LIBRARY OF PRINCETON AUG 1 1 2005 THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BV 1505 .W6 1889 World's Sunday-School Convention (1st ; 1889 : The World's Sunday-school Convention, held in the LIBRARY OfpRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THE WORLD'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONVENTION: THE CONGREGATIONAL MEMORIAL HALL CITY TEMPLE, LONDON. A COMPLETE RECORD PROCEEDINGS DAY BY DAY, JULY i TO 6, 1889. jfleintno 1l3. IRcvcll : : New York : 12 bible house. astor place. Chicago: 148 amd 150 madison street. publisbcr of Evangelical literature In compliance with current copyright law, the Etherington Conservation Services produced this replacement volume on paper that meets ANSI Standard Z39.48-1992R (1997) to replace the irreparably deteriorated original. (oo) 2005 INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. LIBRARY OF PRINCIETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THE WORLD'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONVENTION. AN INTRODUCTION. Tile suggestion that a conveuliou of Suuday-scliool -workers from all parts of the world be held iu the city of London, Eng- land, during the year of 1889 having been favorably considered by the International Executive Sunday-School Committee at their meeting held at Chautauqua in 1886, was presented to the International Sunday-School CJonvention of the workers of the United Stales and British North American Provinces, at the Convention held in the City of Chicago, Illinois, in June of the year of 1887, and unaninrously adopted. The work of prepar- ing for the Convention was left to the International Executive Committee, and to representative workers in Foreign lands. The presence at the Chicago Convention of Mr. Edward Towers, one of the honorary Secretaries of the London Sunday-School Union, made it easy to secure the co-operation of the London Sunday-School Union, and through them and by correspondence the co-operation of the Sunday-school workers on the continent, and in other lands Avere secured. The details of the Avork in America was intrusted to a special committee, consisting of B. F. Jacobs of Chicago, Illinois, as chairman ; W. A. Duncan of New York, Lewis Collins of Kentucky, J. C. Courtney of Georgia, and Lewis C. Peak of Ontario. A similar committee was appointed by the London Sunday-School Union. The greatest problem was then to secure a sufficient number of delegates to make the long trip across the ocean; and to arouse enthu.siasm and to overcome this difficulty, it was proposed that arrange- ments be made with one of the steamship lines to charter an ocean steamer, or at lea.st to secure accommodations on one ship for all the delegates who were willing to make the trip together. For this purjiose a special committee was appointed on transpor- tation, consisting of W. N. Hartshorn of Massachusetts, W. A. Duncan of New York, and E. S. Ormsby of Iowa. Arrange- ments were finally made with the Cunard Company, which re- sulted in our securing for the delegates the steamship Bothnia. The committee on transportation issued a circular, and entere- upou the loug and dirticuU task of correspoudiug with the dele- gates in all parts of the country; the effort was rewarded with success: 243 persons, delegates to the World's Sunday-School Convention, engaged their passage on this now celebrated steamer. These were not all the delegates from America to the Convention, for a large party from Canada, numbering nearly fifty, took passage by the Allan line ; and there was also a con- siderable number who went on the steamship Nebraska, of the State line, while others sailed at various dates on various steam- ers, all to meet in London on the first of Jul}', D. V. It is impossible to give an account of other voyages or to re- late the experiences of those who went bj-^ various ships other than the Bothnia, but of that voj'age it is thought best to insert a brief account. THE VOYAGE OF THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL STEAMSHIP BOTHNIA. In response to the circulars and almost countless letters written by Mr. W. N. Hartshorn and the various committees and indi- viduals, a party of nearly two hundred of the delegates gathered in the Metropolitan Hotel, in the city of New York, on Tues- day evening, June 16, at 8 o'clock. It was an occasion of great interest ; many of the workers were acquainted with each other, having met in conventions in different parts of the land, and some known to others only by name here met for the first time, but it was an enthusiastic Sunday-school gathering. Through the kindness of J. S. Paine, Esq., of Boston, a large and handsome silk tlag had been prepared as a souvenir of the occasion, and at an informal meeting held at the parlors of the hotel, Mr. W. N. Hartshorn presented the Hag to Mr. B. F. Ja- cobs ; Mr. Jacobs replied briefly and in a few words outlined the plan suggested for the voyage and the convention. An earnest prayer for God's blessing was offered by Dr. Warren Randolph, of Rhode Island, and the meeting closed. The next morning the delegates accompanied by a large number of friends and Sunday-school workers of New York, Brooklyn and adjacent cities, gathered on the wharf and on the decks of the steamer, and after a few words of salutation and good-bys. promptly on time the steamer left her dock, and amid the cheers of the friends on the dock, " The first pilgrimage of Sunday- school workers across the ocean " was begun. A well-known poet. Rev. W. C. Richards, D. D., addressed the following to one member of the party, and it was re-arrauged for all. HON VOYAGE. If Icrvciii wistu'f were but favoring uirn (ir nmw Weird churiii might lurk iu our farewells, That perils of the treacherouti deep dispels ; Oh. frieuds your voyage sped by our fond prayers, Should be so fleet, so free from all sea cares, (As ouly some rare night dream [jarallels Or wild tale of Arabian lietioii tells:) The English sky might greet you unawares, You are going from us to yoiir home work, yet (The home work, dearest to your hearts at least). Where mighty London spreads a tempting feast Of Sunday-schools in world-wide congress met; Well have you won onr blessings on your way 1 Yet your return shall mark the liap|)ier day. A dek'gate writing to oue of the leading i)iipers, niiys : " Tbey tliiit go down to the sen in ships, and do busine.ss iu great waters, the.se see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in tlie deep." From Northern Canada, and from Florida, from New Brunswick and from California, from almost every State, Territory and pro- vince of the North American Continent, Sunday-school delegates gathered at the Cuiiard wharf. New York, and tramped up tlie gaugplauk of the good ship " Bothnia " on Wednesday the 19th of hist mouth, off for a holiday. And where could harder workers be found tlian this .same band of Sabbath-school workers, or men and women who better deserved a holiday? Off to the world's metropolis to attend the great International Sunday-school Con- vention. Off to rest from ordinary tasks for awhile, and to fill themselves with a grater enthu.siasm for their work than ever, by mingling in holy fellowshii) with .some of the noblest spirits in the great JNIaster's service. Many delegates had already gone iu other ships. Some w-ere to follow in a swifter steamer, but the majority chose to travel with their standard bearer, Jacobs, in the "Bothnia." " OUR VOYAGE." How bright, how glad to me the day When out upon my ocean way standing on deck of Bothnia grand, I gazed on fast receding laud. What favored band that steamer bore ': Tow'rd far off Britain's Island shore; And what a goodly company Together sailed, the deep blue sea. IIo^^' swiftly pass the hours aloug. In converse sweet or sacred song. And morn and uoou, and eve and night Made up one round of pure delight. I think of this like some sweet dream. Or rippling sound of fairy stream. And wonder now when all is past How happened my lot to be so cast. It matters little now to me That I was sick, so sick at sea; For friends were kind and ever near M'ith hands to help and words to cheer. And all the qualms that Neptune sent, Came all I know, with good intent, And all but made me relish more. The rare good things I found on shore. That sea, the mighty wonderous sea, What charms it had and has for me I With its long roll from shore to shore, And waves on waves, forevermore. I gazed and wearied not at view Of ocean wide, and deep and blue ; And always in those depths could see God's picture of immensity. Blest memories of sea and land, Of voyagers, a happy band : Of scenes and sights, all strange and new, Of friendships formed, both good and true. Long I long ! may this glad picture stay. To grow more bright, from day to day; And may we when life's voyage ends. In heaven greet all our Bothnia friends. The voyapje was unique aud interesting, and it is impossible to give anything like a full and accurate account of all that trans- pired on the sliip. The passage was a good one, the weather being fine, and with the exception of a little roughness, for the first and second days the ocean was calm and smooth. Soon after pass- ing Sandy Hook the delegates were called to order by Mr. B. F. Jacobs, and conimittees were appointed to prepare the pro- gramme for the voyage and as far as possible to prepare for the convention in London. The usual amount of sea sickness pre- vented much being done for the first and second days, but after- wards the programme outlined for the voyage was well sustained and carried out. Another delegate writes an introduction as follows : A GOSPEL SHIP. " If ever a vessel deserved this title it is the Bothnia with its load of pastors, Suuday-scliool suporintencients and teachers, evaugelists, editors, C'hristiau men and women. Was there ever such a company on such a mission ! It was a Sunday-school institute, gospel service, Bible reading, sermon, song, social con- verse and Christian work all in one, and 3,000 miles long ! Nor is the audience limited to the ship. This ocean service is on the pulpit of the great sea and for the people of the whole world. And besides the present mediums for giving it circulation, a pamphlet, gathering up all the bright and helpful things, is to be prepared and sent broadcast. Subscriptions were given im- mediately for about 1,500. Arrangements will be made for any to get them who wish. It will be a most acceptable souvenir of the trip and company. "To give account of the ship services so interesting, unique, delightful and protitable, would be impossible in the limits of this letter ; nor is it necessary, in view of the publication above referred to. But imagine what they would be with such workers as Mr. Jacobs, Drs. Peloubet, Warren Randolph, Dixon, Wharton and a score of other well-known names, and doing their work under the inspiration of a large and select audience and amid conditions most favorable. Special mention may be made of a ■ Bible reading, on the Resurrection, by B. F. Jacobs, and another even more searching and powerful on the Holy Spirit ; of the sermons by Drs. Wharton and Di.xon, of Baltimore, Revs. F. H. Marling of Montreal, W. H. Brooks of Washington, P. H. Swift of Illinois, and J. J. Smallwood of Massachusetts ; of the addresses of Misses Ordway and Harlow, of Dr. Peloubet and Marion Lawrence, specially bearing on Sunday-school work. A generous supply of Peloubct's Select Songs was furnished by Biglow & Main and the Estey Organ (.'ompany, contributed one of their f.nraous reed organs. The song books were presented to the delegates as souvenirs of the trip, and the organ was given to Captain J. B. Watt, of the Bothnia. An analysis of the 242 delegates shows 77 to be Baptists, 58 Methodi-sts, 47 Congrega- tionalists, 45 Presbyterians and the rest scattering. It shows also 54 ministers, over 40 Sunday-school superintendents. Twen- ty-six states were represented. Some one made the discovery, also, that they were on board a Fox, a Beaver, a Quayle, a Chick and a Coon ; but suggestive as the names may be, no unpleasant- ness resulted from the association." A thinly attended meeting was held Thursday evening, but those who were absent had an excuse. More appeared on Friday morning, when Rev. R. W. Hughes, of Grinell, Iowa, con- ducted a Bible reading, and Miss L. M. Ordway, of Massachu- setts, spoke on Primary Teaching in the Sunday-school. At 3 p. M. a meeting of the Executive Committee of tlie Inteiniitioual Convention was held, which embraces the United States and Territories of the British Provinces, and a quorum was found to be present for doing business. The meeting was public and there was the fullest freedom for expressing opinion, and all conclusions were reached with unanimity and harmony. After talking over matters and arranging them systematically the meet- ing dissolved. Sat.urday morning opened beautif ullj', and at ten o'clock Mr. B. F. Jabobs conducted a teachers' meeting on the Sunday- school lesson for the next, day, the topic being the " Resurrec- tion." The lesson was explained thoroughly and uubsterfully, and was intensely interesting ;. it proved to be a fountain run- ning over with spiritual instruction all the voyage through. During Saturday afternoon a Primary Teachers' Symposium was held, several workers giving their practices and experiences. These symposiums were repeated with great profit, and the meet- ings were well attended and exceedingly interesting and instruc- tive. On Sunday the Episcopal service was read in the saloon by Dr. Warren Randolph, of Rhode Island, and the sermon was preached by Rev. F. H. Marling, of Montreal, on the text, Acts xxvii:23, taking the last clause, " Whose I am, and whom I serve." The sermon was intensely interesting and many .said it was the best thej^had ever heard ; it appealed to each and ever}' person present, and will not be soon forgotten. In the afternoon a Sunday-school was held under the leader- .ship of Mr. Marion Lawrence, of Toledo, Ohio, with A. E. Hough, of Michigan, O. R. Brouse and C. T. Northrop, of Illi- nois, Assistant Superintendents ; J. F. Wight, of District of Co- lumbia, E. P. Porter, of New York and Lewis Collins, of Ken- tucky, as Secretaries. There Avere in the main school fourteen officers, ten teachers and 219 scholars and in the primary school two teachers and eight scholars, and in the stearage two teachers and tweutj'-eight scholars, making a total of 383. A collection was taken up amounting to f 25.54 to be used in the international work. The classes were taught by Dr. Peloubet, Secretary Clark, of New Jersey, the Rev. C. H. St. John of Kansas, Rev. C. N. Wilder of Illinois, Rev. A. C. Dixon of Maryland, Prof. Bingham of New Hampshire, Prof. Blair of North Carolina, Boston W. Smith of Minnesota, Rev. Dr. Swift of Illinois, Rev. J. M. Dutton and Rev. J. H. Haines, of New Hampshire, and altogether it was an impo.sing display of teaching talent. The primary classes were taught by Miss Harlow and Miss Ord- way. They were fortunate who attended Miss HarloAv's primary class oil the loruMid dcik, willi t lie assistance of Mr. E. ra3soii PorlLT, our genial iStatisticai Secretary. She carried a group of children through the les.son pictures of the (juarter, eliciting from their own lips the lesson that a less thoughtful teacher would have uttered herself, and winning the deep admiration, not only of the crowd of sailors and stearage pa.ssengers that surrounded the children, but the skilled workers who stood by to listen and learn. One of the delegates said in relation to Miss Harlow's class, " I have seen teachers who could cover a long le.s.son rapidly ; I have .seen others wlio could hold a child's at- tention perfectly, and stimulate his mind to thoughtful utter- ance, but Mi.ss Harlow did both these things at once, a fact to me \iuprecedentcd." I learned there this lesson, " If you want a child to follow j-ou, lead him." A Vesper service was held at sunset, and in the evening the liev. Mr. Wharton, of Baltimore, preached from Ephes. iii:8, closing the day of rich things with inspiring words of hope and cheer. A delegate writes concerning this, "A Sabbath in Mid Ocean." "The Sabbath on the ocean was delightful beyond all anticipa- tion. Every day was a Sabbath with us, but this was a high day, and day of da3^s. A smooth sea, delightful temperature and charming weather ushered in the holy morn. A heavenly calm was upon ever}"- one. Badges of gold and blue were fluttering from the breast of every delegate. P.salm lxv:4,5 was upon many lips, ' We shall be sati.stied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. . . . O, God of our salvation, who art the contidenee of all the ends of the earth, and of tho.se that are afar off ujiou the sea.' At the morning service in the saloon. Dr. Warren Kandolpli read most beautifully and impressively the Episcopal service, all present joining with reverence in the liturgy. No Episcopalian clergyman ever read the service with greater appreciation of its beauty and sublimity. A realization of the distance we had already traveled came over us with a sudden thrill, as there fell from Dr. Randolph's lips the sentences, ' We beseech thee with thy favor to behold our most Gracious Lad}% Queen Victoria, and His Excellency the President of the United States.' Dr. Marling, of Montreal, then preached a tender and impressive sermon on the text, ' Whose I am, and whom I serve.' At two o'clock in the afternoon, a rousing .Salvation Army meeting was held in the fore part of the ship. A score perhaps of ministers were in the crowd, and many, if not all, shed tears of sympathy, as the soldiers told of their toils and triumphs in the service of King Jesus. Sab- bath-school Avas held at three o'clock. The after deck was cov- 10 ered with earnest studeutsof the world. Mr. Marion Lawrence, of Toledo, was Superintendent. It wa.s a surpassing!}' beautiful sight when the Superintendent called for a show of Bibles, to see the universal responses, the Book of Life being upraised all over the ship ; and again when the Superintendent asked the question : ' How many of you attended preaching service to- day?' to see every hand upraised. These are questions which perhaps many another Superintendent will hereafter ask as a part of the opening exercises, questions of vast benefit and great educational value also. In a word, the whole Sabbath-school service was delightfully unique, and will never be forgotten by those who participated therein, no, not even in that day when 'there shall be no more sea.' The enrollment at this Atlantic Sabbath-school was, teachers and ofticers 26, scholars 257, total 283. The collection was about |25. At the Sunday evening service. Rev. Mr. Wharton, of Baltimore, Md., preached a pow- erful discourse — text, 'The unsearchable riches of Christ.' Thus passed one of the sweetest Sabbaths of life, a Sabbath that will be remembered with joy when we shall have reached the land ' where congregations ne'er break up, and Sabbaths have no end.' " While at sea the following verses on "Trusting Jesus " were were written by six (6) persons, each verse being composed with- out its author reading any of the others : Oh triisit thyself to Jesus Wlieu on the deep blue sea. For 300U its waves so peaceful Will roll tuniultuousl}'. When iu those hours so gloomy When heart and strength do fail. Oh let thy hopes be anchored In Christ, within the vail. Oh trust thyself to Jesus When waves are rolling high, When tempest tossed and weary, Thy heart can only sigh. Lean hard upon the promise. Its truth thy certain stay, For Jeeus is the pilot Along life's stormy way. Oh trust thyself to Jesus, His friendship will endure; His hand is outstretched to thee, And will hold thee firm and sure. Oh trust Him only, ever. And thou shalt surely find That He who heals the leper Will also lead the blind. 11 oil truHt thy.iclf to Jesnn When oil the rolliiif,' deep, Hit^ hand the helm ih holdiug, He watcher while we pleep: Ilin care is ever o'er iic. He'll hriiifj lis uufe to laud; No harm can crt' hefall iis While guided by His haud. Oh trust thyself to Jesus When on the restless deep: He auswereth prayer and giveth His own beloved sleep. He takes away the weakness Aud calms thy troubled soul. And guides thee by his counsel Though storms and tempests roll. Oh trust thyself to Jesus, Ou sea as well as laud. For all the miglity ocean Obeys His great commaud. Though dani;er may confound thee. And fears thy spirit fill, Though winds and wave surround thee He sjieaks, and all is still. The meetings which '?\'^ere held on the bow of the steamer were very iuteresting ; they were for the benefit of the ship's crew, and were conducted by Col, Dowdle, of the Salvation Army, assi.sted by Rev. R. W. Hughes, of Iowa, and other prominent Sunday-school workers, both gentlemen and ladies. These meet- ings were held every day at 6.30 p.m.. and all seeni deeplj' in- terested in them ; many of the crew were heard to say that tbey never had attended such interesting meetings, and many were converted. Col. Dowdle was deeply interested in these meetings, and said that it was like heaven on the Bothnia when taken into comparison with some other ships in which he had crossed tlie ocean before. Monday forenoon. Dr. F. N. Peloubet spoke upon "The Best Method of Studying the Sunday-School Lesson," and was fol- lowed by Miss A. S. Harlow on " Work for the Scholar Outside the Sunday-School." The .sermon in the evening was by a col- ored brother — Rev. Walter Brooks, of W^ashingtou, D. C, — from Matt. vi:10, Thy kingdtmi come." Tuesday forenoon was occupied by an address of great interest to Sunday -scliool workers, from Mr. Marion Lawrence, who is a paid superintendent and devotes all his time to the work of his Sunday-school in Toledo. In the evening service a male quartet 12 furnished music, and tlie Rev. J. J. Smallwood, of Massachusetts, gave a temperance lecture. Wednesday was a day of celebration of victory over Neptune, At 10 A.M. one week from the hour of starting from New York, a procession of the victorious was formed, headed by extempo- rised band, directed by "Uncle Boston." With songs and cheers the triumphant host, not ashamed of their wounds and bruises, marched around the ship and sang of their deliverance and showed their trophies. Coming at length to a halt, many patri- otic speeches, with songs thrown in, and tender touches of con- secrated life, closed a service that was w^ell calculated to drive away the "blues." "America," and "God save the Queen," both came from loj-al hearts as they were sung by those of Ameri- can and of English birth. The evening was devoted to a concei't by chosen persons on board, when a varied programme was well received by the audience, and resulted in a contribution of f 110 for the Liverpool Orphanage, for Seamen's Children. Thursday a conference was held on Teachers' Meetings, when a niimber of delegates gave their method of conducting them. Rev. P. H. Swift, of Rockford, 111., preached in the evening on John xiv:2, 3 : "I go to prepare a place for you." The Friday morning service of praise was followed by a ser- mon from Prof. W. A. Quayle, of Baldwin, Kansas, on "Our Father," (Matt. vi:9). In the afternoon Mr. Jacobs gave his re- markable Bible reading on the Holy Spirit. At the opening of the evening service, which was held in the saloon, Mr. Jacobs pre- sented theEstey organ on behalf of the delegates, to Commander J. B. Watt, Avho responded in fitting terms. Dr. Dixon, of Balti- more, then spoke on the text, "How excellent is Thy loving kindness." (Psalm xxxvi:7.) Early Saturday morning we reached Queeustown, when we have an opportunity to mail our first letters home — an opportu- nity which all eagerly improve. Here, too, some of our company leave to go by rail and steamer. Among them is B. F. Jacobs, hastening ahead to perfect arrangements for the belated delega- tion. A tender song service is held as they steam away from us. Another day will bring us to Liverpool. This is spent largely in preparing to disembark. We almost regret that the end is near, and yet we rejoice at the sight of land which greets us the most of the day. An exultant Welshman breaks forth into song as he beholds the rugged hills of his native land: "My soul delights to wauder On wings of thought divine, To view with love and wonder Those native hill.'? of mine. 13 '• Mountaiuf of iiiicii'iit uloi'V, Adorned with lovely vak-c. Creation in its beauty. My home, my uative Wales." A quiet and (Iclijihlful sunset service closed the meetings of this nuMuombie voyage. And now. good-by Bothnia, rolling Bothnia. We gratefully testify to the safe and plea.saut home the ship has furnished us, and see in this an answer to prayer ; for we are informed that the wife of the founder of this C'unard line years ago spent the day in prayer that the line might be pros- pered and its pa.ssengers protected. It is said that no life has ever been lo.st from any of its vessels. ENGLISH ItECErTlON. This is so hearty and forward that it greet.s u.s at Queeustowu by telegram and letter, a whole day before we .set toot on land. The telegram is from Mr. Downie, of Liverpool, Chairman of the Sunday-school Committee, welcoming us to Sunday rest and worship in Liverpool. The letter is from C. H. Spurgeou, ad- dressed to Rev. P. J. Ward, Columbus, O.. a former student of Spurgeou. A general meeting of the E.vecutive Committee and delegates was held at ten o'clock, Brother E. S. Ormsby, of Emmitsburg. Iowa, presided, Rev. C. N. Wilder of Champaign, Illinois, acted a.s secretary. The following letter from George Downie, Honorable Secretary of the Liverpool Sunday-School Union, was read. The letter was addressed to B. F. Jacobs. Chairman of the Interna- tional E.\ecutive Committee. LivEKPooL, 26th June, 1889. Dear Sih: Allow me on behalf of the Executive of this Union to ofifer the delegates on the Bothnia, to the World's Sunday-school Convention, a very cordial and sincere welcome. We rejoice at the opportunity afforded of making the reciprocity of feeling which exists in regard to this great movement, and we feel sure that your visit will be eminently fruitful in awakening zeal and reviving earnestness among tho.se on this side of the channel, as well as in imparting new methods and ideas tending to in- crea.se efficiency. We much regret that your arrangements do not permit you to spend an evening here proir to your dei)arture for London, and thus give us the pleasure of inviting our local Sunday-school workers to meet you, but subject to the permis- sion of the Cunard Company, a small deputation of our members 14 will go on board the tender of the steamer to carry to you our greetings in person. To facilitate this object, kindly cause a tele- gram to be sent to me from Queenstowu (addressed to Bank of Liverpool, Castle street, Liverpool), announcing the probable time of your arrival here, and also wire to the London Sunday- School Union, 56 Old Bailey, London, E. C, saying how many of the delegates are looking for hospitality. If you think a meet- ing in Liverpool can be arranged on your return from Loudon, I should be glad to have a line from you. We should very much like to have an oral account of what is'going on in the Sunday- school world in America. With fraternal regards, believe me Very sincerely yours, (Signed) Geokge Downie. A committee consisting of the following gentlemen was ap- pointed to acknowledge the letter and to make such arrangements as may be desirable for meeting the members of the Liverpool Sunday-School Union and other friends of the cause in their city, viz.: E. S. Ormsby, Esq., Rev. Dr. Randolph, J.W. Red- den, M. D., Rev. R. W. Hughes and Mr. J. D. Arms. The following letter from the Rev. C. PL Spurgeon, London, addressed to Rev. P. J. Ward, D. D., of Columbus, Ohio, was read : Beulah Hill, June 21, 1889. " Dear Mr. Ward : I alvva.ys welcome you, but your errand now renders you specially welcome. Svinday-school work is the hope of Lon- don, and so I think it must be of every place. To see our Godly people devoting so much time gratuitously to teaching the young is a noble spectacle — the glory of the church and the pleasure of her Lord. May you all have a good time at the Convention. My inces.sant engagements will not allow of my looking in upon the happy gatherings ; but man\' of the visitors will look in upon me at Tabernacle, and I shall rejoice to see them. The arrange- ments promise you a verj' protitable season, and English teachers will, 1 hope, learn much from our go-ahead American friends. You have out.stripped us in this matter in many ways. May the Holy Spirit bless Sunday-schools in all lands more and more. Yoiirs ever heartilj% C. H. Spurgeon." A vote of thanks was given to Mr. Ward for securing the letter. The courtesy of the oflicials of the ship in allowing us to hold religious services as often as we pleased added greately to the 15 enjoyment of the trip. To tliul eoiutesy we were iudebted for baviui: " Sinulay all the voyage." Neither on hind nor sea was there ever a UKM-e delijihtfnl Cliristiau union. Of denominational banners we had many, bvit from first to last no discourtesy wa.s shown to eitlier of them ; we were all uiiilcd in " (lirisl Cruci- fied," the one central article of faith. Our last day on the Bothnia was one of the most delightful of the whole voyage in many ways. The weather was all that could be desired, and the ocean was calm and tranquil as a moun- tain lake on a summer day. Wh'ile we had been specially fa- vored witli good weather during tlie whole voyage, it seemed as though the dear Father had taken special pains to give us the most delightful day for the last. After leaving Queenslown we sailed for several hours along the coast of Ireland. Her green fertile tields and pleasant homes were in full view. We soon entered St. George's Channel, and in a few hours were sailing along the coast of AVales. Her high rugged mountains, pleasant valleys and happy homes were all in full view. We gazed upon them and e.\claimed as we gazed " what pages of his- tory have been made here." As the sun was sinking quietly to i-est—aud we realized that this was the last evening of this me- morable voyagt — what more appropriate or better thing could we do than to hold a farewell praise service ; and so, almost instinct- ively, we gathered about the organ on the deck of the ship and c(mimenced the last praise service of this memorable voyage. The songs and prayers were hearty and prompt, while many, both brethren and sisters, e.\pressed the thanksgiving of their hearts in words of testimony. After leaving Queenstown Saturday uooii. June 29th, the fol- lowing prayer of thanksgiving was ottered by Rev. Dr. Warren llandoljih : " O God our Heavenly Father, we give thanks to Thee for all the blcs.siugs with which Thou has attended us in this our way across the ^ea. We thank Thee for the .sweet and blessed fellow- ship we have enjoyed. We thank Thee for our safety, that no storm has destroyed us. that no iceberg has struck us. O God, let ihy blessing still attend us. Bring us in safety to our destination. Watch over us and guide us on the rail as Thou has watched and guided us on the trackless sea. Bless us in the great Convention. Let us liave the presence and the aid of that Holy Spirit of whose presence and power we heard so sweetly yesterday. Send an answer to the prayer just made known to us of the great preacher of thy trutli in London. Make us a blessing there. 16 Bless the whole land to which we go, and bless (he world, and we will give the praise to Thee: the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen." AN ACROSTIC ODE TO THE BOTHNIA. B-rave Bothuia of the sea. B-ut ou auother sea O-u billow bearing me O-ur God is bearing me T-he ocean o'er. Till life is o'er. H-ow glad I tread thy decks ! ' H-o\v glad I trust His hand N-o fear of lire or wrecks, N--<> fear of Satan's band, l-Q safety, till their becks l-u safety, till I land A-n Orient shore. A-nd tread Heaven"s shore. OFFICERS OF CONVENTION. Mr. F. F. Eelset, J.P. (LoikIoh). 'Ficc.-30icstKcut^ IkJUNT A. A'ON Beunstorff (Berlin). Rkv. CiiAS. II. Kelly (London). «u. E. B. Harcofet, M.P.P. (To- ronto). VIh. H. p. Chamberlin (U.S.A.). I^OLONEL Geiffin (London). Mr. Augustus Palm (Sweden). Me. Johx E. Tresidueh (Lon- don). Eev. H. W. Brown (Mexico). MoNS. L. Sautter (Paris). Mr. J. M, IIeybrock (Aniisterdam). Mr. Edwin D. King, Q.C. (Nova Scotia). Mr. B. F. Jacobs (America). I Mr. Edward Towers (England). ^|itf"tit)c Committee Mr. F. F. Belset, J.P. (London). Colonel Griffin „ Mk. Frank Clements „ Mu. J. Tillett „ Mr. Charles AVaters „ Rev. J. H. Babbitt (Vermont). Me. Lewis Collins (Kentucky). Colonel E. S. Ormsby (Iowa). Mr. J. B. Wight (District Columbia). Mr. Daniel McLean (Toronto). (Siuolmnit ^ccictai]) : Ret. S. W. Clark (New Jersey). 31tvtcoi-tJiii(i ^ffrftaiffs" Rbv. J. A. Bright (Kansas). Mu. J. A. Bukhans (Illinois). Mr. Frank Clements (London). Mr, Charles Waters (London). INTUOIJUCTORY NOTE. fcJEVEN-AMJ-TWJiNi'i' yciii's liavc passed siiicc llic lirs(. World's Conven- tion was lield in London : but Unit was not the only occasion on wliirli friends from distant lands have united with British Sunday-school Teachers to note the progi'css of reUgious instruction among the yoiui^'. In 1880 a large gathering of workers met to celebrate the centenary of the estabhshment of Simday schools in England by Eobert Raikes. Since that time important Smiday School ConTentions have been held in the United States and Canada, by which a desu'c was created for an extension of this means of quickening the zeal of Sunday-school Teachers, and eicitmg a gi-eater and more general interest among Clu-istians in tho religious education of the yoimg. It was felt that the time had arrived when a Convention upon a much larger scale might be attempted. A strong desii'e to tliis effect was expressed at the last Internatiouid Convention at Chicago ; and in conformity with this wish the com- mittee of the Simday School Union took the initiative, tlu-ougb one of its honorary secretaries, Mr. Edward Towers, and after much corre- spondence with fi-iends at home and abroad, decided to hold a "World s Sunday School Convention in London, in the last week in June, ISS'J, or the first week m Jidy. The readiness with which the Eev. Charles H. Kelly on behalf of Ihe Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School Union in England, and Mr. B. E. Jacobs, of Chicago, on behalf of the Intel-national Committee of America and Canada, entered into the matter, call for the thankful recognition of the Sunday School Union Committee. To the practical adhesion of these fi'iends to the movement, its success is greatly due. The wide interest felt in this Convention will be seen by a refererice to the List of Delegates in the Appendix to tliis work ; and is still further shown in the Hecord of Work done at each session held. A careful study of the contents of this volimie cannot be without fruit in the improvement of methods and the extension of the Sunday- school system tlu-oughout the world. THE PROaRAMME* FREPABED FOR THE WORLJi'S SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION Monday Eveking, July 1st. Receptiou of Delegates at Mansion House by tlie Right Hon. The LoED Mayor . ' pp- l-l'i OPENING PROCEEDINGS. First Day, First Session, Tuesday Moeking, July 2nd. 9-30 A.M. Praise and Prayer— 10 a.m. Roll-call of Delegates — Appoint- ment of Committee and Chaii-men of Convention — Addresses of Welcome : Lord Kinnaii-d ; Mr. F. F. Belsey. Responses : for America, Rev. Theodore L. Cnyler, D.D. (Brooklyn) ; for Colo- nies, Mr. E. D. King, Q.C. (Nova Scotia) ; for Continent, Count A. von Bernstorff and Mons. Sautter . . , pp. 15-30 THE WORK REPORTED. First Day, Second Session, Tuesday Afternoon, July 2nd. 2'30 P.M. Song Sei-vice and Prayer — Election of Officers — Addi-css by President, Mr. F. F. Belsey, J.P. — Organized Sunday School Work : in Great Britain, Mr. F. J. Hartley ; on the Continent of Em-ope, Mr. Edwards, London ; Pastor Bachman, Orebro ; Mr. J. M. Heybrock, Amsterdam ; Professor J. G. Fetzer, Hambm-g pp. 31-70 First Day, Third Session, Tuesday Evening, July 2nd. 6-30 P.M. Song Sei-vice and Prayer— Organized Sunday School Work : in Canada, Rev. W. H. Witiu-oTN-, D.D. ; in United States, Mr. E. Payson Porter ; Mr. B. F. Jacobs — Among Coloured People, Rev. G. W. Moore pp. 71-93 * The Programme as prepared was not in every case strictly adhered to ; the variations, however, were very few, and only decided upon by the executive committee, 1 roijramnv:. vii Second Day, Fourth Session, Wednesday Mornin«, July 3ri). 9"30 A.ir. PiMise and Prayer — Organized Sunday Scliool Work : in India, Rev. J. J. Pool ; in China, Jlrs. Stott ; in Mexico, Rev. H. "W. Brown pp. 9-1-113 THE WORK EXAMINED. Second Day, Fifth Session, AVednesday Afternoon, July 3rd. 2-30 P.M. Song Service and Prayer — The International Lesson Plan — The Lesson C'oninaittce : Rev. Warren Rai;dolph, D.D., U.S.A. — The Selection of Lessons : Rev. J. Monro Gibson, D.D. — Pub lished Lesson Helps : Mr. Benjamin Clarke, London ; Rev. F. N. Peloubet, D.D., U.S.A. — Daily Bible Reading Organizations : Mr. C. Watei-3, London ...... pp. 11-1-1 1 after we had shown ourselves a little plucky, you decided to let us alone and see what would become of ixs. We are glad, su-, that you llcx^ioiisc (if lie: J)cl'-iJ llir Lvnl Mtii/iir. 11 fvi-iiiiig. JL lia» bocii Biij^gt'stccl thai vo luivc Jiul couil' togcllicr to talk about any new standards of belief or any new creeds, however popular they may be in some quarters. We have not come to set up any new theological standai-d vith regard to Sunday school teachers. Tiie essential land-marks of truth do not change : they stand immove- able, like 8t. Paul's, the Koyal Exchange, or Westminster Abbey, as amongst the things -which remaui, though their surroundings may be subject to change. We who live in this country have to learn a great deal from brethren in other parts of the world. I have twice visited America, but have never had time to go to Australia. I have gone half-way— to India — and I hope before I die to visit my compatriots in the gi-eat Australasian colonies. (Cheers.) I do feel, whenever I go to America, I come home with larger ideas with regard to Christian work. Not that I believe merely in large things. To show what can be done across the water, a friend in New York wanted a good church and Sunday schools. He called his friends togethei-, and in a vei*y short time raised £30,000 to build just a Sunday school and three or four other rooms for chiu'ch work. (Clieers.) I doubt, if we sent round a subscription list here for school buildings, if one congregation in twenty would get such a response. There are, no doubt, some exceptions. In the north of England there are some very fine Sunday schools, and in London too. I hope friends will tell ns how they manage to persuade the rich people to give money for these fine Smiday schools. I am sure it is no good to expect to keep the upper classes in our Sunday schools till we have proper buildings. It is the custom to regard Sunday schools as for poorer classes and mission clistricts. In the United States they have hold of the right idea that every one should be repre- sented in the Sunday school. There is another thhig with which the Lord Mayor will be pleased. I heard from a friend last week that in one part of Canada they had regidarly throughout the whole district Sunday schools in every prison, and they are welcomed by prison authorities. (Cheers.) Ladies and gentlemen go and are welcomed in the prisons and reformatories and penitentiaries. I think that is a first-rate idea. And it would be a good thing if we could in this way get at some of the unfortunate classes, the lapsed classes as they are called. There are many who are outside our Sunday schools and churches, and we want, if possible, to get them in. We must go ahead and make a new dedication of ourselves to the Sunday school work. We want not only fresh ideas, but we desire to know how to can-y them out in practice. We want the perfect machine and the loving heart brought together. I hope the effects of the Con- vention will be felt in all parts of the United Kingdom. In conclusion, and as representmg tlie United Kingdom, I retiu-n the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress our hearty thanks for havmg invited us here this day, thanks in Mhich our American, Austrahan, Canadian, and Conti- nental friends cordially join. (Cheers.) 12 The WorliVs Siuulaij School Conoentlou. Colonel Geiffin {London) . M}- Lord Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, I stand to-night in a some- •what peculiar position. We are here as representing all tlie various quarters of this great globe. My mother Avas born in Scotland ; my Avife is of the same nationality. I was born in America. My heart and interest are largely there, but for the time being I am resident on tliis side of the water. For many years I was actively engaged in Sunday school work in America, and as a worker thei-e I claim to be with others a guest to-night. As an English citizen, or English resident rather, for I am not a citizen, and a member of the Sunday School Union, I am here as a host or one of the hosts to welcome our friends. Therefore to-night, my Lord Mayor, not only on behalf of Amei-ica, I being a son, but as a i-esident in England, I wish to second most heartily the resolu- tion which has been proposed. As an Englishman I have acquired some of the secrets connected with Simday school Avork, and even you, my Lord Mayor, may not be quite conversant with the fact that the friends who have discoursed to us sweet music to-night are all Sunday school workers. (Cheers.) Our friends the bell-ringers only some short time smce made an excursion tlu-ough Sweden and Norway, and as the result of then* visit they handed in over £200 to the Continental anission work of the Sunday School Union. (Cheers.) Our fi-iends upon this platfoi-m constitute the London Sunday School Chou-, and we feel proud of them. (Cheers.) I am pleased to have this opportunity of acknowledging the services both of the ringers and of the Smiday Sclaool Choir, and, if I may be permitted, I would like to add to this resolution one other item, that is, om- special thanks to the Lady Mayoress for gracing this assemblage by her presence. (Loud cheers.) We are deeply grateful to you, sir, for encouraging this World's Convention, for the reception which you have accorded lis to-night, only adding one to the many kindnesses you have done, not only to the English people, but to those from many lands. (Cheers.) As an American, I can say that Americans fully appreciate the honour you have done them to-night, and from the English side I can say that, knowing as we do your many labours and the services you are called npon to pei'form, we are doubly grateful for this reception. (Cheers.) As the Lord Mayor cannot put this resolution, I will ask those who are in favom* of the resolution proposed by Lord Kinnaird, and which I now second, to hold up in the fu'st place their hands. (All hands were held np.) As Englishmen are not quite conversant with American ways, I want the American portion of this assembly to give the Chautauqua salute. There was immediately a waving of handkerchiefs in all parts of tlie hall, accompanied by cheers. ThaiiLs l<> Ihr Lord Maijur. 