Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-05-31
Sunday School Convention
Joint Convention of Sunday Schools
of Howard and Mitchell Counties,
Held at RicevilIe, May 2I.27.
sEcRErARY's REPORT.

The joint Sunday School conven.
ton of Howard and Mitchell counties
occurred at Riceville last week ard
was success. The Baptist church
was filled at every session. A. NJ.
Walker, of Usage, President of Mitch.
ell county association, presided. The
program was well prepared, the work
ers present and prompt and the re-
suit pleasing and inspiring. Sunday
school workers who were not there
missed feast.
In absence of Mr.. McKy the open.
ing service was conducted by Mr.. A.
L. Johnson, student missionary, WING
will work in Howard county during
vacation. He compared the present
convention to the one held i'll the up
per room, (Acts. y where Christ met
his disciples. The object, now as then,
was to get closer to God--to wait up
on Him-to be filled with the Holy
Ghost, and go home all ahame will,
love for souls.
Sentence prayers were made SO
earnestly and touchlngly as 20 subdue
the house to an impressive silence.
MIR, Lapham, OF Usage, beng alb
sent, |. o. Trotter, of. Elma, read a
pape: on, Ills the Modern Sunday
School A Success III reachins?" He
compared present methods with the
primative, ard, Notwithstanding crti-
cisms, believed the change an lnl.
provement. far in advance of fifty
years ago. Some would do away with
modern helps, but the men who pre-
pare these helps are well versed in
Scripture, they compare various books
and texts, throw light on obscure pas.
sages; explain knotty points and make
a clearer outline than the average
teacher could possibly do. Discard
routine questions and answers; only
use such as will give broader and
more comprehensive view of the lee
son. Aim at spiritual uplift more
than technicalites, for 'success"
means the saving of souls. Aim at a
thorough knowledge of the Bible.
Books which throw light on the Gus.
temso Of Bible terms are .Ben Hur,"
1.-The Prince of the House of David, +"
Titus" and numerous others. Make
Bible history as speciality. If the home
draining of the child is efficient. re.
suits in the Sunday school will be
more satisfactory. The motto Isl" The
greatest good to the greatest number,
spiritual good, and the ultimate of all
effort is true conversion.
Rev. Trimble supplemented by say
ling. "Fire right at one point in the
lesson; avoid many. Make strong use
of the Golden text. The success is in
the manner of teaching.
Mr.. Harlan said that whether a sue.
cess OF not depends on the teacher.
Use helps at home and not in class.
Rely more on the Holy Spirit. Have
heart and mind preparation.
Rev. Trimble said "Teachers must
increase their efficiency. They are
evangelists. The best preparation is
IN youth when the mind is spscept-
able"
H. A. TAFT. of Bonair, being absent,
Mrs. D. w. Kimball, of McIntire, led
the discussion on. ais the Modern
Sunday School Success i'll Holding
Present Members7' She spoke m
promptu, with Bible IN hand, and
proved conclusiyely that the question
can be answered in the affirmative
when the teacher Is filled and re.hlled
with Divine power. In an early day
there was no trouble in holding child.
rem III the school. Then teachers
were backed.by homes that were house,
holds of prayer. Originally the Sun.
| day school was not for christian child
rem but for those net in christian
homes. Now the Sunday school is al
adjunct,a factor of the church. Joshua
Moses and David had no such oppor,
tunitles as we have, and yet Joshua
gathered the tribes together and re,
counted Gods wonderful guidance
and blessing, and he said. rchoose We
this day whom ye will serve, as fol
me and my house we will serve the
Lord" Every modern home should be
such home. Then there would nc
problem confront the teacher rs how
to keep the children IN Sunday school.
Originally the fathers were the teach.
ers but now most teachers are women
and they are not SO positive about
their households as was joshua. Child
rem SO to Sunday school if they 7Oanl
to. 1T the modern school does not re.
tain its pupils it is due to parental
laxity more than anything else, and
this laxity is the peril of the nation to-
day. The parent musf back the teacher.
Mr.. Walker. chairman, recommends
ed memorizing Scripture, and Mr.. M ar
tin, Missionary Of Mitchell Co., SAID:
Teachers must constantly study,
must devote energy to the work and
be students Of human nature to be
successful.
Mrs. Smith said that sanctified social
Influences aud strong, spiritual food
would hold them.
In the absence of j. a. Ewing, of
Orchard, Mrs. j.. H. Bowers, of Ores.
CO, read her paper on ISIS the Modern
S. S. Success in Gaining New Mem.
bers2" There is a business SHE to a
S. S. and this feature must be com.
blned with spirituality and experience.
The superintendent must be live, en-.
ergetic, christian person with fund
of originality and not reticent about
using it. A systematic arrangement
OF classes and the prospect of promo
tons are incentives to pupils. The
secret of winning lies with the teacher
land to be successful must have the