Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19
EFFECTIVE WORK OF LAYMEN
Do Better Work in Some Sections Than Bdu.
Gated Ministers.
SUNDAY SCHOOL INSTITUTE ADJOURNS
Closing Session Devoted to short
Talks on the Mission work
Churches Spring Up Around
Mission Sunday schools.

held last evening, the tlmc being occupied
by addresses, outside Of the prearranged
program. In spite of the suffocating hot
weather the church was crowded and the
same enthusiasm which has characterized
the entire convention was manifested. The
speakers one and all voiced the sentiment
that the session Just closed had been an un-
usually profitable one, and they would re-
turn to their various homes to take up the
work of evangelizing the young with re-
newed energy.
There was n repetition OF Wednesdays full
and interested attendance yesterday morning
at the Interstate Sabbath School institute at
the First Presbyterian church. While the
audience was largely composed of women, a
surprising number of men had detached
themselves from their business responsible
ties long enough to participate in the delib-
~crations and they formed a very respectable
minority. Some changes were necessitated
in the prearranged program at the morning
session on account of the absence of dele
gates, but the vacant places were acceptably
filled and there was no perceptible diminu-
tion in interest.
The session opened at 9 o'clock with a
promise meeting, led by Rev. Charles Will
liams of Sanborn, la. The normal lesson on
THE Laws of Teaching" by Mrs. Matte NJ.
Bailey of Shenandoah, Ia, was omitted on
account of the absence of Mrs. Bailey and
later in the session Rev. S. NJ. Ware of this
city offered a resolution expressing the re-
greet of the delegates on account of Mrs.
Bailey's absence and their sympathy with
her in the affection which detained her.
This was adopted by a rising vote, after
which Rev. T. S. Bailey, d.. D., of Cedar
Rapids offered a prayer for Mrs. Bailey's
recovery.
The subject, 1.-THE Primary Teacher and
Kindergarten Methods" was discussed by
Miss Avice Drake Of Omaha and Rev. Amos
A. Randall of Marengo, la.
Rev. Asa Leard, d. D., of this city was
to speak on SHOULD Pastors Teach the
Children, and How?' but his place was
taken by Rev. Stephen Phelps of Council
Bluffs, who delivered a very thoughtful and
interesting address. Miss Sarah Rice of
Boone, Ia, spoke on plans for Enlisting
Teachers" and this was followed by u brief
discussion on Motives that Should Influence
in Taking Up the Work of Teaching" The
last paper Of the morning was read by Rev.
Charles f. Graves of Shelton, Neb. He
spoke on "Laymen as a Supplement to Our
Ministry in Pioneer and Country Fields"
WORK OF H LAYMEN.
Rev. Graves declared that the question
would more properly. arise why they were
discussing the expediency of this matter.
The record of the past already abundantly
justified the belief that the work of the
laymen was most profitable. 1t had long
ago been demonstrated that God had album
dainty blessed the efforts Of laymen in all
departments of Christian activity. This
was especially true in the Sabbath school
and in the Young Peoples Society of Chris
tian Endeavor and similar organizations.
The speaker deprecated the tendency that
was everywhere more or less apparent to
leave the work of salvation to the educated
ministers. The necessity for educated and
ordained ministers could not be overesti-
mated, but God had never intended that the
call of salvation should be restricted to
them. The Holy Ghost had fallen on all
alike at the Day Of Pentecost.
In the pioneer country, Rev. Graves con-
tended the work of laymen was more
effective than that of the average minister.
The very education and training of the
minister too often operated to create q gulf
between himself and those whom he was
trying to save. The people were apt to
regard him as a person who was inviting
them to Christ, because it was his business
and by which he earned his living. The
consecrated and common sense layman could
do much better. He was nearer to the
people. He knew the motives that gov
erned them and he could minister to their
needs more fully and successfully because
he knew what those needs were.
CLOSING SESSION.
The evening session was opened with
prayer and music, after which Rev. S. r.
Ferguson, synodical missionary, delivered a
short address on Missions" IF you wish
to reach the people who most need the Cos
pei, sdiu he, you must 30 where Iney are.
If you cannot go yourself there are those
who can and will If others will only furnish
the means" He recited numerous instances
where prosperous churches had grown up
from small beginnings, which only involved
the outlay Of a few dollars in establishing
a Sunday school in some hitherto neglected
community. He urged his hearers to give
something and induce others to give to en-
able the workers to go out into these places
and found Sunday schools that all might
have the pOSDpl taught tn them |
Rev. j. b. CuTrens, Sunday school mis-
sionary for Nebraska, spoke on the same
topic and added his testimony to the growth
of churches around the Sunday schools
planted in communities where hitherto no
gospel services had been held. Many of
these churches were still without pastors,
but kept up the school and when possible
secured some one to come and preach to
them. There was a dearth of ministers for
the charges which were rapidly springing
w.
George Perry, Sunday school missionary
for the Black Hills, spoke of the great need
of gathering in the children. The Savior
loves the little children. The hardened
sinner can come to Him and be forgiven, but
he must first become as a little child. The
parents can be reached through the little
ones. They go from the Sunday school and
in their childish way talk Of what they have
heard and the person who would not listen
or heed such topics brought up by older ones
cannot resist the sweet innocence of the
lltlle ones. IL is also III the sunday schools
that the first work is done toward making
the good citizens and faithful mothers of
the future"
VOICE OF GOD IN THE CHILD.
Rev. j. NJ. Wilson took for his topic, And
He Sat a Little Child in the Midst OF
Them" The voice of God Is heard In the
voice of the little ones and they in their
Innocence have moved the greatest and most
powerful minds the world has produced.
They were the inspiration for mans greatest
and best efforts and in them is the hope
of the church in the future. Train them up
In the Sunday school and they grow to man
hood and womanhood and drop naturally
into the church.
Rev. Bracken Of Peoria, Kan, spoke OF the
great need of the Sunday school missionary
work in many parts of Kansas, ana par
~ticularly in the Indian Territory. 1t was
stated there were $4,000 children in the
territory WHO had never attended n Sunday
school and 10 whom the sight OF a church
was as a stranger. There was no money at
present to carry on this great work and he
made an earnest plea for assistance.
Il. $. Sulzer, the Minnesota Cyclone"
was the last speaker. His address was
largely devoted to the teachers, Few
tenchars le said anprpciated the imnortanpe