13 Tuii Loud Mayor said : Ladius and gentlemen, it is certain tliat wc in tliis eoiintry are not altogether used to tlie latter part of tliat ecreniony, and I take it that it was specially intended in honour oi the Lady Mayoress (cheers) ; and, if so, I think I would say, at least I would say if she were not present, that it is thoroughly deserved. (Cheers and laughter.) The Lady Mayoress is, I can assure you, as sincerely anxious as I am at all times to associate herself in good Avork (cheers), and it has given us both very great gratification indeed to receive here on this occtvsion so large a gathering of Sunday school teachers, and more particularly because we have reason to believe that those who are assembled hei-e represent to a very great extent all denominations of Christian bodies. (Cheers.) It seems to ine that what is wanted in these days moi-e than anything else is the union of all bodies, so far as they can possibly go together, in the pro- motion of good. (Hear, hear) In days gone by, I am very nuich afraid that the different Chi-istian denominations have been rather inclined to assert their own views than to see how far they could imite for the common cause. I cannot help feeling that, while we may hold to the views we have that are non-essential, wo should never fail to endeavour to act together in all that is essential for the promotion of Christianity. (Cheers.) Now I am going to tell jou a secret. This is, of course, a private gathering to-day, and what I say will not be noticed by the press. (Laughter.) I am receiving hei-e to-day Sunday school teachers — delegates, I think, is the term — from aU. parts of the world. To- morrow it will be my very great privilego to give a dinner in honour of the archbishops and bishops of the United Kmgdom. You are aware, probably, that last year there was what is called a Pan-Anglican Synod, and you are aware, probably, that an encyclical letter was cir- culated afterwards. In that encyclical letter a recommendation was made that the ministers of the Established Cluu-ch shoidd endeavour as far as possible to work in liarraony with other Christian denomhia- tions. (Hear, hear.) I read that letter, or perhaps I ought to say such portion of it as I had time to read — lord mayors not having much lime at their disposal — and I think I gathered the spirit of the recom- mendation, and I have invited, to meet the archbishops and bishops and clergy of the Established Church of England to-morrow evening in this hall, at a banquet, many of the leading Nonconlbrmist ministers within the metropolis. (Loud cheers.) I know that that is an entirely new departure — there have been some new departures witlim my year of oflicc (cheers) — but I am very happy to be able to say that my sugges- tion has been received with the utmost cordiality by the leaders of the Established Church of England (cheers), and it will be to me a very sincere pleasure indeed to feel that, on the first occasion when the great leaders of the different Christian denominations of this country meet together in this hall, I am the Lord Mayor for the time being. (Cheers.) 14 The WorhVs Snndaij School Convention. Now I will come back to the resolution, I am deeply grateful to you for the very cordial reception you have given to the resolution proposed by my friend, Lord Kinnau-d, and seconded by Colonel Griffin, and it has afforded me and the Lady Mayoress tlie very sincerest satisfaction to see you all here on this occasion ; and if the result is in any way to promote the pubhc good, either social or reUgioiis, we shall feel ourselves amply repaid for what little labom- we have incm-red. (Clieers.) The company then adjoui-ned to the saloon for light refreshments, and shortly afterwards separated. ( 15 ) FIRST DAY.— FIRST SESSION. TuESDAV Morning, 2nd July. niELIMINArvY MEETING OF THE CONVENTION AT THE CONGREGATIONAL MEMORIAL HALL. While tho delegates were assembling several liyiuns were sung witli the assistanee of a small contingent of the City of London Choir under Mr. Luther Ilinton. The hymns included " Saviour King in hallowed union," and "Let all men praise the Lord." At 10 o'clock Lord Kinnau-d moved tliat Mr. B. F. Jacobs, one of the principal workers in the United States, should lake the chair. This was put and carried by acclamation. Mr. L. F. Jacobs {CMca/^o). 33elovcd friendu and follow-workers, I am sure this morning that }uost of all wo shall need the prcsoneo and power of God. Let us Bjiend a few moments in worship. Our brother will kindly lead us iu a song of praise. The hymn " The God of Abraham praise " was then smig with much heftrtmess. Tho Rev. B. "VV. Chidlaw, of Ohio, was called upon, by the Chair- man, as the oldest Sunday school missionary in the United States, to lead them m prayer. The Chaieman then read the 145th Psahn, makhig a brief con \ men t iipou some of the A-erses. The Rev. E. W. Suaibkks (London) then engaged iu prayer, after which the hynni, " Come Thou, Almighty Xing," was sung. The Chaikmak having read the 1st chapter of the Epistle (o tlio Romans, and ofi'ered prayer, and tho meeting liaAUig smig, " Gracious Father bless, we pray," he addressed the Convention as follows : Beloved brethren and Christian A\orkers, I am very grateful to you for this mark of your kindness and confidence, and pray that God A\ill "ivc me grace— and I ask you to pray that I may have this grace— to discharge those duties for the brief hour I sliall occui)y this place, to His glory and our good. I congratulate you upon the gathering of this Convention. We arc met in the fii-st Convention, properly called a World's Convention, of Sunday school workers. We have come from many different parts of IG The WorUVs Sunday School Conrontioii. tlio eai'Ui. We are looking up to one God and Saviour, and Holy Spirit for guidance, and, brethren, we meet to-day in humble dcpcudeneo upon Him. Let our eyes go to the cuds of the earth, that we may be able to ascertain where the need is and what we can do to supply the need. Jesus Christ was the discoverer of childhood. The child had a very little place hi history before Christ. You may turn over the pages of that Bible for 2000 years and you could count all the boys and girls iipon your fingers. It was the Saviour that took an unknown child and placed him in the midst of the disciples, and that cliild has been in the midst of history, and art, and poetry, and music, and of the Chiu'ch, and of heaven from that day to this. (Cheers.) Ifc is wonder- fid, indeed, that upon such a day of light and privilege so long and dark a night should have settled. But I would remind you that it is only a little over a hundred years ago that another man in a coinitry across the Channel here, in Germany, discovered the laws of the child's mind, and has given us very many liints to guide us iu our teaching work ; and these two great thoughts shoidd be before us — the Gospel of Jesi\s Chi'ist, the great truth of rehgion, and the education, the development, the building up of the mind and character of those who are committed to lis. It is a wonderfid work. There is need to-day everywhere for the work ; God has given us great privileges, gi-eat opportunities — the very greatest opportunities that were ever given to any man or woman since the Lord of Glory went back to His home. We liave the supreme opportunity and privilege — let us pray that it may be ours to improve these oppor- tunities. Let us pray that it may be ours to do that whicli God has coimnitted to us in the very best possible manner. I will not take up your time, but only suggest to you that every delegate in this Conven- tion bears an important part, and each one of us will have some great duty and responsibility given him here and at home. It is necessary for us that a few rvxles shall be put in force for our fruidance, and I am glad to tell you that the next session and the future sessions of this Convention will be a little nearer tlie earth on which we are supposed to live, and not quite as far towards the sky. (Laughter.) We are to meet tliis afternoon and on all the other days and evenings of this Convention, except Friday evening, in the City Temple (cheers), where the Kev. Dr. Joseph Parker usually preaches. (Hear, hear.) It is a very short distance from this place, and will accommodate us all. Arrangements will be made and stewards appointed — I will say to tlio American brothers that is what we call " ushers." (Laughter.) I will ask that some competent interpreter be placed at my side to explain to me Euf'lish words I do not quite understand. (Laughter.) It is a very important thing that we irnderstand the language we are addi-essiug to each other. A gentleman, the Rev. Dr. NewaU, engaged in mission work in Paris, was in o\u* company and invited us to go to Fi-ance and hold ten Pndiinutari/ MertliK/. 17 Suntlay sdiool conventions in tlie stati-s oi- depai-tnionts, and then conio back to Paris for a national meeting. I said : " Dear brotlier, wc cannot go — wc cannot speak Frencli." " It is a nierey to God you cannot," ho said; "if you talk French as you talk English, ^\■^i would never understand ii word. (Laughter.) But," he added, "if you talk to the people and have an interpreter by your side and stop every thirty seconds while your words are e.\:plaiued, we will get out of you all tliat is most important, and separate all the stuff' we don't need to hear." (Laughter.) So I will ask for au interpreter. We will try and have the sittings in a manner that will bring delegates from different parts of the world together, that tlie brethren may have a chance to consult. It will greatly facihtate the work of the Convention if you will just now let us have these blanks filled up, that all the delegates of the Convention may be em-olled properly. Many of you have received them, and have them filled. Suppose every one who has not done so takes a blank and writes his name : not tho initials only ; let us know who you are. In the next place, the country and post otlice address — that is to say, the city, town, or village where you live, that if any one should care to write to you or send you anything they may know where you are. In the fourtli place, whether you are a pastor, a superintendent, or other oHlcer of the school, or a teacher, or if auy of you from America are adult scholars, for I wish to say to you that a largo number of scholars in American schools are from twenty-one years of age up to seventy. (Cheers.) We can turn out whole classes of men and women from forty to sixty among the very best Chi-istiaus we have. I am glad to see we have got more people here than there are blanks. Time we had. AVe have had blanks and notliing else. (Laughter.) Please notify any delegates not present of the importance of this work. You woidd regret receiving a publication of the report of the Convention and finding your name is either omitted or spelt incorrectly. They say tlie glorj' of war is to be shot, and after the battle have your name mis-spelt the next morning. (Laughter.) We will try to provide for a revision of the enrolment. AVe have some few people among us who cannot climb the golden stair, but they will be here at the other sessions, and we will get all tlie names. I will ask that these delegations from any part of the world representing coimtries or nationalities will agree upon one or two names perhaps two or three names, from among yourselves and hand those names to the Chairman, that in case committees are desired we may have them hei'c. It will expedite the business of the Convcjition. On the Bothila, this matter was attended to as far as the 230 dele- gates from the United States on tliat ship were concerned ; but there were some delegations from Ohio and tiie Dominions of Canada and Kewfoundland. If brethren would attend to that, it would help them. I knew Ohio wa.-* represented by nine on the Bothnia, but there were 18 Thf World's Sunday School Convention. twenty-one on another sliip, and they might Hke to have a voice in tlio matter. (Laughter.) You will notice next in order upon the programme is the address of •welcome by our distingiushed and beloved brother and Christian wox-ker, Lord Kinnahxl. I have great pleasm-e in calling upon him, (Cheers.) ADDEESSES OF WELCOME. Lord Kinnairb {President of the Sunday School Union). I am sm-e I shall be carrying out tlie wish of the Convention if, before saying anytliing further, I state, what perhaps many of you know, that oiu' beloved friend — and I believe he is as much beloved out of England as in it — George Williams, has had a very sore and sad bereavement ; he has lost a beloved daughter — I think it is his only daughter — one who with his beloved wife has travelled with him, in most of the jom-neys he has taken in the service of Grod, and for the good of men. She has been taken away very suddenly by diphtheria. You know what a warm heart he has, and how he must feel this. And I am sure I shall be doing what you would wish if I ask the Secretary to prepare a vote of condolence to be conveyed to him. (Hear, hear.) I know I may take yoiu' silence as giving con- sent. (Hear, hear.) We shall bear him up in om* hearts, and we pray that God will be with liim. As a past President of the Smiday School Union, he wovdd have been at all our meetmgs, I am convmced. I will ask the Chairman to sign the vote of condolence and transmit it to Mr. George Williams. (Hear hear.) It is now ray pleasing duty, as President tliis year of the Sunday School Union, to oflfer a most hearty welcome to om* bretlu-en who have come from all over the world. (Cheers.) As this is known as " The World's Convention," we welcome oiu- brethren without regard as to who are to be first in tliis work or who are to be last ; the last shall be fii'st and the fii'st last : that is to say, we are all equal because all one in a common and blessed effort. 1 will not name the diiibrent comitries represented, because the list is too long. I belie\e we have represeutatiA-es from every country aiul of almost every nationality. On this side of the water we have been lookuig forward to this Convention for a long time. Prayer has been going up throughout the length and breadth of the countiy, and we have thus been in touch with the brethi-en all over the globe. We are a practical Convention, and we are met for business pm-poses. We have a common cause and a common name, and we all come to- gether irrespective of our nationality, sect, or denomination. It woidd be somewhat difficidt here to find out oiu" dift'erences, and we do not want to find them out. (Hear, hear.) We do not intend to tabulate on any paper the denomination we belong to. (Cheers.) It reminds mc of a gentleman on the platform here, who was on a certain committee Add icaai'ii <>f Wclroiin'. 19 with a number of Epi&copaliaus and members of othci" deuomiiiatioiis. Oue said to liim, " Brother, whom do you repi'csent ? " He said, " I am not quite certain, but I thuik, if you send over to the London City Mission, they would tell you whether I am an Episcopalian or u Non- conformist." (Laughter.) He is, I suspect, one of those who beUeve in Cln-istiauity first and churchianity afterwards. What we aim at abo\e all things is to bring the children to Christ ; they will then find tlieir own way into the church. There is one common danger which was re- fen-edto last night ; I do not know whether it exists in Australia, I know it exists on the Contuient, and I beheve many in America and Canada tire finding it out. We have got to rally roimd the old-fashioned Sunday. (Cheers.) A good many of you did not get here last Sunday. You spent it in Liverpool, and I believe you had a very happy Sunday. I would like to know the private opuiiou of some of you after the next Simday you have had here, whether it strikes you that we have gone backward on the Sunday question in the last ten or twenty years. We on the spot cannot altogether see, but some of us think there are indications that our Simday has been encroached upon. If it is so, I think it is time we rallied together, and said, " We are not going to have om* Sunday taken away." (Cheers.) You m America have been having some very serious talks about it, and you are going to take care that your Simday is not taken away. If we are to keep cm- Simday, it must be by showing the childi-en what a boon it is, and will eventuallv be to them, and by impressing on them the necessity of keeping a tight hold of this precious privilege, lest it be lost or exchanged for all the frivoUties of a Continental Sunday. Let us rally round this sacred cause. The Sabbath is the Lord's Day ; but we recognize it was made for man, and that it is a matter of supreme importance to the working classes that they have their day of rest. Well-to-do i)eoplc can take care of themselves in this matter. I heard a good story on that point. There was a man in Scotland, a shareholder in a certam company, who was trying to increase the ihvidends by iucreased Smiday traffic, lu-ging that it woidd be a great tiling fur the working man to be taken out to the beautiful fields and waterfalls — how it woidd elevate them and all the rest of it. An oil Scotclmian present took out his Bible, and read tlds text : " This he said, not that he cared for tlie poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag and bare what was put therein " (loud cheers). He thought the poor woidd not wish to be taken a long thii-ty or forty miles' journey at the expense of other people's Sunday. And it will be a bad day for Sunday schools if the Paris or Continental Simday, as we call it, ehoidd get into Old England or Scotland. (Hear, heai\) May I :iow say on behalf of the London Connnittee how cordially we welcome you and rejoice in this gathering. I beheve the journey of oiu" fi-iends who came over in the Bothnia will be a jiractical sermon. Why ? Because it is the first time that a steamer has been engaged to cross the Atlantic by men who came for the special purjwse of manifest- c 2 20 Tlie WorlcVs Sunday School Convention. ing their iiilcivst in young people and in .Sunday sehools. (Cliecrs.) I do hope that at this Convention there will be a fresh consecration of each one of tis. We want this to be a meeting of consecrated men and women actuated by one motive — the bm-ning desu-e to bring Christ to the chilch-en and the children to Christ. Unless we get the children before they are fifteen years old it is a very difficult task to get them after. And unless we can teach the young people the Word of God before they are one-and-twenty, they will be of very little use to the church of God during the rest of their lives. There are plenty of people who will never be any good in the cause of Clu-ist, because they have not served an apprenticeship to it. May God bless us. May we occiipy till the Master comes. A^^o welcome you here, and trust you will impart to us some of your enthusiasm and some of your ideas. And in this Convention let us never, from the beginning to the close, forget that we meet together to do honour to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (Cheers.) Me. F. F. Belset {Chairman of the Sunclai/ School Union Committee). It is, I believe, my duty and pleasure as Chau'man of the Convention Conmiittee to add a few words of hearty welcome to those so fitly spoken by our noble president. If you and yoiu* party from the Bothnia had landed and been received on the western shores of our island, you woidd have found a language in use there rather more difficult to comprehend than that of which you complain this morning. I may say, in quoting the phrase I want to refer to, that you woidd probably have found it decorating the walls on an occasion of this kind. I will not attempt its pronunciation, but I will ti-anslate the words, which would have read, " One hundred thousand welcomes." I am glad that Lord Kinnau'd and I can stand here representing the London Sunday School Union and can voice the thoughts and feelings of the adult Sunday school teachers of our country, and we can bid you 500,000 welcomes. If to these we add the sweet trebles of our children, there are more than five million notes of welcome ; all these we give, asking you to accept them in then.- fulness and depth. We delight to find so great a gathering on such an occasion, and I cannot help thinkmg that we can, in this age when all things are bemg ques- tioned, quote a Divine authorisation for such an assembly as this ; those gi'and old conventions of Israel three times a year, when all the tribes went up to Jerusalem, foreshadowing that gi-eat Convention foretold by Zechariah, when all nations shall go iip together, imder the penalty of Jehovah's curse, at His command, to give Him praise. We feel that we are carrying out here a Divine idea and pm-pose. If I may pass from Divine inspiration to those memorable words of a great warrior, " Veni, Vidi, Vici," I may remind you that from coming he went on to seeing and conquering. We have come, and we want to see and to conquer. First of all, to see ovir Master here amongst us Acldresscti of Wilromc. 21 with the eye ol' faith, uith the httio cues ui-ouiid Hiiu and His hands lifted up in blessing, and pointing us to ehildhood as tlie most hopeful Held on which to sow tlie Gospel seed. We have come to see each other and to grasp liands separated in toil by thousands of miles of distance ; and beyond all this we want to see our difficulties together, and together to look at our plans, and to look at tliosc broad fields which still uivite the labour of the Sunday scliool teacher, and, having seen, we want to conquer. We want to go forth from this great oppor- tunity of viewing togctlier tliese diillcuUies, in the power of tlic Holy Spirit to concpier them, to occupy these fields, and win the youth of our world for Christ. First of all, let me extend the hand of welcome to our American brethren whom it was a few hom-s ago my privilege to receive on the dock at Liverpool. We give you the heartiest of welcomes. We are glad the boat was a Httle slow ; you have been insulated, and we trust the electricity has been accumulating ; cut off from the influence of the world and society, you have been thrown together, and we trust you are coming here to discharge that electric force a)ul give us the influence coming from utterances charged therewith. We are glad to see amongst you such veterans as our old fi-iend in the chair ; he always has plenty of electricity about him, whQe that other old veteran in the corner (Rev. B. W. Chidlaw) is the most family man in this hall, for 5U0 Sunday schools call liim father. Is it not delightful to see rrauce and Gremiany Hnkiug hands here? Here they are cue in Christ and one for Him ? And we are hoping as they go back to theu- work on the Continent the sowing of this Gospel seed will help these nations to grasp in tender forgiveness each other's liand and live in harmony and peace for ages. I do not know any- thing about the order in which we should put folks on this occasion ; but I thmk really the next group ought to have come first, as they are the subjects of our own beloved Queen. Our colonial friends, I am delighted to welcome you. Tjien, more, we are dehghted to welcome friends representing not only the native chm-ches in heathen lands, but tiie I'epresentatives of many of our missionary societies. If there is one thing we hope more than another, if tliere is one result we hope this Convention will obtaui, it is the planting of Sunday schools, after the English and American fashion, side by side with the native Cluu-ches in heathen lands, that those converts who have pro- fessed Chi-istianity may, having to take up the work of teaching Christ, learn more of His Word and truth, that so they themselves may enjoy the blessing we as Sunday school teachers have enjoyed in this country, in teachuig others themselves to be taught, and be strengthened for Christian profession amongst the many temptations of heathendom. Now, let me bring my words of welcome to a close. We are a com- mercial people. We have had fiscal conferences and so on, and looking at free trade and all its teaching we have come to the conclusion that it is a very hap]iy thing for this countiy that its imports exceed its 22 The WurlrTs SanfUu/ Srltool Convention. exports. I hope that gir:it ])niiL-iplc will be still maintained amongst us here and that it will be our joy and pleasure when we total up the results of this Convention to find that our Englisli Sunday schools liave gathered more hope and blessing, and that we shall have to say Tliauk Q-od, our imports have exceeded our exports. EEPLIES TO ADDEESSES OF WELCOME. Eev. Dr. John Hall {Kew York). 1 have only cotne in during the last two or three miiiutes, and did not expect the honour you have conferred upou me. I do not know ■whether I belong to the imports or to the exports, but I know that it is a very great pleasure for me to be here and to meet so many earnest fellow-labom-ers in this noble work. I cau only say, before sitting down, that I hope, as the greatest blessing we cau have here, that we shall reahze the presence, help, guidance, and grace of the Holy Spirit, without whose power workmg in us and through us, one by one, and as a Convention, we must be comparatively helpless and iiseless. Let us look for the Divine Spirit that He may direct us in everything Ave have to do. Dr. Hall then, at the request of the Chau'mnu, led ilie uieeMug in prayer for a sjiecial blessing on the Convention. EeT, De. ClTTLEE {Urooli'hin). It would be much more natural for all of us, in addressing j'ouv lordship, just to dismiss all the ofllcial title, because we want to regard you as our beloved brother Ivinuaird. On behalf of America, I thank you and our dear brother Belsey for tlie welcome you liave given us, I do not doubt that it comes from your warm hearts, and also from that great, big British heart that tlu'obs, this morning, behind you. AVe Yankees are not strangers here. We have only come back simply to greet our kith and kindred in the dear old homestead. We are all at home here. We go into the Chapter House at Westminster, and see the place where our Saxon ancestors rest. We love to linger in the old burial groimd, where our fathers sleep ; beside them Bunyan and Watson yonder in Bunhill Fields ; and across the way where the dead hands of John and Charles Wesley are still ringing ten thousand Methodist church bells around the globe. On the embankment we stand before the statue of Eaikes, the father of Sunday schools. Brother Kinnau'd, we all uncover before the glorious memory of that king of modern philantlu-opists, the glorified Shaftesbuiy. We Americans live in a pretty large country, with some very large ideas. They say that some of our trees in California requu-e two men to see to the top of them. But, when we come here, we come to a city that licsponsc 1(1 WelctDiir. 23 is tlio most WDiKlfi-riil of nil rilios (lit^ world ovoi- s.iu : a r'liy (lia(, would coiitsiiu Isew York, I'hikidclpliia, Cliicatjo, and other Amerifaii cities, -with something of a margin left. Standing in the midst of tliw meti'opolis of the world, we feel how stupendous is the problem of the lionr : — How to win for Christ, how to capture, the city that rules the countries which rule the world ! And who is to have this groat city Christ or Satan? "We have to face these problems. The Clu'istiau wlio shuts liis eyes to the tremendous perils of this hour is a fool. The Cliristian that will not fivce them on behalf of his Master is a coward. "We have got two ideas to present for meeting these problems : First of all, we can only save the world by saving the children. If you save the children, you save this country, and win it for Christ. "We in America have done a gi-eat deal in Sunday school work. Some years ago, we thought we were somewhat ahead of you in England : but, after all, I am not certain of that. While we arc justly proxid of oiu- magnificent Sunday schools at Bethany, we come over here and see schools of which you need not be ashamed. You, in England, combine American dash with English system. I In America, the motto is, " Go-ahead I " In England, the watch, word is, " All right I " "With the American go-ahead and the English all right, you have got the right principle, carrying out which you may conquer this world for Christ. The other thought is, oneness in the one adorable Master, for the one glorious purpose for which He shed His precious blood. He came to seek and save the lost. A great deal lias been written about the unity of dcnomuiations. I believe in de- nominations on this earth. But the great idea, after all, is tliat members of the family of Clod should love one another, no niatter wiiat the denomination with which they may be identified. In such a work as this in which we ai-e engaged, denominationalism is of no more account than the colour of your eye or the height of your stature. What is the good of talking everlastingly about miity. There is an innnense amount of breath wasted in talk of that kind. Tile only way to get at iniity is just to practise it in Christian work. Horses unharnessed will soon fall to biting and kicking one another. Harnessed, and with a good load to pidl, they will pull together. When Christians happen to have nothing particular to do, they will commence a controversy. "When at work they are too busy to fall out by the way. There is a controversy going on now — whether we have got any Bible or not. Let this CoJivention stand for the infallible Word, and for evei-v jot and tittle. Let us take our stand for the glorious old Gospel of Jesus Christ, for the "Word of God as the supreme and infallible rule of faith, for the dear old precious doctrine of the blood of the crucified Saviour atoning for sin and providing a passport to heaven. So let lis be one, that our liearts may beat togetlier. I give you a motto for this Convention. Dear brothers Einnaii'd and Belsey, we rejoice to meet so many Christians of dear old England 24 The World's Sandaij School Convention. assembled at this World's Sunday iSchuul Conventiun. Representatives are here from America, Australia, and the new-born nations. Irishmen are here from behind the ramparts of Derry. "VVclshmeu are here from tlie land of Christmas Evans, of Howell, and Harries. Scotsmen are here from tliat land whose every loch is a poem, and "whose every mountain is ii Covenanter's home. Our Continental brethren ai-e here from the land of Luther and Christlieb, from the land of Coligne and Pi'essense, from the land of Calvin and Zwingle and D'Anbigne, and the land of William the Silent. Now, let us form a sweet compact, and run up this motto : Union in Cheist poe a Woeld withoitt Cueist." The Chaieman : We must be permitted to hear how they arc getting on in Germany from Coimt Bernstorif, whose uo less distinguished son occupies a prominent place in his own Government. I was going to ask the delegate from Trance to step up and take his hand for a minute. The spectacle of French and German delegates clasping hands on the platform was hailed with prolonged applause. Count BEENSTOEPr (Berlin). It is a great pleasure for me to be able to express my lieartfelt tlianks for the kind reception given to us. We have been lookhig for- wards to this Convention, and hope it will be a great blessing to the cause of Sunday schools aU over the world. I am sorry to see that the Continent of Europe is not represented by so lai'ge a number of delegates as America ; but the Americans have greater facilities for travellmg than we have, and beyond that they hear their own language here, and can be understood. Many of our friends on the Continent, while they speak many different languages, do iiot speak English, and they feel they might be misunderstood if they did not speak English. Seeing the great number of delegates fi-om the United States gives me one great hope. In the States, Sunday schools have existed for one hundred years ; in Europe they liavc only been twenty-five years ; but I hope, if there should be another Convention seventy-five years hence, Eiu'ope will also send a gi-eater number of delegates than is the case at present. I do not know whether personally I like the word Continent. You, dear English friends, put us all into the Continent, into one large bag, and yet there are a great many differences, many different nations. Eor instance, I cannot deny that I feel greater national sympathies when I go beyond the " silver streak," or beyond the Atlantic, than when I go to some coimtries that are nearer to us. There is, however, one great idea in the word Continent, that which holds together. I think the cause of Gospel and religious teaching, teaching people and children, ought to hold together the whole Conti- nent of Europe and Christian people all over the world. I am able to licf!2'^nsc lo Wclcumc. 25 t^pcuk lor the Coiitiiiciit and Europe, for I have visituil Suutlay schools ill several countries of it. I shall never forget the ha)ipy hours I spent in Paris in 1887, and I remember visiting St. Cloud with the liajipv eliildi-en. I have visited Sunday schools in Spain, and I know what help tliey are for the refoi'mation of Spain. But even there great dillieulties are pnt in the way, yet tlie schools have a liold on the hearts of many of tlie children. On my first visit I was told that a lloiuan C'atliolic lady made great eflbrts to prevent children going to the Sunday seliools by offering them cakes and entertainment in tlie afternoon. Notwithstanding this, the children preferred the Siuiday school. I have been able to visit the Sunday school of the Waldensians, where I saw M. Pochet, who told me that the Sunday school was a great help to the Gospel, and he also told me the stoiy of a boy whose mother did not wish liim to go to the Sunday School, but he went. The nest time lie attended he received a good flogging, but he went back and preferred the Sunday school and the flogging to staying away. I know the help Sunday schools have been to t!ie cause of Christiauitj' in other countries, and have seen the blessing of Sunday schools in Switzerland, Sweden, and Norway, and I have recently heard of a new one behig started in St. Petersburg. I should like to speak not so much as a delegate as one who stands himself in the work. It is a )nost blessed tiling to stand practically in Sunday school work. There is a memorable day in my life this year, the twenty-fifth anni- versary of the fii-st day I entered a Sunday school as a teacher. My teachers presented me with a Bible with the dates 186-4 — 1889 in it. I mention this because I consider it to be one of the greatest blessings to be able to work in Sunday schools. I was only twenty when I began to teach. I might have begun earlier, but it was only then that Mr. Woodruff came and showed us how to do practical work. Sunday schools are working out great principles in religious life — one the principle of a Sunday. You in England and the United States are defending your Sunday, and I hope you will continue to do so. We on the Continent are not defending our Sunday, we are tryhig to conquer it ; we want to have a Sunday, and it is tlie Sunday school work which does a great deal in this respect, because it gives the Christian regular occupation for the Sunday and teaches children to lore Sunday. The other principle is that of voluntary work. We have, in Germany, and in other parts of the Continent, been used to leaving duties to be done by those who were called to them — political duties to the Government, and religious duties to the pastors and Chiu-ch govemment. That would be very well if they did their duty, and they ought to do it ; but it is better for all the people to stand up for then* Master together. The religious work requires training, and we think the Sunday school is excellent training, and many who com- mence as teachers go on to do other reUgious work after that, so the Simday school has been in these two things a vevj valuable help to us, and I hope through God's blessing it will be so more and moi-e. 26 The World's Sunday School Convention. MONSIHUR L. S.vrTTi:u (Paris), on coining forxvard to respond, was lieai'tily welcomed by the Chainnan, who shook liiui cordially by the hand, with the remark : I have great pleasure, Monsieur Sautter, Chairman of the Paris Committee of the Sunday School Union, in taking yonr hand. MONS. L. Sauttee then said : I wish to repeat before yon the words which I have just had the pleasure of saying to Count BernsturfT while shakhig hands with him. I am happy to feel that I am in perfect sympathy with him and witli his countrymen, on the ground of Christian and Sunday school work, the love of Christ, and the love of souls. The only source of peace between God and man is also the only som-ce of peace and true friendship between men and their fellows. May it soon bring perfect friendship and harmony among the nations of the world. In consequence of the sudden illness of Pastor Paumier, President of the Erencli Sunday School Association, the unexpected honour has devolved upon me of addressing you this morning, and of responding to your kind and hearty welcome. I beg you to excuse me if I do it in imperfect English and with insufficient preparation. I want first to express in the name of Pastor Paumier his deep regret at not being able to take part in this Convention as he intended, and would have rejoiced to do. Since the very beginnuig of our asso- ciation, and during thirty-six years, he has been first secretary, then president, and always an active member of the society. He assisted at several Conventions held in London, and is known to many persons in tins audience. ; Though a new member of our French con;mittee, and nearly a stranger, I am a great friend of Sunday schools, and I thank God that, in the course of a somewhat active business career, I have always been able to devote to this work a small portion of my time, a much larger part of my thoughts, my heart, and my prayers. Whether I have been able to do some good I do not know, but I am sure that I have received a great deal of good ; and now having the honoiir and the privilege of repi'esentmg at this Convention, along with my friends, M. Matthieu Le'lievre and M. Greig, the Sunday School Union of France, I still expect to receive much more than I shall be able to give. I have already felt yesterday evening and this morning comforted encouraged,, and rejoiced, on seeing such a gathering of devoted servants of the Lord engaged in the religious training of the young, and coming from all parts of the world in order to communicate with each other, to compare, to improve their methods, their experiments, and then- efforts, all out of love of the cliildren, and for the love of Clu-ist, Wliat we have done, what we are doing, in France in the way of Sun- day schools is very little when compared with what is done in Great Britain and in the United States of America. In that work you liave been our teachers, the helpers, and yoii are stni our models. Neverthe- lieajntiisc in Wclcuhic. 27 loss, we liiivo to lliauk God for tlio great iniproveuiciila realized since the foundivtiou of our society thirty-six years ago. Some of you per- liaps remember its origin, and I am sure the name of its founder, and during many years most devoted, active, and intelligent worker, tlie name of Paul Cook is not yet forgotten in this country. The first public meeting was hekl in Paris in April, 1853. Tliere existed thirteen Suuday schools in Paris, and 130 in the whole of France, and the yearly expenses of the Society were only 1200 francs. A small magazine was published under the dh-ection of M. Cook, and found witli great difficulty some 300 subscribers. Ten years later, viz., in 18G2, the number of Sunday schools has increased to thu-ty-six in Paris, and to 527 in the whole country. A number of special books for the use of the schools has been issued, and the budget raised to 20,000 francs a year. Wc have actually over 100 schools in Paris, and 1300 in France. Far from tliinking that our work as a Society for ])romoting and helping Sunday schools in France has come to an end, we consider that it has never been more useful nor more indispensable than it is now ; and that for two reasons. The fii'st is, new laws on education are now in vigoi'ous operation in France. According to these laws, instruc- tion has been made gratuitous, " laique" (secular), and obhgatory. The word " laique " means that no sort of religious instruction will, nor even can, be given in the public school. Not only do the children receive no official teaching (which I consider a good thmg, having regard to the state of the public mmd and the religious divisions of oiu- counti-y), but the entrance of the school is positively prohibited to the ministers of every church and to any kind of religious instruction, even if the parents expressly ask for it. That soi-t of instruction must be given out f Europe. 51 ])t.'iuliarlv lMigli>li ov American, always and fViT} wlit'ri' in exactly the ibrni which it takes among om'selves. Its great commendation is its flexibility, its capacity to adapt itself to every variety of circumstances and siu-roundings. It must bo left, therefore, to shape itself according to the diverse conditions, exigencies, habits, and needs of various lands. As before stated, the work has been making steady progress, espe- cially since ISSO. The lowest estimate, based upon statistics prepared in great part purposely for this Convention, presents now a grand total of 11,729 schools, 57,11G teachers, and 1,023,150 scholars.