Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-01-21

Trustees, Frank Currier, Will Stafford,
George Silsbv.
Essex County sunday school Convention.
The Essex County Sunday School AS
ISOLATION, which held a convention at
Lunenburg January 13, scored brilliant
success. The day opened stormy and
disagreeable, with bad travelling, pre-.
venting the expected delegates Appearing
on the ground. Only the towns of West
Concord, So. Victory and CRANKY, in the
county, were represented. Outside were
representations from Hardwick. Vt and
Lancaster, n. II. Rev. Byron F. Gustin
of Guildhall who was expected to open
the exercises of the convention not being
present Rev. L. F. Blackmer supplied.
After the singing OF "All hail the power
OF Jesus name" by the congregation, an
address Of welcome was rendered by the
pastor and ably responded to by the
president of the Association, Mr.. +. T.
Forsaith of Nest Concord. Hon. +. D.
Hale opened the afternoon discussion,
presenting the question How can Bible
study be best promoted in the home :"
Prefacing his remarks in his naturally
pleasing way lie spoke of the variety of
subject matter contained in the Bible,
and OF various means and methods of
study emploI ed, and then attacked the
question directly by saying that the more
pupils there were in the Sunday School
the more study there would naturally be
in the home. Putting the right point in
the right place the Sunday School work
ers have mighty influence in the home
in virtue of the interesting nature OF the
Sunday School exercises. He laid special
emphasis on the entertaining of an in
tense interest and a definite purpose i'll
| Sunday School effort and personal inves-
tigatlon OF the Word, closing with the
expression OF a living hope, feelingly ex-
pressed, that the Word might be indeed
"a lamp to our feet and light to our
path"
Next Rev. F. F. Lewis of Hardwick
took the floor in the interest of Normal
work, emphasizing the value of intelli.
gent experience in a teacher of vital
truth Touching some fine points in mem.
orizing and some facts i'll geography
history and biography with the institu.
tions of the Bible, he led up naturally to
that all enhancing fact that however the
Bible is studied we must find and teach
sonal experience as well as from intellect
ual knowledge.
Then followed reports from schools as
to general facts. and tabulated state.
ment gathered from Is schools by the
secretary which was reproduced on a
large blackboard by the pastor, revealing
the fact that ss4 20 of the people i'll Essex
county were members of the Sunday
School. A fearful fact, importing fearful
consequences, and imposing great re.
sponsbilties on the Sunday School.
Reorganization was effected bv con.
frmation of the work of nominating
committee appointed by the president
The list OF officers so confirmed is as fol.
lows:-President, F. 7. Forsaith.
Vice presidents, Rev. W. ]. Mcneil, Lu,
nenburg; Mrs. F. {. Hannaford, Guild
hall: Mrs. Geo. Howard, Concord Corn.
or; Mrs. Myra Lunnie. So. Victory; Mrs
NJ. A. Wilson, CRANKY.
Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Lotto
Barnard of Lunenburg.
Executive committee, ]. T. Forsaith
Miss Lotto Barnard. Mrs. John Cole
Mrs. E. F. Hobson, Mrs. E. F. Blackmer
AS a prelude to the evening session
most excellent music was discoursed OF
organ and violin by Mrs. Sherman Balcl
and Mr.. Alden Vance, who also enlivenet
the occasion later by the very fine rem
dering of an enhancing "Gloria."
Rev. F. F. Lewis spoke upon the edu
cationalpossibilities of convention work
giving significance to discussion Of vita
Importance, displays of literature, exam
nation papers, and then brought to til,
front the primary department. He fur
Their expressed himself upon the render
ing of suitable music, which he evidently
appreciated. After singing Hold the
Fort" Miss Jennie A. Silsby rendered
The Other Wise Man" beautiful read
ing from Van Dyke. rhe audience, which
nearly filled the house, was entranced b,
the graphic description of the varied
scenes in the lite OF the other wise man as
he passed through various vicisstudes in
search of the Great King, and Il hush as
of death pervaded the place as the climax
was reached 1t was an elocutionarv
effort, beautifully fitting. delightful in
the extreme. 1t was a solution, in part
at least, of great prob'em-tIow to
complete the effectiveness OF such gather
ings. 1t will long be remembered by
those present as delightful and helpful
exercise.
Then followed thoughtful paper on
"Intermediate Work." by Mrs. P. F
Marston of Lancaster, N II. 1t was very
| practical and helnf,,l richly illustrating