The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1907-08-28
"Wednesday, August 28. 1907.

- StSUsfSouoys A0SuSk 6os s~Sss
Meeting Of Joint Sunday
School Convention.
The Sunday School Convention of
Sthe Evangelical Lutheran Joint Con-
ference met with ST. Peters congre-
CATION, near Chapin, S. c., August
gil. There were in attendance only
ten of the twenty-three ministers IN
the Conference, fourteen of the hfty-
Eve superintendants, and thirty-eight
delegates. Despite this rather small
attendance, this was one of the most
Interesting and profitable meetings OF
the convention that we have ever had.
The topics were able and interesting
" discussed, and the model lesson
taught by Prof. Bowers, of Newberry
College, was most highly enjoyed.
The sermons by Revs. r. l.. Lybrand,
j. H. Wilson, D. D., and b. y: nv es-
singer were of the highest order OF
excellence. We give below digest
OF the discussions:
On the first topic, "Is the organiza.
tion of a Baraca class advisable"'
An account of the Hebrew word in
Chron. 2O:26 from which Baraca is
derived " as given. Objects and pur-
poses were explained. First class was
Organized by Marshall A. Hudson, OF
Syracuse, N. Y, in the year 1890. 1t
is not the purpose Of the organization
to separate and part from the, Sun
day school, but to be part thereof.
If any desire to do extra work let US
not discourage them.
The Baraca class enters into any
work of the church Or world at will,
it is independent. Not good for Luth-
eran church to encourage any organ
ization that does not subscribe It's
members to some particular faith or
work. ALI church work SHOULD be IN
the name of God.
The classes in our Sunday schools
are enough, do not need any other
divisions. When we seek rest for our
souls in something new, something
aside from the church, we will be dis
appointed. Our church is not ready
to condemn or accept the tBaraca
class at present.
On the second topic, Glow can
the spirit Of benegolence be sttnnu-
lated in the Sunday school?' The
spirit of benevolence is the life 3or
death of the church. It must be sys-
tematic. Men must be interested IN
the work OF the church, which is ac-
complished by the preaching OF the
Gospel. The man that lives for others
is Widened and broadened for greater
usefulness. Benevolence stimulat-
ed by exercising it.
On the third topic, 1.-THE Sunday
school, the Church's Training School
for Practical Service It is a fact
that every active church worker had
his or training in the Sunday school.
The man or woman who refuses to
help in church work doubtlessly was
NOT an active Sunday school scholar;
therefore we must have good, we'll
organized Sunday schools and all the
children should be brought into. the
Sunday school. - s.s.s,1 -
The Lutheran idea is the church at
school. All the Sunday school SER
vice must be of a churchly nature, by
which the children are grounded IN
the worship of the church. The Sun
day school does not belong to the
officers and teachers alone, but to
every member of the church, and
every member should feel that he is a
part of it. ALI the causes. Of the
schnrch should be brought before the
Sunday school, then the members will
be more ready to take hold "of the
work of the church.
On the fourth topic, The Cate
schism." No book outside of the
bible has been translated into SO many
languages. 1t. is string Of bible
peafls. No book contains 50 many
truths In SO small as space. Luther
Intended that this eatechisms should
]. be tauaht in the home. In this we
have fallen far short of the mark. 1t
Is advisable that there be a class in
our Sunday schools whose text book
should be the catechism. We as pas
tors and parents should awake to a
sense of our duty in this matter.
Enough of the devils, tares are being
sown in spite of all our efforts to
keep them out. Our people should be
Instructed in the doctrines of the
church, as taught in the catechism,
before they are admitted into full
communion with the church.
On the fifth topic, "Science of
Teaching" The science of teaching
is knowing something and being able
to irnpart it to others. Teachers should
understand the lesson they are to
teach before they attempt to teach.
Get on level with your pupils. Les
sons for children should be so plain
that they can understand them. Ex-
amples of Christ's teaching while
upon earth were given.
Only thirty-four out Of the fifty-tve
schools sent reports. This makes our
statistics very unsatisfactory. A
comparison with last year shows that
our people are developing along the
lines of benevolence.
The Convention resolved to estab-
lish another $4,000 scholarship in our
Seminary. This action was taken
with hearty expression of interest.
The Convention was royalty enter
tanned by the good people of ST.