* In conclusion we bespeak your prayerful, fraternal sympathy on behalf of the Sunday school laboiu-ers of the Continent, who, in the face of great obstacles and discouragements, keep heart, maintain a resolute faith, and manifest a heroism, self-denial, and fidelity that command our highest admiration and reverence. S ball not, then, the schools of Great Britain, the United States, and the Colonies, as represented in this imposing Convention, in a spirit of hearty federation and of generous rivahy, miite in sustaining these co-workers, alike by their jnoney, their sympathy, and their prayers, in the full assurance that the teaching of God's Word to the young by means of the Sabbath school is yet to be, imder God, one of the mightiest agencies— if not the mightiest — for workmg out the moral uplifting and spii'itual regene- ration of the nations of Em-ope, and in hastening the glad time when, by the attractive power of His Gospel and the sublune force of His sympathy and love, the Lord of all in Heaven and earth will have completed His redemption work, and drawn all menwnio Himself? Fapcr read hy Pastor BACnatAN {Orehrii). r>oar Brethren and FeUow-workoi's, — "From yiiu soiuicIlhI out the Word of the Lord." It was not yesterday that Sweden heard that sound from across the North Sea. It is about one thousand years ago since an Englishman, Sigfrid, brought the Bible from England to Sweden, preachmg the Gospel to the Swedish Gentiles, and baptizing its first Christian king, Olaf Skot- kommg. Sigfrid never returned home to liis own countiy, but laid down his life for Sweden in the service of Christ. In latter times, thousands upon thousands of Bibles and New Testa- ments, by the British and Foreign Bible Society, have been brought to our countiy. And, at last, England, by the Sunday School Union, 56, Old BaQey, has presented to the Swedish children the valuable gift of a Sunday School Bible. * For Continental Statiaticij SbE "i5iuiday I?chools Statistics of all Kations " in the Aiipcndix. E 2 52 Organized Sunday School WorJc : At the beginning of tLe present century Sweden did not know what Dissenters wei-e ; this was also a thing which Sweden had to learn from England. About 1820 an EngUsh engineer, ]Mi\ Owen, came over to our country. He built the first steamboat in Sweden, and introduced mechanical industiy upon a scale till then unknown there. Having been in oui* country for some time, he felt aggrieved at the prevailing spiritual darkness and ungodliness, and sent to England for a missionary. Pastor George Scott came as a messenger of Christ from you, and labom*ed for twelve yeai-s in Stockholm with great success, though liaving to endm-e cruel persecution, and, at last, he was banished from our country. But his work could not be banished. It is from his work we may trace the origin of the Eree Church movements in Sweden, and to-day the Dissenters in om- country amount to about 150,000 souls. In the year 1873 another Englishman came over to Sweden. His name, Mr. Matthew W. Ricliards, is very highly esteemed among us. By his visit, which was renewed in 1885, the Sunday school work in Sweden received an effective impulse, which will be manifested by the following historical development of the Swedish Sunday school work, and especially the work connected with Oi'ebro Sunday School Union. Twenty-five years ago, Sunday School work in our country was scarcely begun. Some few private Chi-istians, moved by the love of Clirist to do something for the welfare of neglected children, had com- menced something hke Sunday Schools. At that time there were not yet any Dissentmg churches in the country, except that of the Baptists, who at that period were but few and weak. Their first statistical reports of the year 1866 show that, in connection with theii* churches, there were 53 Simday Schools, attended by 1,719 scholars and 167 teachers. The Lutherans never have taken- down statistics of their Schools, this work among them being considered as a mere private business. In the Established Church it is then im- possible at all to fix the number of schools and scholars of this early period. They can only state that some httle begimiings were being made in a few places. At this time we had no Sunday School Union in oiu' coimtry. (A strictly Lutheran one was established in Stockholm in the year 186S, and intended only for the capital.) We had no Sunday School mis- sionaries, no religious books or magazines for childi'en, except the Catechism, no teachers' meetings, and no cheap Bibles. But since the year 1872, when the Sunday School Union of Orebro was organized, in connection with oiu' friend Mr. Kichards' first visit things have greatly changed. By yoiu" liberal contribution toward the baby union, the first mis- sionary of Sweden, Mr. Augustus Palm, was sent out on the ist of Augvist, 1873. Oh tilt' Covliiirnt of Fitn'jv'. 53 At present lliei'c are at least fifteen Sunday seliool nussionarics at work all over our countrj', and as a result of their labour hundreds of Sunday schools and several active Sunday School Unions have been organised. Instead of the one Sunday School Union of 1S72, we have now tlircc central Unions, viz. at Orcbro, Stockholm, and Sundsvall, with their auxiliaries. Tims the Orebro Union lias eight auxiliaries within the diflcrent provinces of Central and Southern Sweden, which provinces belong to its field of labour, and six or seven missionaries working in that field. To their salaries the London Sunday School Union contributes £170 a year. During the last year they have visited 831 Sunday schools, in which are instructed 35,737 children by 3,056 teachers. They have organised 29 new Sunday schools and re-organised GO. Together they have held 2151 meetings, and travelled 13,650 miles. Suioe 1873 they have organised about 500 schools hi did'crent parts of the coimtry. Thus, in the course of years, your missionaries in Sweden have done a great and important work. Tlu-ough their meetings and lectures many hearts have been revived into zeal for the Sunday school move- ments. Many a teacher, standhig alone, and working under great difficulties, ■which tempted to despondency, by the visit of the missionary has felt encouraged to continue his work with confidence and hope. Many Sunday schools have reaped the fruits of such a visit in fresh additions of scholars and calling in of more teachers. Meetings have been ari-anged, libraries have been furnished, and Bible reading unions have been organized. Many a Sunday school feast has gained a new importance from the presence of the missionary. His music, his songs, and pleasing stories to many a poor child of humble cottages have become, as it were, a message of angels in comparison with the stern prose of their every-day life. And then, what a contrast to the quarrels, oaths, and profana- tions which many witness and hear in their homes and among their associates. In conclusion : Among the settlements of Finlanders in the forests of Wermland, in the northern mountain districts and in the fertile plains of our southeramost province, Sk&ne, those labourers have travelled far and wide, often fainting with cold and hunger sowing the good seed, the "Word of the Lord, which, to old and young, has pi-oved to be the power of God unto salvation. Fm-ther, the Orebro Union also has an additional business and book dep6t of its own at Oi*ebro. Dm-ing the past fifteen years it has prhited 136 different editions of books, embracing in all 984,800 copies, and about 100,000 sheets of Sunday school cards. 54 Organized Sandaij School Worh : The sale for cash during that time amounts to kronor 319,014 = £17,723. Books have been presented to poor Sunday schools hi the course of that period for kronor 5,2-18 = £291 10*. In oiu" country there are now published six dilTercnt magazines for scholars, and three papers for teachers, including the ' Teacher,' pub- lished by the Orebrii Union since 1874. Besides, we have explanation of the Sunday school-lessons in some weekly papers, published by the different Dissenting denominations in cm* country. Six different Sunday school hymn books have also been published during the same space of time. We have always felt a pressing want of a cheap Bible for our Sunday schools, seeing that the text-books containing extracts from the Bible for the International Lessons for the year, have been incomplete for a fundamental teaching. Now that want also has been suppUed by our English fi-iends. Om- esteemed fi-iend IMr. Richards, during his last visit to our country, saw that want existed, and brought it before you upon his retm-n. You again sent us money. 10,000 copies of tbe Bible were prmted last year, and are now almost sold out. Thus, not only has the teaching in our Sunday schools been very much im- proved, but, what is far more essential still, the cliildren have got a Bible of then' own, which they can buy for 1 kronor. I have now to bring you hearty greetings, not only from my Clmstian brethren and sisters, but from thousands of Sunday school scholars in the " laud of the midnight sun," who at their meetings have expressed their thankfidness for this gift of yom-s so highly estimated by them. That the success of om- endeavom'S has not been so very unimportant, will appear from the following figures about our Sunday school work durmg the time past. It is supposed that in connection with the Lutheran Chm-eli of Sweden there are 75,000 Sunday school scholars and 5000 teachers. In connection with the Swedish Missionary Union (Free Chm-ches) 76,273 scholars and 5568 teachers. The Baptists have 497 schools, with 32,765 scholars, and 2816 teachers. The Methodists have 188 schools, with 13,689 scholars, and 971 teachers. Schools not belonging to any church : 25,000 scholars, and 1000 teachers. Total . . . 222,727 scholars. „ . , , 15,355 teachers. These figm-es show certainly progi'css and growing interest in the Sunday school cause ; yet they are very small in comparison with the great number of cliildren in our country who are not yet brought into the Sunday school. According to our latest statistics the number of children of six up to fourteen years, which ai-e in the age of primary instruction amounts to On the < !(>iiliiii'iil of Enropi'. 55 753,000. Si'fin;]^, tlieii, doin- brethren), that mure than 500,000 of children between the ages of six to fourteen, with immortal souls, arc still iiureac^hed, we feel our responsibility to do all that lies in oui* power to bring to them the blessings of tlie Gospel, knowing that in due season we shall reap if we faiut not. Passing to the Obstacles of our work I would mention first that it is but the plain truth to state that the progress gaiiuul in the Sunday school work in Sweden has been a hard work, requiring great per- severance. It has, indeed, had to work its way inch by inch against prejudice, ignorance, enmity, and resistance. .^Vnd in many cases, not to say in most cases, the clergy, joined by the school and church councils, have been foremost in resisting the Sunday school movement. The Established Church, neither by fair means nor by foul, have succeeded in making children desist from going to Sunday school, they issued a prohibition against it tlu-ough the medium of the above-men- tioned Church and School Councils. As an example, I will cite such a piece of prohibition from the 20th of February, this year, sent to me by one of oiu* missionaries : — " Minutes of the meeting of the joint Church and School Councils of * Hor,' Skilne, the 20th of Februaiy, 1889. " The School Council having learned that a school going under the name of a Sunday school has been instituted within the parish, wliieli school is not arranged upon the basis of ordinances concerning parisli schools contained in sect. 62 of the Law for Schools for the present in force, and as the persons instructing in the said school are not known to possess the ability requii-ed for such instruction, being besides highly suspected of embracing views in religious matters difi'crmg fi-om those of the pure Lutheranism, we hereby do forbid, under i^miishment as stipidated by the penal law, such a school witliin tlie parish. " Date as above. "A. HoFSTROir, P.C." This is but one act among the many which have befallen our yoimg and weak Sunday schools, thi'ough which act of violence many a hopefid commencement has for a time been brought to nothing. Another difficulty has presented itself in the tvaid of perseverintj teachers. Many have begma the task with great zeal, but wheii persecution and obstacles have met them they have gi-own dispu'ited and left off. Emigration, has also robbed our Sunday schools of many hundreds of teachers, and the same thing has iu many places been a great lundrauce for the extension of the work. Another great obstacle has been the poverty of our people. An Englishman, well known to you, who has travelled a great deal m Sweden, and thoroughly well acquainted with tlie coimtry, has i-eported of it thus : — oG Oirjanized Sunclcuj School Worh : " Sweden is a poor country and will always so remain." And lie is right, indeed ! espeeially in regard to the members of the Dissenting churches. For, as St. Paul says : " Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called " amongst us. Indeed, in many cases, a considerable part of the congregation stands in urgent need of the support of their brethren who are in easier cir- c'.uustanees. And besides theu' cm-rent expenses, the building of chapels, the uiaintenance of their pastors, then" missionary and Sunday school work, they also have to pay gi-eat sums to the clergy, who only repay them by forbidding their work, and fining them if they dare transgress their prohibition. If then the poor people have no money with Avhich to pay the fines, they are sent to prison as common criminals. Such are the circumstances under wliicli we have had to labour up to this time, and in many cases they still remain the same. But om* end and aim has been, and still is, "The children of Sweden for Jesus," cost what it may. We may still have to suffer, but we conuot betray the command given us by our Master, "Feed My lambs." In this respect our endeavom'S have also been crowned with success ah-eady. A very great number of Sunday school children have given their hearts to the dear Saviour. Our Sunday school missionaries, who best know the state of things all over the country, tell us that in many schools 20 up to 25 per cent, of the scholars are converted. A great many of them have already joined oixr churches and formed some of the best and most active laboui-ers in our Sunday schools ; some have tm-ued preachers, others Sunday school missionaries, and not a few of them have entered the glorious home above, to be for ever with the Lord. One of our most pressing needs at the present time is more teachers. I have already mentioned that a great many teachers evei-y year emi- grate to America. Thus, the missionaries very often report : " The Sunday school in the place had ceased to exist, because the teacher is gone to America, and there is none in the neighbom-hood to fill his place." Or, " In almost all the schools in the district there is a lack of teachers, and the churches are v.nable to fm-nish them, because so very many of their members this year liave emigi-ated to America." From other fields they report ; " Not a smgle Christian was to be found who coiUd be obtained as teacher, therefore no Sunday school could be com- menced ill the place. In some places many of the converted people are in great need of Eible knowledge. The only religious books they have read before their (tonversion are the Catechism and the Common Prayer-book, In a great many cases they have never read the Bible since theu' confirmation, and know but vei-y little of it. On the ('(niliiD-nt of Europe. 57 From this state of things there arises aiiotlicr need, namely, the want of sonic training courses for teachers, such as those wc had some years ago, ill diflerent parts of the country, and which proved to be of great advantage to tliose who attended tliem. In connection with that need stands another one — a greater quantity and variety of Sunday school litei'ature, especially for the education of fciunday school teachers. In some schools, however, whei'e the elder scholars are being retained, they are placed in normal classes, to imdergo some degree of training as future teachers. At Orebrci, and some other places of our field, where there are scholars lip to twenty-five years of age, there are normal classes for those above fifteen, from which the i-anks of the teachers are recruited. But those schools are still very few. First, because in most cases the scholars leave the schools at the age of fifteen in order to undergo the usual confirmation by the pi'iest, after which ceremony very few of them return to the Sunday school ; and, secondly, the want of qualified teachers to lead such normal classes. Auotlier need is that of proper localities for our Sunday schools. Of late we have exerted our utmost powers to erect chapels and houses for our work, but there is still a great lack of localities, especially in the large woodland districts and at diifei'ent ironworks. In these places the only accommodation that can be obtained for the Sunday scliool is usually a kitchen or some cottage inhabited by a large family. When some forty or fifty children are huddled together in such a room the ah- becomes so vitiated that the candles are extinguished. It is easy to form an idea of the susceptibihty of their minds in such an atmosphere, not to speak of the many other diflBciilties connected with a Sunday school in such a place. But He, who has hitherto be- stowed upon us His divine blessings, suppUcd our needs and strengthened our hands in the days of weakness, He will also hereafter fulfil upon us His promise : "I am with thee, and will surely bless thee." The Gospel of Clu-ist is working its way everywhere, and the purpose of God in setting up the Eedeemer's Kingdom is being constantly fulfilled ; and we believe, dear brethren, that no agency will be more potent in ensuring that fulfilment than the blessed institution whose interests are so dear to all our hearts. God speed this glorious Sunday school work all over the world, and most especially over the Land of the Midnight Sun. Professor J. G. Fetzer (Hamburg). Ladies and gentlemen, I have been asked to make a few remarks by way of correction or approval of what Mr. Edwards has put before you. I am sorry to say that I have not been able to put anything that I have to say on paper, so that I shall just give you the impression that I have received from Mr. Edwards' paper and from my own observation 58 Orijanized Sunday School Worl: : dm-ing my work among the Sunday schools in Germany. Sunday school Avork in Germany is, so far as I know, Tcry old — at least as early as 1S24 or 1825. The first Smiday school was established in the city of Hambm-g, and from that time Sunday schools were estabhshed in different parts of the German Empii-e. They were looked upon in every case almost with en^-y and hatred, and a great deal was done at the time to suppress the Simday school work, because it was in no \vise considered as a desii-able institution for the state of things which existed m the German Empii-e at that time, For tliis reason Simday school work during the first forty years, or nearly so, from the time the first Sunday school was organized, was not permitted to raise its head and do the work as tlio people who had it in charge, and who lived for it and loved it, would have liked it to have done. However, things had come to take a better tvu-n, in very many cases at least, and very few are now here and there, as ilr. Edwards has said, oppressed and hindered in their work. There are many villages and many towns in which there is no Sunday school, and as soon as a person starts a Sunday school there are persons who wUl very likely do something to stop the work in its progress, and hinder it wherever it goes. There might be facts given to illustrate that point, but we have no time to do that. For the last thirteen years I have been more or less iateresting myself in Sunday school work in Germany, and have watched its progress especially in independent bodies. The work has gradually increased from time to time, and the number of scholars and teachers as well has, I think, nearly doubled from what it was ten or thirteen years ago. This is owing to several reasons. The one is that the persons themselves have received as it were a new inspiration in the work. They have learned to see that the work is a work which must necessarily be done, and if it is to be done that they are the persons who must do it. It cannot be said of Germany as it may be said of the United States of America, and as it may be said of England and Wales, that 88 per cent, of the present teachers have formerly been scholars. I think if we could go tlu-ough the ranks of the German schools we should fijid perhaps scarcely half of the teachers had been scholars, and others have to be drawn in, but it takes a great deal of time and a great deal of perseverance to interest them. Two visits, one by ilr. Towers and the other by our friend ilr. Edwards foiir or five years ago, did a great deal to interest and give the work a new start in Germany. Each of them visited Berlin and Hamburg, and tried to do what they could at both places to interest Christian friends in the Sunday school work. They have experienced by these visits how difficult it is to imite the diflerent parts and bring them together to work imder one organization, and I can only affirm that to-day it is a most difficult tlung to even bring individual bodies On the Conlinnxt of Eurojye. u9 to work umlci- one organization. Thus you see that our work is quite difieivnt from what it is in Enghuul, and from what it is in the United States, although I am aware of the fact which luis been repeated bv Mr. Hartley-, and as I have had occasion to read very often that the denominations here have to some extent their own Sunday School Union. Were we in Germany as strong as you are in England, or as they are in the United States, it would be a matter which woidd not be grieved at, but since we are not so strong I feel it very intensely that we cannot get our people to work harmoniously. For ten years I have been trying to do something in that direction at Hamburg, but it has been a very difficult thing to do the work as it ought to be done by a very few persons. "We hope, however, to contmue the work and not get tired, trusting that in due time the work which now seems to flag and lose in interest will be revived, and that a greater zeal will be manifested in the work, and that the work wUl improve in every respect. As to the accommodation, it is a fact which I think cannot be deplored too deeply that it is so incomplete. Scarcely one denomi- nation or church has besides its ovm house or chapel a place in which they can gather children. The Sunday school is not, as it was said this morning, the chiu-ch at work ; at least not in very many cases. Very few of the people in Germanv are interested in Sunday schools as they ought to be. The poverty of the people, especially the Christian people who would have a heart and zeal and interest for the work, is so great that nothing can be expected from them for the present in this respect. Tlie internal management of the schools is far from what it ought to be, and I can subscribe fully to what Mr. Edwards has said as to that fact. Still I tliink there is an improvement to be noticed there by any one who has not xisited the German schools for ten yeai-s, and who goes there now. You would be able to see that the management is improving, and I think there is a great future for German Sunday schools in this and the next century. But, Christian friends, you who are here have been asked to take an interest in our work on the Continent, and to remember us in your prayers and in your gifts and in everytliing else ; therefore I would like to ask you — some of you may visit Germany occasionally — to visit our Sunday schoob. It very seldom happens that one sees Christian friends in German Sunday schools. It seems to me as if it was the same with a great many American friends who visit Europe. They visit a great many places, but they do not visit the churches, and they do not visit those churches to which they belong. If the first is not a fact, the second is, at least so far as my observation goes. I have generally found them in those churches to which they do not belong. I do not know why it is, but so it is. I have read letters from persons travelling in Russia and Poland, where I knew there were churches of their denomination, but I never saw a letter even or GO Organized Sunday Scltool Worh : one single statement in whicli tliey referred to the cluircli in that place whicli they might have encouraged by their visit. And the same thing is true — I wish it was not, but I believe it is — that there are very few Christian friends gohig to Germany who visit the Sunday schools. I woidd ask you, Christian friends, who are perhaps on your way to the Continent, not to run through by express train to S\vitzer» land, and to spend your time m London as pleasant as may be, but go and encourage the work of Sunday schools throughout Clermany. That will encourage them in tlieu" wox'k to persevere when they see that everything is against them in what they are doing. You might speak a few words to them and say, " Grod bless you, and grant you everything that you need." Then, the material for the work is not quite what it might be as yet ; but it is getting better, and we are gradually getting something that will stand the test as with the public elsewhere. The numbers attending the schools were not so great as in England, but, so far as they go, I think we can stand the test with others. I have tried in the last few years to get sixteen or seventeen Sunday schools in the Dissenting churches that we have in Hamburg to give me regular statistics, but when I look at them and try to compare them with the year previous I find out that they had not kept them coiTectly, and that some of the figui-es had plainly been estimated from a guess — nothing more than that. In that matter a very great deal can be done, and I hope will be done to make the accessories and auxiliaries complete. But, friends, we must not, however, expect Sunday school work to be in Germany what it is in England, nor what it is in the United States. It will never be so complete, because in schools in Germany every scholar and every child is held to have learned to read, and eveiy child in the smaller towns and villages has a Bible and a lesson-book. I am sorry to say this is not the case iii the larger cities, and especially in the city of Hambm-g, where it is being ousted out of the school, and teachers try to ridicule it in eveiy possible way. In England, where the Sunday school was started, Mr. Eaikes was obliged to teach the children fii'st how to read. We are not obliged to teach the children. Though the woi-k will never be what it is in England and in America, I hope, if the Lord grants that we may come together again, some one may be able to say that since the Convention of 1889 our Sunday school work in Europe in the State churches, as well as in the Dissenting churches, has increased, and grown, and multiplied, and strengthened, and has done a great deal of good, On the Continent of Europe . 61 The fuUowmg Pivpcrs :iud Addresses were read or delivered at a subse- quent session, but for the convenience of reference to Sunday School Work on the Continent of Europe they have been incorpo- rated under the proper heading : — Paper ly Mk, J. M. Heybrock {Amsterdam) . Mr. Chairman, dear Clu-istian friends, when we received, in tho beginning of this year, the tidings of tlie World's Sunday School Con- vention that was iiitended to be held in London, and also the invitation to send two or more delegates from Holland to that international assembly, the Committee of the Dutch Sunday School Union appointed my friends, P. J. MuUer, Gr. P. Fruyt, and myself to represent them among the great number of friends and workers in the Sunday school who have been coming from the various parts of the world in this metropolis, to deliberate about the great institution to which they have devoted their forces and then- love. Our committee have charged us to transfer to the English brothers their best wishes for the success of this Convention, and also to express their hope and their expectation that the meeting of so many experienced Christians will prove fruitful for the sake of the Sunday school all over the world. And now allow nie to give you a short historical review of the Sunday school work in Holland up to this day. It can be stated that the first religious Sunday school in Holland was started in the year 1S36, so that its age is on the present day fifty-three years. The Sunday school work had to vanquish many difiiculties before it could find a good place in the life and love of tlie Dutch Christians. The first Sunday school teacher was Mr. Capadose, by bu-th a Jew, but who had found in the Lord Jesus his Saviour. He had visited many Sunday schools in Switzerland, and soon acknowledged the great importance of that institution. The inducement to the forming of a Sunday school in the Hague, Avhere he dwelt, was, accordmg to his own declaration, an encounter he had with a httle boy, ten years old, with whom he entered into conversation on the way in which he spent liis Sunday. He invited the boy to come to his home on a Smiday afternoon, and this boy and his sister were the first Sunday scholars in Holland. This happened in the beginning of the year 1836. Smce that year Sunday schools have been formed in the principal towns of Holland. In Amsterdam the first superintendent of a Sunday school was Mr. Loo- juan, our actiial secretary of the Sunday School Union. He has been engaged in that work since the year 1842, and is, up to this day, notwithstanding his grand age, full of zeal for the Sunday school. The example given in the Hague was soon followed in other places ; at first in towns, and afterwards in villages. The starting of the first Sunday school in Rotterdam took place in the year 1847. Since that (Ili Organized Sunday School }Vork : year the developiiient of the Sunday sehool work was so rapid, that in the year 188G, when we celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Sunday school work, there were in the Hague 20 Sunday schools, with 130 teachers, and more than 3000 scholars ; in Amsterdann, 100 Sunday schools, with 500 teachers and 28,000 scholars ; in Rotterdam, 80 Sunday schools, with 390 teachers and 10,000 scholars ; and in Delft, 12 Sunday schools, with 30 teachers and 1400 scholars. In the year 1866 the Dutch Sunday School Union was founded, and since that year the number of Sunday schools has been augmenting very rapidly. Concerning the labour of oiu* Union, we can state that the Union has forty-eight branches thi'oughout the country ; all these branches have then* periodical meetings for teachers, where the intei-ests of the Sunday school work are discussed, and where the teachers are strengthened for their work by common prayer. The Union pub- lishes a periodical named The Christian Faniili/ Circle, an illustrated monthly paper for the family and the Sunday school. Besides this, hints for teachers are published, in order to help them in their instruc- tion of the children and, finally, the Union gives annually, on occasion of the Cln-istian feasts, pubhcations for teachers and scholars. Our annual Convention takes place usually in the moutli of Septem- ber ; Sunday school teachers then come from all parts of the country to discuss the several topics concerning Sunday school work, and to strengthen there the mutual bonds that unite them ; and they return from the meetings with renewed zeal for their work. It is also a rejoicing fact that the international prayer-meetings in October are more and more attended to through the whole country, not only by teachers, hut also by the scholars and their parents. By the liberality of oiu* English brothers we have since the year 1873 a missionary, who is continually travelHng over the whole country, cndeavoming to form new Sunday scliools, and also visiting the existing ones and to give guidance to the teachers, and to introduce the necessary improA'ements. Om- actual missionary, Mr. Fruyt, begun liis labour in the year 1879, and has been working these last ten years for the sake of the Sunday school with indefatigable zeal and fidelity, doing his utmost to promote the work to which he has vowed his forces and his hfe. The great difficulty we have to struggle with m Holland is the want of able teachers, not so mu.ch in the great towns, where the occasions to alTord help to the teachers are numerous enough, but in oiu" httle towns and A-illages ; and it is m that way that o\\r missionary renders us great services. In the year 1886, in the month of October, we celebrated in Holland the fiftieth anniversary of the institxition of the Sunday school. On that occasion prayer-meetings were organized tlu'ough the coimtry, and renewed efibrts were made to stii- up the interest of the Christian pubhc in our Sunday school work. By that way the Sunday school becomes more and more known and appreciated in Holland, and its signification and influence is the gi-eater, since the thousands of children Oil llic ('iiiirniml iif J'jiirojir. i'/o who inako use ul' tlu- puljlic clay scliuol, ulicrc the Jjibli' is ii I'urbiddcu book, receive at least in the Sunday school some religious instruction. Tlie children who frequent oiu* Sunday schools receive tliei-e a serious impression of the Lord's Day. They arc prepared in the Sunday school to receive further religious instruction by the minister or the teacher of religion. We have in Holland many examples of cliildren who, liaving found in the Sunday school the peace in Clu-ist, are actually Simday school teachers ; and these persons are, indeed, not the least capable for their work. Many parents who neglected the daily Bible reading arc induced, yea, pressed by their children frequenting the Sunday school, to open their Bibles. A great number of striking examples of this could be quoted. We have a living hope that by the Sunday school the Bible will become the daily-used house-book. With all this, the ideal of the Sunday school is far from being attamed. Our Sunday schools want help from all who take to heart the eternal interests of the children of oiu" nation. We are in want of more help from the ministers of the Gospel and of the parents of the children ; above all, we arc in want of able teachers. Our Simday schools require also efficacious financial assistance ; the teachers, esjae- cially in oiu' villages, are obliged themselves to pay the necessary expenses, the hii-e of schoolrooms, maps, books, tracts ; and this is a charge too heavy for many of them, which our Sunday School Union Avoidd bo very wilhng to take from their shoulders if we were enabled to do so. We have, however, to remember gratefully wliat the Lord has done, and to pray that the Sunday school teachers may be strengtliened in tlieir faith, and stimulated in theu" love for the cliildren, that tliey may advance in the knowledge and the practice of the Word of God ; to pray that all the children of oiu- beloved country may be brought imder the sanctifying mfluenoe of the Sunday school, and under the i-cgenerating power of the Holy Spu'it, so that they may be all conducted to the Lord Jesus, and to the faith in Him as their Saviom*. But let lis also pray that the parents may inspire their children with esteem and love for their teachers, and implore in their presence the blessing of the Lord on their woi'k. Wlieu these prayers are heard, then the Sunday school will prove a blessing to the family and a preparation school for the chinx-h. To give an idea of the great and rapid extension of the Sunday scliool work in Holland, we can state that, in 18S0, the year of tlie centenary of Sunday schools, we had in Holland 1000 Sunday schools, with 3000 teachers and 100,000 scholars ; and actually, nearly ten years later, the number of Sunday schools has grown to 1470, and that of scholars to 152,000. Certainly, when we look back to tliis great augmentation of schools and scholars, we have much reason for gratitude towards oui' Heavenly Father, who has blessed tlie work in such an extraordinary way, and we place it further with confidence under His gracious protection, trusting <)4 Organized Sunday School WorJc : that He will continue us His blessing in a work which is so inseparably connected with the advancement of His kingdom. The PuESiDENT : I much regret you did not all hear that paper, for it contained many interesting things, and notably one, that they liave a Sunday school Convention in Holland. I have great pleasure in introducing Monsieur &reig, who is in connection with the McAll Mission work. MoNSiETTE Geeig {Paris). I was once in America on a visit in connection with the McAll Mission, and I was at a prayer-meeting. I said something about France, and at the close a dear brother from the country came up — I think he was one of the members of the church — and he said, " Let me congratulate you on your able English ; it is very well for a Frenchman." That is the reason why I speak to you about France. My colleagues thought I could speak a little more readily than they, and I therefore take the place which rather belonged to them. Yet I can speak to you not only of the McAll Mission work among childi-en, which I may call the advance corps of this Sunday school army in France, but I can speak to you of what has been done in the regularly organized schools of the Protestant churches. I have been superin- tendent for some time in the school of the church of a pastor whose name you have all heard, the Rev. Theodore Monod. (Hear, hear.) Let me say a word about the Protestant schools. Thei-e is more difficulty than you Anglo-Saxons are apt to think between what does for you and what will do for France. The reason is liistorical. You have spread so far over the world that you are apt to think that what suits Anglo-Saxons is necessarily international. Yet there are diliferences, and that is why it is useful to have in a Convention like this representatives from such comparatively small bodies of Simday school workers as that to which I belong. One single example : in France a pomt of very great importance in the rehgious instruction of the young is the utilization of the Thursday as well as the Sunday. Tluu'sday schools are, in a way, more necessary than even Sunday schools in France. Yet, if we were to come and say to you, " I think much of Thm-sday schools ; start Thm-sday schools in England ; it is absolutely necessary," what a fallacy on oiu- part it would be. Thursday is the school holiday in France, but here childi-en are as iullj occupied on Thursday as on Tuesday or any other week day. In making any arrangements in connection with Simday school work for the children of the entu'e world, you must tiy to take into account the special cu"- cumstances and conditions of those nations among whom you wish to work. In France, for many years, all the religious instruction was given by the pastors, and it is because of the nobleness of these pastors that a difficulty is met with — a certain iinwilluigness hitherto to give up to the members of the church the training of the young. It is only since the foimdation of the Republic that we have had liberty of On the Continent of Enropc, 65 Siuuclay school tcafhiiig, ami here let ine ask all Christians present to pray that, in the month of October next, we may keep that Republican Government, which we obtained with so much difTiculty. It is only since the advent of that Government that there has been real religious liberty in France. Till then it was a punishable oficncc to hold a religious meeting, and it was only a pastor wlio had a shadow of a righ to do any such thing. Therefore, by the force of cu'cumstances, tlie pastors had to keep in their hands the instruction of the youth of the church; and all honour to them for what they did in forming schools in their parishes to train up the yomig ! So do not be hard on vay I'rench brethren if they are luiwilling to give up, often to ill-prepared Bible students, the training of the yoimg tliey so much value. As regards the Mc All Mission work, it is absolutely essential to set to work amongst the young ; and it is among the conditions we lay down when we open a mission in any city that there be Sunday school work in connection with that mission. You know possibly that there are a number of paid agents in connection with the mission. I am one of them. Their number is very small. Much of the work is done through the churches, and when a pastor writes to ijs, " I w ish to open a mission hall in my city," if he has money for rent, we give him a hall, and we insist upon it that he have a meeting on Sunday there and on the week days, and a meeting for the young hi an organized Sunday school. A great many of these brethi-en know nothing about modern Sunday school teaching, and hence a great need m the McAll Mission of some person who can go about and show these bretlu'en " how to do it." They long to know " how to do it." I have been privileged, owing somewhat to the generosity of the Sunday School Union, to itinerate iu France, and none have re- fused — even the oldest pastors have been willing — to listen to what instruction the mere beginning in God's work can give them. What can we do ? Even where oiu- work is most organized we cannot, where Cliristian work is newly begun, have classes at once. We ai-e not sure that the children will come regularly, to begin with. It is a simple fallacy when a hall is opened to at once break up these children into classes. The best thing we find is to keep the classes in the hand of a competent person until the children have become regular in their attendance. I need not tell you, whei-e attendance is irregular, how hopeless it is to give instruction in the classes. We cannot expect to get our classes officered from the Protestant chm'ches. To some extent the young people there do not know " how to do it," and they have theu- own work to do. Our plan in the cities is to take the teachers from among the converts. They are Tery ignorant, but full of zeal. They can point the childx-en to Christ. I remember from my own experience how joyful a work that is after oonversion ; and, if we can tell what to do with siu, the battle is won. We can pomt to Christ. What we can do, however, in the matter of organization, is to train these converts to become good teachers. To V 66 Organized Sunday School Worlc: this end preparation classes are absolutely necessary. It is difficult to gather young people in France ; and Mr. Edwards reminded you of the late hours of work there, but he might also have spoken of the social difficulties — the immorality and gaiety. In spite of these difficulties, aU the teachers of a school in Paris I could mention, although they have three quarters of an hour travelhng to attend the preparation classes, attend regularly, not one missing unless illness be the reason. The McAll Mission goes to places where nothing has been done. Till we have the converts, some one man or woman must do the teaching. I will give you an instance of the difficulties to be encoun- tered. There was a hall in Paris about seven years ago, where a French lady took the organization of the school in hand. Twenty children were present. They listened for five minutes, and then they took the chaii's and carried them out mto the sti'cct, and threw them at one another's heads ; but now, if you went there, you would find a large haU with 300 scholars, and three schools fully organized, a school for little gu'ls and little boys, and a general school for those who can read ; and in addition, but not meeting at the same time, a class for men, almost as old as they chose to come to be prepared for ehurch-member- shijD. There is also a meeting for young girls held a little distance ofi". This is what we call organized work. E!mdly let me give you another specimen of what we call organized work. Last Sunday, in one of our largest halls, which can contain 400, which is very lai'ge for a Paris hall, an interesting incident happened. This hall is filled in winter, but in summer the children are taken away by their parents for that promenade so dear to the Parisian's heart ; and in that school the attendance we find had gone down to sixty. We like that, so far. It may astonish some of my brethren to hear that we make no efi'ort to keep, beyond the six or seven winter months, the great mass of childi'en who come irregularly. Then' presence disorganizes the teaching, and dui-ing the summer we comit to work up those who hare been caught, midistm-bed by the coming in and going out of the irre- gulars. Well, we thought sixty small, and the teachers said, " Let ns go out and fetch in children fi-om the ' liighways and hedges.' " They went out by twos and threes, and in ten minutes had brought in one hundred cliildi'eu out of the streets close by — children who, though living close by, had never heard of the existence of the school. If they had not come in, they might never have heard of the love of Christ. We call that organized Siinday school work ; and yet that is not quite accordmg to the sti'ict model. (Cheers.) Let me tell you just two little things. I have here one of the reports sent in to me with respect to the progress of the work. A question had been asked, " Are there ever spiritual results anywhere ? " They answer, " Yes." There are some most interesting cases. Here is the latest that came to my notice. " At Chatellerault, where meetings have been held since May last year, the children were brought ha from the streets, being wholly Koman Catholic— not one Protestant among them. Of the childreuj none of On the Conn and of Enrapc. 