Middletown transcript., 1896-12-05
SUNDAY SCHOOL coNvENT1o N.


The ninth annual convention of the New
Castle county Sunday School Teachers As
sociation met in the M, e. Church of this
town on Thursday, the delegates arriving
on the morning trains north and south
There were about 80 delegates present rep.
resenting 80 schools of the Pres. Meth. and
Baptist denominations.
At about $50 the convention was called
to order by President, w. K. Crosby of Will.
mington. who has SO faithfully and accept
ably filled the office since the association
was organized.
Rev. l. L. Wood, pastor of the NJ. E.
Church here, made brief but very cordial
address of welcome, to which Mr.. Crosby
made fitting response. urging especially
that the members of the Convention take
part in the discussions, speak to the point,
speak so as to be heard and speak briefly
The first address on the program was by
Mr.. s. A. Baynard, of Wilmington, on
1.-THE Convention, its aim and object" in
| which he gave a very clear view as to the
work to be accomplished, referring the
teachers to the Great Teacher JESUS and
the great text book, the Bible, for their
greatest help and inspiration. An interest
| ing discussion followed in which Revs.
Davidson, Murray Stow, Wood and Prof
Goldey participated the principal points
brought out being to awaken enthusiasm;
| to get information; to feed the lambs, u.s.
| ing common sense; to receive encourage
ment from learning how the work is going
| on.
"What Benefit the Church receives from
| the Sunday School" was the next subject,
Mr.. VIM. T. Morris, of Wilmington, max
ing the opening address, He said that
many slow church receives new life from
| the youthful vigor and enthusiasm of the
Sunday School, and the most successful
churches are these that have the largest
number of Sunday School workers. He
also drew very nice anology between the
nursery and the Sunday school as the
plants that have the care and shelter of the
nursery are superior to those that grow
natural" and ungrafted, SO the young
people reared in the Sunday School make
better citizens and are more useful in the
church than those who do not receive such
training. In the discussion that followed
the scarity of young men and large boys in
the Sunday Schools was noted, and Presi-
dent Crosby thinks the bicycle is chargable
with thinning out the churches on Sunday
and said that anything that dam ages the
church damages the morals of the commu-
nifty.
Rev. F. G. Merrill, pastor of Bap-
tist Church Wilmington made an excellent
address on "The proper use of Lesson
Helps THe deplored the general use of les
son leaves to the exclusion of the Bible, and
suggested several plans by which the Bible
study may be more effectual in the Sunday
School. The greatest of lesson helps is a
baptism of love and the word of God hid
in the heart, the teachers thus equipped
will not fail to interest and instruct his or
her class.
Prof John r. Sweeney. the sweet singer
in Israel, is always great power in the 8.
8. Convention. He was present on Thurs
day, as musical director, and the music was
feature of the day, the song service at the
opening of the afternoon session being es-
pecially attractive, Miss Vina Lynch sing
ing with Prof. Sweeney gave variety and ad-
ditional sweetness to the service, the first
address of the afternoon was by Prof. 81. s.
Goldey. on 1.-THE Home Class Department, +"
in which he told how those who by one
reason and another are debarred from at
tending Sunday School, are entrusted in
the study of the lessons at. home, deyoting
half hour week to the study, the in
f1uence from the home class having been
found as great quickener to the Sunday
School.
Mr.. Thos. McCorkle, of Wilmington,
made practical address on Home to
Home Visitations," which was followed by
very general discussion, MIR. Fooks, Mrs.
Matlack, Mr. Murray and others participa-
ting.
Mrs. Challenger, of New Castle, and one
of the most active. workers in every cause
for the good of humanity, made very tell
ing address on "What can be done in the
Sunday School to promote the cause of
Temperance" which called forth a spirited
and earnest debate, Mrs. Marks, Mrs. Mas
sey, Mrs. Matlack. Revs. Murray, Moore
and Stowe, Messrs. Messenger, Fooks Bay
nard and others participating.
On account of some misunderstanding
with the Z. r. Co. there was no special
train provided for the delegates to return
home after the evening session, which nee
essitated many leaving on the sos train.
The address of the evening was by Rev.
DR.. I. A. McCurdy, on "The Duty of the
Church to the Children of Today" 1t was
very masterful address. and all who heard
| 1t were pleased. Reports of committees, and
resolutions were heard and the following
officers elected, President. w. K. Crosby;
Secretary. Mr.. Gray; Treasurer. Mr.. Hayes.
The delegates were very nicely enter
tained at luncheon and supper in the iec-
ture room Of the church, the Presbyterian
and Methodist Teachers cooperating both
in furnishing and serving the meals. and
not the least enjoyable to the days pleasure
was the hour at the board.
Pc nm sylvania Railroad to Issue Cler-
ical Orders.
| The Pennsylvania Railroad Company an
nounces that for 1897 it will issue clerical
| orders to regularly ordained clerpvmen in