Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-03-08

! Isle, read before the Deer Isle and u
/ District sunday School association
l was asked for paper, and as 50 many
! phases of Sunday school work have been
/ presented, ii seems to me that the time
allotted 10 me may be we'll spent in dis
cussing the convention. that beng the
gathering place OF all the schools, and
where many new IDEAS originate, or al
/ least are passed from one TO another.
/ Is it worth whzIe to have conventions?
/ This question seems to * settled In the
I affirmative: then IL j. of course worth
I while to give some thought to making
these gatherings as helpful and en- gyatie
( As possible And here let me say that the
( few thoughts which ! shall present are not
intended dugmas, nor are they given
with the expectation that all viii agree
with them, but simply to bring UP the
ideas for discussion, 10 which ] Will Ei.t
most of the time allotted TO nay "a per.
Also, as this paper Is prepared in advance
( 81 receiving the programme, it cannot be
intended o reflect en- any Of the da.uc-
or plans Of this present meeting.
tlTst, then. let everyone who has any
thing 10 do in the way of paper. or al
dresses have sufficient time for prepara-
/ ton. This think, has always been done
here, thanks to our efficient acting presi-
! dent. Next. let each one who promises
to DO thing, do L II paper is prom
1 ised and announced on the progrA mme
+
tend. let the paper be put in the hands Of
someone else who viii read ii, not. per
haps. a. well as tie writer could, for no
one can give the erdct meaning Of every
sentence as the author can, but II will not
leave blank 10 bt filled. Ii would also
be well il alternate- could be appointed To
iii vacancies If any Of the speakers fail to
attend.
Then have the convention opened on
time. II the president Is detained by any
untoward circumstance, let him depute
someone else to open the meeting before
his arrival on time. These meetings gem
orally commence with praise service. and
that can well commence whether all the
officers and other functionaries are pres
ent or not, and If the appointed iedCer Is
not there, let it be understood that v mo-
ever j. present may open the service at
the stroke of the clock.
Also, do not give too much time To this
service. | have often heard the remark:
"Oh. well, its no matter If we are late, II
j. only the praise service first But II il
was understood that this would gin
promptly ana not continue over fifteen
minutes, which is about the average time
given To papers and discussions, people
would be more anxious to be at the meet
ing in season. II the opening of a SUNDAY
school or day school were put off till all
the tardy ones appeared, the school would
soon be demoraIized. 80 viii the congen-
ton. Be prompt.
The que,, ion box i one of the most in
teresting of the exercises, and it Is geuer-
ally lett till the last, when people are get
ting anxious about home matters
Would il not be well to have il come
earlier? Or. better still, a. a question oc-
ours to anyone any time during the ses-
sion, have il sent 10 the desk ~ pages APP
pointed for that purpose, and let it tie
answered by the president or someone APP
pointed by him, as opportunity offers?
by the way. pages thus appointed save a
great deal OF confusion II communication
Is desired by mem bers in different parts OF
the room.
The collection is another very impor-
tant item, and this is often post pOned TIL
some have left. Would it not Be better 10
have this early in the afternoon, or al
least whenever in the opinion of the
proper officers the audience i. at its flood
of mem bers?
Let The convention be a parliamentary
drill, not to be too stiff ana formal, but
each speaker should at least address the
president and be recognized by him.
One very un parliamentary thing that Is
often practiced in business meetings Is
that OF discussing a question after vote
on 1t has been passed. The Sunday school
convention should be school OF usage
for the pupils who attend, and they
should be taught by the example of their
elders that when a motion is made and
seconded II Is open for discussion tefore
the vote Is passed, but not afterwards /
convenience at convention is TO have
the secretary provided with seat and, if
possible, table, on or near the plat torn
This Is sometimes omitted. and il is often
hard to catch all the items which should
be recorded, besides being inconyenient
for writing. Also, many speak so low
that il is difficult to hear them Cultivate
the art OF speaking distinctly, and sutii-
GENTLY loud to be heard by the person at
the greatest distance from the speaker.
Don't whisper or talk in a low tone to
your neighbOr; if you did not come to
hear " hat Is said or read, someone lust |
behind or in front of you did, snd YOU can |
easily destroy all his enjoyment by
carrying on conversation which might |
as well have been done eIsCW here No
body need take this unless it belongs to
him, but it Is large item in the success |
of convention.
Don't let the noon intermission be too I
long and so run the afternoon session be- /
hlnd time. We can all have dinner at /
home every day, While the convention i
only comes two or three times in a year |
The arrangement Tor a strictly picnic |
dinner, everyone carrying his or her own /
food, Is very sensible one, and /
must in time prevail ii We are to make /
these gatherings a success, for if the en- |
PERTAINING school has to furnish a dinner I
Tor even part OF those who attend it be- /
comes burden, and some are Obliged TO /
lose some part of the session in conse-
quence.
Let everyone attend whe can do so, and |
come with the intention TO give and re-
ceive all the good possible praying be- |
forehand that Gods presence may be over
all Then treasure up and carry to our
home schools all the improvements sug-
gested by the different speakers and |
writer's.
These are few OF the items needed for
success, and / hope others Will be forward |
giving further suggestions or in dis
odssing the adyisa bility of these