Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-06-07
SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION
County Congregational Workers Met
in Westminster West Tuesday-the
Papers and Addresses.

in westminster West Tuesday-the
Papers and Addresses.
The Congregational Sunday schools
of Windham county held their annual
convention i'm the church in Westmins-
ter West Tuesday. The convention
was one of the largest that has been
held in the past 80 years. The fore
noon session was opened with a praise
service, led by Rev. w. r. Sparhawk G
Putncy after which Deacon c. +.
Thompson of Brattleboro offered pray
er Rev. II. A. Goodhue of Westmins-
ter West made brief address of vel
come, in which he stated that it was
a years ago that the convention was
held i'm that locality Rev. J. II. Reid
of Bellows Falls was elected modera-
tor and Charles r. Prcntiss of West
Brattleboro scribe. Inc reports o.
the schools showed that the percent
age in attendance was the largest in
Brattleboro for the large schools. and
in Westminster West, for the smaller
schools. Bellows Falls had the
largest delegation present.
The first address was on the subject
Christ as a Teacher" by Rev. w. T.
Sparhawk. If we expect great things
Christ was a specialist in the highest
sense. The great purpose of real
teacher is to develop the minds and
souls in his care. Christ had an
overmastering purpose, and taught the
same truth over and over again. He
also established faith in Himself on a
personal basis. The test of His teach
ing was what He made of those whom
He taught
children and the Church" was the
topic of paper by Mrs. George F.
Chaplin of SaXtons River. The hope
of the church is in the children. The
nature of childhood teaches us that
there is place for them in the church.
The church has responsibility over
them that extends beyond the home
and Sunday school. After the read
ing of this paper the chair appointed
Rev. w. r. Sparhawk. Walter A. Gil
bert of Brattleboro and Miss Anna
Smith of West Brattleboro a nominal
ing committee. Dinner was served
on the basket plan. the ladies of the
church furnishing coffee.
The afternoon session opened with
praise service. led by w. a. Gilbert.
Rev. l.. NJ. Keneston of West Brattle-
ing committee reported the names of
Rev. l.. NJ. Keneston. Rev. NJ. F. Hardy
OF Townshend and ~ G. Williams OF
Bellows Falls as a committee to ar
range for the next convention. A pa
per on Some Impressions of a New
Worker" by w. A. Gilbert dwelt upon
the necessity of unceasing labor in
making a Sunday school a slyCessLand
contained numerous" suggestions for
making the sessions more interesting.
paper on The Boys of the
Tdnday School. Mrs. Marshall W.
Downing of Bellows Falls spoke of
the need of classes outside of the
schooroom for boys whose home in
fluences are deficient, and told the
successful working of the Junior Re
public. a boys organization in Ohio.
She closed with a plea to the teachers
to work through the home. This
paper was followed by duet by Miss
Florence Goodhue of Westminster
West and Mr.. Gilbert.
Rev. l.. NJ. Keneston gave a cyclonic
address on The Sunday School as a
Substitute for the Church Service"
He held that Sunday school is not i'm
pOrtant as a substitute. but as a sup
plement of the church. He deplorcd
the tendency to let down the bars in
regard to sending the children to
church, and saw in it an element of
laziness, which is developing a sicklv
set o. Christians. Rev. J. H. Bennett.
of the Methodist church of Putney.
and c. w. Osgood of Bellows Falls
made interesting remarks after which
Rev. Mr.. Goodhue conducted Ques-
ton box in a very satisfactory way.
although he said he did not presume to
represent the concentrated wisdom o
the convention. Miss Mary Cutting
of Westminster West and Miss Flor
ence Pettingill of SaXtons River were
the organists. Each paper and ad-
dress was followed by helpful discus
sion.