The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-16
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS.
Second Bay of the Meeting of the Maine
Association

Baptist church, was very we'll attended
with many interested men and women.
The session opened with the usual devo-
tional exercises, and Mr.. Archibald, who
is the leader of the meetings, continued
his talk on the power of the Holy Spirit,
the in dwelling power which comes to
all who let themselves be brought under
its influence. He spoke of the two kinds
of Christians, the struggling ones and the
peaceful ones. The restfulness of those
who are spiritual, who are blessed by
the in dwelling Holy Spirit; ana by con-
trast, those who exert themselves all the
time, and who make us feel how they
are struggling In talking further on the
art of teaching, Mr.. Archibald tried to
impress his hearers with the necessity of
having charts, blackboards and pictures,
in order to interest the children in the
work. He showed severed charts, which
he had made himself. One of the jour.
MES of Jesus, another of the journies Of
Paul, which he said had been very helpful
to him in arousing the interest of the
young men. There were also other charts
displayed, showing sort of graded sys-
tenn for Sunday schools beginning with
the primary, junior, intermediate and
senior classes working up to the adult,
with a special course, for the normal
classes. Mr.. Archibald has a thoroughly
simple but forcible way Of illustrating
his ideas of teaching, and he brought In
a very interesting way the wonderful
power of Christ, purely from the teach
er's point of view. ''In all his travelling"
said Mr. Archibald, "Christ never broke
one law of scientific teaching" These
fundamental laws are: Example, adap-
tation, CO. operation, system illustration.
defniteness, variety, repetition.
Another point the speaker dwelt upon
was the necessity of having central
point for the lesson and showed form
Of lessons, arranged for three months. in
which the same idea was carried through.
In closing, in order to further empha-
size the thought that we give children
more than they can understand. Mr..
Archibald said he should read descrip-
ton of motorcycle and then call upon
one of the gentlemen to draw 1t on the
board. 1t was an involved description,
full of technical terms, and brought a
laugh from all present at the impossible
ity of SO doing. Thus, 1T is, said the
SPEAKER that we try to teach our children
in Sunday school some truth perhaps,
like the justification by Faith.
The text for the evening meeting of
the Sunday School association was the
study of the child, as to the best method
Of teaching, training and Furnishing him.
A large congregation gathered to
hear the discussion of this most interest
ing question, the members of which
Joined most heartily in the singing, which
preceded the devotional exercises con-
Quoted by Mr.. Ayres.
Mr.. Archibald gave a most practical
and helpful talk, as to the training OF
children and his plea W as pretty strongly
for the child. in which the force of ex-
ample was the special home thrust. In
opening the lecture, Mr.. Archibald called
upon the people to mention certain char
acteristics of a child, and Imitation.
will, receptivitv, curiosity, love, fear. ac-
tivity and Imagination" were some of the
RESPONSES given. Mr.. Archibald gave a
strong plea for the "active'' child, and
begged the parents and teachers to try
their hardest with the active boy. for, if
rightly trained. heswas worth SO much.
A special point was made for teaching
children more self-control in place of
enforcing PARENTAL authority. 1t is one
thing to make child obey you. but it
is another to make him always want to
obey you.
AS to the punishment of children, an
excellent point was made between q
retributive and arbitrary punishment.
"Neysr make punishment more than is
deserved, always punish in love. Try to
follow the treatment which you yourself
have received from your heavenly Father.
Try to say do more often than don't. >
Try always to make the child think try
always to keep him interested and always
give the chance m outlet for his &C.
tivity."
These delightful talks given by MIR.
Archibald are full of suggestions and
anecdotes, and he possesses much tact in
making his points clear and telling.
Tomorrow afternoon after the devo-
tional exercises the practical subject Will
be on "The Art of Illustrating.
Next Sundays session: Evening, $50,
devotional service; 500, Teachers Mis-
takes and Difficulties" conference in the
Normal class. A normal lesson will be
taught.