The news & observer., 1900-11-17
A LIVELY DISCUSSION.
DR.. Stage Protests Against an Alleged Misap-
preparation of Funds.

DR.. Stage Protests Against an Alleged Misap-
preparation Of Funds.
Last nights session of the Synod was
characterized by a very brisk and lively
discussion over a matter of alleged mis-
appropriation of funds in the Mecklenburg
Presbytery, as rsult of which the Synod
made an exception to the report of the
Presbytery. The earlier part of the ses-
sion was occupied with the public meet
ing in the interests of the Sabbath
Schools
After some routine business was trans
acted, DR.. Daniel had word to say in
regard to the Presbyterian Standard, COM
mending the periodical as the organ of
the church in this State, and showing
how it has expanded and freed itself from
most of the financial embarrassment that
formerly encumbered it.
Prayer was offered by Moderator Nor
ton, after which Rev. Mr.. Seabrooke, in
the absence of Rev. A. A. Little, the
Synodical Agent, read the report of the
Sabbath School committee, in whiche fig
! ures were given to show that the number
of children enrolled in the Sunday Schools 4
is far behind the number of church COM
municants.
The first address was on the Sunday
School in History, by Rev. NJ. G. Shields,
of Gastonia. He defined the Sunday
School as any school where the teaching
of religious subjects took place. 1t is
a great deal more than the nursery of
the church. The Mosaic Law commanded
instruction in religion outside of the fam
lily, and every synagogue had it's service
of teaching. The speaker went on to
show how the Sunday School appeared all
through history.
Rev. A. D. Mcclure spoke on the Home
Department, which is a department de-
signed for those who are unable to at
| tend school. This branch of the work
! enables them to study at home as mem
| bers of the Sunday School. They are
visited by a superintendent of the depart
ment, who reports upon their work. Cards
| of membership are sent out from Rich
| mcnd, and each pastor announces the
| plan to his congregation. The work is pro-
| crossing nightly.
TheS Lesson System was Interestingly
| discussed by Rev. E. G. Murray, who
| spoke of the general feeling of dissatis-
| faction toward the International System.
| It's results are poor, as shown by the
| ignorance of people at large upon biblical
| subjects. 1t is not an educational sys-
| tenn; but is based upon the selection of
| short, disconnected portions of scripture,
which gives rise to the literary method
| of teaching and to devotional talks. The
| function of the Sunday School should be
teaching in it's proper sense, not preach
| ing 1t does not incite to the study of
| the Bible itself What is needed is a
| coherent course which will form natural
| basis for a graded system The speaker
| gave a brief outline of the graded system
| he uses. which is similar to the Blakesley
| System, which has been tried with such
| marked success.
| The elders in the Sunday School was
| Rev. j. T. Wade's subject. He considered
| that the elders of a church were the
| proper ones to conduct the work of the
| Sunday School, because the same man
| cannot properly teach and preach both the
| same day. This is the age of division OF
| labor. Every man must be a specialist.
| There is too great a tendency among the
| ministers to do this work themselves Let
| the elders be expected to look upon it as
| their special province.
| Rev. a. R. Shaw, of Henderson, spoke
| on the Sunday School as an Evangelizing
| Agency, laying out plan of work for the
| schools which,, if carried out, would no
| doubt achieve wonderful results. 1t Is
| for each school every Sunday afternoon
| to hold meetings in the territory adjoin-
| ing and thus build up new schools all the
| time. 1t might necessitate the abandon
| ing of the evening service in the churches.
| but it would more than overbalance any
| harm accruing from that He referred
| to the steady decrease in the number of
/ candidates for the ministry and in the
| number of ministers. This might be the
| very work to remedy that state of af-
fairs. There is always less opposition
to the~establishment of Sunday School
| than to the establishing of a church.
Notice was given that Rev. B. D. Pal
| mer, the colored member of the Synod
had established Sunday School IN Or
ange Presbytery, at Sebora, and would
be glad to receive gifts of clothing
| shoes, etc.
When the report of the records of Neck
lenburg Presbytery were read. there
| seemed to be some irregularity in the
paying of $75 to Rev. j. j. Kennedy out
of the invalid fund. DIR. Stagg protested
that this was a misrepresentation of funds,
and moved the Synod to rescind the act
of the Presbytery by directing it to put
SIS to the credit of the invalid fund. This
was the occasion for a brisk discussion
and the raising of many points of order.
Rev. NJ. G. Shields spoke at some length,
| setting forth that the money was paid to
Mr.. Kennedy, not as salary but as a
| direct appropriation of the Presbytery
| from the invalid fund
After several rulings on points OF order
| by the Moderator, and a brisk discussion
between DR.. Stagg and DR.. Daniel as to
whether or not this matter came within
the jurisdiction of the Synod, DR.. Stage
| Poarc tho IA