The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-01
ILLINOIS SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK.

The annual Convention of the Ill
inois Sunday School Association was
held at Elgin, May IA, Is and 16 in
the First Congregational Church. 1t
was most delightful and inspiring
meeting.
Nearly one thousand delegates, be-
sides visitors, representing various
churches and all parts of the State,
were present. Although composed
of membership drawn from the va
rious orthodox churches, the Associ-
alton recognizes Universalist Sunday
school workers and at the Elgin ses-
sion the delegate from st. Pauls
Church, Chicago, Rev. S. c. Hay
ford, DIR. Canfield's assistant, was
present and found cordial welcome.
At our request he gives the report of
the meeting which follows:
After devotional exercises, the first
session was taken up with reports
from the several secretaries of County
Associations. All of these were en-
couraging, showing a forward move
in Sunday school work all along the
line. Many new schools have been
started and vast amount of mission
airy work done among children and
people who have formerly been des-
titute of Christian instruction.
The object of the Association is to
extend Bible study among all classes
to cooperate with the International
Surday-school Union, and to promote
higher standard of instruction.
There are many Sunday workers en-
gagged, who without thought of de-
nominational lines, are faithfully en-
deavoring to enlist people in the
study of the word of God, and
through this study to win souls to
Christ. We have never seen a more
consecrated assemblage of Christian
workers, nor listened to more wise
and advanced suggestions in the line
of Sunday-school teaching. Every
branch of the work was considered.
Among the many good things taken
up we would select three for special
mention, The Missionary, the Primal,
and the Normal work.
Many parts of the State are yet
destitute of Sunday schools. This
Association has opened schools in
school houses and private homes and
wherever a few could be gathered
together. Glasses have thus been
formed, teachers sought out, and les
son papers and other helps furnished.
This work is to go on and is very
important branch. The Association
is truly a vast Home Missionary or
ganization, well differed and well
equipped and the work goes on with
a most wonderful conservation.
Then the attention given to Primal
work is most commendable. The
session given to this was most inter-
esting. 1t has come to be understood
that the little children need the very
best teachers,-how to present the
Gospel to the child mind in way to
attract and not repel is great study
We were very much interested with
the advice given by one lady who
gave paper on this subject. She
said that when she was a child her
mother used to tell her she must be
a good child and then God would
love her, and that God did not love
naughty children. Now" said the
speaker, "this is wrong; never tell
your children God does not love
naughty children. Tell them rather
that God does not want children to
be naughty, but that he always loves
them. 1t is because he loves them
that he wants them to be good" The
whole of the paper was in this line
and given in a most devout and i'm
pressive manner. In this primary
session, another lady gave very fine
talk, illustrated by blackboard work,
showing how to make the lessons
more useful by exhibiting the geo.
graphical situations of the incidents
of the lesson.
The Session given to Normal was
of the highest character. Five years
ago the work was begun in the State.
Its object is to fit teachers by a
thorough course of study requiring
two years time. One thousand have
taken the course since it was opened.
There were exercises by some of the
graduates of the class of '95. Ger.
tainly this feature of the Association
must commend itself to all thought