67 them liacl rcccivetl even a moral education, yet out of that number there is at least one who is singing the praises of God by the throne of Clirist, who, before liis death from a disease which caused excruciating suHering, instead of complaining, sang the hynms he had learned in tlie Sunday school. lie spoke to his parents, giving them a rendezvous in heaven, and entreating his father not to put oil' coming to C'lirist. Some of his fellow-scholars came to see him, and he lu'ged them to come to Clmst ; and, finally, he died refusing to see any priest, but wisliing only to have his Sunday school teacher with him. (Applause.) Hei-e is another instance of spuntual residts. Thei-e is in Paris an atelier — what do you call it in English? — a printing-office, which was notorious for its immorahty. No mother who had any respect for her children would allow her davighter to go to work there. One of my Sunday scholars had to go — her mother wished her to go to work there. She went, and she kept herself pure, and one of her fcllow- scholai's needing work got alongside of her, knowing that two are better than one ; and for two years they worked there in that very sink of iniquity. Then that printing-office changed its character, and }iow, instead of being spoken of as the worst in the district, the people speak of it as scarcely Paris-Uke — changed by these two Sunday scholars, one of whom was of relapsed Protestant parents, and the other of Roman Cathohc parentage. (Cheers.) A Delegate : I have been told, in conversation with some fi-ieuds from the Continent, that the effects of the Convention would be more widely felt on the Continent, if some of their delegates could be included on the executive committee, and I suggest that some of them shoidd be appointed on the committee. The President : We should be much dcUghted to revise the whole thing. I would fm-ther suggest that the brethren should consult on the subject, and if you will send in names from different countries at tlie close of this meeting they shall be duly considered. The Eea". H. Usstxg {Deimarlc). 1 sliall be very brief in addressing the meeting, because the time has got on, and I should like to say a few words about our Httle country. If you know something of geography — I am afraid to say tliat all the great nations do not know much of geography except their own, but, if you know anything of geography, you know sometliiiig of Denmark. We have the right to occupy a little of yoiu* time, because we Danes have a very old place in the woi'ld's history, and in your liistory ; and, when you Americans come here as sons of a mother or father, we may say that we come here as father to the father. (Clieers and laughter.) I dare say that in some way we may pretend to be grandfathers to you young Americans ; but it is tlie law of the time tliat the children grow bigger, and yon Imve grown veiy big (laughter), F 2 GS Orijanizcd Saiidaij School Worh .' and the parents sometimes grow smaller ; so it lias been Avitli lis. (Eenewecl laughter.) Now, as to the .Sunday schools in Denmark, I can only say ^ve have about 35,000 scholars and 2000 teachers. You vill think it a rei-y small figure, but it is almost four times as jnucli as I had the honour of relating nine years ago at the World's Convention here ; so you see that the work is rapidly increasing in our country — but it is new still. We are deeply indebted to you Englishmen for this grand idea of the Sunday school ; but, nevertheless, I should not like any one of you to think of vis Danes as a sort of heathen. Sometimes I have heard you speak of the Continental mis- sions almost as you speak of the Cliina and India missions. Of coiirse, we have some people not much better than heathens, but you have some too. (Hear, hear.) I can tell you a vei-y good reason ^^•hy we have got Sunday schools so late. We have had for seventy-five years — for thi'ce quarters of a centmy — compulsory education, and in that religious teaching is taken ; so that in our country we have compulsory religious teachmg. Of course, you know it cannot always be quite spiritual teaching, but at the same time a great number of Board school teachers are true, faithful, and spu'itual people. Therefore ^\e are only hcginnmg witii Sunday schools, and the principle upon which they are established is to promote the spmtual hfe. You have hundreds and thousands more Sunday schools than we, but you have many that we should not call Sunday schools, because there is not the spu-itual life in them. Wc call those only Sunday schools which spring out of the living fountaiu of the Church. With reference to what was stated by Mr. Edwards to- day, I may say that as to the accommodation we are better oif than some parts of the Continent. We have in a great many places mission halls built especially for Sunday school work, and that not only in the larger towns but also in the counti-y villages. The mam part of our ]5easants, so far as they are spu-itually inclined, take a great interest in tlie Sunday school, and in a great many parts of the countiy — in villages — you will see mission halls, where always on Sunday they have schools. As to the preparation classes, you are a httle behind in England ; we always have them diligently, and when you say you have only one-tenth of the schools for preparation classes, we have only one-twentieth where "wc have vot the preparation classes. In Copenhagen we have the honour of having the greatest men — the leadhig men — amongst the conductors of these classes ; we have our best reuowued university professor as one of the leaders, and two others have been elected bishops in om* church. I wish to say one word about the children of the higher class, because that is a question of great importance, and Denmark is not the only place where the question is to be considered. We have in Copenhagen special Smiday schools for the liigher classes. We are able to liave a haU nearly as large as this fiUed Avith cliildren of the higher classes coming on Svuiday to have their Sunday school instruction, especially in the winter. We are beginuuig to have yeai-ly conferences of Sunday acliool teachers in different parts of the country. On fjir Cfiiitincni of Enropp. C9 I sluiU liiii.'>li now , and liavo only one more \\oi'il. I liavc a hearty greeting to bring from our own sister land, Norway. You have not sent any invitation to Norway, and I took the liberty in your name to invite the Norwegians, but I got tlic answer, that, as they had no a-isoeiation formed for the work, they did not think it desirable to send ilelegat<.'s. Thej' asked me, however, to bring their hearty greetings to the English people for the grand idea of Sunday schools. "We have about 20,000 children iu the Norwegian Sunday schools, ^^■ith about lUdU teachei-s, and this moutli they have the first National Convention of Sunday seliool tcacliers in Droutheim, iu the north of Norway, where 1 «as jisked to speak. AVc thank you Englishmen, aiul ask you to lliink a little more about us and pray for us. (Cheers.) The Kea-. Hexet C. T\'oodeuff, D.D. {Black Rock; Cu,uiccliail, U.S.A.) At the request of the President, I make some remarks in reference to the Foreign Sunday School Union of America. I will only take a moment novr, because the Committee has rery kindly permitted nic to occupy a position later on m the progi-amme. The work of our society will be illustrated by what I shall say on that occasion. Tho work we are carrying on tlu-ough con-espondeuce finds an echo cvery- whci-e. It is a great pleasiu-e to me to liave met these brethren, some of them correspoudents, and known by name to me, though I have never seeii them face to face, or gi-asped them by the hand. We carry on our work by tliis method of correspondence. We have established Sunday school papers — for literature is a busy agent now- a-days, and we find this one of the best methods of work. We are caiTying on in one way or another Sunday school papers in some six or eight different languages by a moderate expenditure of money. ' Christie's Old Organ ' may be kno\Tn to some of you ; also, ' Saved at Sea,' ' Lost Gip ; or, Alone in London.' We have published some 30,000 copies of one or other of those difterent books, and distributed tliem. We have multiplied lay Christian activity over the eoimtiy. I wish when you go home, having heard of the residts of Sunday school work in these countries, and having heard of theii- need, you will be kind enough to give us the assistance we need. The Peesidext : All the work done by the Foreign Smiday School Union is done voluntarily. Nearly all the contributions are from Cluistian ladies, and the gentlemen who give their time give it without remuneration. It is a delightful, beautiful, and pleasmg work, owned of the Lord. A Scotch Delegate : Are there to be no remarks allowed on the papers that we liave heard ? The Pbesidext : One woidd be glad to hear remarks of delegates but unless we can put more than sixty minutes into the hour I am afraid it cannot be done. 70 Orr/antzcd Sunday School Worh: The Delegate : But does "Convention" mean that ■\vc ai-e to meet and listen to papers day after day -n-itliout any opportunity of taldng part in it ? The PRESIDENT : Wo should be glad to hear remarks made if there is time. The Delegate : It is essential, beeause to-day in one of the papers statistics are given which are very far from bcmg complete, and it woidd be absolutely necessary to make some remarks on those statistics ; and I hold that it is one of the essential things of this Convention that there should be an opportunity for discussion. A Delegate : I suggest that this matter shovdd be referred to the executive committee for consideration, and that the delegate shoidd move to that effect. The Scotch Delegate : I shall do so with pleasm-e, but I regret the necessity for any such motion. The mecthig closed with prayer. ( 71 ) FIRST DAY.— THIRD SESSION. Tuesday Evening, 2nd Jolt. TuE Thii'd Session of Convention was held at 6.30 on Tuesday evening in the City Temple, Mr. F, F. Belset occupying the Chair. The proceechugs having been opened with prayer, the reading of a portion of Scripture, and the singing of hymns, The PuESiDENT said : I should like to say a few words before calling U]ion the gentlemen who will address you. Among the results which I would like to see following this Convention arc the holding of meetings in covjnection with some of om* provincial unions. Om* friends in the country are exceedingly anxious to grasp the hands and look into the faces of the delegates from America, Canada, the colonies, and foreign lands, and would be very glad to receive visits from any of you who could remain in tliis countiy for a week or so and accept theu* hospi- tality. I have many invitations and offers of hospitahty from fi'iends in tho comitry, and many promises of aid in this matter from friends who are here as delegates. I may, therefore, leave the matter in your hands, and I hope as many of you as can possibly manage it will accept the proffered hospitality, and I will have a list that will gladden the hearts of om* friends and create enthusiasm in this great cause in the country districts. The Secretary will be happy to afford every infor- mation to delegates who desire it. The subject to be treated this evening is " Organized Sunday School Work in Canada, the United States, and among Colom-ed People," and Dr. Witlu-ow is the first on the list to addi-ess us upon the subject of " Organized Sunday School Work in Canada "; but, before calling upon Dr. Withi-ow, I would just like to mention that the resolution which was passed tliis morning has been submitted to the executive committee according to arrangement, and the chairman of that com- mittee will bring up and present his report in due coiu'se. A Delegate peom Scotland : Permit me to interpose in order to ask when we may expect to have the report from the executive com- mittee, because, if in our opinion the report be not a satisfactory one, we will requu'e to raise the whole matter upon a motion to suspend the standing orders. 72 Organized Sunda;/ School Wook : The PefjSIDENt : I may say that the cliau-mau of the executive cova- mittee is not here at pveseut, he has uot yet arrived, but we expect him every miuute, and as soon as he arrives wo will arrange to have liis report presented at the eai-liest possible moment. I will now call upou Dr. Withrow to give us liis report on ORGrANIZED SUNDAY SCHOOL WOEK IN CANADA. Heport o/" Dr. WiTHiiow {Toi-ohLq). Mr. Chaii-mau and fellow Sunday school workers, I j,n-e;itly wish that the duty of speaking for tlie Dominion of Canada had fallen to some abler tougue than mine, not that I bate a jot of loyalty to my coimtry or a jot of interest in this great work, but because circiun- stances over which I have had no control have prevented me from giving adequate thought to the great scheme. I may say that I left Canada in chai-ge of a family of forty-five persons. Well, although Canadians as a rule are fathers of large famihes, that was the largest family that I ever had charge of before, and you can easily imderstand that my time was fuUy occupied in making the necessary preparations for our voyage and in looking after them in this city. I did think that wheu on shipboard I should have the opportiuiity of giving some time to this great subject, but in consequence of certain circumstances which occurred to us when we were on board ship I was imable to give any thought to this matter. Since I have come to this tight little island I have been a busier man than I have ever been before, and, as I found less and less opportunities of giving attention to this subject, I hoped on to the last that some better representative 'i>oidd have taken my place. However, when I saw my name down on the programme, I remembered the watchword of one of England's great sailors, Nelsou, that " England expects that every man will do his duty." I may say that that is oiir sentiment in Canada also (cheers) ; so I determined, however inadequately, to endeavoiir to speak briefly of Sunday school work in Canada, or, at least, in that part of Canada from which I come. I thought at first the subject with which I was to deal was Sunday school work in Ontario, and that half-a-dozen other people would take up the other provinces. I really thought the province of Ontario was quite enough for one to deal with ; but, when I found that to that were added all the other provinces of Canada, some of them very much larger than Ontario, and that I was expected to report upon all those provinces, I shrank back almost appalled from the thought of imder taking such a work. When you remember that Canada is forty times larger than England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales ; sixteen times larger than the great G-erman Empire ; and that three great empii-cs the size of your Indian Ill (Jancitla. 7-^ Empire — of oui- liulian Einiure — (clicers) — could bo cai-red out. of Canada, you will not wondci- tluit I slirank back when I was asked to S))eak of this great Dominion of Canada. Wlion I started for this country we travelled tliousands of miles in Canadian waters — nearly the greater jiart of flic jourucj' from Ontario here was through Canadian territory. Although in some resijccts Canada is tlio newest — or is called the newest — country in the world, in other respects it is undoubtedly one of tlie oldest countries in the world. (Laughter.) If Sii* William Dawson — (cheers) — noted no lotss for his scientific attainments tlian for his religious character and Christian activities — if he were here, he would tell you that Canada was tlie oldest country in the world — a great deal older than Great Britain — (laughter) — tliat it emerged out of the primeval oceans long before Great Britain, and that the oldest rocks in the world are the great Laurentian strata that jut out when you enter the Gulf of St. Lawrence. He woidd tell you that the oldest inhabitant of this world was a Canadian. (Laughter.) And it was Sir William Dawson who discovered liim, and describes huu in his well-known book. (Laughter.) If we knew the liistory of the first Canadian, we would know tho history of the world. But to deal with the Sunday school record of Canada. I do not think that anywhere Sunday school work has won grander trophies, or has exhibited greater and more enthusiastic endeavour than in the Dominion of Canada. Though I am an alien and a stranger from far over the sea — (cries of " No, no ! ") — I am glad to hear you say that, and that you recognise me as one of yourselves. I may say that, as I stood the other day in Westminster Abbey, and laid my hands upon a plinth that had been carved by hands that had mouldered into the dust 800 years ago, though I was a stranger in this country, I felt that I had a heart and part in all the thrdling memories of that gi'eat Abbey, and I felt that in our new land we had instilled all those old traditions, those grand traditions, those glorious principles of the British Con- stitution, from which we have never gone back. I feel that we have a double interest in this old country, and that we never can feel aliens ov strangers in it. (Loud cheers.) I was glad to see the bust of a great American in that old Abbe\-. I was glad to see the bust of Longfellow — (cheers) — beside that of Chancer. I was glad to see the two countries so associated, so bound together by bonds of love, as they ought always to be, in the mai'ch onward for the glory of the world and the glory of om- Lord Jesus Christ. (Cheers.) It is my privilege to be brought in contact with a gi-eat many Sunday school workers all over the Dominion, and from all parts of the country ; from the mid-ocean island of Newfoundland to the great Pacific island of Vancouver there come letters to me in connection with o\w Sunday school work that fill my eyes witli tears and touch my 74 Organized Siuulay School Wurh : heart witli sympathy. I know that sunilav letters greet brethren of the other churches in Canada, and that together we are doing a great work for the Lord and Master all oxev that vast Dominion. The wonderful Sunday school woi'k of Canada is carried on luidcr the organization of the various Sunday school associations. The greater part is under the control and guidance of the two associations of Toronto and Quebec. There is a Sunday School Association in Quebec "which is over fifty -tlu'ee years old, and which has been in acdvc work all that time. It covers the province of Quebec, and part of the province of Ontario as well. There is also the Ontario Association, and one for tlie eastern provinces, but I do not know definitely what the western associations of the Dominion are, for, it must be remembered, mo are in Ontario much nearer to you here than we are to our provinces in the west of Canada. I made a tour through part of the eastern provinces a year or t^^•o ago, and in many instances I found that the nearest neighbour — the nearest ministerial neighbour of some of the ministers I called upon — was 150 miles away. That is but an instance, but a type of tlic ^\holo Dommion, and a great proof of the urgent need for oi'ganizations for the carrying on of tliis great Sunday school work. (Clicers.) I am glad to say that Sunday school workers are building beacon lights in every part of the Dominion ; all round the stormy coasts of Newfoundland, away to the peninsula of Nova Scotia, and far up into the northern washes of the coimtry, right through the dense region of the pine forests they are planting then' Sunday schools and gathering the childi-en together — sometimes in old saw mills, sometimes in old barns and wooden shanties. Wlierever they can gather them, they are brmgmg them up in the nm-tiu'e and admonition of the Lord. (Loud cheers.) One of the grandest featm-es about this Sunday school work is that it is the impaid consecrated work of volimtary workers iii this grandest of all services. (Hear, hear.) There is a gi'eat army of over half-a- million who are doing their best for the educating and moulding of the yoimg opinion of the Dominion in everything that is rehgious, and wise, and beautifid. and good, and, I am glad to be able to tell you, aro meetmg with a marvellous degree of success. The country has benefited wonderfidly by the labours of these con- secrated Simday school teachers. Go where I may — I admu-e your great cities, I admu-e your grand institutions — biit go where I may, and see all I may when I am abroad, I find no place that seems to me in all the conditions of a higher Christian civilization to equal the province of Ontario and other parts of the Dominion of Canada. We have there the most consolidated, the most colossal, the most solidly intrenched Eomanism that is on the face of the earth ; but, notwithstanding all that, through the moulding influences of the Sunday school institutions and other Christian institutions of oiu' covmtiy, we have, I think, a Ill the United Stdtes. 75 uiodi'l land. (Cheers.) The city of Toronto, from A\]iich I come, cim outrival tliis great cit}- in that respect. I do not wish to make little of the generous hospKality which we have received from your Lord Mayor ; wo are profoundly grateful to liiui for it. I do not know whether the Lord Mayor is a Sunday school teaclicr, but when the great International Sunday School Convention met in Toronto the mayor of that city and the majority of the corporate officers of that city were Sunday school teachers. (Cheers.) Our leading men in commercial and civic life are engaged many of them in Smiday school work, in aggi'essive Christian work, and in con- sequence our land rejoices in a better Sabbath tlian any other land h\ the world. We have a city of over 200,000 inhabitants, where not a street car wheel turns on a Sabbath Day, not an onniibus starts, not a di'inking saloon is open on the Sabbath Day. (Cheers.) I do not know any city of its size which has so few public-houses. Tlie govern- ment of the province of Ontario pays for the car-hire of the Sunday school teachers who liave to travel on cars to their work on Sunday morning. The press — even the comic papers, the JPunches and the Judi/'x, or whatever else yon call yom* comic papers — of Canada is iii hearty sympathy with the temperance movement and with the Sunday school work. Those who bear my voice know that I am not exaggerating the benefits that have accrued in my own country. I wish you would all come out there. We get a great many English- men out tliere, and we would like a great many more. We woidd give you a liearty Canadian welcome, just such as wc have given you here. We feel that we are not strangers, but Ave are brethren beloved, and wo should give you such a welcome as will rival our English welcome if you come to ouj" Canadian hearths and homes. SUNDAY SCHOOL ORaANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES. S^ Mr. E. Payson Poetek (Kew Io;-7l). Mr. President and fellow-workers, I am sm-e it is with the greatest pleasure that I am with you on this occasion. Simday school work is tlie theme for oiu* conversation this evening. We are talking now about our organizations and organized Christian work. I remember what was said upon the floor of this Convention this afternoon in reference to what this organization meant in the individual Sunday school. Permit me to call your attention a httle to oiu- organization of Sunday schools, as we call it in our country, undenominational organization, not ignoring om* denominationaUsm, for we all know that Brother Jacobs has a method and Bishop Yincent has a method. We belong to our denominations, and therefore we accept our denominationnlism ; we 7G Or:, In the United States. 79 The question is, What do we mean by organization ? We mean the definition that we have appHed to the first international motto ; we liave put it into three short words of three letters each, *' All for All" — Mie union of all Christians for the salvation of all others. The first word of oui- motto suggests the importance of in 6omo way or another securing the miiou of these Christians. If we were to construct a railway m England or in America, we would have a plan and bring together certain gentlemen whom we beUeved competent to discharge the duty, and carefully to consider the plan. If we were to discuss any great problem in either England or America, very likely we would resolve upon some plan of co-operation and organization. You may have passed through some parliamentoi-y or other election in England in your day, and you may have found out that those persons who are anxious to serve the people for the glory and honour which attach to it are anxious to secm-e their own success, and they organize the matter thoroughly and work most persistently to accom- plish that object. It is a very singular thing that if Christians, whether Sunday school workers or not, assume they cannot do without their plan, without their co-operation, without the vmion of effort, without persistent determined purpose behind the plan, that they will steadily push on to success. In the United States you have heard Mr. Porter say we have in the Sunday schools at this time about 10,000,000 of people, and about one-sixth of the entire population of the United States are in Sunday schools. It is not what it ought to be, but thank God there is that much of it. There is one-sixth of the entire population in the Sunday schools. We hare in the Sunday schools 10,000,000 of people. Of these 1,250,000 are ofijcers and teachers in our schools. And let me remind you that not only in the United States, but in Great Britain and thi-oughout the world, these Sunday school workers are the peers of any other men that tread the earth. We number among the ranks of Sunday school teachers some of the most eminent, learned, scientific, most honest and faithful men who ever trod the earth suace the Lord of Glory went home; and the day is past when men can stand up and sneeringly talk about Smiday school teachers as incompetent young men and women, when we have men like Dr. John Hall, Bishop Yincent, and H. C. TrmnbuU. Let us be thorouglily well persuaded of the dignity as well as of the importance of oiu* work. Here we ai-e engaged in no light or small matter, and tlie Lord Jesus Christ has practically skimmed the chm-ch and poured the cream of it into the Sunday schools. I am the mouthpiece of as vast a country as the sun ever shone upon, and therefore I speak confidently, and you may say prudently. There is another thing, and that is, that the men and Avomeu are most practical. Theirs is an unpaid and voluntary service. Mr. Hartley asked why did not we have two Sunday schools a week ? I wish he 80 Onjanized Sunday School Work: know the work we do, and I wish he knew what we do duiing the six long days in the week. Our sessions are one and a half to one and three quarter houi-s, and tlie teachers have to go into the House of God and get something to cat for themselves that has been prepared by their pastors and others who ai'e quahfied to teach them. They need some httle time for personal attention to these people. It is possible they may have too much crowded into one day of twelve or fourteen hours to do it thoroughly well. I am not trying to persuade you to abandon the plan you have ; I liave not come to dictate to you, but, like the boy who held a candle for the minister to preach, I like to throw a httle Ught on the subject if it is possible. One thing we need is light on the subject. I snid that we had 1,750,000 of teachers. Mr. Porter has shown you that a very reasonable percentage of the remainder are also adult scholars. It leaves us about 7,000,000 childi'en and youth. I have passed by two or thi-ee of yoixi- buildings, and I have seen an inscription that was cei-tainly a strange one to me. It was a large sign, paint«d in bold letters, "Sunday school for Boys, Girls, and Infants," as much as to say do not any man step in here except at the peril of his life. Now we have 7,000,000 of children and youth, and yet the census of the United States Government reveals to us the fact that between the ages of five and twenty-one we have 18,000,000 of children and youth in the United States. There are 7,000,000 in Sunday schools, so that there are 11,000,000 out, and the great problem is how shall we reach the 11,000,000. I submit it is our business as Chi'istian men to look about us and see if we cannot find a plan by which to reach them. A fi'iend of mine told a story about a youngster who wanted to catch a colt. The youngster went up to the colt, enticing it with some corn in one hand but having a halter in the other. When he saw a chance he slipped the halter over the colt's head, but the colt dashed away, dragging the youngster with him across a ploughed field. "When they had gone about half a mile, the yoimgster said : " Ah, I see now where I missed him ! " (Laughter.) What is the use of going on with the chm'ch service that reaches but a handful of people ? If the Sunday school does not reach the people, let us look about and see what plan will reach them. The question is what is it we are after ; what is the object before us ? If we can find the way to it, we shall accom- plish the result. You know plainness is the beauty of teaching. What good is a golden key that will not open the lock P Let us find a way to tlio solution of the problem, and in all the strength that God will give us let us push that plan to complete success. In order that we might succeed in this work, we tried to gather Christian men together for the consideration of the subject before us. We invited them to come. It is not enough in our country to send a postal card. We have to see them //( lltr (J II lied Slahs. 81 aiul work in oi'ilcr lo gi-( llic^i' (.'liri.-^lian iiicii, I'ur iuaii\ ol' lliom arc ("iiU ofprejiuline. One of the greiiti'st things for any .Smuliiy school worker in (he citv or country is to li;no a dear untleritandiug before the Christian ministers and workers, in the lirst place, and see what, they are trying to do ; and then gathering them togctlicr in convention, as we call it, and point out to tlicni tlie various places on the map that require to be attended to. That map will show the meeting tlie state of count,\ - organization in the United States and tlirough tlie North American provinces. We look over the map for the purpose of ascertaining ^vhere are the most destitute and needy fields and not for the purposes of reporting our past success and past work. What is the thiu" that needs to bo done. We consult together as to wluit plan can be adopted to reach these people. We plan the work, and put it in the hands of a committee. That committee tries to reach brethren in the States. They call Christian workers into the state or territory or jjrovincial meetings called Conventions. "\Ve hang up a map divided into sections called counties, and we look that map over and try to get men who understand the work to go over the counties. Our executive committee liave been in every one of these coimties ; they are men who have left business and gone into this work, men who have given a certain portion of their time aiid have gone into the counties to show how we jiavo succeeded at home. When we have been able to do so, wc have hired certain brethren to help them. We are now having each year a Coua ention in every one of the hundred-and-two comities, and tliero is more tluui one county which holds two conventions in the year. One gentleman has said that they had two Sunday schools in a week. That reminds me of a gentleman who had said, " Let us have an annual Convention every three months." (Laiighter.) We have the best nu-n in the county to do the work. Some of the pastors leave the pulpits, isome superintendents leave the schools, and sometunes men carry ^^•orkers with them in a. waggon and call upon those workers who cainiot go to the large meetings, and tell them of the blessings that they have received at the larger meetings. Wo are trying to carry light into dark places. That is wlicro wo need light ; not so much the light in the dark valley — thank God, there will be no dai-kness there! — but we need the light in the dark alleys, in the dark wretched places in this earth, where the Sun of Eightoousncss has not slione, and where the sun .scarcely e\ei' shines. Then, again, we have school disti-icts which are cut up into little sections of a mile or half a mile square, and those who leave tlie townships go into a school district and mto evei-y little schoolhouse throughout the coiuitry. In one state, where there were 1534 to\^nisliips, last year wc have had 1300 Sunday school Conventions. In one state, although we may have a largo number of people working in the schools and of scholars, yet there may be just one boy we have not got. That boy is G 82 Orf/anized Sitndai/ School Ww^ : jusb the one wo are after, that boy that nobody has ever reaehecl, that boy that somebody loves, and that boy that Jesus wants. One of om- greatest Amerieans, Horace Mann, was speating in Massachusetts, and he pouited to the great pile erected for waif boys, and he made the assertion that the money was well spent if it saved only one boy. After the lecture was over, one friend Mas hoard to ask another " Do you not think Mr. Maun was vei-y extreme in his state- meut ? " The other man tightened his hand tipon the arm of his friend and stammered out, " Not if it was my son." But this boy is somebody's son. One night I went to a meeting, and I was permitted to speak for the Lord Jesus Christ, and was speaking from the verse " Seek ye fu-st the kingdom of God, and His righteousness." At the close there were some inquiries, and I said, " If there is a person wlio has found Christ since last Sunday let him come forward," and a man came forward and said, " I am the man." He said, " My father was a preacher in England, and I have been trained in a Sunday school ; I was a wearying boy, and got to drinking, and after having wearied out all places at home I came to America, and I have wandered round here, and I came here hanging on a fi-eight car, and while here in Chicago I thought I would steal something, and thus get some rest for a few weeks." (Fancy a man deliberating as to whether he would not steal for the sake of getting a few weeks' rest !) " While here, I saw a notice iip, ' A man wanted ;' it was to take a board at one dollar a day. During his walk he was attracted by a sign, ' Gospel meetmg every evening.' I went m, and I said to myself, I have not heard a sermon for fifteen years ; and as I went in there was a woman praying. I listened, and I said, ' My God, here is my mother come back,' and I went out at the close of that meeting and resolved to come the next night. I came in half drmik and listened to the sermon or message about ' seeking first,' and I said, ' I will seek Him now.' " He was with lis for a few months, after which he said, " I am going back to Old England." I had a letter from him in which he said, " Dear brother, last Lord's Day I was permitted to stand in the pulpit where my father used to preach, and I told the story of Jesus and His love." I have told you that somebody's boy is worth reaching. Men of England and America, we can aflPord to leave banks and shops and come together once in a while and compare om* plans which we lia-\e already tried, and seek to know if there are any better. That is what we call missionary work and organization for evangelization. We must have a pm-pose at the Tbrone. What is the use of praying if we have nothing to pray for? We must have a piu'pose if we work. I was at the Young Men's Christian Association at Mount Hermou recently. You can tell a Moimt Hermon boy as far as you can see him, for every one has a Bible under his arm, and on meeting one of those boys he said to me, " Dear friend, what is the use of a gun xmless it shoots ? " What is the use of a Sunday school vmless you hit the /// the United HlcUes, g3 inarlc ? What is the use of the Convention unless it develops into some- thing beside talk ? (Hear, hear.) I am only suggesting to you that this is a good thing. In some parts of the country they have a house-to-house visitation, and thoy \isit every family in the township, and we have -whole counties which have been visited man by man, house by house, in every district. There is a pm-pose behind that work. It cannot bo called Denomi- national, it cannot be called Undenommational. We have to get all the societies into one crucible and separate the best from that wliich is not so good. Some of the refuse material is most precious, and tho problem is, How shall we best reach it in a proper manner ? how shall we reach the masses ? My answer is, " Reach one mass, and then ti*y the other, and then try another." How many of us personally Christian men who have loved Christ have made an honest effort to reach one sinner this year? No matter where they are, the love of God has made them all welcome, and the blood of Christ will make them all fit. Let us be reminded that among the mass there is a multitude. We liave a great corpoi'atiou in om- country called the Standard Oil Company. One day, when going over then- works, the manager told me that in all theii- great work they foimd that 22 per cent, of the gross product they could never use. It was that which was left when they liad taken oif all they could possibly use, and they tlu-ew it into the river, until the authorities said that they would not allow them to pollute the stream any more. Then they dug a pit and imdertook to destroy it by fire ; but the quantity was so gi-eat and the fii-e was so hot tliat it nearly biu"ut the men who were attendmg to it. Chemists then went to work upon it, and then they discovered paraffin, which is the most profitable portion, according to its quantity, of any tiling that they now got from the raw product. I remarked to him : " You were com- pelled to discover a ■^^'ay whereby you could make yourselves a little richer than before ? " That is the problem before us. If we can discover how to reach that refuse mass, we shall be richer om-selves — not only the country iu which we live, the churches of which we are members, but heaven itself and Clod Himself : for His riches consist in the souls that have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. Now, our plan for organization includes similar steps, for we have come to realize the fact that we have to train that multitude of yoimg Christians, and we have come to the belief that the Simday school is a necessity. Here is a short argument for it. You may watch tho frightfu process that is abeady going on. Let me remind you that I am not unmindful of the fact that there are many servants of God that are iu the habit of preaching expository sermons, but in the pulpit of America there is very little teacliiug of the Word of God. I do not mean to say there is poor preaching. There is very little of what we call the teaching of the Word of God from the pulpit. a 2 84 Organized Sunday School Work : I am not at all posted, as we say, or advised, as to the coudition of affairs on this side of the water. You may be far iu advance of iis about that, but I will remind you that there is very little teachiag ot the Word of Clod in prayer-meetings. It is what we call an experience meeting, and it is sometimes a httle difficult to tell where we get the experience from. It is like that Latin proverb, " Out of nothing nothing can come." We are living in a day when family worship is badly neglected in some parts of the world. In one of ovu' great Conventions we spent one hour and a half on the topic how we should use the Bible iu family Avorship, and when we asked those who were able to rise and testify that their family worship was a success and told lis how they made it, the number was vei-y few. It may have been an exception, but I am a httle afraid it was not. Is there so much personal study of the Word of God as there ought to be ? Let me ask . you one plain question : How many minutes of personal study have you given to the Book to-day? — (Do not answer it to me) — and yesterday, and the day before, and all the days ? We Chi'istians, do we study the Word of Grod ? Do we ? Is the Sunday school the only place whei-e the clnirch professedly comes together for the study of the Word? Then, how wonderful a matter is that school, and how it demands the attention and co-operation and attendance of the members of the chm-ch that it may be turned into a blessing ! No definition will satisfy me that separates it from the chiu'ch. It is the church gathered for the study of the Word of God. And let me remind you that it is om- business to study that Book. We are Christians, and Christians who believe in the divinity and atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is there who is weak-minded enough to stand firm on the Rock, Jesus Chi-ist the Lord ? My old friend Dr. Hastings, who has been here, wi'ote a little story in a wonderful tract about the Bible. Wise men or philosophers have twenty-seven times publicly declared that the Bible has been upset, but he noticed that it was like one of the cubes of granite out of his own hiUs — it was just as high, just as wide, just as deep, just as heavy as it Avas before. They had only tiu-ned it over and got another face of the granite up. Ill Louisville, Kentucky, an Irishman was buLldmg a wall, when a companion said to him that the wall would fall down. The Irishman rephed that it would not matter if it did, for he was building it 3 feet high and 4 feet wide, and if it fell over it would be higher than it was origuiaUy. The Lord can build a waU 3 feet high and 4 feet thick, and eveiy time they tip it over it is a little higher and thicker and broader than ever it was. Not one of His promises has been echpsed, and thank God none of them have been broken. Nothing like the privilege we enjoy was ever given to an equal number of men and women on earth. We ought to thank God for puttmg the Book into our hands, and giving us the privilege of teaching it to Great Britain and America In the United Slatcus 85 and the whole woi-kl. yupposiiig God were to ofler to this ComeiUioii the privilege of chooshig a Held where they would labour, some would say Old England, some Anieriea, some (he lands of the East. Suppose God added another privilege and said, "Ciioose not only where you will labour, but what you will do," you \\ ould choose to be teaehers. How do I know ? Because it is the supreme thing. How do I know that? Jesus Himself chose it. You say that He was a preacher. I admit His sermons, but He was a great teacher. That was His work, and we will choose to be teaehers. Now, if the Lord says, " Choose w horn you will teach," would not you say the cliildren and the youth ? Is there any soil like that in which to sow the seed? Would that God would give us the privilege to see Sunday schools march bv to-night. You woidd say, "Lord Jesus, let me teach them ; " and, if He added, " What will you teach ? " would not you say, " The Word " ? Would not you take that Word and all those foiu" strands of that mighty Cable w hich the Son of God has put into the hand of the teachers of this world ? Sunday school teaehers, there is no calling like that, and no privilege like that, and our work is to teach ! What woi'k is this teacliing ? You say it is education. I would remind you that we have two mighty pillars on which the whole fabric of the governments of the world rests — religion and education; and, if the arch be sprung upon them, they will hold up the Government of Great Britain and the Government of the United States and the Governments of the world. That work of education is the work of building. That is our third motto. We gather that we may teach. That is our third plan : to build them up in tlie knowledge of the ti'uth and to preach that Book. How shall we qualify for teaching ? Our Conventions have to take the form of an institute. Wlien we first gather a Convention, it is with a view of institute work. We must go to those who can teach us exactly the thing we wish to know, and we must allow somebody to select the men and the Avomen who will try to teach us. I wish I could say how much I owe to the men whom I have been privileged to hear in these Conventions. You must have enthusiasm, but enthusiasm must be linked with something else. There must be practical work behind it. You must have sometliing that can draw a lot of men who must be educated if they are going to be gathered together. Therefore we j^lan not only for this institute, but for other institutes, and we send the best women and the best men in America to teach them. Some of om* institutes take on the work. We lia\'e another plan in om* large city which works admirably. In our own city we gather the superintendent and other officers in the school into what we call a superintendents' association, holding meetings to see what can be done for the development and improvement of the plan of working our Sunday schools. We never think of listening to the report of any Sunday school in oiu* Convention, we never think of listening to the report of a society in our Con- vention ; we listen to townsliips. We gather in our larger societies. 