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

better WORK ana emphasizing lllS hilu
of training as means OF successfully
putting forward the work on every
hand. So that the individual school
may receive the benefit, even IN the
smallest places, of those who have lar
ger schools and facilities for conduct
ing the work along these lines already
And we can advise those who are
seeking for better teachers, to endeav-
or TO have those whom the would use
as teachers to be trained before en-
tering upon the work,so that no longer
will the superintendent and pastor
have to go begging for Sabbath school
teachers, but they will have many who
will be prepared to teach because they
have studied the methods that have
been successfully used and have a
working knowledge of Gods word.
Then we can expect that there will be-
large results in our school because the
teacher. who is the essential factor,
will be in the best possible position to
do the work"
Enthused by the success OF the sun
day school institute held last evening
at the First Congregational church in
this city, a good number of the men,
bers of the association here and from
other places in the district assembled
this morning for the second meeting OF
the convention The hours of the morn
/ ing session were devoted to the work
as arranged by the committee on pro-
gram, providing principally for the IN
/ struction OF Sunday school workers IN
| the methods of carrying on the work
! that have been found most successful
| in various parts of the state. Various
! departments of the work were dis
! cussed by workers who are thorough
| ly familiar with it through practical
/ experience.
Devotional Services.
About 9 o'clock this morning the
convention was called to order and
| devotional exercises were led by Rev.
! M. Jameson of this city. After short
prayer and praise service the regular
program was begun
i Home Department.
The first period of the exercises was
devoted to the consideration OF the
Home Department" The opening
''scussion of this subject was by Mrs.
B. Short. state superintendent OF
!; home department. Mrs. Short, in
very interesting manner, told some
thing of the conception and growth OF
this part of the s lday school work.
She told of how IL older members OF
the church were in this way kept in
4 terested in the work of the Sunday
school. The work of this department
is primarily to give those adults who
cannot attend the regular sessions OF
the Sabbath school some of the advan
tages of organized effort. While sep
arated from the school they have
fixed relation to the school and take
much more active interest In Its
, work. Mrs. Short told of the success
, that has attended the work in this lin
, and spoke OF plans for the extension
, of its influence.
: Normal Glasses.
: At 10 o'clock the subject of Bib
5 Normal Classes was taken up for dix
\ cussion. Rev. William Murchie. VIII
addressed the convention at the opel
ing session last evening, had been pr
s in charge of this discussion by tn
S committe on program and led in il
! consideration The primary object {
J. the Bible Normal classes is to prepai
O teachers for the Sabbath school b
Is giving them an efficient and thoroug
s training in the methods for teachin
# the Bible Lessons Throughout tt
p years of Sunday school work thel
II has been felt a great need for son
r provision for men and women WI
ID could be called on to take charge
is class i'll the school in case of II
a absence of one of the regular teac
l. ers. This was at last supplied by Il
e. formation of the Bible normal classe
n In these classes it is the object
* those attending to familiarize thel
st selves with the lessons with speci
is view to assuming the position of
ID structor. Such classes have ben forl
e. ed in many schools and have be'
found valuable auXiliaries in the
lie work.
he The Children.
I'd Mrs. A. R. Paddock next gave an
d. teresting talk on the subject of '.Hc
~ to Teach the Bible to Little People
u In this discussion Mrs. Paddock to
in OF the primary work and gave eXa
NJ pies of methods that can be used
ce interest the little people in the ST
he day school as well as placing befo
be plain and simple manner that it W
We make a lasting impression upon thu
od minds. This part of the program W
ne especially interesting to all those. {
NY gagged in the Sunday school work a
many suggestions were given that W
be be of great value to the workers
he their home schools.
he
County Association.
AS the closing feature of the MOI
lst ing's session a general discussion w
I'll engaged in as to the value and mann
ect of conducting a county associate
ou- Mrs. B. F. MITCHELL state field work
nd led this discussion. Mrs. Mitchell b
for number of years been engag
as field Sunday school worker and d
ing this time has become thorough
lid familiar with every department of t
I'VE work. Her suggestions as to the
lay cessity and methods Of keeping up
we county organization was received w
&C. great interest. Other Sunday sch,
of workers from various localities in t
ing district joined in the discussion p
will senting the question as it touches I
of local conditions of the various schoc
ro- 1t was time for the general exchar