The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-06

line second Qdy OF the massachusetts
Sunday school convention opened with
lowering skies that soon began to pour
down torrents of rain on the devoted
heads of the attendants while they
had no effect on the interest or enthus-
iasm that was manifested in all the
exercises of the day within the shell
ter of the commodious and hospitable
Union church.
If there was any doubt on the open
ing day that this was to be the most
successful of all the sessions of the
convention, it was removed yesterday
by the splendid success Of the meet
ings. In spite of the extremely inaus-
picious weather the church was crowd
ed to the doors during every session
of the day, and it was remarked that
the audience was of the very highest
class that could be gotten together,
even in so cultured a city as Worces-
ter.
The addresses of the day, especially
those delivered in the afternoon and
evening by DR.. A. F. Schauff1er of New
York, who is a man of striking person
atty and a pulpit orator of the most
entertaining and convincing kind, were
especially adapted to the needs of the
Sunday school teachers who were pres
emit, and if they did not get an abund-
ance of help and inspiration from his
remarks, 1t was their fault and not
that of the lecturer.
The morning session was largely de-
voted to the work of reading reports
of the various officers and committees
of the association and to discussion
of music in the Sunday schools. At
noon there were several conferences
held by some of the men of the asso-
citation. who are especially fitted to
give aid to the teachers along specific
lines of their work. The afternoon
service had as its special features a
review of the work of the state COM
mittee, which was read by man who
is perhaps best qualified of all the
members to speak of it, W. N. Harris
horn, the chairman.
There were also short addresses by
several of the ministers Of the asso-
citation, who talked along the lines of
the extension of the work. DR.. Schauf-
fer lectured on the subject of 'The Il
lustration of the Word" and his adj
dress was one of the best that has ever
been heard on the subject by a Worces-
ter audience. DR.. Schauffier is one of
the men who are born with a dramatic
talent of the highest order and manner,
the way in which teachers should
make clear to their scholars the sub
ject matter of the scriptures, carried
his audience with him.
The banquet and social hour in the
Y. M. c. A. building crowded hat edi-
flee to its utmost capacity and was a
most enjoyable and successful incl
dent of the convention. At the post
prandial exercises, the guest of the To-
aoI Oh nd of 6N nit had "a
pleasure Of listening to His Honor
Mayor Dodge, who delivered a charac-
teristically eloquent speech of well
come and congratulation to the dele
gates.
In the evening the annual election
of the officers took place, which must
be admitted to be a somewhat cut ana
dried proceeding as far as the delegates
are concerned, as they merely ratify
the action of the nominating commits
tee. who have previously prepared the
list.
There was a short address delivered
by Rev. Woodman Bradbury Of this
city on the worlds convention of the
Associated Sunday Schools which he
attended in July in England. There
were several messages read from mem
bers of the association who were I'M
able to be present, and Dr. Shauffier
again delighted large audience with
one of his unique addresses, his sub
ject this time being, THE way consid-
ered,'' the intention Of the lecture be-
ing to show the teachers in the Sunday
schools the best methods Of teaching
the Bible with the view OF interesting
them in it's fundamental truths.
Owing to the lateness of the hour OF
concluding the banquet exercises, it
was thought advisable to omit the open
parliament or discussion of methods
that it was proposed to have had af-
ter DR.. Schauffler's speech, and con-
sequently his lecture closed the pro-
ceedings Of the day.
The registration was increased yes
terday by about 100 new arrivals from
out of town churches, most of them
being lay members of the association.
The parlors of the church were a busy
place all day, as the Representatives of
the various UNCONVENTIONAL publishing
houses utilized every spare moment
between the session to display the lat
est things in helping literature for the
use of the Sunday school worker ana
they succeeded in doing g considera-
BILE amount of business. They have the
use Of the small class rooms off the
chapel for the showing of their goods
and they We're surrounded nearly all
the time by those of the teachers who
were anxious to catch the latest hints
for use In their work.