86 Organized Sunday School Worh : but classes sometimes, as in llic case of Boston, amount, to 2000 teachers. I was present at a meeting of 2000 teachers gatiiered out of a large number of townships, and they had come together to talk o^er this matter of Simday school organization. There is no difficulty about it, it simply needs the effort to do the ■work. Oui" idea of a Smaday school Convention goes a little further. We say that God has done wonderful things for America and Great Britain, and now there is our field beyond the sea. You will remember the Apostle to the Gentiles said, " I am a debtor both to the Greeks and the barbarians." Why should the splendid Paul be a debtor to the barbarians ? It was because he had that without which these barbarians would perish. The Son of God would be able to say. He was a debtor to the barbarians, and He came down to give them the Gospel of His life and love that they might be saved. We organize and send out the best teachers we have across the sea, and I hope this Convention or some permanent committee will decide to select the best workers in Great Britain to do the work here, and also those in America to do the work there. If we have crossed the Atlantic in the Sunday school steamship, shall we not cross the Pacific ? The army must follow. What are we doing in England and what are we doing in America ? I met a man in Boston recently, and I told him we wanted some money for this work. I told him that I knew he had plenty of money to spare. I told him that I estimated the cost of this trip from America at £6000, or 30,000 dollars, and I said I want you to give 5000 doUars towards the amount, and he said, "I thmk you may expect it." I tell you, brethren, if it is the purpose and will of God, it will be easy to do it. Let us be thoroughly persuaded that there are no difficulties that God is not able to overcome. He has done too many tilings for us for us to doubt his ability now. It is estimated tliat there are 20,000,000 in Sunday schools in all the world who have lifted up their voices in the name of Clu-ist. The Sunday School Union in England and America has organized and sent forth its colporteurs, and the children of those countries are singing hymns of praise. I am glad that om- present George Williams is alive, God bless him! It was one of my desires to see him. I am only sorry that Shaftesbury is dead, and that I cannot see him. The Evangehcal Alhance seeks the union of all Christians in the work of Christ. What wonders have transpired since the first Sunday school Convention was held in this country or in our own ! The organization of the work in America has led to the introduction of the International Lesson. Let us remember what God has done for us. Let me make this suggestion : I believe the introduction of the International Lesson has been a means of consolidating and developing the work of the Sxmday school in both England and America. In the Unlicd Stales. 87 The aulliorilii's ul, Cluuitaiiqua arc liolding meetings in varloiu* parts of the United States, and their work has crossed tlio sea into Great Eritaiu and into foreign huids. Tiie organization for tlic Women's Missionary Society has given new Hfe to tlie woriv tliat lias been carried on. And we have also the Women's Christian Union working in imison with this other society. The Salvat ion Army, too, is carrying tlie ilag. I have told you previously the brethren of the Salvation Army who were on the Bothnia couuuanded the respect, and left a blessed memory in the hearts, of all those Christians on the ship. They are cai-rying the flag of Jesus at the head of the column. Then we have the Young People's Society and the Christian Endeavour Organisation, which was started in 1881, and already they number 400,000 members, and soon there will be 4000 delegates oi young men and women in the society. All these things are in the hands of the Chm-ch of Christ. All the barriers to obstruct ion are removed, all the avenues ai*e open, all the streams of knowledge are tributaries to the river of salvation, and all the wealth and learning of the world are laid at our feet to be used in tliis work. The President : I have now to redeem my promise, and ask Mr. Jacobs to go into the busmess matter which was before the meeting yesterday. I think I may appeal to my friend from Scotland and ask whether we shoidd interrupt the flow of this splendid meeting to-night. My word is pledged, and I will keep the pledge if necessary ; but if he will allow it to be kept till to-morrow we shall be able to bring the meeting to a close in the heartiest possible manner. The Scotch Delegate : I would be the last one to disturb the flow of this meeting. I am in the fullest sympathy with all that has taken place, and my moving in this matter is not out of any spirit of op])Osition, but simply from a hearty desire for the good of this cause. "Wo regard this matter as one of great importance, and I will therefore agree that it shall be taken the first thing to-morrow morning. Mr. E. Patson Pouter : I have made a slight mistake in the course of my address to you. You who have made memorandums please jnit do\ra New York city percentage 12J, and Brooklyn 13J. Mr. P. E. Jacobs : I will now take the privilege of introducing our friend Mr. George Moore. Our work is of such a nature that it has been very difficult for us to carry it out in some parts as we would wisli to do, and we thought it was a wise thing — and wc were glad of the opportunity of having one of om* coloured brethren here to speak on behalf of his own people, not because it is a separate work, but because we feel that you would all be glad to hear him ; and I have the greatest pleasure in introducing him. Organized Sunday School WorJc : OEGANIZED SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK AMONG THE COLOURED PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. % Key. Gko. ^V. Moobe {Wasliwr/ion, B.C., U.S.A.). The liistory of the organized 8nnclay scliool -work among the more than eight millions of colom-ed people in the United States has been the iiiost \inique in the annals of Sunday school work of the past qiina'tcv of a century. In considering this phase of the Sunday School work in the United States, especially in the Southern States, we must bear in mind the two hmidi'ed and fifty years of the tuition of slavery, and the toil.--, stri^ggles, and victories of the past twenty-four years of freedom, together with the forces that hare contributed to each, before you can know and feel the struggle of my people in their efforts to rise. But we do not wish to dwell upon the past, although it has left its impress upon the habits, customs, and life of a whole race of people. Our backs are now to the past, our faces are turned to the future, and our trust is in God. The organized Sunday school work among the coloured people of tiu^ United States began with the dawn of freedom of the Negro race twenty- four yeai's ago. These have bee-u the most interesting years in American history. Tliey have been the most progressive in the history of the coloured people. These have been the formative years of oiu* history — the years of construction — when the foundation of the home, the school, and tin- chm-cli was laid. These have been the years of our growth in popular tion, in material development, in educational advancement and religious progress. During these years of freedom the race has more than doubled. Six hundred Negro children are born a day, more than two hunch-ed thousand a year ! What shall be done with and for them ? In the material work, in the great industries that make a people great and prosperous, they must find a place. In the political field they are to help to shape the destiny of the nation. Schools are opening on every hand to receive them. The hquor saloon, with none of the barriei's that shut the Negro out of other walks of life, are opening everywhere to receive them. There are other influences and vices to draw them down and impede their progress ; and aa we come before the great World's Sunday School Convention held in Old England, the true and tried friend of the Negro, to make our report on the organized work among the eolotu'ed people of the United States, we ask, my friends. Is there not a large place in yoxir thoughts and plans for these millions of coloured children that are ever increasmg on our American shores ? The increase of population is to have a vast influence on the future of oiu* Sunday school work. This increase of population means larger fields for oiu* Sunday scliool work, Avio'iKj Coloured I'eo^ilc. 89 widei* oppoi-tunitic'.<, Inrgcr responsibilities. About oiic-ihird ol" (lie coloured people i» the United States luive, during the past twenty years of Irecdoni, arisen in the rank of life equal to other American citizens. Tiiis is a grand advance lor one-tiiird of any people to rise in thi-s course of time. They arc not only increasing in population, b\it also in thc-ir material prosperity. Tlie material development of the Southern States since emancipation has been so marked that it ha.-< be.Mi called the New South. The coloured people are intensely in- terested in that South land — that is, our liome. We have liclped to make it what it is, and we shall help to make it under God what it shall be. The black hands have helped to develop tlic mineral resoiu'ces, liave picked the cotton and manufactured it for tlie market, and have helped to build up that South land — and it shall be these hands that shall help to stay up our fair land in every good word and work. The material prosperity of the Kegro has a potent uifluence on the organization and prosperity of our Sunday schools in the development of tlie present work, and in the work of Sunday school extension. The coloured people have made great advancement in the work of education. I remember very well the beginning of that great educa- 1 ional epoch in the South immediately after the war. I had just come out of the house of bondage with my brethren when the schools were open 2^nblicly to us for the fii-st time. One of the first schools for coloured youth that was opeuly taught in the South was organized by Mary Peake, a coloiu-ed woman, in 1861, at Hampton, Vh'giuia, near the spot where the old Dutch brig landed the first cargo of Negro slaves in 1620. There, under the open skies, in the sand, without school- liouse or books, this woman gathered the dusky chLldi'en, and taught them the key of all knowledge, the alphabet, and organized a Simday rpi and readied many needy fields. They report the following facts : — Number of pupils in the day schools which were taught by them ] ,398 Number of Sunday schools organized ..... 13 These students were superintendents and teachers in schools , 22 Number of scholars in these Sunday schools .... 1,574 Number of hopefid. conversions to Clu-ist ..... 168 Five Bands of Mercy were organized with a membersliip of . 181 Four Temperance Societies were foi-med with a membership of . 2-il " These facts furuish us excellent evidence of the judicious and enthu- siastic efforts of these coloured students to save and elevate their own people. 15,074 children gathered into Sunday schools, most of whom were absolutely uui-eached before by these twenty-two undergraduates of a single American Missionary Association school." If we could have i-eports of similar work done by all students of the schools of all of om- denominations, they would make a magnificent record. Many of our Sunday schools sustain mission schools. The coloured Sunday School Union of the district of Columbia has sustained several mission Sunday schools during the past year. The Sunday school has been the forerunner, in many instances, of the church. Many of the most flourishing chm-ches among the coloured people have been tlie outgrowth of the Sunday school work. There is a large field for Inter- denominational Union work among the coloured people, such as the Y. M. C. A., W. C. T. U., and especially the American Sunday School Union. The International Executive Committee have done us a great sei'vLce in om* Sunday school work, thi-ough the International Sunday School Lessons. They have been a mighty power and a great force of good to all of om- schools. This will be seen when we contrast om* early Sunday school method of teaching with that of to-day. Twenty-five years ago, the chief text-book in om* Sunday schools was Webster's Blue-black Spelhug-book, with here and there a few who could read from the Bible. To-day the text-book in all of om- Sunday schools is the Bible, and the International Lessons ai-e used almost, if not entii-ely, in all of our schools. Notwithstanding all that has been done for us, notwithstanduig all that we have done for ourselves, the ■work has just begun. We have crossed the Jordan, have taken Jericho, and are in the Land of Promise ; but the land of possession must be obtained by conquc-it. But I must not detain you. I wisli in a few 92 Organized Sunday School WorJc : mouieuts to tell yoii of some of our needs in the development of our Sunday school work. Our needs are not only those common to our great American and English work, but are in a vast measure greater, because of the^«*^ and 2)resent dilUcidties. The work of extension of our Sunday schools is especially ui'gent, as no religious instruction is re(]uired in our public schools, and but little is given. The work is left to the churches, iSabbath schools, and other religious enterprises. The field for mis- sionary work in the Sunday school department among the coloured peojile is the largest, the most lU'gent, and the most neglected of all the Sunday school work in the United States. Our Sunday school work needs to be better organized. Gloriou.s as are the record and results of the organized work among the coloured people in the United States, the unorganized work among the masses in our rural districts, and even in our cities, is alarmmg. There are more than 4,000,000 of our peojile and youth who ought to receive Bible instruction who ai-e not reached by the Sunday school. Washuigton City alone has a population of 80,000 coloured people. Not a fom-th of our coloiu-ed youth are in Sunday school. So far as I can ascertain there is not a single reading- room or library outside of the schools — no T. M. C A. — no imde- nominational missions where dady services are held to reach this large and most needy class in Washington ; and what is true of that city is largely true of the whole southern country where our people mostly live. The Sunday school work among the coloured people can be made a great power for good by better organization. We are doing the best y\e can, and a great work has been done ; but we have no normal Sunday school training classes for om* teachers, but few Sunday school insti- tutes, no iinion conventions of Sunday school workers, and but few Sunday school imions. Our Sunday schools and workers need the con- tact and inspu'ation of such a Convention as this, and, since the people cannot come up to the Convention, we are glad that we have representa- tives to carry the Convention back to the people, and help to infuse its life and power all along the line. The unorganized work among our people shows the need of evangelization. Look at our great country, and tell me, friends, where you will find a field so needy, that has been 90 long neglected — where the children are waitmg, pleadingly waiting, for the uplifting and the evangehzing power of the Sunday school. The organized Sunday school work among the coloured people wiU be felt in the great field of Africa. Already some of our best workers have gone to that land. A mighty army of consecrated, trained workers are yet to work for Africa's redemption. It will be a great advantage to the Smiday school cause in general, and to the colom-ed wing of our Christian army, to enter this field, and to enlist these people in your sympathies, and in an enlarged place in this great work. It is our earnest desire that such measvu-es be taken as will arouse oxu' people in the south to the need of this work of evangelizing the masses, and Among Coloured People, 93 that will identify tliciu more fully with tliis great movemout. Thus wc vill hasten the good time that our enslaved parents used to look forward to — when responsively they sang : •* Do you thiuk I will make a soldier, soldier, for the year of Jubilee?"' "Yes, I think you will make a soldier, soldier, for the year of Jubilee." "But you must rise and shine, uud give God tl>e glory for the year of Jubilee." When the Jubilee singers from my alma mater, Fisk "University, were at Meuior, Ohio, and sang before om- lamented President Garfield that jnspirmg song of " March on and you shall gain the victory, Marcii ou and you shall gain the day," he, turning to them, said, " My friends, it is said that Ethiopia is stretch- ing out her hands imto God, but I believe that God is stretching out His hands to Ethiopia." NoAV, my friends, what we want in the enlistment of this cause for our schools, in all lauds, and among all nations, is that we shall be loyal to our gi-eat Head and to the work He has left us to do in His name ; thus we will xuiite all hands and all hearts in this great brotherhood, in trying to lead all xip to the great Fatherhood, and to the gi-eat Saviour. May the Lord bless you, and may He help us ; and finally, when our A^ ork is done, may we gather uroiuid the Master of Assemblies — where He shall pronounce the benediction upon us, saying, " Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it luito Me," and "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." The proceedings were brought to a conclusion by the singing of the (loiology, and the pronouncing of the benediction by Dr. Hall. H Onjanizcd Sundaij School WorJc. ISEOOND DAY— FOURTH .SE8ISI0N. Wednesday Morning, July 3rd. The liymn, " Once agaia we turn aside," liaTing been suug, Dr. Shaw offered prayer. The delegates then eang, " "W itli lioly joy now let us greet ;" after wMcli the Rev. B. W. Chidlaw read the 78th Psalm : "G-ive ear, My people, to My law." Another hymn was sung, " Saviour Eing in hallowed union," after whiclx Dr. Oarron, of Norwich, engaged in prayer. Mr. TowDES : One of the speakers appointed for this session sent me a telegram last evening as follows : " Family afihction. Sony can- not come. Letter foUows. Hargreaves." I have received a letter this morning which states that Mr. Hargreaves is suffering from carbimcle, and must take rest. He cannot leave home this week. The Kev. Grraingor Hargreaves has been for some time engaged in connection with Sunday school work in China, and he has also spent a considerable time in California amongst the Cliinese. We have a lady present connected with Sunday school work in China who will occupy a few minutes iu the course of the morning session. The President : I wish to give notice of motion, I think I may say on behalf of the whole Convention. After that speech last night we want to do sometlung, and I have jiist di-afted this motion : " That it be an instruction to the executive committee to consider what imited action is at present possible for the eitension of Smiday school teaching in India, China, and Africa, iu all or either of them, and to report thereon on Friday afternoon next to this Convention." (Agreed.) Mr. Beyce (llount Vernon) asked that the minutes of the preiuous day should be read. A sHght discussion ensued, and it was ultimately agreed that, as fidl notes were being taken of all proceedings, the course suggested woiild be vmnecessary. A Delegate here interposed, desiring that the minutes of the pre- vious day might be read ; but, after some remarks fi'om the President, it was not deemed necessaiy, Mr. B. F. Jacobs tlien presented the following report from the executive committee : The executive committee think the Conven- tion mtist listen to the papers and addresses as named iu the pro- gramme, but they hope some time wiU be gamed for discussion Ill India. 95 (Ilcar. hear.) We tlimk tliafc one hour of this mornmg's sc:;siou will be gaiucd. We do not (hmk any of the afternoons can be gained, but that remains to be seen. It is very diflicidt to exactly deterniuie the limits to which any man will go when ho is once allowed to be on the platform. (Laughter.) A Deleoatk was in fa\ our of a suitable time bcuig allowed for the discussion of the various subjects treated in the ))apcrs, more extcudctl than the report of executive dealt with. After muoh consideration, the matter was referred to the executive coniniitteo to consider as to tho limitation of papers. ORGANIZED SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK IN INDIA. Bij Eev. J. J. Pool. Sdxbay school work in India is practically a work of j'csterday. It is oidy within the last flfteeu years that anything like a wide-spread and general appreciation of such work has been manifested. The yomig have of course been thought of from the very commencement of missionary enterprise in the country ; but the approved way of reacli- iiig them was not tlu'ough Sunday schools, but through Day schools. Along with the secidar instruction, it was sought to impart a modicum of religious training, and it was anxiously expected and fondly hoped that tho young people of India woidd thus be led to put their trust iu the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Clu'ist, and iu Chi-ist Himself. Nor have such anticipations and hojies been altogether visionary. Tho Day schools of India, in the hands of our Christian missionaries, have done, and are doing, a noble work which tends to righteousness. But of late years it has been felt that sometliing more definite should be done to reach the hearts and influence the lives of the youth of India, and so Smiday schools have been started in almost every corner of the land with most wonderful success. Indeed, sober-minded men, who study " the signs of the times," think, and boldly say, that this latest form of mission work is the " key position " for India, und that at the close of a century of labour, there will bo a marvellous story to toil of blessed spu-itual rosidts. Missioiiarics begm at the right end of national Hfe when THEY BEGIN WITH THE CHIXDREK OF INDIA. Little impression comparatively speaking is being made upon adidts, but on every hand it is acknowledged that the youth of the comitry is being greatly impressed and deeply moved by the story of Divine love as set forth in the life of Jesus Clu-ist. An aged Hindu said ou one occasion to a missionary, " Sir, lue shall not accept Christ, we ai"e too old to change ; for us the die is cast, but our childi-eu will certainly become Christians." That man was a sage, a prophet, a seer, and he read the futiu-e aright. It is work amongst the young in India that will tell most ; aud it is Sunday school work that brings most fully and 06 Onjaiiized Snndaij School WorJi. : poiiitodly before tlie young the pi-Goloiis .-saving tiuillis of the Gospel af Christ. India, with its fifty millions of children presents AX I3XMENSK TIELD OF LABOUII. Truly, a great door and effectual is open, and though there are many adversaries. Christian labom-ers, witli boldness and joyfulness, should go in and possess the land. In the large cities, and in some of the smaller towns of India, there are Simday schools composed of European and Eurasian children, and t he work amongst these is much the same as in England and America. I merely refer here to the existence of sucli schools, important though they are ; as I take it, Sunday school work amongst the nati\'e races is what we are met together to consider. The work amongst the native races may be divided into two sections. There is the effort made to reach the children of native Christians, and the effort made to reach the cliildren of non-Clu'istians. In most cases the native Clu-istian chixrch is organized into a Sunday school without much trouble, and very often the whole congregation becomes a Sunday school, old and young being alike instructed in class iu the sacred Sci'iptures. Indeed, many of the adults seem to bo as backward as the chilch-en — being but children of a larger growth. TilE EEAIi DIFFICULTY IN OEGANIZING- SUNDAY SCHOOLS occurs when the missionary or other worker deals with non-Christians, and yet the difficulty is not as great as might be supposed. It was a bold idea to start such schools at all, but in some thmgs boldness is half the battle. When the work amongst non-Chi-istians was first suggested and started many good people thought it would not prosper, for they said, " How can you expect the people of India, who do not bcUeve in Christianity, to send their children to Sunday schools where Christian hymns will be sung, the Christian Scriptures taught, and a deliberate attempt made to win the little ones to Christ ?" There is, however, nothing like venturing on the improbable, nothing like attempting what seems impossible, for though many parents hold tlieir children aloof from the schools, and some actively oppose them, yet the general feeling is in favour of them ; and after fifteen years of labour, it can, I think, be said, that of the children attending the Sunday schools of India, the larger number come from uon-Christian houies. And thus, apart from the influence brought to bear on the childi-cn themselves, we Jiave here an agency which reaches the homes of the people of the coimtry, and is nxaterially h.elping on tlie evangelization of India. METHODS OF WORE: IN INDIA, as might be expected, differ somewhat from European methods. More attention is given to rewards, both to di'aw children to school, and to keep them when there. Prizes of money, books, pictures, toys, knives j Ill India. 97 sweetmeats, (X:c., arc f reel}' yet judiciously bestowed, and are found to be useful aids. Some people question the wisdom of such methods, but most successfid schools, in every sense of the word, arc sustained thereby. The Eastern character is undoubtedly very susceptible to the influence of " presents," and this susceptibility is being turned to account for the furtherance of the religious training of the cliiklrou of the laud. SINGING- A POWERFUL HELP. Singing is found to be in India, as in Eui-ope and America, a power- ful help in Sunday school work. Indian children delight in singing, and are fond of our English tunes, as well as theu' own native Bhajans. Native musical instruments, native Christian hymns, and native tunes are now being used as much as possible. And the need for more liymns is bringing to tho fi'ont native poets ; but a good hymnology is still a desideratum. No one yet has done for India what Isaac Watts did for England many years ago. Wo have doubtless improved upon Watts, but it would be well for Smiday school work in India if a poet as saintly and as talented as ho had to arise amongst the native Christians. With regard to the broad cpostion of StTNDAT SCHOOL LITEEATUKE, it should be borne in mind that comparatively few of the Indian people know English, and, though translations have been made into many of the vernacular languages of English books and tracts, yet much remains to be done. A piu-ely vernacular Sunday school literature would be a great blessing to the countiy, for English translations to a great extent lack adaptation to India. The rapid spread of Smiday schools is creating a great demand for literature for the young, and able Chi'istian ^nen — Em'opean and Native — ^sliould be set apart for this woi'k ; for the literature that moulds childhood and youth, moulds the nation. It should be therefore of a high character, both mentally and morally. I believe that our best and ablest men should write for the young. Let me quote here some wise words of the Hev. Dr. Scott, secretary of the Sunday School Union of India. " A Sunday school literatiu-e," he says, " should be full of Christ. Success is in gettmg the scholars to Jesus. He is no less attractive now than He was among the hills of Galilee. Let us see to it that tlie figure of Jesus stands traced through, all the pages of every book. Let it be the living Jesus, simple, pure, and cliild-loving ; and now, as then, the little ones will come to His arms. Our care should be to portray a life, rather than to inculcate a doctrine, to set forth Jesus as the embodiment of goodness and truth, rather than to outlme a creed. It should be Jesus, loving all, and suflering and dying for all, and yet alive for evei-more, and calling all to Himself. If India be ever brought to Jesus, the image of Jesus must a 98 Organized, Siindaij School Work : rise liiglier, and sliinc brigliter, and attract Avith lovelier charms than the heroes of the Indian sacred books." "We see, then, the great need there is for able autliors who are at tlio same time devout men. MORE ARTISTS ARE WANTED for India, who will delight the young people with prettj- pictures of tlio common hfe of their own coiintry, and give them charming views of tlio scenery of their own land, and conceive for them the characters of the Bible in truly Oriental appearance. As yet the Sunday school children of India have been shown mainly western pictures. There is room for talented artists who wdl devote their genius and energies to the amuse- ment and instruction of the young, leading them to reverence natm-e, and natiu-e's God. AnduntU the native Christian communities can provide artists of theii' own of sufficient ability to supply the needs of the coimtry, there is a pathway to usefulness and wealth open to western artists who have eyes to see, and wisdom to seize, the opportiniity. Some missionaries are doing a good work in this direction, but the field has scarcely been touched, for eager chHcben are waiting in hundreds of thousands the advent of Indian pictiu-e books. Here is a noble sphere for gifted men. It is intei'estuig to note that THE INTERNATIONAL LESSON SERIES IS NOW WIDELY trSED, though opinions differ as to its suitability to India. One worker says ; " The series is the best there is, but a shorter series woidd be better for us ;" another says : " The lessons are too much spread out ; " another that " they are good on the whole." Others are more emphatic in praise saying, "very tiseful; " "a capital series;" "almost perfect." The general opmion seems to be that the International series of lessons may be used in India as elsewhere to great advantage. The question is asked sometimes, What about CONVERSIONS TO CHRISTIANITY as the result of all these efforts to teach the yoimg? Innumerable instances could be given, but I wUI mention one only, referred to by Dr. Badley, of Northern India, in an addi-ess at Calcutta. In a Sunday school at Lucknow, he says, was a boy of fourteen, called Sita Ram, the son of a carpenter. He attended Sunday school regidarly, opened his heart to the triiths taught, became deeply interested in the lessons and hymns, and was a model scholar. Fallhig sick, and being brought to the point of death, he sent for the catcchist, and asked him to read to him of Jesus, and to sing the Sunday school hymns once more. The catechist read and sang and prayed. The boy then turned to his sorrowing i-elatives, and remarked, " Don't weep for me, I have accex^ted //( India. 