The Somerset reporter., 1909-07-15

\
organized adult Class was practicable
in the country or small village as
well a. in the large cities, and told 81
the results of several classes. The
brotherhood idea in such classe. does
not detract from the interest in he
church and Sunday school. Tn
stronger the brotherhood, the strong
er is the church. 1t is practicable -
have the adult class meet with TIE
| school during the opening service, but
the closing part may be separate.
What an adult class car do to aid tae
church, the prayer meeting and the
Sunday school, depends upon the
church that forms il. But il can set
the pace Of the work and can fOrma
late the general plan OF the church. II
war Mr.. McColley'5 opinion that
mems classes for men, and Women's
classes for women, were better than
mixed classes, because tie women
would do all the talking. Laughter.
The best plan for organizing adult
classes is to start with small nun
ber. Have two or three meet tOgeth
er the first sunday and bring IN the
new ones gradually, each one helping
to bring in others. One Of ne meth
DDS for promoting a strong class spirit
is to give the men something TO do.
Have special sermon for the mems
class and get them TO church, and let
them conduct the service. The littie
red class button makes them acquaint-
ances among strangers. The best plan
for transferring the young men and
women into the adult class is to have
the sunday school graded, and when
they have reached the proper age,
they would pass into the adult class
During the week an efficient commit
tee should visit sick members and
carry flowers, minister to those needing
help and encouragement. Frequent
ly members of the class who are not
church people are found doing this
work in their own way and much
good is the result. The secret card is
one OF the means used by organized
adult classes to lead men and women
to Christian life. One large class is
better than several small ones as
| there is inspiration in numbers. One
of the best methods for conducting
the lesson is to ask questions, and
especially i'll the beginning to ask a
question that will rivet the attention
of the whole class. The teachers in
the class room should have no duties
to perform excepting teaching the
lesson, but during the week he should
call on the men and learn their names,
characters and dispositions. The best
classes are taught by laymen, although
there are more taught by ministers,
but the ministers have enough to do,
for there is already too great demand
on the minister's time.
The business of the session was next
taken up, and on account of the large
territory covered by the Sunday
School convention in Somerset coun-
ty, it was voted to organize the sec
tion above and including Norridge-
wock into a district to be known as
the Upper Kennebec Sunday School
Convention. This division makes
three districts in the county, the
other being designated the Southern
and Eastern Districts. The commit
tee on nomination reported as fol-
lows: President, Rev. n. S. Hill,
Madison; vice president, p. S. Long
ley, Solon; secretary and treasurer,
Mrs. Belle Spaulding, North Anson;
superintendent of departments, ,ad ult,
George Viles, Madison; home, Mrs.
A. P. Foster, Madison; teacher train
ing, Rev. A. II. Calhoun, Norridge
wock; elementary to be supplied from
Bingham. The committee, con-
ssting of president, vice president
and secretary were made committee
on program.
On motion of Rev. Mr.. HIATT it was
voted that the meeting be held once a
| year, the date to be left in the hands
| of the committee. Rev. Mr.. Beede
! invited the convention to meet at
Bingham next year.
The last on the program was
"Teacher Training,o led by Rev. H.
E. Lufkin, who said that it was the
general opinion that anybody could
teach a class in Sunday school, but
that trained teachers were as neces-
sary as in the day schools. He said
in part: To organize and conduct a
training class of prospective teachers,
have them study the teachers train
ing course instead of the other les
sons and in one year they can tit
themselves for teaching. 1t is well to
have graduation exercises and di-
plomas for those completing the
course. All the equipment needed
for the training class is the little book
of the training course and black
board. 1t is better not to supply as
teachers in the Sunday school until
the course is finished. The advantage
of community class is that there is
strength in numbers. The teachers
training library should consist of four
books, "Teaching and Teachers y
"The Teacher, the Child and the
Book, ," "The Point of Contact" "The
Study of Child Nature" This course
could be taken effectually by the
present officers and teachers by TAX
ing it at some other time than the
Sunday school hour. The spirit OF
the teacher training class is kept alive
and in touch with others by alumni
associations in the county or state.
The requirement for securing an in
ternational diploma is to complete
the course in less than one year, and
on passing examination to have not
less than 70 per cent.
Ia the evening praise service was
held in the Congregational church,
after which Rev. H. E. Lufkin gave
an excellent illustrated lecture on
"My Trip to Rome and the Worlds
| Sunday School Convention. This
was greatly enjoyed by the large com-
pany present.
Besides the many delegates attend
ing the sessions from the four
churches OF the village, the following
were present from adjoining towns:
Charles Blackwell, Mrs. Viola Ma
guire, Ethel NJ. Manning, Agnes NJ.
Longley, Jennie NJ. Briggs, Jennie l..
Spear, Sadie r. Merry, Mrs. G. \,
Brooks, Daniel Quimby, Mrs, Charles