The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-18
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK
Mass Meeting of the Interested at Second
Presbyterian Church Last Night.
PROF. HAMLIn'S ELOQUENT ADDRESS,.
Speaks Of tho Work or the Inter.
national Suudny school Assacia.
tt"n ana Suggests Many Useful
Idc"s For the benefit of His Hear
ers-An Effective Discourse.

While not largely attended. the Sun
day-School mass meeting at Second
Presbyterian church last night was alb
sorDingly interesting, particularly the
magnificent address of Prof. H. NJ.
HanInill the field worker of the Inter
national Sunday-school Association OF
the United States and Canada.
This gentleman has many remarkable
characteristics, chief among which Is
his magnetic personality. and the Curl
Gus. indefinablc charm I'm his speaking,
which holds an audience and compels
Its attention.
A BUNDLE OF COMMON SENSE.
Prof. Hammill is a bundle of common
sense, and he imparts it, or rather diff
fuses II, readily. He began his talk
with an explanation of the principles
and methods of the International Asso-
citation as undenominational and pos
SeSsed of the one purpoSe-to build up
and keep built up the Sunday schools of
the land.
He emphasized the fact that surround
inGs did not necessarily make schools.
He had seen as good Sunday-schools
In the sod houses of Nebraska as in the
finest city churches. Inc main. central
essential was that the teacher should
be the proper person for the position,
In every way thoroughly qualified.
UNITE. INGATHER UPBUII1D.
He took for his text the motto of the
association, United Ingathering. Up
building" The best Sunday school city
In the union In the matter of oreaniza-
tion. he said. was Louisville. chiefly be-
cause of the union meetings of teachers
ana SuDerintendents in the various
schools. and the methods of work re-
Nulting from conference. He mention
ed New Orleans. Augusta and Nash
Vile as examples also.
He did not believe thcoretic union
practicable. lie did not believe men
would be ievelcd even in Heaven in the
matter of beliefs. but said there could
be concord without agreement. The ad-
Vantages OF practical unity had been
proven. All teachers and supcrintend-
ents had nearly the same desires. hopes
and methods. They do not materially
disagree along these lines. and will he
benefited by free interchange of ideas,
discardlng the non-available and hold
Ing on TO the best
WHAT is NEEDED.
The work of the Sunday-school, said
the speaker. was not alone in getting
new material. but in hohlding on to that
which was already in the school \
good idea was to appoint a regular Off
sponsibility OF seeing after the alb
sentees. visitor to the families OF
who remained away.
SENIOR DEPARTMENT.
Another important feature of we'll
regulated Sunday-school he said, was a
senior department, into which the adult
members Of the church should be gath
cred. The Sunday school was not he
declared the nursery Of the church. as
so many people inadvertently alluded
TO IL from the pulpit. 1t was the church
engaged in studying and teaching the
Holy Scriptures.
lie said he did not blame a young
man for not going into a Sunday-school
where there we're none bu; children and
few aged teachers. The seniors Of
the church should be there as well as
the juniors.
HAVE THEY GRADUATED?
The question Is. said Prof. Hamlin:
DO the adult members Of the churches
need TO study Gods Word systcmat teal
~? Then lie asked: Did you ever see
any one With n diploma with the seal
Of the Holy Ghost affiNed. saying that
man or woman knows enough Of the
Word of God?"
FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE.
The speaker emphasized the necessity
and advantages OF a house to house
canvass at least once a year. ana quoted
the examples of several cities to show
the beneficial effects of sucn a system.
he then dwclt AT considerable length ON
the Home Department" for the benefit
of those who could net attend Sunday
school. carrying the Teachings OF the
Gospel TO the homes of such. He con
Guided with glowing eXhortations for
The uplifting of the work and the glory
of God.