99 the Lord Jesus, and He is calling mo home," and thus he passed awav. His sister continued to attend the girls' Sunday school, and mani- fested interest in the Gospel of Christ in various ways, until she also passed suddenly away, and joined Sita Earn in " the Happy Land " of which Ihcy had been told in the Sunday school. Eventually tlie elders of the family, impressed by the faith of their children, gave up idolatry, and wci-c admitted to Christian fellowship by the rite of baptism. Thus did Sunday school toacluug win all the members of a nou- Christian family to the Lord. A MATTKll OF GliEAT IMPORTANCE. Before resuming my seat I woidd refer to a matter which is con- sidered of great importance. Tliere is a Sunday School Union in India affiliated recently, I believe, with the Union in England, but there is no secretary, paid or unpaid, giving his whole time to the work ; and yet such a man is sorely needed. The securing of a secretary has been a dream of some ardent workers in India for years, and they look to sec the dream become a reality. The man does not appear, liowevci" ; tlie way does not open out ! Perhaps somethuig said or done at this great Convention may bring about the longed-for event. It will be a michtv gain for Sunday school work in India when a specially qualified a^ent or secretary is set apart wholly to the work. There are, as I have said, fifty millions of children in India, of whom 217,000 are in missionary Day schools, and 100,000 in Sunday schools. We see, then, " the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labom-ers arc few." Much has been done to roach the childi-en and young people of India, but much remains to be done — " there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed." aiOBE WORKERS ARE NEEDED. nic army of Sunday school workers to-day in India may be compared to the British army. It goes to war with few troops, and has to make up by braveiy and zeal what it lacks in numbers. It Avoidd be a mightier force, ho\A'CAer, if it were larger. The greatest living English statesman said a wldle ago with regard to a great struggle he is engaged in, "Time is on our side." "We may say the same thing with regard to Sunday school work in India, " Time is on our side." Tliere is need of patience as well as of labour and faith. Changes come slowly in the East. Let us, however, but get the ear of the childi-en of India for two or three generations, and ■win them to om- side, and then we may see fulfilled the proiihecy made by a Brahmin, that " the mighty tree of Hinduism will at length be felled, when Christian axes are supplied with handles cut fi'om Hindi. boughs." The following paper had been prepared for the World's Convention, H 2 100 Organized Sunday School Wor'/u : but Mr. Hargreayes wag, as already intimated by Mr. Tower?, pro\'eriti;d by indisposition from reading it. SUNDAY SCHOOLS AMONGST THE CHINESE. i?y Ret. Geaingee. Haegreaves (Weslei/an Missionartf, China), Sabbatli schools, as auxiliaries to the chm-ch, have long since passed beyond the stage of experiment, and have justified their institu- tion by theh- iinparaUeled success. Theu" iitility on the mission field is calculated to be as great as it has been in those countries already designated Christian. The task of speaking of Simday schools amongst the Chinese is one of such maf^nitude and diflicLilty, that I confess at the outset my utter inability to do anything like justice to my subject. The magnitude of my theme is at once seen when we remember that tlie Chinese are foimd in large numbers in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Netherlands India; and that Sunday schools are established as weU as Christian work of various kinds prosecuted amongst them in all these places. Full and complete statistics under present conditions are, therefore, impossible. In speakmg of Sunday schools in China, the comitry is so vast, tho people so numerous, the customs so various, and the methods of operation so diversified, that the terms " Sunday school " and " Sunday school work " require some explanation in order to convey a correct impression to the occidental mind. One important distinction to be remembered between Sunday schools in Clima and those with which most delegates present at tliis Convention are acquainted is, that they are being estabhshed in a heathen land as missionary agencies, and are jiot the outcome of Christian zeal associated with chiu'ches that have long been founded. This distinction will prepare oiu- minds for some of the pecuharities of Sunday schools in China. Speaking generally, our Sunday school scholars are those who attend our day schools. Some time is given each day to religious instruction, but the lessons on Sujiday are wholly religious. Where such is the nature of the school, the schoolmaster or schoolmistress is the principal Sunday school teacher, additional help is rendered by the missiouary, his native assistants, the missionary's wife, or the Bible women. At the hoiu' for Clu'istian service, the scholai's are marched into the adjoining chapel or chm-ch as in om- own lands. In some missions, the Sunday school is modelled after om* home patterns, and the services of the members of the chm-ch are enlisted as teachers and officers. This is the kind of school that has om- warmest sympathy, because of the inestimable advantages that must accrue to a church that has a goodly number of voluntary and impaid woi'kers. But such a Simday school of necessity presupposes a long-estabhshed and weU-organized chm-ch, such as is not found in all places. The //; Cliiita. lOl scholars of om* sdiools arc Hie sons iiud claugliters of lieatlieii parents, as well as tlic cliildren of tlie mcniljers of our cliurcli. The custoui of female seclusion, wliicli operates so i)0\verfully in Oriental social life, affects the ciiaracter of our schools, so tliat we arc obliged to have separate schools for male and female schokirs. Tlie rigidity of this custom will become relaxed, and scliool life in Cliinn, as well as tlie social circle, will be brighter in proportion as the spread of Christianity supplies other and more powerful safeguards to their social morality. Tlie clieerfulness, brightness, and freedom of our western Sunday schools is largely due to the fact, that at the beginning and close of school the male and female scholars can be gathered altogether in one place where "At once they sing, nt once they pray, They hear of heaven and Iparn the way." The advantages, in China, that will result from Christian schools, and especially Sunday schools, are simply incalculable. These advantages present themselves to us in a imique light, arising out of the conditions under which our work is prosecuted. One of these conditions, viz., female seclusion, we have already noticed, and the nest is closely related to, and, in some respects, arises out of it. Tlie Cliinese are a literary people, and theu' civil appointments are open to those only who have passed certain literary tests. But much that is admirable in theory loses its value through lack of practical expression. The Christian school (here employed as a generic term) perfects that which is imperfect. Whilst female education is not altogether unknown, it is much neglected ; but the instruction given in our schools to boys and girls who come from heathen homes, the equality of instruction and treatment tliere received, will carry manv a ray of heavenly light into homes that are at present dark and cheerless. The equality of boys and girls in the school will produce equality of men and women in the home. In these statements we are not indulging in prophecy, but recoi'ding I'esidts ah-eady achieved. Every year boys and girls, women and men, make public confession of Christ as the result of our work in our day and Sunday schools, and not a few of our native pastors, preachers, and catechists have fii'st received the principles of etenial truth in those schools. We are accustomed to hear in this laud the expression that Sabbath schools are England's glory. That which is true in England to-day will be true in China to-morrow. Sabbath schools will be no iinimportant factor in the salvation of China. The keystone of Chinese civilization is filial piety. In consequence of an ovei'-weening anxiety to secure the authority of the parent, as well as an inordinate reverence for antiquity and that which is past, this virtue has received an abnormal development. This abnormality, uncorrected by principles clearly enunciated by the Gospel of Christ, has resulted in the Chinese faiUng to I'ealize so clearly the duties of parents to tlieir children as 102 Organized Sanday School WorJc: they have those of children to thcu" parents. China is cursed by a blighting and paralyzing reverence for antiquity. The cold, icy grip of a dead past is upon her. Hence to the Chinese the highest expression of fdial piety is found in ancestral worship. Care for, and Christian education of, the young will correct this. I do not hesitate for a moment to declare my belief that God in His wise and gracious Providence has caused the principle expressed in the Fifth Commandment, after all local coloiiring has been removed, to be realized m the history of the Chinese. On what other principle can we interpret that lengthened histoiy, if not by that expressed in the words, " That thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee ? " But, whilst recognizing the good, we cannot shut om* eyes to the evils of the Chinese system of filial piety. These evils, we are assured, will be remedied by those truths revealed to us in the words, " Suffer little chilcken to come xinto Me and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of heaven," and " Feed My lambs " ; which words we think constitute the rock-foundation upon which om- Sabbath school system rests. When these words of om- Saviom- are treasm-ed and prized, in- fanticide, the traffic in young gMs, whether for domestic slavery or worse purposes, must disappear. "VVe can conceive of no institution calculated to set forth so clearly, fully, and safely the reciprocal duties of filial piety as the Sunday school. We are in no small danger of being misunderstood by the Chinese when combating their worship of ancestors. They conclude that we are attacking then- system of filial piety as sixch. The Sabbath school and the truths there taught will help to correct this notion, and serve to maintain the equilibrium of ti-uth. From these considerations we see how far-reaching and profoimd the influence of Smiday schools will be in China. In setting forth, the good that Sabbath schools are calcidated to produce, I observed that such statements were not the predictions of faith and hope, but the records of experience and history. A few months previous to my departm-e fi-om China, I had the joy of baptizing a young man who for many years had been living in the country, far away from any centre of missionaiy tod. When questioned as to his reason for coming to our ehm-ch, he replied, " Many years ago I was a scholar in yoiu* school, and came in along with the others to the Sunday services. Dm-ing that time I learned to read the Scriptures, committed the catechism to memory, understood a little of the preach- ing, and the truths I then learned I have never forgotten, and I thought I should like to be baptized at the church where I had fu-st received religious instruction and impressions." Some years ago, the mission with which I have the honom' to be associated commenced work in a small village to the north of the Canton province. In this village we fomid a yoimg man who had been a scholar in one of our schools in Canton. The exigencies of a business In China. 103 life had calli'd liim to ivmovc Irom tlio city, and he had been for many years beyond the range of our influence. He immediately renewed his connection with us, and became active and energetic in the cause of Christ. I narrate these two instances as typical cases, and gather from them three lessons. First, we see that the seed sowu in youthful hearts brings forth fruit. Secondly, that much work may be done the result of wluch is never seen. Thirdly, that in a country like China it may in some cases take many years to overtake the labours of the past and garner the fruit. The following is an extract from ' The Cross and the Dragon,' an admirable book written by the Eev. B. C. Heniy, of the American Pres- byterian Mission, Canton. " A boat boy from our school who acted as peacemaker in a quarrel, and sought to dissuade the sti-onger from abusing the smaller boy, attracted the attention of the bystanders, who remarked. Oh, he learned that in a Christian school." Thus we see liow the truths incvdcated in oiu" jSunday schools affect the relations of boys on the street. It will not be considered improper at this point to allude to the Female Seminary connected with the American Presbyterian Mission in Canton. Tiiough partaking of the nature of an ordinary educational institution iu consequence of its connection with the mission, and mider the able guidance of Miss H. Noycs, it is made a Christian school of immense mflueuce. Each Sunday the pupils numbering upwards of one himdred are gathered together for special reUgious instruction. Since its foundation, some eighteen years ago, the school has been repeatedly enlarged ; and during that period considerably over one hundred pupils have joined the chm-ch, and many of them are now fomid in important positions as Eible-women or teachers. Others as wives of native preachers or prominent men in the church have become mothers of Cliristiau families, and are trainuig their chilch-en iu the nurtm-e and admonition of the Lord. It was my privilege and pleasiu-e last year to sec sometliiug of the •work that is bcmg carried on amongst the Chinese in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States ; but a hasty visit prohibits more than a passing reference. In Melbourne, Ballarat, Creswick, Castlemaine, Sandhurst, Dunolly, and other places, evening classes are held, and Sunday schools established for the Chinese by the Chm-ch of England, the Presbyterian and Wesleyan Chm-ches. Under the superintendence of Mr. Cheung Chok, Mr. -James Chew, and Mr. Moy Ling, these chm'chcs are carrying on Clu'istian work iu many forms. In New South Wales, the Rev. Edward Youngman, and in New Zealand the Rev. A. Don, both of whom have spent some time in China in securing a knowledge of the language and customs of the Chinese, are working siiccessfidly the various organizations connected with energetic and devoted churches, and are gathering together numbers of Chinese in Smiday school classes to receive instruction in the Word of Life. 10-i Organized Sunday School World In Dunerliii, Mr. Paterson lias devoted, and is devoting, both time and means to benefit the despised Mongolian in a similar way. Chinese Sunday schools are also vigorously conducted by Mr. F. W. Damon at Honokdu. The work that is being eouducted by the various ehiu'ches in America in organizing Sunday schools for the Chinese is of such magnitude as to forbid our attempting to deal with it. It is increasing in importance every yeai*. A reference to any number of The Chinese Evangelist will abundantly prove our assertion. This valuable periodical calls for more than a passing notice. It is an interesting montlily published in New York, and edited by Mr. J. S. Happer, who in addition to his professional studies and duties gives much time to work amongst the Chinese. He is a son of the Bcv. Dr. Happer, a veteran missionary to the Chinese, who has already devoted over 40 years to the Master's work, and is still engaged in seeking to bring the Chinese to a knowledge of Christian truth. One-half of the ^Evangelist is printed iu Chiuese and the other half in Enghsh, and I should be glad to see the little pubhcation read by Chinese and all ■who use the Enghsh language the world over. Under tlie paragraph headed " Among the schools " much valuable information is given respecting the many Chinese Sunday schools conducted in the States and other places. Notwithstanding the magnitude of the work in the States, I may be allowed one or two personal reminiscences. It was my privilege to see much of the work carried on by the Methodist Episcopal Church iu San Francisco. The Sunday schools in Wasliington Street, under the able and energetic superintendency of the Kev. l'\ W. Masters, are provmg most effectual. One Sunday morning, after school, I preached to over one himdi-ed Chinese, male and female, and, in conversation after the sei-vice with several members of the congregation and scholars in the school, I was much pleased with the earnestness and knowledge exhibited. Tlie I'escue work connected with this mission has been a great blessing, and many a hfe, over which a dark shadow had settled, has been brightened and brought back to purity and joy through the efforts of Mr. Masters, his predecessor Dr. Gibson, and then* self- sacrificing coadjutors. Very successful schools are conducted in the same cities by the Eev. Mr. Hartwell of the Baptist Mission, as also by the Presbyterian Church. It is very pleasing to find such work going on in a city where the Anti-Chinese feeUng is so strong ; for thereby the Chinese are given to see that those who accept the Bible as the rule and guide of their lives are anxious that the same rule shoidd be given to them, that they also may be made partakers of all Gospel blessings. Prom what has been stated it will be seen that Sunday schools are destined to play an important part in the evangehzation of the Chinese. In China we have a vast field before us, and many pecuhar difficulties beset cur endeavours to establish Sunday schools. We imitate, where In China. 105 practical, the best nioileb known to »is, and wliere this is iniiJi-aelieal, we aecoinmodate ourselves to the customs, ami to some extent perhaps the prejutlices of (he people. AVe thus seek by all and every means to bring tlie young under tlie inlluenees of tlie Gospel. If we can do this, we may not only hope that a due regard, respect, and love for the young and rising generation may be awakened, and tliat thus China's golden age may be transferred from the dead past to the bright and pregnant future, but we may also hope that the young themselves will be brought to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom lie has sent. The Peesident : Mrs. Stott, who has long conducted a Chinese girls' Sunday school in China, will give a quarter of an hour's account of her experiences. Address hi/ Mk3. Stott. Sunday schools in China are conducted under greater difficidties than could be easily imagined in this country, and they are therefore carried on on different lines. We have not there a people that have a know- ledge of God. We have acted as pioneers in places where the name of God was never heard before, where we were surrounded by hundreds of thousands of people who had never heard that there was a God, and where the erection of a Smiday school was somewhat difficult. I tried it a good many years ago. As I passed to and from the chapel, a very few minutes from the house, I saw a great many children, and my heart longed to gather them into the school to tell them some of the beautifid stories to be found in our precious Bible. I had already a boys' boarding-school at that time, and a Sunday school in the form of a Bible-class. One afternoon I asked the boys to go out into the streets and lanes near by and ask the cluldren to come in and hear a story. Children in China are very much the same as chUdreu in India or in Euglapd ; they all hke stories, at least so I think. They gathered in, and I began to tell them the fascinating story of Jesus. I left olf at a veiy interesting part, and told tliem — they did not of course know what Simday meant — "I wiH send out again in a few days and call you, and you will come and hear the rest of the stoiy ;" and before they went away I gave them each a pretty pictm-e. All the children were dehghted with the pictures, and I thought that woidd be an induce- ment to them to come again. Next Sunday I sent out my elder boys to try and gather them in, but not one covdd be found anywhere. I said, "What has become of the childi-en ? " "We cannot get them," was the reply. I said, " Have you seen none of tlie children ? " " No, we have not found one of tliem." The following week they came to me with this explanation : " The children had gone home greatly delighted with what they had heard, and charmed with the pictures, and they showed their mothers and fathers the pietm-es they had had from the ' foreign woman ' over there, and they were greatly alarmed. These forcignei-s — had they not come 106 Organized Sanday School Work: to deceive the hearts of the people, aucl try to steal away the children, and give them some medicine that would tmui theu' hearts into the hearts of foreigners ? Tliey seek in this way by pleasant stories and pictures to entice them away from their homes, and by-and-by they will be shipped off to a foreign country, and there will be an end of om- childi-en." So we found that what we had hoped would be a great liel]3 proved the gi'catest hindrance. This was one great mistake in connection with our work in China. "We cannot go on the lines Mr. Pool has referred to, holding out inducements. We must go on the merits of Christ simply. We must say, " We come here for a definite piu-pose ; to tell you there is a living Grod, who has sent you a Saviour, about whom we want to tell you." We gave neither pictures, nor sweets, nor money, nor anything else to induce them to come. I think our American fi-iends have very much to teach us in the matter of Sunday schools. The best Smiday schools to be seen in Clima have been conducted by om' American friends. They seem to know very much better than we do the difficulty of dealing with the older people. They know how to retain the boys when they come to be sixteen or seventeen ; how to hold the young women when they are mai*- ried and have children of theii* own. They have separate classes for childi'cn and for young people and adults. There are a good many such schools in different parts of Chma conducted by bretlu-en from America. In our district, howeyer, we have not gone very much into Sunday school work. Being single-handed, and Having a large girls' boarding-school, we made that into a Sunday school. We had one large class of men, which was taken in hand by the missionary. The gu-ls and chUdi'en were formed into two classes, presided over by two of the elder girls of the boarding-school. Then the women and eldest gu-ls were taken into another room, and had a class to themselves, which was my class ; and by this -way, in fom- distinct classes, we got the people together. Our aim and object was to reach the souls of these people. We worked for years without seeing any apparent residt. Yoii do not know how diffi- cult it is to present the Gospel so that those who have never heard it may take hold of the truth. For a long time we did not know how to overcome that difficidty. I laid out a very fine plan for myself. I began away in the Grarden of Eden. I gave them a sketch plan sliowmg how God had created man, and the fall, and God's deahngs with man, without law and iinder law, and coming down to the Cross of Christ — but before I had got there my audience had tu-ed. They had come to a conclusion, and said, " Your doctrine is just the same as om-s. We worship heaven and earth." I said, "It is not at all like your doctrine." They said, " Oh, very well, yom- doctrine is splendid, and we mean to accept it." They would listen to no more. I was in despau", almost heart-broken. Surely there was some more excellent way out. Tet I could not see where it might lie. In China. 107 One diiy I was surroimdod by a crowd of children, and women, with some men in the outer circle. As I stood up I felt a strange yearning in my soul that these people should be brought to Jesus. I called out, "Friends, have you ever heard of heaven and hell?" "Yes, we inow of heaven and hell," they replied. I said, " I am not going to speak to you of hell. It is not worth talking about. Let me speak a little while about heaven." I pictiu-ed heaven in all its beauty, and glory, and freedom from sin ; but they did not understand, as they had never felt tlie burden of sin. But as I went on to speak of freedom from poverty, disease, blindness, and aU that makes life miserable on this earth, I saw that I had caught their attention as never before. But I said, " Before you can get there, one thing is needfid." " Wliat is that ? " some one asked. I said, " Sin must be put awaj'." One re- plied, " We women have no sin." Another said, " I do not know what you mean ; " and a tliii-d called out, " How is that to be done ? " I then told them, coming right to the cross of Clu-ist, the wonderful story of God's Middleman — how He had sent clown His own Sou to be the Middleman, to be our Savioiu-. If there is one thing understood in China more than another, it is this media torsliip. Nothmg hardly is done there witliout a middleman. I foimd I had touched a chord I had never touched before — that I liad in some measm-e solved the difficulty. From that day to this we liave always begun where we left off before, at the cross of Christ — ■ and we have proved over and over again that that cross, that glorious Gospel, is God's power mito salvation to every one that beheveth. And in the hcai-ts of the people of China it brings forth exactly the same fruits as elsewhere that the same Spii'it touching the hearts brings forth the same fi-uits among all nations. We had a boy in the school converted when thirteen years of age. He was a bright, intelligent lad, and after bis conversion he was the means in the hand of God of beginnmg work in another part of the country, just proving that God takes up the weak thiiigs of the world, the things that are not, to bring to nought the things that are. At the age of fom-teen he went to a city forty miles away, to attend on a native preacher. One day he strolled into a Buddhist temple, and there found an old man worshipping idols. He waited till the man had finished his devotions ; then, seating himself by the side of the devotee, he said : " Venerable grandfather, do the idols see and hear you when you worship?" "Yes." "But you see they are made of clay : how can they answer your prayers ? " Said the man, " I do not worship the clay ; but inside the idol there is a spu'it that can see and hear." The boy, who had often heard Mr. Stott answer such questions as these, said : " You say there is a spirit in the god ; but look at this one — it has a dirty face ; it has not been washed for ever so long. There is another whose nose is broken off; and it has not had the sense to have it mended. This other one has had part of its moustache taken away ; yet it has not been able to protect itself. What is the use of a 108 Onjaimed Sanday School Worh : spirit inhabiting a body that cannot protect it better than this ? We have a spirit within our bodies : but rats do not run away with our moiistache. I can speak to you and you can hear, because of the spirit within. Let the spirit leave our bodies, and we are dead, hke the idols, and we cannot protect ourselves." The old man was struck with the wisdom of the boy, and asked where he had learned such wonderful things. He replied, " In tlie school at Wxui-chau. But I can tell very little. If you go to the preacher, he can teU you more." Tlie old man went, and took his wife with him. They learned of the Sa^■iour, and at last believed. That was the begmning of a good work in the city, where there are now about a huudi-ed professed Christians. It is no vam thing to teach the children there the truths of Grod. They are the wisest missionaries, having the modesty of faitli, and very often a great deal of tact, knowing just where to come in at the right time. One of the gu-ls m oui- school was a Christian, and had gone through remarkable experiences in her conversion. There came a woman to ur* on one occasion who wanted to be baptized. We had spoken to her, and wei-e not convinced that she was born of the Spirit of God. "\Vc are not at all anxious to perpetuate in Cliina a kind of Christianity we often see here — a form of godliness without power. We want living souls for our Master, diamonds that will adorn His crown throughoiit eternity. As we were not sm-e this woman was converted, we would not baptize her, but asked her to wait. Her husband was a Christian, and wished her to be a Christian. She strolled into the school, and, sitting down beside the gu4 referred to, said, " You know I came here befoi'e, and wanted to be baptized, and they would not have me then . I do hope they will baptize me now, for I want to be a Clu'istian.'' The gh'ls said to her, " But are you born again ? " She said, " I do not know. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. All the house is cleai-ed of idolatiy. There is not a shred left. I pray morning and evenuig, and ask a blessing three times on my meals. What more is there to do? " The gh'l said, " You must be bom again. ' Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' " " I do not understand you." " Then," said the girl, " if you do not understand it, I am very mucli afraid you have not been born again. I have been born again and know it, and it has made such a wouderfid difference in my life and wrought such a wonderful change in my heart. I am quite sure if yoxi were born again you woidd know it too." The woman went away to her room, and, kneeUug before her couch, she cried, " Oh, God, they tell me if I would go to heaven I must be born again. Let me be born again to-night. They tell me I must be washed in the blood of Christ and have my sins cleansed. If I liave never been washed, oh, wash me to-night." Then came the prayer meeting, and at that tliere were about sixteen or seventeen candidates to be exammed for baptism, and she took her seat beside them. My dear husband said to her, " Have you been Ill Mi'.vlro. 109 bom again?" It is very stnuif^c lie sliould have used tiic same ques- tion. Never slinll T forgot the sight of that faee ns the tears ran down it. " Yes, teaelu-r," she said, " I have, but only to-night." Then she ivpeatcd what tlie girls had told her, and liow she had gone to her room ; how the light had eutei-ed her heart ; and how she thanked God that she had been born again. This was the work of a little girl. Do not let us wait till tlie children ai-o old in sin before we lead them to the Saviour, for they will be the missionaries of the future. (Cheers.) The PiiESiDKNT : A rather novel request lias been sent up to the jilatform. A friend asks whether Mrs. Stotc will repeat the Lord's Prayer in Cliiuese. As she does it, let us catcli the eeho of the millions of young Chinese voices. Mi's, Stott then x'speated the Lord's prayer in Chinese. SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK IN MEXICO. £i/ Ket. Hubert "VV. Brown (Mexico Citj). Mr. President and Members of the Convention, those who have spoken to you of the Sabbath school work in India and China have not been obliged to lay stress upon the needs of those countries, all that is taken for granted from the fact that they are pagan lands. More than one person, however, has said to me, I do not see why you aa-e work- ing in Mexico, they have already a church of Christ, you are not needed there. I must therefore try at the veiy outset to correct this mistaken idea as to the efficiency of the Eoman Cathohc Church in Mexico. The policy and practice of the Romish clergy iu Mexico have been characterized by three thuigs. First, they have made THE BIBLE A SEALED BOOK, and forbidden the masses to read it under severe spiiitual penalties. Nominally Christian, for three ccntiu-ies the Mexicans have lived with- out the Word of God. In the second place, the lack of Gospel truth has been supphcd by A M.A.SS OF TRADITIONS AND SUPERSTITIONS which have a great deal to say about penance and the confessional, about good works and the purchase of merit, about saints and the Vu'gin Mary. Christ is iu the backgi'ound, it is true, but there — only in the background. In the thii'd place, the lives of the majority of then- spiritual instruc- tors have led the people to look lightly upon SOME OF THE GROSSEST FORMS OF SIN. Priestly absolution and money can atone for anything. The outward act takes the place of heart obedience and devotion. The vows of priestly celibacy have been made the excuse for unblushing immorality. liO Organized Sunday School 1^037.;." Let the confessional and pastoral visit bear their testimony. Tims by precept and example the religions gnides of Mexico have dwarfed and perverted the Mexican conscience, and at the same time have striven Avith eminent snccess to keep the mass of the people in a state of igno- rance bnt one remove from heathenism. The immorality of priest and people, the venality of the priesthood and ignorant superstitiousness of the people, and the prohibition of Bible study, these are three great reasons why we Protestants are at work in Mexico. We need especially the Sabbath school, with its trainmg and teaching of the young, who are the despair or tlie hope of every nation. All the missionary workers in Mexico reahze the unportance of the Sabbath school, and"^ we are strivmg toward the same ideal which has been so largely realized in Protestant England and America. "VYe are, however, only on the threshhold, we are but just beginning, and under such different conditions that we cannot always follow in the beaten track. This is, however, but another proof of the Divhie vitality and adaptability in every genuine Gospel movement. The Sabbath school is proving its fitness under the most diverse conditions ; it is capable of uplifting the young of all nations. It can bring the children of everj' clime and condition to Christ, their lovmg Saviour, and place them in His arms, where they will be blessed. The moment we attempt to orgaiaize a school ii\ almost any part of Mexico we find that it is NEAKLT IMPOSSIBLE TO SECURE THE EIGHT KIND OF TEACHERS. There are numbers who arc wilhng to teach, but who lack themselves sufficient knowledge of Bible truth, and have never learned how to impart to others in a pleasing and instructive manner thehttle they do know. In the mission with wliich I am connected — and I suppose the same is true of all the rest — we are trying to meet tliis difficulty m oiu- normal school for gh-ls and in our theological seminary, by giving religious instruction, and then telhng the pupils to teach others what they them- selves have been taught. Tor example, five days in the week the fii-st three quarters of an hour of the morning session in our theological semiuaiy is devoted to study of the International Lesson for the coming Sabbath. This woidd be looked upon as a strange proceedmg in our home schools of theology, but remember that the young men we are ■vvoi'kino' with have had Uttle or no previous home training. We must Detain at the very foundation — impart the rudiments of a religious education. We therefore gather together the members of all the grades into one class and study the International Lesson, M'ith the collateral passages and the weekly readings, using both the leaflet and the Bible. Then, when the Sabbath comes, most of the young men are sent out into the towns and villages around Tlalpan, and told to teach others Ill Mexico. \\\ wluit they luu-c learned, unci as iar as possible to use the method of question and answer. We look upon this as one of our most important exercises, and thus far it has boi-nc good fruit. It will make it impos- sible for our young men to teach in the futmv as some hare in the past that Isaac read Taul's EpisI Ics, and they matlc liim an obedient son ; that John's prophecy that ho should decrease -while Christ increased Avas literally fulfilled ■when the Baptist's head was sevei-ed from his body and his stature thus diminished, and that the Holy Land is a part of Mexico. Our students are cbilled five days in each week for three or four years in a right method, and made to put it in practice, and told that THE SABBATH SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL BRANCHES OF .ML GOSPEL EFFORT.' We believe in the Sabbath school in Mexico. When our men leave the seminary and begin active work and trv to organize Sabbath schools they are very apt to find that they have no church members fit as yet to act as teachers. In such cases they are told to turn their whole congregation into one big class. The Mission prints and distributes freely the necessary Lesson Leaves, and away up in the mountains, in little villages in the valleys of Mexico, I have seen more than one pastor with his congregation gathered about him, few able to read, the best only with difficulty, and teaching them the same lesson you are studying at home. One faithful worker raised the question whether it were possible to have a Simday school except on the Sabbath. He and many others were in charge of several congregations, and had to preach to some on a week day. He was told by all means to have a Sabbath school even on a week day. It was a case in which tlie sph-it, if not the letter, of the law was to be observed. So we have many schools in which the pastor is superintendent, and the congregation forms the one big class. This plan has this advantage, all have the best teacher obtainable, and all, old and yoiuig, arc present. lu the larger commimities, especially in Mexico City, ALL THE MISSIONS HAVE liEGULARLY OEG.VNIZED SCHOOLS, with supermtendent, classes, and teachers. In some of these we also use the large illustrated charts with which you are all familiar. They are found to be of great service, since they appeal to the imagination, present the important facts of the lesson in tangible form, and serve to fix them in the memory of old and young. Our Mission has also some six or seven D.VY SCHOOLS in the Mexican capital, taught by native men and women. The pastor of our principal native church visits these schools when possible every 112 Onjanized Sundaij School Worlc : week and takes with him the chart of tlic Sabbath's lesson. This is liuii"- on the wall in the sight of the scholars, and they are questioned as to what it represents. I have been surprised to note the eagerness of tlie boys and girls, the pleasure 'depicted on their countenances, and the readiness of their answers. Many of the pupils are from Eomau Catholic homes, and this is theu- only Bible lesson ; but they learn it and remember it. But this is not the only lesson, for we teach them our simpler evangelical catechisms, with proof-texts, and all ; they learn easily, and thus gain a treasury of Scripture texts which may yet prove the salvation of theu- souls. We try to do some Sabbath school work in our Mission Day Schools. The conditions warrant such a procedure, and the blessed fruit we hope to see — better we are seeing already— in our scholars. Let me mention iu this connectiou ONE EXAMPLE OF FAITHFUL WORK. He lived in a miserable horel, m one of the worst quarters of Mexico City. He made a few rude benches, and put them in one of the two little rooms his house contained. The Mission fm-nished him with the simple books he was capable of tisiug. In his humble home that earnest worker gathered the dirty, ragged, degraded children of the street, mainly of Eomish families, and taught them to read the Bible, to repeat Scrlptm-e texts, and to sing the simple Gospel hymns he himself loved so well. I shall never forget my first visit to that school. He did what he could, and tlu-ough him more than one child learned of God his Father, and of Christ his Saviour. That hiunblehorae was a lighthouse of radiant truth, a Sabbath school five days in the week. Equally iuspirmg to me is the memory of a visit I made last Decem- ber to a part of Mexico into which no missionary had penetrated before me. Similar testimony can, I am sure, be borne by all my companions in this Tlorious work for the world's uplifting. In the places I visited I met with grou]is of Bible Christians, who, by the reading of tracts and the Bible, had been led to renoimce Komish superstition and accept Christ as theii* Saviour. They had no preacher nor teacher, but week after week they met together to study the Bible. The Bible is still the power of God ; it can go unattended into the dark places of earth, and radiate light till men awake and see and accept Christ. God bless and speed in their good work our Bible societies ; they are doing to the world imtold good. In Mexico, at least, the Bible has oro-auized its own Sunday schools ; it has set the seal of inspu-ed approval to this branch of our work. I have thus endeavom-ed as briefly as possible to give you an idea of the kind of Sabbath school work we are doing in Mexico. As ah-eady implied, we try, fu"st of all, to get the people to accept and read the Bible, wliich has been sent everywhere throughout the Mexican Hepublic; we prmt in Spanish the International Lesson, and distri' In Mexico. 113 bute it freely ; \vc ilevole a column in oiu" mission jnlpci's to the tx'cat- meut of the lesson topics, and our jjapcrs have a wide circulation ; we train cm* tiieological students in correct metliods of Sabbath scliool work ; we insist tliat our Mexican workers organize Sunday schools of one or the other kinds mentioned above ; we have the beginnings of u Sabbath school literature ; we have Sabbath school hymn-books. The educated laugh at the strange " poetry " of our Gospel liyrans ; they are undoubtedly an innovation in Spanish literature, but, then, liow the people sing them and remember them ! It is worth the viola- tion of technical poetical rules to have thousands sing : " Jesus, Lover of my soul;" "Nearer, my God, to Thee ; " "There is a happy land ; " " What a friend we have in Jesus," and like glorious songs, that lift the singei-s into a resilm of pm-e delight, such as they never knew before, and into the company of the saints immortal who dwell with Jesus. Our people love to sing the songs of the redeemed. I have not been able to present you any large statistics. Our num- bers ai-e small as yet, only a few thousands. Nor can I tell you much about thoroughly organized work. As I stand before you, you and your work tell me what we one day hope, by God's good guidance, to see in Mexico. I hope that what we have said of the work in less favoured lands may lead you to bless God for His gi-eat goodness toward you and yours, and stimidate you to renewed effort. Thank God for tlie Sabbath school ; it is blessed of Him to the salvation of thousands, nay, millions, of the young all round the world. Tlie proceedings were closed by prayer and the benediction. 114 The International Lesson Plan. SECOND DAY.— FIFTH SESSION". Wednesday Afternoon, July ?iRii, THE WOEK EXAMINED. THE INTEENATIONAL LESSON PLAN. The Session commenced with the singing of the Hymn "Hail to tlie Lord's Anointed," after which Mr. B. F. Jacobs read 121st Psahn. The Eev. Henet Cox (Ontario) then offered prayer, followed hy Mr. Jacobs. Hymn 19, " Blest be the tie that binds onr hearts in Christian love," was then sung ; after which t]ie Presideiit, liaying obtained the consent of the meeting to proceed with the bnsines.s at once, called upon Mr. B. T. Jacobs to present THE EEPOET OP THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE on the resolutions they liad had before them. Mr. Jacobs said : I must say to the brethren that it may plea.^i' you to know tliat we hare spent one hom- of the brief interval oter this matter, and we have earnestly sought to reach tiie best and wisest conclusion ; but jow will see that we are not able to do mucli mori?' than leave it to yourselves. The execiitive committee have carefidlf considered the question of limiting the time of addi-esses and papers fur tliis afternoon, and the best they can do is to allow thh-ty minutes for the first, twenty minutes each for the tliree foUowmg, and fifteen minutes for the last speaker. If the Convention desu-es to discuss the papers or addresses, a vote must indicate which of the papers shall be omitted ; for this arrangement will carry xis to 4.45 o'clock. Purther if discussion is allowed, we recommend that it occm- at the close of all papers or addresses for that session, and not between them. (Hear hear.) We have tried to be very fan- about that. I beg to move the adoption of this report. The Scotch Delegate who had raised this question said he desu-ed to express his thorough satisfaction with this projDosal. He was sorry to have moved hi the matter, and was veiy glad that an understanding had been come to. Some of them expected room for The Lcistiun Cumin'Utcc. 115 discussion, Init they did not iiitciul iiny I'lU'Llicr lo couLeiid for it. Tlie report was then agreed to. Mr. E. F. J.\C0BS read a resolutioa ollcrcd by Mr. St. Johu of Kansas : That all members and delegates who shall take part in the discussion of subjects before the Convention, if there shall be discussion, be hmited to three minutes each, and uo one be permitted to speak a second time until all have spoken -who desu-e to speak on that subject. Mr. Jacobs having said that the committee approved of the resolution, it was agi-eed to. Mr. W. B. Jacobs {Chicago) read the followuig resolution which was handed to the Chairman : " That this Convention heartily approves of the Universal Mercy Band Movement, with its American and British Empire Divisions, contaimug over 600,000 members in 7,344 bands, forming a great international order of kindness, justice, peace, and mercy to all, and protection from cruelty for women, children, and dumb creatures ; and wishes the movement God speed in its career of growing iisefuhiess." IIEPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMITTEE. !By Rey. Waeren Randolph, D.D. (U.S.A.). When Kmg George the Third said, " It is my wish that every poor cliild m my kingdom should be taught to read the Bible," he expressed a wish which he probably did not expect ever to see realized. There was at that time no promise of any such wide-spread knowledge of the Bible. And it may be that his Majesty did not realize, as the British Sovereign and people of to-day reaHze, the need of it. Sovereign and subjects alike now see the value of the Bible, not to poor children only, but to the children of poor and rich alike ; and not to children alone, but to adidts as well as cliildi-en. Wlien the harbinger of the new Sunday school dispensation planted the seedling at the door of the pin factoiy in Gloucester, he had no tliought of the tree beneath whose spreaduig branches we are sitting here to-day in London. A royal decree might multiply copies of the Scriptures and send out teachers of the same, but no royal decree could make loving students of the Bible. "What is needed is not sunply an ability to read the Word of God, but a disposition and an abiUty to " feed upon it," and " inwardly digest it." The plan of Bible study which we are now piu'suing has been a matter of growth. Its gi'owth ha-a been a surprise even to those who Tindertook to promote it. If any ask for its origin, it is sufficient, perhaps, to point him to Chicago — an American city far in from the sea, whose marvellous liistory, had it appeared in ancient times, would have added another number to the wonders of the world. I 2 IIG Tlic International Lesson Plan. "With a yearning for some better metliocl of Bible instruction than prevailed in our Sunday schools of twenty years ago, there were some earnest -workers in the Sunday school cause hving in the City by the Lake at the time referred to, who xrndertook to bring about a reform. It is no reflection upon others to say that two of them were then, as now looked upon as leaders. The name of one of these will always be linked with this gi-eat Sunday school Convention, Mr. B. F. Jacobs, then as now of Chicago, a gentleman who has been designated " The Lieutenant of the Simday School Ai-my." The other, we regret to say, cannot be at this Convention. To most of you his face and form and voice are famihar. Long before his chm-ch made him a bishop, he was recognized at home and abroad as the world's " Sunday school arch- bishop"— Dr. John H. Vincent. The fii'st effort of these gentlemen for the improvement of Siinday school instruction was to secure uniform Bible lessons for the Sunday schools of aU denominations in the city of Chicago. Not only was Dr. Yincent foremost in advocating tliis imiformity in Bible study, but, as editor of " The Chicago Teacher," he was probably tlie first in the world to give expositions of Bible lessons mtended exclusively for Simday schools. So successful was this experiment at imiformity in Cliicao^o that the schools of other towns and cities soon began to use these lessons also ; and before the present international plan was agreed upon it is beheved that there were thi-ee milhons of people engaged in studying the lessons issued fi-om Cliicago. Then the question arose, " Why not extend this method of studying the Scriptures throughout the United States, and so make it national? " The indications were that that could easily be done. "But why not strike out boldly, and go still fiu'ther ? " it was asked. " Why not make it international ? Wliy may there not be a common study of the Bible for the world ? " And, if this report is to be true to the facts, it must be added, that tlie question appears first to have been raised by a gentleman whose name has been ah-eady mentioned. The honour of suggesting and of reso- lutely ui'giug the International Lesson system belongs to Mr. Benjamin Feanklin Jacobs, of Chicago. The question of adopting a plan of imited Bible study was decided at a National Simday School Convention, held in April, 1872, ui the city of Indianapohs — then the home, as it continued to be until lie recently removed to Washington, of the Hon. Benjamin Harrisou, no-\^ President of the United States, who was at that time as he has since been — .hke his grandfather. President William Hemy Han-ison — an active worker in the Sunday school. The Convention was a large one. It was also representative in character. Delegates were present fi-om twenty-two of the thii-ty-seven states then composing the American Union. Tisitors were also present from Canada, India, and Ireland, all of whom were invited to participate in the discussions. The debate occupied the principal part of an entu-e day. The gentleman who opened the discussion proposed that fia'st of all prayer should be Tho Lesson Commiltcp. 