Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-11

study and teaching services of the
church. These passing before us in
concise order form the scope. nature,
purpose and opportunity of the work.
The motto for the association may be
expressed in three words, uniting, in
gathering and upbuilding.
The Uniform Lesson.
There is oftentimes among those
who should work together with one
thought and one purpose tendency
to berate and to stir up i'll feeling for
which there is no legitimate reason.
This work on the other hand hopes
to unite all who have common inter
eStS in common work for the adj
valcement of all. A common platform
has been found in the uniform lessons
which have been used since 1872 by |
the greater part of the Protestant |
churches. At this time the interde-
nominational movement practically
had it's beginning. The point of con-
tact is the convention in which the
workers from the various schools
come together for conference, discus
| sion, prayer and Bible study, which
gives encouragement to every worker
to a greater or less degree as all come
| to realize more and more through the
/ interests of this convention as a place
of meeting together that the work of
the Sabbath school draws us nearer
i and nearer together as we study the
i same lessons week after week and are
u striving to save the souls of those who
are lost in sin.
Idea is Old.
| But yet the question recurs time
after time. what has the association
done And to this | wish to call your
: attention more particularly at this
+ time First of all it has magnified the
3 Sabbath school idea. 1t is only lit
t tie more than century ago that Rob
< ert Raikes in quiet. humble way I'M
a dertook to bring to the boys and girls
|, and men and women of his day the
q! blessings of Bible study with a person
q al teacher 1t was not a new idea alto
f gether for as we go back in the history
/. church even in the days of Moses we
a find that these methods have been en-
;. plcyed. But in the day in which
!. Raikes lived there had been de-
. parture from this work. The teacher
:, had lost sight of one of its principal
= means of reaching those who were
- lost and instructing those who were
y already in it's folds. From this small
- beginning there has grown large or
~ ganization, not connected throughout
!. the length of this land as it might be
u but yet connected in the sense that
): all have the same purpose and are
striving for a common end. In the
days of Robert Raikes the public
n school movement as we know it al
e present was developed largely from
ID that which he undertook at that time
'e At the same time we must remember
Of that the work that Robert Railes die
| was largely along the line of the work
Id that is being done today in our public
lg schools. But evidently his purpose
r was to reach those who were not be
It. ing reached with the gospel OF the
H. Lord Jesus Christ. And to bench
S, them much he must instruct them tina
H. they might be able to understand the
Mt word of God for themselves.
a Are Fewer Great Lights.
ia mot much was done with the Sab
H. bath school in the way Of extending
IS its benefits into the work in genera
re until the association was organized. IL
e the early days of the century Their
IN was something of memory work done
Such as committing the catechism ant
re parts of scripture, but in the way 0
AT systematic Bible study and growing
or understanding of Gods word on tn
nd part of every one but little was accom-
~ plished until the adoption OF intel
1t denominational lesson system. Befor
en- this there were even in the churc
lg. those who were regarded as grea
re- lights. men of profound knowledge an
ell spiritual insight; men who could le
the light of instruction on the wor
of God But in this latter day we fin
that there are a less number OF light
er. and more who have general unde
ity standing of Gods word, and who X
es.- themselves are able to interest tn
ev- word to their hearts and lives. Tode
rye the result is that the Sabbath scho
the occupies a large place. The mlnlst'
vas who wants to be alive must mai
ak much of the Sabbath school. The
lis may be on the part OF some tende
rtsI cy to slight it and to give the great
ed. attention to pulpit work, but with u
on. association in the community doing
asst work it soon brings to light that slig
the and neglect and makes it plain to tn
in. individual that the Sabbath schc
toe cannot be sighted or neglected viii
the out doing great bodily injury to t
+ha cause of Christ There must be bul
aro ings no longer with q large room 81
nae. ply for the congregation or the lar
.vs. crowd which may be taken with t
,ns pulpit oratory. But there must be t
ms, ms small rooms for the Sabbath schoo
my - The association in demanding
a, 20 those who are it's members that
,s Sabbath school shall have place
"a. .a the church work and that while 9th
, ~. societies have their place and orga
o ms cation within the church the Saba
',V school must have its place and be +
nm ognized as the foundation work
which every other form OF chul
work is built.
J be Schools Multiplied.
that Second. The association has n
tied tipliea the number of Sabbath scho'
SlnS Not only has the association mag