The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-19

WITHOUT A PROSPEROUS SUN
DAY SCHOOL THE CHURCH CAN
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SCHOOL
ATTENDANCE SHOULD NOT
CEASE w1TH THE PASSING OF
YouFa4THE sPEAKER's con
cLUsIoNs.
sunday morning, at the First
Christian church, the pastor Rev.
C. NJ oBphsn6 ipraached on the
inspiring topic, "The Sunday School"
IN the presence OF large con-
eregatIon, in which we're many
Sunday School workers OF other denom-
nations. a synopsis of Mr. oliphanes
address IS as follows:
The Sunday School is not huge &C.
cleslastlcism maintained and directed by
mans authority, but an instrument Of
God for lnstructlng people in the way
Of the Lord. II is difficult to find It's
parallel in history. In England, Cana
da and the United States there ase over
100, 100000 English speaking people. over
@, 100000 OF the people OF the United
States are Sunday School workers. The
sight OF 20OO,O 900 people crossing the Red
Sea Is not to be compared to the null
titudes now Instructed in the Sunday
School. All theS study the same lesson.
This has the effect OF unitYiug the peo-
The value OF the Sunday School is
seen in the following facts:
lit is the church studying the BIZ
BILE. II is the church nursery where
children are trained in the nurture
and admonition of the Lord" Youth Is
the seed time Of life. Elghty-four per
cent OF the converts to Christ are from
the Sunday School and these are for
the most part intelligent Christians. A
large Sunday School makes q large
church. This fact needs to be more full
iy appreciated than It II, Irresponsible
lily, ignorance OF the needs and indit-
ference must be removed before the
church awalSens to the Importance OF
the Sunday School.
2-The Sunday School teaches the re-
ligIon OF Christ. The pupils are I'M
pressed with the power and the beauty
of the Christ as Savior and Friend. The
principles Of HIS holy religion are
taught and thus people are brought
back to God. Were all in sympathy
with the purpose Of the Sunday School,
there would be better appreciation. Like
the artist, who was looking with I'm
tense interes! upon picture. and in re-
ply to the question why he looked so
long upon the picture, said, Had YOU
nine eyes you would be FaVlshed as ]
am"
s-The Sunday School is a teacher OF
morality. The liquor dealer was asked
why he wanted q Sunday school bog to
work for him IN preference to others.
seeing he was free thinker. He said
that the Sunday School boys were
taught to be honest. This testimony,
coming from this unexpected source,
shows how the Sunday School is viewed
by people on the outside. The first
President Harrison was Sunday school
man. His gardener at Washington
asked him to purchase dog to protect
the fruit from bad boys. He replied:
Better set Sunday School teacher
over the boys" The morality taught
by the Great Teacher is the kind taught
In the Sunday School.
At Is n teacher o: good citizenship.
Here Is taught the two-fold lesson OF
duty to country and duty to God.
Regard Tor the Lords day Is empha-
sized and our country cannot prosper
without this righteousness exalts a
nation" All righteous principles need
full to broader. better and more
ChrIst-like citizenship nre here taught.
sit is the solution Of the social prob
lens OF the day. The Golden Rule Is APP
piled. The Christian idea OF brotherhood
takes the place of the sole concern OF
paR and profit. Libertinism with all It's
evil influences, can be seen In the Dl-
vine mirror OF Christ, who exposed Il
and taught the highest liberty. Habits
OF Temperance, justice and charity are
taught. Tho highest duties toward one
another are taught In the Sunday
school.
G-Promotes the cause OF Christian
missions. The lessons taught are large
iy missionary The ehiidren's day exer-
cises lead to larger missionary spirit.
The children are taught to be cheerful
glvers to help those in need OF gospel.
Their sympathies reach out to the utter
most part OF the earth. The church OF
the next century will not be annoyed
with the missionary spirit since It's
members will be those who will have
taught the fact that the gospel IS all.
IN the future the Sunday School will
have the following things:
l-.Better accommodations and equip
ment
2-The teachers will be better trained
for their work.
3-The superintendent will devote hs
exclusive time to his work and will
draw his salary as does the pastor. The
church will feel that money expended In
this way will be wise investment.
"A more intense Interest and more
loyal support on the part OF the church.
The age limit ., Sunday School at
tendance disturbs many. Many ore
disposed 10 think II unwIse 10 attend
Sunday School after twenty years OF
age. The Bible knows no age limit IN
the work. We should he In the Sunday
School ne long rs In church work.
Are you in this work? II not, why
not?