1 1 7 offered foi" divine giiidanee. At tlic request of the presiding olBccr, Mr. Greorp;c 11. Stuart, of Pliiladelphia, led tlio assembly in a prayer, most tender aiul fervent. In the discu.ssion not less than fifteen or sixteen lliorougldy aroused men participated. Tiie debates in the American Senate seldom exhibit more of the dialectician's eloquence and power than were exhibited on this occasion. Dr. John Hall, whom the Presbyterians of Ireland had then lately given to New York, vas unexpectedly prevented from being present at tlic Convention, but he sent a message by his friend and i-elative, Mr. George H. Stuart, in -wliich he said, "If any one inquu'es for me at Indianapolis, tell tlie brethren assembled that, next to the ministry of Christ, they i-epresent the cause of truth to this land, and to coming generations. If they honour God's Word, He will honour them ; and if He -will go before the Sunday school hosts the whole land is theirs. There will be prayer here (in New York) for their guidance." Only one speech of note was made against the plan. In that (he 6))eMker based his objection chiefly on the ground of impracticability. He illustrated his pomt by a stoiy which showed tlic folly even of a statesman. The story, if true, simply showed that the statesman was better skilled in statecraft than in managing a windmill. It was to this effect, that no less a man than the Hon. Thomas Jefferson, thii-d President of the United States, once built a sawmill, which was to be run by wind. He built it o\\ the top of a mountain, where the wind would have full play upon its canvas wings. Inviting a friend to look at the completed structure, he asked, "What do you think of my mill ? " His friend repUed, " It's all veiy well as a mill, but I don't see how you are going to get the logs up to it to saw them." So the reverend Doctor thought this international scheme would be beautiful to look upon, but that it woidd be hard to get the people up to it. If he could have foreseen the millions who in less than a year, to use the language of Isaiah, would be flying to it "as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows," he woidd not have told his story, nor have m*ged his objection. At length the time came for closing the debate. Amid loud demands from all parts of the house for a vote, the chairman rose to put the question. The delegates were wrought up to a high degree of en- thusiasm, but the whole assembly seemed to feel a most solemn sense of respouslbihty. That there should be no uncertainty as to how the matter was decided, the chau-man directed that the vote should be given by rising. At his word the great throng arose, and, when the opposing vote was called for, only ten men ventm-ed to stand up. As by a common impulse, the Convention broke out in the Doxology, in ■which all EugUsh-speaking people give voice to religious joy : "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." Tlie next day a committee was appointed to select a course of lessons lis Tlic International Lesson Flan. and to serve for six years. The committee was made to consist of five clerg3mcn and live laymen, who were respectively Methodists, Tresby- terians, Ijaptists, EpiscopaUans, and Cougregationahsts. When the names and denominational standmg of the Committee had been an- nounced, the enthusiastic assembly again arose and sung with inspired luietion, — "Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love." The Committee was instructed to select " A course of lessons for a series of years not exceedmg seven, wliich shall, as far as they may decide possible, embrace a general study of the wliole Bible." Canada was largely represented in this Convention, and a purpose was then expressed to be in the futm-e wholly identified with the States in this Sunday school work — though it is only fair to say here, in this British metropolis, that these Canadian Sunday scliool men have never given the least hint of disloyalty to the British Empire, nor of a wisli to come— certainly not with imseemly haste — into the American poli- tical union. In view, however, of then' joinuig us in this new phase of Sunday school work, it was decided to call our future Conventions International, and to call our Sunday school lessons "the International Lessons." Before leaving Indianapohs the Committee met and organized for the work so enthusiastically laid upon them. The Eev. Dr. John H. Vhicent, now Bishop Vincent, was made Chan-man, and Warren Ran- dolph was chosen Secretary — positions which both have held from the beginm'ng until now. The time of the Committee's service has twice expired by limitation, but by re-election there has been no change in the office of Chan-man or Secretary in more than seventeen years. A new Committee was appointed in 187S. About one half the members of the fh-st Committee were appointed upon the second. The changes wei-e not made from any dissatisfaction with the members who retired. A noble band of Christian men they were. In a letter which one of them wrote in taking leave of the Committee he said, " Perhaps in the New Jerusalem we shall all at some time meet to talk over the pleasant work of oiu- Lord Ave were pei-mitted to do when on earth." The success of our system made the changes necessary. A portion of the United States and some denommations of Christians not at Ih-st represented in the Committee desu-ed now to participate in the work, and by, action of the Convention were allowed to do so. The second Committee was made to consist of fom-teen, only three of whom were laymen. In 1S84 a thu-d Committee became necessary, which was also made to consist of fourteen, and agam only three are laymen. The term of this Committee wiU expu-e m 1890. Four of its members, Bishop J. H. Vincent, Dr. John Hall, Mr. B. E. Jacobs, and the Secretary, The Lcnaon ConDiutlec. 119 liiivo servoil upon the f luvo C'oimuitlcos, and li.ivo biHMi iissot.'iiitod in tliis work i'roin its ini-ipii'iioy. So many of Iho Coimnittcc liavo liclil ovi-r, or nilluT liavo btn-ii iv- ok'clctl, that -wo may speak of tlio Committee as liaviiig been in existence since 1872. In that time twenty diU'civnt )ueclings have been held in a country of magnilieant distances, as far in tlie north-east as Montreal, in Canada; in the soutli-west as Nashville, Tennessee ; in the iiorth- west as Chicago, Illinois ; and in the south-east as Richmond, Virginia. In the prosecution of the work assigned them the members of the Com- mittee have travelled, in the aggregate, not less than 215,000 miles, or a distance equal to eiglit and a half times round the world. Very frequently a single meeting has involved more than 10,000 miles of travel, and has required from tlu-ee to five days of time from men, pressed with duties in the pastoral office, in the professor's class-room, or in the marts of business. One member of the Committee has tra- velled more than 25,000 miles in its service. To attend a single meeting, that held in Montreal, another member travelled nearly 40U0 mdes. The expense of these journeys is now paid by publishers, who have large profits from the sale of lesson publications. In the beginning, how- ever, several members of the Committee paid the cost of travel entuvly fi'om their own pockets. No member of the Committee has ever iv ceived a farthing for the time and labom* given to the work. Oiu" province is simply to lay out a course of study which shall cover, as far as may be, both the Old Testament and the New. We are pro- hibited from making any comment, and we are limited to seven years. Thus guided, our Sunday scliools are now going through the Bible for the third time. The aim has been, as far as possible, to secm-e some knowledge of eveiy part of the inspu-ed volume. Only a few of the minor prophets have been omitted. In some cases the hasty glance given to a book has not been satisfactory either to oiu'selves or others. iSome have spiced then* criticisjns of cm' work by styling it " the hop- skip-and-jump method." The latest caricature calls it "the kangaroo method." Without attempting a reply to any of these migenerous flings, it is sufficient to say that the amount of Scripture suggested for our Sunday school course will compare favourably with the amount of Scriptm'e actually studied in any of our theological semmaries. But to cut down our com-se of study to three or four years, as some have pro- posed, and yet go through the Bible, as our Sunday schools certainly shoidd, will requii'e vastly longer leaps than any yet attempted. Uni- formity in study, and as far as possible the study of the whole Bible, have been the two ideas kept constantly in mmd. We ought not to be satisfied until our Sunday schools have at least some knowledge of the general drift of all the inspired writers. Of com-se the historians of God's ancient people are more suited to Sunday school study than the prophets, and to them we have given more attention. Vastly more important still are the words and works of Christ and His Apostles, and 120 The Inlernational Lessov Plan. to these we luive given more than lialf the time. Our aim has been lo malie O'ji" 8iniday schools know the Bible as a book. It is the province of the teachers to make them know the meaning of the book. Wo saw in the outset that it would be no easy matter to meet the wants of dill'erent ages and conditions ; of different degrees of intelli- gence and cidtm-e; of A'arious opinions and behefs. But, brought together as we have been fi-om many different denominations, we have found no diflicidty in regard to a common ground upon which to stand in turning every leaf of the Bible. There is not a chapter or verse, from Genesis to Eevelation, which has been passed by because of differences of opinion. With diiferent interpretations we have had nothing what- ever to do. All that has been left to the teachers and expositors of the different schools and difierent denominations. To some of us it may have seemed at fh-st impossible to surrender what might be necessary in this co-operative study of the Bible. It might be so if we were studying any human compilation, even of theology. But not m studying God's Word. It has sometimes been charged that the International Lesson System does not give sufficient prominence to religious doctrines and denominational beliefs. If tliis is so, it must be because they do not come within the range of Bible teaching. Every important doctrine or jjractice taught in the Word of God will have been studied at least three times in the lessons now i^rovided. We have often been memoriahzed to select lessons on special subjects, such as temperance and the chxu'ch festivals. Till 1884 om* reply was that we were not appointed to do this ; that om- work was restricted to the selection of lessons as they occm* in the Bible, and, while we did not admit that any important doctrine or practice had in this way been omitted, we recognized the right of superintendants and teachers to give prominence to such themes as they think desnable. But the International Convention of 1884 recommended that the Committee in the futm-e provide temperance lessons quarterly. With this recom- mendation the Committee has complied, and in addition to temperance lessons previously used in our regular progression through the Bible, in which we had nearly exhausted all that the Bible has to say on the subject in a form suitable for Sunday school lessons, we have introduced a few others which clearly teach temperance, but in a way wliicli many think unsuited to general use in Sunday schools. The events commemorated by the festivals of the chm'ch year are included in a study of the Bible. And, while some members of the Committee would prefer special lessons relating to these events on given days, others of our number, representing large bodies of Christians, do not think that the observance of such days is conducive to the highest intei'est of religion. There is not a shadow of difference among us as to the emphasis to be given to the events themselves. But in studying them we have agreed to foUow the order found in the Word of God. In doing so we have rigidly adhered to the letter, and, as we think, Thi^ LeSKon Corumini'f'. 121 to tlic .sjiii-il of our original ai)pi>iiitnu'nf. Kot to do &o would bt> \o ■woiiiul the consciciipcs of niiuiy and to cause the disrujjtiou of the whole systi'iu. The system may be easily adjusted by the schools to special necessities, while all its essential features ai'e still ])reserved. To follow- tlui I'ihle order of events is a delight to many, and we hope will j^i-ove a hardship to none. We have sometimes felt the force of the difliculty of which Bomc comi)lnin in adapting to little children lessons which arc suited to adults. No subject can be studied by persons of diflei-ent capacity without some difliculty. In the case of the JJible, however, we arc quite sure the difficulty is not so much real as imaginary. Eut, with all the difficulties encountered, real or supposed, w^e still hold that \ini- formity in the subjects of study is one of the glories of the Inter- national Lesson system. Bible lessons do not need to bo graded in selection, so much as in treatment. There is often present to our minds an illustration \iscd by a thoughtful clergyman, wlio set forth the possibility of adapting nniform Bible lessons to young and old, by )-efcrence to the treatment of children in our families, where irom Ihe fume joint we find meat for the man, and broth for the babe. It is believed that there are 10,000,000 of people now engaged in studying these lessons. One result has been an increased regard for the Bible, and for the Bible as a whole. The Old Testament has been found still to be instinct with life and power even for children. Through the study of the prophets and historians of the old disi^ensation chil- dren have been taught to trace the hand of God in preparation for the coming of Messiah. Such facilities as they now have for understanding the meaning of the Bible, the common people never had before. Since the International lesson system was introduced even the intricacies of the Bible have been laid open to the common mind. For a few pennies the result of the ripest scholarship may now be obtained. It did not, therefore, surprise us, on t])e western side of the Atlantic, to find one of our Continental fi-iends, who bears a name which Christians of every land speak only with tenderest reverence and love, but who now feels con- strained to withdraw from our united work, lately saying for himself and others, " But we are sorry to give up the International list, on aecoimt of the valuable lesson-helps which are attached to it." These lesson-helps are more than that. They are not merely attached to the system, they have grown directly out of it. We are not only fast approaching the ideal of King George the Third, when every English- speaking child shall be taught to read the Bible, but when, through lesson-helps, scattered everywhere, almost without money and without price, he may be taught to understand its meaning also. United Bible study is the strongest bond of Christian imion. Christian imion cannot be brought about by the resolutions of popular assemblies. Nor can it be entii-ely assured by united Christian work. As we come to a better xinderstanding of the great charter of our 122 The International Lesson Fhcn. common faitli, om- liearls will be knit togothor and our eyes will see alike. If \Yo two ever to be in outward appeavance what wo kiiou- wo are in heai-t, " One in Cbrist," it must come tlirougli the study of (lio Bible. Hail, then, O glorious day, for on the mountain tops we already see the tokens of thy coming. It has also been to lis a delightful thought that we are, to some extent, contributing to fraternity among the nations. Our nuion in Bible study has proved a blessed evangel in America. Just before wo sat down with the same Bible page open before lis, we Avere looking defiantly at each other over parapets, and were doing even worse than that from beliind intrenchments. The word "International," in the title of our lessons, has always made the title somid hke music in our ears. The union of Canada and the States, in the preparation and use of the lessons, has been most delightfid. It has di-awn lis into fuller sympathy with each other's national life. Whatever the politicians may say about Canada's want of sympathy with the home government, one only needs to hear Cana- dians sing the National Hymn of Britain to be convinced that all ideas of their disloyalty are a delusion. When the International Sunday School Convention met a few years ago in Toronto, it stu-rcd the patriotic hearts of Americans to hear Canadians smg it, as Canadians only can. But the culmination of enthusiasm was reached when the vast throng arose, and, as with one voice, Canadians and Americans joined in smguig^ " God save the Queen." It is a singular fact that Britons and Americans agreed io unite in this work on the 19th of April . . . the anniversary of the day when the fii-st sanguinary conflict took place between Americans and Britons, in the revolutionary period. A vmited study of the Bible shall be the token and the pledge of a peace, which shall be the glory of both. And, to those of us from across the sea, it is a fact of no httle significance that this Convention, for consultation about the study of the Word of God, is to be in sesssion, here in the British metropolis, on the 4th of July, the anniversary of American Independence. Ke- membei-mg the scenes through which the fathei-s passed, how joyfully may we smg the old Song of Degrees, as we come up to this ijlace to- morrow mornmg, " Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in imity." From whatever nation we come, we will each cling with undymg loyalty to the flag of his country, but, above the Union Jack, the Stars and Stripes, and the flags of all other nations, we wdl still keep the ensign of Immanuel. In the outset Canada and the States, while hoping to win other nations to this work, hardly dared to hope for their speedy union with tis. In a very httle while England joined us, and before we knew it we found ovu' lessons going round the globe. Here and there a few have wearied in our long run of seven years The Lesson Comniittee. 123 tlu'oiijjU tlio Eihlc Amid the imiUcriiigs of discontent, Americans have soniftinu's queried vhelliei' our brethren of Great Britain will bo Icil to break away i'nnn this blessed fellowship? lint to what -will you go? None of iis claim that ouv present ])lan is perfect. But is it not Vivstly better than any wc ever had before? And lias any better plan vet been suggested ? Can ■we afford to give up what we have gained ? "Would you willingly throw back our Sunday school instruction into the chaotic state of fivc-and-twenty years ago? Sliall we not rather join all the wisdom, all the piety, and all the patience God has given lis, for the better development of a system, which, with all its imper- fections, is one of the glories of the age ? Dwelling in whatever lands we may, shall we not continue our miited elforts to fill the world with a knowledge of the Word of God ? Elessed is om- fellowship as we sit here, in this Christian metropolis, to-day. But this is only a fore- taste of the blessedness yet to come, when the redeemed, each having a harp and golden vials full of odom-s, shall fall down before the Lamb , and sing a new song, saymg, " Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals," for " thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation ; " " The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and lie shall reign for ever and ever." Respectfully submitted on behalf of the committee, Wareen Eandolph, London, Seoretarij, Juhj 3, 18S0. Prof. G. \Y. Bingham : I dcshe to offer a resolution referring to this paper. It was adopted bj' that section of the American delegates to which I belong, which includes Canada and part of New England ; and some of the members of that division have requested me to present it here : — That we recognize in the International Uniform Lesson move- ment, the onward march of real progi-ess. The rare fidehty, judgment and success with which the lesson committee are performing a task of great difficidty, give occasion for profound gratitude, and we be- lieve that the same plan, with such modifications as experience shall direct, may be continued with gi'owing acceptance and usefulness. We are glad that the plan embraces the study of the whole Bible, that it fixes upon the happy mean of seven years for completing the course, and that experience shows it to be adapted to all ages and classes. Among the results of its almost imiversal adoption in America, we bring testimony to the following : — 1. Interest in Bible study is greatly stimulated among yomig and old, by the fact that so many minds and hearts are, at the same time, occupied with the same truths. 2. It has called out the etTorts of able and consecrated writers on both sides of the Atlantic until our lesson-help literatiu-e is marvellous in amoxmt of ricluiess. 3. It is proving a powerful instrii- mentality for promoting unity and co-operation among Christians, and 124 Tlie Tiilernaluntal Lesson Plan. ^vc believe that its adoption tliroiigliout Christendom will bwng untold good to the world. E.i:v. F. II. Marling- (IMoutreal) : I have a resolution to somewhat tlie same effect, adopted by a full meeting of the Canadian delegate;?, which I beg to submit for your approval. The representatives of Canadian Sunday schools in this World's Sunday School Convention beg to present to their assembled brethren what they linow to be the strong and imited conviction of their constitutcnts tlu'oughout the Dominion in relation to the International Uniform Lessons. The test to which the system has been exposed by the experience of neai-ly a score of years has been long and varied enough to bring forth alike whatever merits or defects it may possess. Our positive and emphatic testimony is that it has promoted, to an \xnprecedented degree, the study of the entu-e Scriptures, in both Testaments ; has called forth an miparalleled wealth of learning, skill, and devotion in the unfolding and enforcement of the lessons ; has proved that the same portions of Scripture can be used for the oldest and the youngest scholars ; has opened the way for Christian co-operation in a most practical intei'est of joint concern, and has rooted the Scriptures more deeply in the faith and love of God's people. While holding themselves open to the minor changes, such as experience may suggest, the delegates from Canada woidd thoroughly deprecate material variation from the system now in operation. In conclusion they tender their most respectful and hearty thanks to the Committee of Selection, who have so ably, skilfully, and faithfully discharged their important and laborious task. On behalf of the delegation, Edwin D. King 1 r. H. Maeling I J. H. Geoege )■ Committee, John McKiiiicon I S. J. Paesons J Mr. Belsey proposed that the resolution he referred to the executive committee, Eev. De. John Hall : Mr. President, there is one personal matter I have to bring before this audience ; in one sense it is personal, in another sense it is pubhc. Dr. Warren Randolph, to whose report we have all hstened with such satisfaction, has rendered special and pecuhar services dnrmg aU these many years. He has rendered services in our meetings, not merely by the intellectual ability and the Scriptural knowledge that he possesses, but I will ventm-e to say still more by the gentleness of his character, by the sweetness of liis disposition, and by the atmosphere of brotherly love that he has laboured to maintain among us. He has also had correspondence which, if printed, would make, I am sure, a Tery vohiminous work, and he has done all this, like The Sdccliuii (if Lcx^OHH. 125 the rest of the brethren, witliout money and without pi-iee. (Applause.) I would just like to move, and this is a motion that does not need to be submitted to the Comrailtcc, that by a standing vote of this meeting ■\ve express our cordial gratitude to Dr. Randolph for the splendid serviees he has rendered in this direction. (Applause.) On the snggcstion of the ))resident, the meeting indicated its ap- proval of the resolution by rising in a body. Dr. Waeeen R.vNDOLrn -. I thank you heartily, members of the Convention, for this kind and luiexpected expression. I assure you that the work in this Committee has been among the most delightful services of my whole life. It has brought me into some of the sweetest fellowsliips I have ever known. I remember that that eloquent tongue ■which you have just heard xitteriug these unexpected words in regard to my own work, referrmg, in one of our International Conventions held in the States, to the several meetings of the committee, said he never expected to enjoy sweeter fellowship on earth than he had enjoyed with the brethren engaged in this work ; and what he then said was but the expression at that time, aud after these ten years that liave since passed is but the expression at this time, of m}' own heart. I thank yoii for the expression you have given of confidence and appreciation. I am sure that other members of the Committee are entitled to the same as well as myself. No member of the varions committees has failed to elicit the warmest affection and love of all. But we have been changed from time to time ; fotu- of us only remain of the original body. Olu' brother Jacobs, who is so fertile in expressions, I remember once said, " We are reduced now to a quar- tette ; " and we are all here, except Bishop Vincent, whose heart I know is with us, and I would to God he were here in person to-day. I am dehghted to see our friend Dr. Gibson. He was a member of the fu'st committee ajjpointed by the representatives of the Canadian brethren. We found iiim one in sympathy, one in heart, one in action with us in all our work ; aud when he took his departure from the States he came back to the old countiy with the benedictions of us all. Mr. Jacobs : It was the cruellest blow you ever struck at Chicago wlien you took that princely man and delicious servant of God from us, and our hearts are weary for him to come back. THE SELECTION OF LESSONS. Eev. J. MONEO Gibson, D.D., said : Mr. Chaiiinan, I do not know what to say. I will tell you what I was going to say before, but it is quite inadequate to the occasion no^v. I was going to say that to stand here aud listen to my dear* Dr. Kandolph, and then Dr. Hall, and then Mr. B. F. Jacobs, does make me feel home-sick. And it did give me a surprise to hear that twenty years have passed — is it possible that it is twenty yeai's since wo met down there at New York ? ]\Ir. Jacobs has 126 The Intcrnalloiicd Lesson Plan. beeu kind ciiougli to refer to my coming back. (Mr. Jacobs : Tlicy intend to sit down on your coat-tails ! — langliter.) The fact is that I am so exceedingly busy with preparations to go that I was declining every engagement, bvit when I was asked to come here it was an engage- ment I coidd not dechne. (Hear, hear.) I am afraid that I shall not come up to time on this occasion, because the Chah'man has refeiTed to my "paper," and I have none. I was gi^'en the option of preparing a paper or saymg a few words, and the fact of the matter is, I am so specially busy just now that I thought I would choose the latter alternative. After all, it would have been a pity to have followed that splendid pa]per of Dr. Randolph's with another. I think it is better to give something that will perhaps be a complete contrast. I suppose that our object is to review the Woi'k that has beeu done. I am siu-e we all do it with thankful hearts to God for the blessing which has attended it, for the great success that has marked it ; but also with the intention of listening to any criticisms that have been made, or anything said that might at all guide lis with regard to the futm-e. because, while I thoroughly agree with the resolution which has been proposed, yet I do hope that the hand of the Committee y^ill not be tied up too much. The fact of the matter, brethren, is that yom* Committee is such a splendid Committee — I can say^that fi-eely now as I have not the privilege of belonging to it — that you may well trust it after these twenty years. I remember when questions used to come up in the committee they were again and agam set down as questions that could not be discussed, because they led us into considerations that were beyond the terms of oiu' appointment. Now, that was all very well at the beginning, but I think the time has come for you to give a fi'eer hand, perhaps, to the committee than before, m order that they may be in a position to consider any suggestions that may be made in relation to the work of the futiQ'e. When I was asked, then, to speak on this matter of the Selection of Lessons, I thought the best way in wliich I might render any little service to this Convention would be — inasmiich as I have been hving m England these years — to repeat some of the criticisms that have come to my ear, m order that they may be considered for what they are worth. I would like to say m the fii'st place, in my remmisceuce of the meetings of the Committee — I would like to asam-e you, though you do not need to be assiu-ed of it, that the Committee does hard and faithful work. It is not that the members simply meet together and register then* approval of certain selections that have been made by a certain individual ; each member of the Committee works. We found that every one had his own opinions, and held to them veiy strongly, and fought for them very hard too, but generally we came to a mi- animous conclusion ; and I tliink there is a lesson to be learaed by outsiders in regard to this matter. If any of us had been outsiders. The Selection of Lessons. 127 ami had not heard tho wliolc discussion, mid some ol" our f'a\ouvitc passages were left out or fa\ourite ideas were omitted, we might have been inclined to take up the position of critics ; but we were there to liear the whole discussion, and we were led to see that there was some- thing better than had occurred to our own minds, and I think the best M-a_v of silencing or reducing criticism would be to get the critics one by one on the Committee, and they would soon begin to find out that after all there were some ideas better than their owu. Of coiu-se we do not consider, as has been already said, that the work is perfect. What work is perfect ? It is easy to point to what one may call mistakes. I thuik it was the late American minister, Mr. Phelps, predecessor of Mr. Lincoln, whom we are all so delighted to welcome to tliis country, who made this remark — one which I can never forget. He said " The man that does not make mistakes does not usually make anything." (Laughter.) I am very sure that that is just as applicable to committees as to men, and that if om* Couamittee has made a few mistakes it has " made " a great deal. It is very easy to lay yom* hand on one thing and another, and say, " Perhaps it might have been better done." Well, perhaps, perhaps ; at all events they have done the work magiiificently well, and I think the least thing this Convention could do would be to pass such a general resolution as I have lieard read this afternoon, only I hope it will not be quite so tightly drawn when it comes to its final form. I shall first refer to some remai'ks that I have no sympathy with at all, but it may be as well to refer to them as they are made. In the first place, certain people even at this day do not see any particular use in a uniform lesson. They say, " You are sacrificmg utility to mere sentiment." Now, in the first place, we deny that we are sacrificing utility ; we contend that tliis uniform lesson is far, far better tlian the average lesson that coidd be selected either by Sunday schools for themselves or by denommations for themselves — (hear, hear) — so tliat there is nothing sacrificed, but a gi-eat deal gamed. Then, as to mere sentiment — is it mere sentiment ? I do tlunk it is the grandest thing we have seen as a manifestation of the unity of the church in our day. We rejoice in the week of prayer when the whole world is seen to be boimd with gold chauis about the feet of God for one week ; but is r.ot a year of work a gi-eater thing than a week of prayer ? Wliat we want to do is to extend this more widely. I do think it has been a gi-eat omission in the progi-amme of the Shah's procession that after being at GuildliaU he did not come round here. (Applause.) (Mr. B. F. Jacobs : " We'U go there.") (Laughter.) Tliat is precisely the use I was going to make of the reference. The Shah has learned a good deal in these eighteen years since he was here ; he is a man whose mind and eyes are open, and I do not think he could get a better idea of one of the som-ces of the gi-eatness of the Anglo-Saxon race than he would find repi-esented in this hall ; and the best thing he can do for his dominions is to try and have something of the same kind there; so 128 TIlc Internalioval Lesson Flan. I hope by-ancl-by we will liave the Woi'lcVs Convention in Telieraii. But the motion will be " referred to the committee." (Laughter.) The next thing I refer to is the complaint I have heai'cl made of these lessons not being systematic. Now, I suppose the ci-iticism is founded on the idea that we should go along the lines of systematic theology, and along the lines of the creeds. But I think it is far better to take the Divine system — there is imquestionably a system — a wonderful development from Genesis to Kevelatiou. That is the best system in the world. If you were to take any of the theological systems, you woi.ild, in the first place, find difficulty in gettmg agreement ; in the second place, you would not have such a good system as we have by foUowiag the development of truth along the histoi'ical lines, as we have it in Grod's revelation. Then I have heard, I am sorry to say, a good many teachers charge the International Lessons with wandering about. 1 have always been amazed to hear that, but I have known persons that were not altogether stupid — I emphasize the word "altogether" — make that objection. The only ground that I can find for it is what I con- sider the veiy admirable way in which the prophets and the epistles were brought in. Here I have in my hand a sketch of the International Lesson for 1S91, and I suppose some of om- friends, turning to the second page of this, wotild think there was an extraordinary skipping about. Tlie first lesson is in 2 Kings, the second lesson in 2 Kings, the tliii-d in Jonah, the fom-th in Jonah, two in Amos, one iu Hosea, then back to 2 Kings. " What did you skip about so much for ? " they would say. It is a pity that we have not a lesson committee that would fm-nish not only lessons but brains. (Laughter.) But, seeing that we cannot have that, perhaps a little note might be put in, calling attention to tlie fact that these prophets come in in their proper places in the history ; that when you come to the reign of Jeroboam II. then is the time to bring iu Jonah, because it was m the reign of Jei'oboam II. that lie prophesied. How exceedingly valuable it is for our yoimg people to get that pointed out to them ; they might live to be as old as the critics I have been speaking of and never find it out. Then, the most grievous objections that I have heard made, and mo3t frequently made, have been against the series of lessons in the Epistles, The poor Epistles have had a great deal of obloquy since they figured conspicuoiisly in one quarter's International Lessons. Now, I have been very much disappointed to hear these criticisms ; but here again the qiiestion is whether — I am not going to defend leaving out the Epistles by any means, but to suggest whether there might not be care taken to guide teachers how to use them — whether instead of having a long pas- sage, in which perhaps there is a great deal of abstract doctrine, there was a very short passage with one important lesson in it, and appended to that some illustrative passage, some story out of some other portion of Scriptm-e, that would elucidate it. Of course, we generally suppose tliat our teachers will have sense enoi^gh and ability enough to do what is requii'ed, just as when they Tlic Selcclldii of Lo-sMii-t. 129 get till? story and have to taki- the tloctriiio out of it, so, when thej faul tlie doctrine to get a story to fit it, an illustration from some other part of Seripture. But it inight be possible to ]>ut down an illustration in the lessons from the Ejustles to give sueh help. And yet, after all, even the most abstraet parts of tlu' Epistles ran l)e (realed in a way to meet eiiildren. I am in the habit every Sunday of giving a short address to young people— (hear, hear) — and in general, though not invariably, my rule is to give it in connection with the second reading, which is from the New Testament, and very frequently the Epistles. It just happened last Sunday that I read sistli of Romans, and I think that is about the last chapter that an International Lesson Committee would seek a lesson for children out of ; and I wondered when I looked at that passage whether I should have to get my children's test somewhere else. But I took the 13th verse, which is to this efiect : " Neither yield yo your members as instruments of imrighteousness imto sin : but yield your- selves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness nnto God," just about as tough a piece, people would generally suppose, as you could possibly select for children. But, after all, what difficulty is tliei-e about it ? I thought I would make ifc quite plain to children that they are pidled there between two forces, sin on the one side, God on the other ; and then I told them how they could picture sin, what a face he has, what a colour he has, what a spirit he has, and what ruin lie is di-agging lis to ; then, on the other hand, you have God, God in Christ, pulling on the other side ; aiid the question is, which will ye yield yourselves to ? AVill ye yield yourselves to the sin-force that is pulling you to death and destruction ? or will ye yield yourselves to the Christ-force that is pulling you to holiness and heaven ? I need not give you the sermon; you can see perfectly well what I mean. I do think in lessons from the Epistles it might be well not to cover very much groiuid, so that the teachers may not think that they liave to teach a great deal of abstract doctrine. It would be far better to take one main truth, and make it clear and vivid, and, in order to do so, yon must illustrate it well ; and it might be well to point to a few illustrations in such a case as that I have just mentioned. There are certain other suggestions that I will de:d with together, because the time is running away. There are a great many who think the seven years might be shortened in the future ; there are those also who think that the scheme might be made a compact and complete whole, and made so valuable that it ought to be preserved and per- petuated. Now, I do think there is something in this, and that is the reason why I wish you to leave this matter open for the committee to consider. Eemembcr that the suggestion of a change of plan for the f utm"e is no reflection on the past. It does not follow that, because yon have had the best plan in the past, therefore it is the best plan to con- 1 inue for ever. Those of us engaged in Christian work know that certain E. 130 The International Lessun Plan. tilings inusfc continue always the same, but others change and vary in order to keep iip freshness of interest. Remember — " The old order changeth, yielding place to new, And God fulfils Himself in many ways, Lest one good custom shouhl corrupt tlio world." And it is just possible that, granting wc have done the very best thing up to this point, there may be a still better thing to do ; and indeed imless you do something of that sort you must either dismiss your International Committee, or you nmst pass such resolutions as wc have been delighted to pass, and let them thereafter be regarded us merely decorative. If they have done their work so well, axid have given us three seven-year courses, how are they to improve so Tcry :nvieh upon it in the futm-e ? If the first seven yeai's was so good, and the second so good, and the third so good, wliy not take the first to begin the twenty-second year with? I do not know that you can make it so very much better ; the work has been very carefully done, it may be you should just go over the same road again. We have got such a splendid committee — it is a rare thing and a great gift of God that so many men of abihty are willing to give so much time and thought to this matter — and the question is whether they might not devise some plan that would cover a shorter period of years, that woidd have a completeness that the others have not had in this way ; whether, instead of simply taking all the best passages of tlie Bible for Simday school lessons as we go tlu'ough it, we were to set ovirselves to have a scheme that woiUd embrace all the main things that cluldren ought to know and be taught. I do not mean to go along the line of any creed, I have indicated that ah-eady ; but, starting with Genesis, thei'e is the great fact of Creation, for example, and then there is tlie Fall, and the Promise, and God's Fatherly care of the pati-iarchs, and Abraham's faith, and so on — the great things in the Eible, rather than the interesting passages. Up to this time we have been going on from Genesis to Revelation, taking the more interesting and useful passages ; but suppose now you were to take the great spiritual facts and truths that you wish to lodge in the minds of the chUdi-en, and let it be a coiu-se that woidd be Avithin easy compass, say, for example, for three years. GRADED LESSONS. And along with that the question arises in my own mind, and has arisen in other minds, whether it woidd not be possible to have some- tliing more of gradation. I admit what Dr. Randolph said, and what Dr. Hall said and so beautifully illustrated ; I have no sympathy at all with those who say the same passage cannot be made suitable not only for the children and the middle scholars and the senior scholars, but also for the Royal Society and any number of savants that you choose to Till' Sclctlioii' iif Lessons. 