Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-23

-. AI' -AsSdhhAA cdDiiiltSu d TepOIt iu6
the written replies received in response to
a series Of questions which were sent out
last fall to all the leading colleges of the
country for the purpose Of ascertaining to
what extent biblical instruction is given.
From Y colleges Al replies were received,
and in almost all of these the Bible is used
to greater or less extent as text book,
and the interest in Bible study, as rule,
seems to be on the increase.
The final paper of the morning was on the
theme, What Concerted Action is Possible
and Desirable?" read by Rev. J. B. Shearer,
D. p, the president OF Davidson College,
The program for the session this after
noon at o'clock is as follows:
Devotions-Rev. M Ross Fishburn.
Theme-"The Bible In Winning Souls y
Paper by Rev. A. c., Dixon. D: D.: discus
D. D. -of@
Reports-American Tract Society and
American Sunday School Union.
Theme-"What More Can Be Done to Car
ry Bible Truth to the n-Church- Going
Pcpulation?" Paper by Rev. L. 7: Ora
ham, D. D.; discussion opened by Rev. L.
B. Wilson, D. D., and Rev. ]. L. Kelley, II.
Yesterdays Late Session.
At the afternoon session Of the congress
yesterday Rev. DR.. Alexander of the West
Street Presbyterian Church conducted the
DID, of Washington and Lee University,
Lexington, Va, presented the theme inc
Modern Sunday school Idea and the Scrip
ture Plan of Child Culture" He elaborated
the Jewish method of instructing, by which
the child was under the charge of the par
ents until his tenth year, thence to his
thirteenth year under the instruction of the
synagogue rabbis and teachers. they
were required to memorize portions or the
Scriptures, so that they became thoroughly
familiar with the law and the prophets. 1t
would be well for the Sunday school to en-
body more Of this method in the modern
system of instruction.
Rev. Dr. Blakeslee of Boston, author of
the Blakeslee Lessons, followed DR.. White
with a Paper on THE Sunday-school Les
sons
The evening session was presided over by
DR.. ]. NJ. Gregory. The music was fur
nished by the children's choir, an organiza-
ton formed by Mr.. R. S. Fountain. The
devotional exercises were led by the Rev.
Mr.. Belts of Asheville, N. c.
The first subject discussed was Religious
Education and Social Reforms" The speak
er was DR.. Kilgo
He expressed the opinion that general
reform Is necessary, and that pessimists
and optimists are alike too radical in their
views Of the conditions Of the day. Every
BODY had solution for all the evils, and
therein lies one of the greatest difficulties.
There is need Of reform in the SOUTH"
said DR.. kilgo. THE slave Of the south
is still in shackles. To execute the needed
reforms the twentieth century will demand
a greater than Cromwell, a greater than
Lincoln"
DR.. Kilgo said that the colleges of the
land are not doing their duty in the mat
ter or giving Christian education, and that
as between ignorance and unchristianlike
education he regarded ignorance as the
more to be preferred. Christian education,
ne said, was needed in the poor places
where the ministers who held luxurious
appointments would not go and where the
most power ard brain were needed. No
wonder that there was unrest and unbelief
when the factory girls and boys Of his
state locked with envy from their cabins
on the luxurious stalls for the horses of
the factory owreTs.
Difficulties of Pulpit Instruction.
DR.. Wallace Nutting, pastor Of the Union
Congregational Church, Providence, R. l..
read paper on the Difficulties of Pulpit
Instruction. The first difficulty with
which the preacher has to contend is the
competition of other voices, and the claims
Oh all sorts OF sects and societies, religious
and otherwise.
The second difficulty is the unsettled
condition of religious thought. The hear
ers assert that the ministers preach rad
ically different doctrines. while the min
listers insist that the hearers are widely
separated in their beliefs. The difficulty
OF the preachers problem is greatly in
creased by the fact that many of his con-
gregation are inclined to regard his utter
ances as the expression of his private opin-
ion, and hence, destitute of that Divine
authority with which they should he in
vested. Again, the real or supposed trite-
ness of the theme constitutes difficulty
which is by no means inconsiderable.
DR.. Hugh Johnston, pastor of Metropoli-
tan M r. Church Of this city, followed
Dr. Nuttlng In the discussion Of this topic