson would be The -" eeding
OF the five thousand - the following questions
would be in order: The place from whence
tie Master came his followers: describe the
scenes en- route TO the place where the miracle
was performed. what actuated these people
TO follow him: did they think he would
supply their bo lily wants did the changing
of water into wine occur efore or after this
why was it necessary 10 have the e0ple TO
sit down IN mites what IN tive did the
Master have in supplying their bodily wants
etc etc. Then allow five or eight minutes
to gather from the class the lessons they
have obtained from the study OF the
lesson Too much importance cannot
be laid on this point as 10 often
happens that a member of the class
may have e spiritual diuculty which the les
son has thrown light on o. 1t may be that
some member Of the class has an idea that
the teacher or no one else may have voiced:
II is necessary TO ask for the lesson