The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-17
Addresses by Boston and
WaItham Pastors.
Annual Meeting OF the Unitarian
Sunday School Society.
An Interesting Platform Meeting In
Westminster Church.

The church of the Westminster Con-
gregstional Society on Westminster street
was fairly we'll filed last evening on the
occasion of the opening session OF the
annual mesting OF the Unitarian Sunday
School Society and those present were
well repaid for going. II was platform
meeting, with three short addresses by
Boston and Waltham pastors, and Rev.
William r. Furmsn of the olney Street
Congregational Society presided.
The first speaker was Rev. W. Hanson
Pnlsford OF Waltham, Mass, who spoke on
"Sunday School Instruction and the New
Christian" Among other things he said
the new criticism was the same as the high
er criticism--sn endeavor TO get at the facts
or truth. The hindrance TO high living
is q lack OF clear ideas of life and also Of
the Bible. The higher criticism gives
clear ideas about the Bible which help to
higher life. II is virtual re- discovery
OF the Bible. Criticism discloses the fact
that the Bible falls into line with the
great thought OF evolution. Men rise on
the stepping stones OF their dead selves
TO higher, nobler beings. The world is
progressive and the Kingdom OF Heaven
Il beyond, not in, the Garden OF Esen.
Therefore the Bible is good thing to use
in the Sunday school Ii is "living"
work of human history from which we
may learn. Use the Bible TO teach child
rem to know ourselves, Heaven and q
supreme being-God. 1t fills the imag j.
nation OF children and inspires them be-
cause of its reality.
Rev. MIR. Pulsford isl good speaker; |;
not striking in delivery, but with a
strong, deep voice. II anything, he is a
little hard to follow along the main
thought.
The next speaker was Rev. Thomas
Van Ness OF the Second Church, Boston.
His subject was: "Organization in Sun
day Schools. Organization, he said,
was the working together, harmoniously,
of various parts for single, whole or the
higher life, according to Herbert Spen-
Ger. Trying to fit children for citizen
ship, IL made effective, will lead on and up
TO higher social life in the church and
State.
He spoke Of the difficulties in the way.
The apathy of parents is noticeable and
there are few trained teachers to be de-
pended upon. The child knows self and
home; we must give him a knowledge OF
the other self and develop sltruism, or
love and knowledge OF q larger home
To do this, first make the Sunday school
room bright, cheerful, attractive. The
kindergarten method should be employed.
for the knowledge OF the other SELF
have something In the way OF delight to
appeal to the child There should be q
reform in singing, and more of it. In
troduce "red letter days" which will
appeal to the parent as well as tho child.
Take up various prominent people, heroes
or saints, in church or out, by different
classes.
The.second point in organization is
philanthropy, which should be distilled
into the child. Education is the third
point. The one-lesson system is prefer
able. The graded system is best theoret-
ically, but it is not practical in our Sun
day school. There is not enough to give
enthusiasm unless all are studying on