The record-union., 1896-04-03

commercial enterprise? What's every
body's business is nobody's business
has proved in our case to be only too
true. The cause must suffer without
permanent field worker, one who shall
devote all his time to the work of the
State Association.
The advisability of employing such
an officer, and the means of securing
funds for his or her support, beg to re-
fer to this convention for consideration.
Should the employment of such
worker be found impracticable from
any cause whatever, your President
would urge that our constitution be SO
amended as to provide for the election
of four Presidents, who shall be
chosen from different sections of the
State, and that the territory be divided
into four parts, and that each Vice
President be held responsible for the
organization of the district assigned
him.
HOME CLASS DEPARTMENT.
A part of the Sunday-school, belong
ing to the Sunday-school, and its pur-
pose is to promote Bible study along the
line of the international lessons, and i'll
connection with the Sunday school.
Its members are anybody and every
body who cannot from any cause what
ever attend the Sunday-school. The
results of the organization of the home
department are increased interest in
and study Of the Bible, larger attend
ance at >Sunday-school, opportunities
afforded of ministering to those in need,
JOY and comfort brought to the hearts
of Christians, and the development of
workers. l recommend that we urge
all our Sunday-schools to adopt the
plan.
HOUSE TO HOUSE VISITATION.
On September 4, 1895, your Presi-
dent and Secretary inaugurated the
first .'house. TO house canvass" in the
territory covered by our association.
1t met with a most hearty response
from the pastors and superintendent,
and on the 18th of March, 1896, the city
Of San Jose was thoroughly canvassed
by over 800 earnest Christian workers.
This date is perhaps too soon to pre-
dict the good to the churches and Sun
day-schools of the city, but we most
confidently expect great ingathering,
and most certainly great good has come
already to those who obeyed the COM
mand, go out into the highways; go
into the streets and lanes of the city
and compel them to come in"
1t may be that there are some here
who are not familiar with what this
movement means.
1 quote from the Kentucky Sunday
school Union for the benefit of such
persons:
WHAT IT MEANS.
1t means.
First-The discharge of an impera-
tive obligation resting upon every
Christian to extend the gospel invita-
ton to all who can be reached.
Second-The reaching and rescuing
of those who otherwise would not re-
ceive a direct and personal invitation
to church and Sunday-school.
Third-The growth, spiritual and
numerical of church and Sunday
school.
Fourth-The increasing of love and
fellowship between Christians Of vari-
Gus denominations.
Fifth-The cultivation and growth of
the missionary spirit in the lives of
those who engage in this work.
Sixth-The compilation of statistical
information of great value in very many
ways.
1 submit that such a movement is
worthy of our most hearty co-opera-
ton.
NORMAL WORK.
I think the time has fully come when
our association, following in the wake
of the more progressive of the Eastern
States, shall adopt a State Normal
course and elect a Normal Superin-
tendent. Why is it necessary?
First-Because the Bible enjoins it.
Study to show myself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed rightly dividing the word of
truth; and,
Second-Because the teacher and
student need just such a training. The
two great fields of inquiry covered by
normal investigation are:
First-The Bible-what is it?
Second-The Sunday school-what it
is, and how to make the most of it,
In these days, when the agnostic
may be found almost anywhere, it is
good that the heart be established We
must know the Book we teach; we must
believe what we teach
BELIEVE THE BIBLE.
/ hear someone say: What believe all
the Bible says?'
certainly do not belive that story of
the food?" Oh, yes, do; Jesus did, and
I am quite willing to take His state
ment hear Him say: But as the days
of Noah were, so shall also the coming
of the Son of Man be; for as in the days
that were before the flood, they were
eating and drinking, marrying and CIV
ing in marriage, until that day that
Noah entered into the ark, and knew
not until the flood came and took them
all away, so shall also the coming of the
Son of Man be.
Well, but how about that very UNI
likely story of Jonah and the whale?
Surely you do not put any faith in such
an improbable statement as that? Oh,
yes, l do; most implicit faith l would
lust as soon doubt the fact of the res
direction / am willing to accept the
testimony of the divine Son of God in
this particular, also. Listen: For as
Jonah was three days and nights in the
whales belly, so shall the Son of Man
be three days and nights in the heart
of the earth" Was the prophecy full
filed? Yes, the old Book is true. 1t
has stood the prosecutions of the past,
and / have confidence that 1t will stand
the opposition OF the present and the
future.
Let US study it more, let us love 1T
more. let us exemplify its teachings
more and more III our everyday life and
conversation.
STATE PAPER WANTED.
1t seems to me that one OF the OBJ
stacles to our advancement as an or
e. a. l,1iz oaf come hatter