131 gather togi'thor. Still, a( tlio sumo time, suppose now tluit yon hud a series — it is not iin.v thought-out phui, I mention it just to show that there is room for consideration — suppose you liad some plan that had started, saj, with the great fact of Creation, you could have that lesson the lesson for the day, in all the classes ; but you could have it in the junior classes as taught, say, in a portion from Genesis, yon could have it in a higher class as brought out in the 101th Psalm, and so forth, getting at different points of view ; and when they came again to the lesson of Crention after the ftrst year they would be older, and get u higher view of it and a deeper insight into its meaning and bearings. There is a great deal said about graded lessons in this country ; it has taken a very strong hold on our Sunday school teachers. I wish you to know that, and that is one great reason why there has been a lessening of conlidence in the International Lesson. I know quite well that there are great objections to the usual sclieme of graded lessons ; it is said that if you have three grades you have not a uniform lesson but you have your schools divided into three parts, the jimiors study- iiiT one part, the intermediate studying another, and the seniors study- ing a thii-d part, and it triplicates your hterature, and when any one comes to addi-ess the school he does not know which of the tlu-ee to take, or whether it should be a jumble of all the three. These are very serious and obvious objections ; but the question is whether the advantage of graded lessons eoidd not be gained without that great disadvantage, by having all the classes studying the same great thing. But they might be studying it with different passages of Scriptiu-e attached to it, and then the literature woidd unfold the great subject, and it would be of use, the literature that was provided for the senior class woidd be of use even to the jmiior teachers. The fact is that you triplicate your literatm-e in a certain way ah-eady. The question is whether we coidd not have a uniform lesson, the mii- formity being that the whole school was studying the same gi-eat subject, though not necessarily the same passage, and not necessarily in the same way. If the Committee would make up a system of this kind, going over the Bible much in the same way as they are doing now, only in shorter time, so as to study not only all the interesting passages but all the great facts, all the things you are bound to teach the children, that you are bound to get into then' hearts and souls, — if you could make such a plan as that, I believe it would be a monument of the Committee's ability and a trophy of their service; that it would be of use not for the seven years merely, nor for twenty-one years merely, but from generation to generation. Now, I do think it is worth while to consider this suggestion (hear, hear) ; I am glad to hear there are some persons in favoiu- of it. I put it before you in an exceedingly rough way, and it is on this point especially that I am so sorry that I have been so pressed with work at this time. I woidd have hked to write somethuig on that point, but all I can ask you now to do is to consider the request not to tie the Committee up for seven years nor to K 2 132 The International Lesson Plan. tlie same iiieiliod tlicv liavc up till now followed. Do give lliem a free hand and let tlieni look at the matter in the largest ■way, and I believe if they have done ft grand work already they will do a grander one in the years il] be. " He who sny.s I v.-nnt no more, Confesses ho has none." " We have not already obtained, nor are already made perfect, but we press on, if so be that we may a]iprehend that for which also wo were apprehended by Christ Jesus. iJrcthren, we count not ourselves to have apprehended ; but one thing we do, forgetting tho things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, we press on toward the goal unto tiie prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Certain it is that tlie International System has worked marvels in the line of Sabbath school helps. The vast extent of tl.eir circulation, the sharp competition, the mutual suggestions, have made the progress in them equal to that of other departments of civihzation. In beauty of workmanship, in quality of paper and type, in attractive- ness of colour and form, in the appositeness of illustration, the Sunday school litei'ature compares well with the secular school literature of the game grades ; while almost everything is also given in the cheapest possible form for those luiable to piu-chase the better.* There has been a very marked era of progress in the average scholar- ship of the Lesson Helps, especially for teachers. They draw from every country and from every source. They more than welcome all the light that science and exploration can give. The works of God's hands illustrate the "Word God speaks. From the tombs of the Pharaohs, from the stone libraries of Assyria, from researches in Palestine, from the treasures of natural science, comes light upon the Word gathered up for the Sunday school. Sunday school helps are not like the Kile that flows 2000 miles without a tributary, but like the Amazon which drains a continent for its supplies, — " Rich in experience that angels might covet, Eicli in a faith that has grown witli the years." It is true that only the results, and not the discussions appear. There is no time and no place in the Sunday school, even in the Bible class, * The Quarterlies vary from 12 to 25 cents a year, but the Lesson Leaves, printed from the same plates, can be had at from 5 to 8 cents a year. Teachers' Helps vary from 25 cents a year to $2. The 'Sunday School Times' is $2, simple subscriptions; $1 in clubs. Hurlbut's ' Lesson Commentary,' and Peloubet's 'Select Notes,' retail, at 125 cents, but schools can usually obtain them for 90 cents or $1. The 'Baptist, Teacher,' and the other denominational Monthlies for teachers average about 50 cents. 142 The International Lesson Flan. for disputed points and unsettled questions. Tbcy arc in tlic way o the teaclier in his preparation for his class. Natural science and the hiirher criticism have a great work to do, but their processes and their questionings do not belong to Sunday school. We want only certainties there " on the Keck of Ages founded," that nothing can shake, more than the waves of the Atlantic can shake England from her foundations. Like the Theban Cadmus when the giants sprung from the dragon's teeth were contending together, so the maker of the Lesson Help looks upon the mighty giants contending for very existence \ipou the battle grounds of the liigher criticism and of the scientific questions of the day, and lets them fight it out among themselves and slay one another, and then, when some tall giant has gained the victory of assured truth, him he compels to bring the stones for bmlding the beautiful city of God. Sunday schools for this are called " behind the age." Very well, wc accept it ; they are behind the age, as the wmd is behind the shij), — it makes it go. It is behind the age as the smr is beluud the morning,— it brings the dawn. Again, the Lesson Helps fulfil a mission in connection with the Inter- national System which is often ovei-looked by the ei-itics. They supply a remedy for certain defects Avhich seem to inhere almost in its very uatm-e. The discord with the church year may be turned into harmony by ft carefid arrangement of the helps. Tliis has been done to some extent, but the few measures may easily grow into an antherUj and all tho htiu-gical chm-ches may join in the chorus. Another difEcidty is thus expressed by a critic. " The distinctions of age and capacity in the scholars are not recog- nized in the present system. The same lesson is intended for infant, youth, and adult. This does violence to the law of natm-al progress and development. Paid wisely gave some milk, and others meat ; but we feed all aUke, and hope to strike an average." " We would not countenance this method of the same lesson for all the grades of scholars in our public schools. We may take the system in vot^ue in our common schools as the most practical and successful, There we find graduation of study to the capacity of the scholar. A system of gradual advance." The trouble with this critic is, that he has "an acute attack of inadequate mformation." He forgets that there are tMO methods of grading lessons, each with its own peculiar advantages. THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM IS NOT ONE OF GRADED LESSON TEXTS, BUT OF GRADED HELPS, — Not of selecting from the Sci'iptures those portions which are adapted to each grade of scholars, but of selecting from the same portions ruUinlicd Lesson Helps. 143 those truths mid a.«pcfts of triiili uhidi arc ndaptctl to tlio various grade*. As ill God's works \\c llud in ever}' part soiiu'thing adapted to the cliild, and to the unlearned in their lore, something for the older and more edueated, and some things also so mysterious and far-rcaehing that even a Tjndall or a Ilusley, or a Drummond stand but upon the shore of its hmitlcss sea ; so in every portion of God's Word, in every great t ruth, in every doctrine of salvation, there are things the little child can know and use, and feed upon, and things of which the oldest and most learned cannot fathom the meaning and tlic power. Not the International Committee, but the published lesson helps make the adaptation. The new beatitude of science, " Blessed are the fit, for they shall inherit the earth," is true of lesson helps, and they are inheriting the earth, because their grading is almost as complete, and largely of tlie same kind, as the grading of our books for the secular schools. There are almost universally from three to six grades of helps prepared for the scholars, besides the teacher's helps which are frequently used by the adult scholars. From these they range down to the charming little coloured cards with pictures and questions about the lesson for the little ones that cannot read for themselves. The helps for teachers, too, are widely gi-aded. There are papers devoted to the superintendent. There are learned articles from the greatest English, rreneh, and German biblical scholars, and mono- graphs from leading Americans, there are simpler helps for the busy and the less educated. There are helps of great variety for the primary teachers, showing the best methods of teacliing each lesson. There arc coloured pictm-es * large enough to be seen by the whole primaiy school, with reduced copies that the childi-en can carry home in their pockets. There are helps for the normal training of teachers, and various summaries of Scripture history and doctrine to be used as supplemental lessons. It is in these latter du-ections that in the near future there is to be a new development and impetus in Sabbath school progress iii America. Here we sit at yom* feet. This more complete gradmg has been both a consequence of, and a means to, that larger inflow into the Sunday school of adult Christians (often one-thii'd are ndults and more than one^half are Christians) and the tendency for it to grow fi'om a children's Sunday school, to a Bible school for all. The lesson helps have another niissiou iu connection with the Inter- national System — TO PEOMOTE COKTIXUITY AND U>'ITV. One of the most frequent objections brouglit against the system is thus voiced by one writer. * Providence Lithographic Co., who furnish them to various denomina- tional publishing houses, with denominational covers and imprints. 3 44 Tlio Lilernaliamd Lesson Plan. "The successive lessons lack continuity of purpose or thought." " There is neither historical nor doctrinal unity or progression." "The objection is not against the value of these topics, but against the irregular, irrational, and seemingly haphazard mctliod in which tliey follow each other. The laws of association, so necessary for reproduc- tion, are ignored." This is another " attack of inadequate informa- tion." Partly the charge is a mistaken one ; for the lessons are selected points in a line of natural historical sequence, a more unbroken line than that followed in the arrangement of books in our Bibles. Partly, the criticism arises from the necessary imperfection of all systems, -which is yet less prominent in this than in any other that lias yet pre- vailed iu America. For to traverse every pouit in Bible history, from the Garden of Eden in Genesis to the city descending out of heaven in the Eevelation, woidd be possible only in an antediluvian Sunday school, with young Methuselahs for pupils. The same objection lies against our railway system of travel in which we pass swiftly over large spaces of country, with only an occasional stop here and there to study more fully the place and the people. It is superficial, of coui'se. It is not a good way for a geologist, but it is the only possible way for most people, who must either study a small section thoi-ouglily or the best points of a broad land. And this latter method is so much better for most people, that even your greatly admired and fascinating Mr. Huskin can as easily " dam the Nile with buh-ushes" as bring the lofty genie of modern railway travel again within its little narrow box of tlie old stage coach, delightful as that is for some to-day. Now the lesson helps of the better class (and that includes the larger portion of them) almost completely annihilate this objection. Tliey take the Sunday school on a seven years' railway ride through the Bible country, glancing at every part, but stopping only at the principal stations of interest for outlook and exploration. They do for the lessons what the mathematicians do for a coiuitry they would sm-vey, makino- the hill tops into stations and triangulating the whole region. From the watch tower of each selected lesson, the true lesson help glances backward and forward, calling attention to the whole line of the history, but dwelling only on the important parts. It is this which differentiates the lesson help from the ordinary commentaiy. It makes the selected passage a centre, a mount of vision, dwelling there, but showing its relation to all the rest. In conclusion, " HELPS " IS THE EIGHT WORD FOE THESE BOOKS AND PAPEES. Leigh Himt named one of his books 'The Indicator,' from the bird which indicates to the lioney-himters where the bees have laid up their treasm-es. The lesson helps are indicators pointing out the treasures in God's "Word, sweeter than honey, and richer than fine gold. Dailij Bildc Tii'ruliiitj Onjanirjillons. 145 They arc not substitutes for tlic Word, but aids to tlic Word ; not crutches lor the lame, but hidders, Jacob's ladders up to the heart of God. "The good is the enemy of the best." Sometimes. But oftencr tlic good may be the way to the best. The pubHshed lesson helps seek to be "tlie way to the best," to enable more of the teachers and scholars to see the hght there is in God's Word. We do not need a now Bible in this li)th century, as some have claimed ; we need only that men shall see more of the light that is ever shining in the old Bible. We do not need a new sun, new earth, new stars, in this 19th centuiy. We only need that our men of science shall shew us the marvels and splendours of the old creation ; for with all their revelations and inventions they have yet brought out but a few rays from the countless, measureless glories and blessings treasured up in the "Works of God. "Upward we jn-pss : the air is clear, And the sphere-music heard, — The Lord hath yet more light, more trutii To break forth from His Word." I know a clergyman who, in his boyhood, was near-sighted. He had never seen anything beyond a narrow range. All the beautiful world was as if it were not. When he was twelve years old Iiis father furnished him with a pair of near-sighted spectacles. Then for the first time the broad landscape burst upon his view — the wide vision of beauty that had always been around hun, but unseen. The lesson helps are spectacles to the near-sighted. Not to create a new truth, not to add a letter to the Word of God, but to help the multitude to see more of its fullness, its wealth of blessed trutlis, that — '• Earth is crammed with heaven, And every common bush a-fire with God." A fe>v months ago a professor at Wcllesley College, Mass., spent half- an-hour in pointing out to me the depth of meaning, the spiritual beauty and power of a world-famous picture I had looked upon many times, but never before had seen. Tjiat picture is henceforth transfigured to me. The lesson helps are to stand by teacher and scholar, and help them to see more of the love and truth, the blessedness and the glory of our divine Teacher and Savioiu', that he may be transfigured beforu them for evermore. DAILY BIBLE READING ORGANIZATIONS. 5^ Mk. C. Waters {Hon. Secretary of Home Missions, Sunday School Union). The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not a message for Sunday meditation merely, but a principle which should affect and control our tlioughts and actions at aU times. I. llG The International Lesson Plan. The Biblo, as tlic rcc-ord of that Gto.spul, is an cvcry-day book, a ht'l[i, a guide, a comfort in the toil, the strnggles, and the trials of life. The Bible is now ilie one boot for the Sunday sehool, and this is an advance npon the time ■\vlicu the spelling-book and the copy-book were needed, bnt there is yet a further step to be gained. The inlluence of the few hours we spend with our scholars is far outweighed hy the six davs of home and worldly life, and it will be nuniifestly an advantage to introduce the Bible into every home. But A house full of Bibles would not shed one glimmer of light on the poor, sin-belated soul if they were never opened. Tliank God, wo have a cheap Bible, and the liberty to read it ; what wc need now is the desu-e. There are many supposed obstacles to the habit of Bible-reading. I say supposed, beeaiise when it is a question of feeding the body, cii-cum- stances are made to bend to the necessity, and there shoidd be an equal anxiety to obtain nourishment for the sonl, for which we need neither toil nor pay. IMen in business have to concentrate their energies on then- occupations, children at school have so manj' home-lessons, young men and women so many " engagements," and eveii Clu-istian people, when nrged to more frequent Bible study, have been known to say, " I have no time." Many good intentions as to Bible-reading fad for want of some plan by which the readuig may be rendered not merely practical, but really helpfid. This has long been recognised, and many years ago schemes were proposed for consectitive reading from Genesis to Eevelatiou, one chapter a day, or in other cases a larger portion, in order to read through the Bible in the year. There is something to be said for this consecutive plan, especially in the case of those who have opportunity and capacity for a critical studii of the Bible. But, after all, there is nothing sacred about the order of the books comprising the Old and Kew Testaments. They are not arranged chronologically, and there is, therefore, no overwhelming advantage in this plan, while for family purposes there are some obvious disadvantages. Some of these are avoided by another plan ot selecting certain books, and, with some exceptions, reading the books consecutively. Both these plans have their advocates, and have without doubt led many thousands to read and love the Bible who would otherwise have neglected it. But it is worthy of consideration by us, as Sunday school workers, how far a plan of daily Bible-reading may be incor]iorated with, and form part of our work, and so Avhile promoting habitual reading at the same time LiyK IT BOTH AVITH THE HOME A-^Vi THE SUXDAT SCHOOL. It will be clear that such a plan will have double eflect in adding mte- rest to the reading, and increasing the eliectiveness of the Sunday school teacliing. I)(iUij Bible Ilcadintj Oii/ii-i'tl, ami empowered by tlio Holy Spirit lo drive tlin darkness awav, oi* prompt thoni to say to tlio tempter, " llow can I do this wickedness anil sin against God ? " I would add also in tliis eonneetlon that I would like Bible study, even as regards words, to be accurate, and more particularly where these words describe facts and incidents. It is so easy to get into con- fusion. I had a most beautiful and touching letter, two or three year* ago, from a benevolent person in one of tlio Southern States. It was marked by all the forms of gentleness and courtesy which, in its X'eality, I am glad to say one finds in the South. It asked a favour oil Christian grounds, and here is a sentence which, I must confess, spoils the moral effect of a good deal of the letter. " I hope, Rev. and dear Su", you will not despise me as a beggar for writing to you in this way ; for you will not forget that our blessed Lord and Master took Lazarus, the beggar, and made him his bosom friend." Well, you seem to notice the point, and I will not dwell upon it any more. The historic incidents of the Bible should be distinctly understood, and their facts and characteristics remembered ; for God has stooped down to us in our feebleness, and He has presented to us great moral and spiritual truths in statements of facts ; for we remeniber the facts more readil}' tliau we do the abstract truths ; and it is of t\\e last im- portance that these facts shoidd be lodged thoroughly and exactly in the minds of those whom wc seek to instruct. The thu'd point I would like to make is, that we should try and understand, and teach the Bible as a whole, as God meant it. That was touched by the previous speaker, and I need not dwell upon it at any great length. I will, however, venture to make a statement, which will contribute, perhaps, to clearness of thought in one direction. It is a common thing for people to speak against the preaching of doctrine, or, as they sometimes prefer to call it, dogma. We may easily mislead our hearers when we talk in that way. " Jesus is the Son of God." That is a simple, elementary Bible truth ; but that is a doctrine, a dogma. People do not always get into their own minds the exact meaning of words, particularly when the words are from the Greek and the Latin. In the late General Assembly that met in New York there was some discussion about revising a chapter of the Confession of Faith that has sometliing to do with what is called predestination. The reporters there were interested in the matter, and one came to mc and asked what attitude I took in the matter of predestination. I was rather simple, and I told him directly what I thought of the thing. A second came, and I was wiser; I said, "Pray, what do you mean by predestination ? " The gentleman went away, and did not give me any satisfaction. A third came, and reported himself as from a paper, but whether tridy or not I do not know ; but he said : " I come on bclialf of the paper I represent, to know how you stand on the subject of procrastination ? " It is a very easy tiling to mistake, 166 The Bible and the Sundaij School. and to lead otlievs into mistakes about the meaning of words. The Bible is full of doctrines, and wc are to teach these in the Bible sense, giving to eacli its Bible place and no other. History has given in- cidental importance to some doctrines. Denominational interests work in the same way. Dear fellow-labourers, what you and I have to do is to try tu put Bible doctrines in the places wjiei-e Grod puts them in the Word, and in the relations to one another that God gives to them in the Word. AVlien we do this, we are training the children in the way they should go. I sometimes hear of men, and sonietinies of women, speaking and talking in this way ; and they say it is the spirit of the age. " We do not want these theological discussions. AVe do not want these Christian dogmas thrown ixpon the people. A^'llat we want is ethical teaching. We want to show the people how to be good. We want to make tliem good, and it is not these theological discussions that will produce this result." I often wisli that I covdd talk directly to some of these public instructors. Then it would be possible to explain to them, I think, that in the Bible, as God has given it to us, these two things are hnked to- gether, doctrine and duty ; and the duty rests upon the basis of the doctrine. It is because we believe the doctrine that we shall try to do the duty. Here the doctrine : Clu-ist loved me, Christ died to save me, Christ would have me love Him, Christ first loved me. Here is the duty : I love Him, because He first loved me ; and because I love Him I will try to keep His commandments. The doctrine and the duty go together. " What God hath joined together let no man put asimder." Nay, I would go further than that. The Bible supplies in its doctrines the right kind of motive for the domg of the duties. If I do them from fear of the consequences of neglect, I am narrowed, and cramped, and crushed by fear. Fear hath torments. It is not so with love. Love enlarges, love expands, love widens the natru-e ; love pm-ifies, love elevates ; and it is to that that the grace of God makes its appeal. He reveals His love in Christ. We love Him back again ; and, in trying to do the duties because we love Him, we are lifted np and changed, in a measure, into His image from glory to glory by the spirit of the Lord. I would, therefore, -venture to lu-ge this as the third element that we ought to keep in om- mmds, viz., the teaching of the whole Bible, and in the sense and spirit in which God has been pleased to give it to us. If there had been time, I should have hked to give some illustration of the beautiful and glorious unity that God has given to the Old Testament, with corresponding unity to the New Tes- tament in its Tarious elements ; and, finally, the unity between the two, which makes it so important to know the whole Bible. I will only mention to you one ch-cumstance. You look at the Old Testament, and in the very beginning of it is Eden, a very limited region ; and two human beings are there, with the tree of life in the midst of the garden ; the tempter is there, and the temptation, and the sin, and the fall, Now, some one might say, " Look The Ih'sl Jllellniih of ]lihh' Si lull/. 1G7 here, wliat a faihiro orcalloii lias lji\'ii ; ]u)\y God's plans have been thwarted, two luiniau beings expelled from the garden, and under a curse. Wliat a failure tliis whole book is ; what a faihu'C this whole creation is." You turn to (he close of this same book, and again there is the Garden of Eden, again the pai-adise of God ; not a luuitcd spot with its rivers and its boundaries inehuled in the new heavens and the new earth. It is not one man and one Avoman that you have liere, but a great multitude that no man can number, oi\e of every kindred, and tongue, and nation, and people. The tree of life is there; and there is no tempter, and no temptation, and no sin : evil is put down, God is enthroned, Christ has reconquered the kingdom and delivered it \ip to the Father, that God may bo all in all. Bui, my fellow- labourers, you and I are to keep this before ns. If we at any time are diseoiu-aged, or disquieted, or hampered, or cast down, let us take om- Bible in our hands and look away to the glory that i.- to be repealed, and we shall regain our courage and confidence ; for we shall feel ourselves fellow-workers with Ilim \vho subdues princi- palities and powers ; -who conqiiers evil, who eetabliehes right, who glorifies the Father, and who shall see the travail of His soul, and be eatisfied. And, oh, how much that must be m tho way of redemption and salvation that satisfies the great loving heart of Him who died on the cross, that we might have eternal life I Jlay God bless you, and bless also the work of your hands ! J5j/ Eev. Walter Hackxhy {Birmlnriham). The beea drink deep in the foxglove's bell to bruig home honey to the hive, and the hope of a teacher in Bible study is to gather fresh truth for his own life as a Christian, and for the instruction and salvation of the scholars. The instinct of transmission is an imperative need in any one seeking to teach. Yet no Christian thuiker can dare to be heedless of the naked claims of Divine Truth. Apart from its use, there is grandem* unequalled in the height and depth, in the length and breadth of God's revelation ; and tliis must compel om* most ardent attention. If men were not saved by the Word of God, if the G ospel did not convey to believers the power of Christ's risen Hfe, it would still be more worthy of considera- tion than all other studies in one. The science expressed in the 3rd chapter of St. John and the 16th verse, " God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shoidd not perish, but have everlastmg life," touches a pomt of thought and experience as far beyond all human discovery as the arch of heaven bending above ns transcends tins globe of earth. But to rightly study Divine teachmgs we must yield om-selvcs to their sway. They will never give up theii* sweetness and beauty to the rude force of a br\\tal ravishing ; only to the woomg of lovrly love 1G8 The Bible and the Sundaij School. Some men see therefore iiolliing io desire in them, and they can Avrite such folly as when one said of the Epistle to tiie Pliilippians, " It is dull, nniiiterestiug, monotonous, characterized h}' poverty of thought and want of originality." We must hring to the Word of God a reverent and docile mind. By long meditation, by humble prayer, hy real love, by swift obedience, we must make for the Bible a place in our life, if we would learn its secrets of x^owei'. I. Let us study the Bible IN the footsteps of Jesus. Who has not felt that thrill of ambition to tread those holy fields and liills and shores of Galilee ? Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Mount of Olives arc sacred names stirring deep emotion. Tor there of old Christ used to be. Have we not an equal longing to follow Him in thought and study and imitate Christ in learning truth ? His gentle mind delighted in tracing the thought of God in the Hebrew Scriptures. Planting our feet in the prints He made, we shall find indeed our best guide and instructor. 1. Christ Icneiv the Scrijjtures hy heart. His first quotations are in conflict with Satan: "It is -written. It is written. It is written." The fifth book of Moses was so faniihar, its sentences rose to His lips at once, and against them for defence He flings Himself as to the support of a grairite rock. Listen to the -words He repeats on the cross. He iises the very expressions of a psalm -wi-itten so long since by David : " My God, my God, -why hast Thou forsaken me ? " To copy Christ we must he familiar witli its eveiy word, have them all as we say at the end of om' tongues, meditate on them continually, and use them for weapons of •war or inspii-ation of prayer. 2. Purther. Christ trusted the Se)-iptures as God's oion Word. Take for instance that case in John, chap, x., Sdth and 35th verses. He says, " Is it not -written in yom- law, I said. Ye are gods ? If He called them gods, iinto whom the word of God came, and the scriptm-e cannot be broken," &c. This was ont of the 82nd Psalm, which is a nameless song, but Christ quotes it as unbreakable truth. Take, again, that text in Matthew ssvi. 54 : " How, then, shall the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be ? " The Old Testament to Jesns our Lord is the unquestioned word of Jehovah. The Old and New Testaments are blended for ns into one indissolvable truth. 3. Moreover, Chnst used the whole of the JBooJc. Luke says in chapter xxiv. 27: "Beginning at Moses and all the prophets. He ex- pomided unto them in all the Scriptm-es the thmgs concerning Himself," tmtil His hearers' hearts burned -vrithin them as they walkecl with Hin^ in the way." 'I'll' lir.^l Mrthnds of Jilhhi Slwh/. 1G9 I saw a tree in a ri>cky hiiif, a yew oiicf Irosli and grooii, now witlioi-iHl nnd bavr. lis aiuiinl Iriink was liollowed out, mid tlio shell was gnarled and riMi(. ils branelies stretched like weird nnns black and desolate to tlie sky, and only a few sliglit l)laiks ol" leaf altestcd its vital power. The Eible (o Jesus was not like that tree. It was green and alive with Qod's own Spivifc to the uttei-most jjoint of its being. 4. Again, Christ drew forth, from Scripture compared with Scrip- ture, the large general truths it contained. In Matthew's gospel, ohaptei' xxii. 37, Christ answers a question concerning the greatest of all the eoniniandments. He quotes from Leviticus and Deuter onomy : "Tliou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soid, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou slmlt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." So Christ learnt the Scriptures off by heart to become familiar with their very words. They were to Him as second nature. lie i-ested ou them as tlie bare truth of God — promises given which coidd not be broken — prophecies spoken which must be fulfdled. lie used the whole book, and, while naming some writers. He reckons them all as speaking from God. He compares one part of Sei-ipture with others, and draws out from the whole compi-eheusive truths which He loved to teach. Old Standfast said, when crossing the river, " I have loved to heai* my Lord spoken of, and wherever I have seen the print of His shoe in the earth there I have coveted to set my foot too," We rejoice to copy our Saviour in this, and so, studying the Bible, wp find His promise is ever true. " I am the Light of the world : he that foUoweth Mp shall not walk in darknes?, but shall have the light of life," II. Let us study the Bible xtndee the guipaxcf, of a liEilAnLE COll- MEXTATOR. This coimsel may need some qualification. 1. Do not let gour guide be gottr master. Rather go to him for facts than doctrines. For facts of interpretation, of language, of science, of history. There are knotty and difficult points in the Bible a wise guide will help you to understand. His experience will be to you comfort and safety. In Switzerland a friend and I were ascending a lofty mountain, and I wished to clamber over a rough piece of rock. But he from his past adventures there advised me rather to skirt round its base, and so escape the uncei'tain beyond. I foinid, when his counsel was taken and followed, how narrowly I was saved from great danger. But when I reached the summit peak I used my own eyes to behold the extensive 170 The Bible and the Smidaij School. vi>ion of glory wliioU sjirond out before us. So our own hearts uuder God's holy light luiist study :uid contemplate truth. A Avise guide, liowevcr, uiay help us greatly in avoiding mistakes of material fact. 2. But let it he a reliuLIe commentator — one who is scholarly, painstaking, accurate, and spiritually mnidcd. Ecware of those who are iratrue to the Grospel. Some men arc to-day acting as lagos in ilieological life. Their design seems to be to lead Christian Othello to doubt the honour of Scripture Desdemona. For this they use tlie most subtle suggestions, and manipulate the minutest points of suspicion which can possibly bo twisted into signs of her falseness. Very miserable and fiendish appears their misconduct. Othello, poor credu- lous fool, has often been driven to doubt and despair, so that sceptical writers with triumph have said of the man whose faith they have marred : "Not poppv nor manJrngoi-a, Nor all tho drowsy syrups of the world, Shall ever medicine theo to that sweet sleep Which tjiou ow'dst yesterday." But let Christian Othello cleave to his love, and go question tlic Scriptures themselves with cai'e, bringing out aU facts to the light of day ; and the traitor shall then be exposed. We must maintain om- faith in the Word of God and reject all the lies of men. Wo must seek to be guided by wise commentators, whoso hearts are true to the Sacred Word. Let noble minds keep ever with their like, For who so firm that canuot be seduced? And this suggests that the best Scripture commentai-y is often found in friendly fellowship ; in the Christian converse of truth-seekuig teachers, meetmg with the single-eyed motive of gaining a greater light on the lessons they ponder, III. Let us study the Bible XESSON by lesson. Herein we shall gain the advantage of mind concenti-ation. 1. Tri/ to draw out and state clearly, on paper perhaps, the leading and halanced ideas of the Scripture iefore you. For instance, supposing we w^aut to teach that passage in the Epistle to the Ephesians, chap, v., from verse 15 to 21 (E.V.), beginning at " Look therefore carefully how ye wulk," and ending with " Subjecting yom'selves one to another in the fear of Clu'ist." These eight rules of practical Christian living come out with dis- tinctness : — (1.) A Christian must walk before men in the world with the greatest care. (2.) He miist buy up every opportunity of good. The Best Metluuh of Bible Siiuhj. 171 (3.) lie must alwivj's strive to imdoi'staiid God's will, (i.) lie nuist avoitl all oeeasious of excess and riot. (5.) IIo must be filled with tlie Holy Ghost. (G.) He must give forth his gladness in spiritual song. (7.) llis life must be a eontinual thanksgiving. (8.) He must wear Christ's meekness for Christ's own sake. Hei-o come out for om'selves and our pupils prineiples of widest application and force. 2. Now lirealc up each thonaht info Us se'jcral points hi/ careful meditation on that j""'^ of the passcif/e coniaininfj the idea. This will bruig out the collateral thoughts in theii- richness and strength. As an example, " Look therefore carefally liow \e walk, not as miwise bvit as wise." (1.) Think of our walking itself. This word is used seven timec in the Epistle. The walk of this world: chap. ii. 2; the walk Oi Divme pm-pose: chap. ii. 10; the walking worthy of God's vocation ; chap. iv. 1 ; the walk of separation from the woi-ld : chap. iv. 17 ; the walk in love : chap. v. 1 ; the walk in the liglit : chap. v. S ; the walk- ing circumspectly : chap. v. 15. (2.) Thhik of the care we need on account of our own danger in a world of sin, and the influeueo of our example ou others. Care to have the right guidance in life, and care to obey it exactly. (3.) Think of the folly of being lieeclless in such a world as this. So each idea blossoms oiit into thoughts, and knits into fruitful deeds. 3. Now apply each point to your own experience, forcing your heart and life into spiritual contact with all words you utter. Thus, with regard to being filled with the Spu-it, ask yourself whether that is yom- joy ; and, if not, what you need to receive it, praying and crying to God for His grace to prepare and fill up your heart with His love. Then apply these points to the case of each scholar. You have perhaps a dozen gu-ls in your class. Then* names you know ; their homes you visit ; their lives you can miderstand ; you think of them. This one is sorely tempted and tried by wicked companions, and you associate her with " careful walking." This one is crushed and oppressed with sorrow. Yoii link her case with learning God's Avill. This one is inclined to be bad-tempered, miruly, rebellious, and self-assertive at home or in service. You bring down the lesson of meekness and sub- jection to her. By applying each point to yourself and yom* scholars, OS it blossoms out in yovu' meditation, you will gain great sympatliy with them in their weakness, and youi- words will become life words of comfort, of power, and of truth. 4. No w 2^1 ace these 2>oints in order of utterance ; those most impor- tant, of course, most prominent, the least needful to be laid aside if compelled. Fit to each one winging feathers of wise illustration and seek for illiuninatiug portions of Scriptm-e. Much light will come on the Word you study, and much joy will come to the patient seeker, as Cruden lays bare choice treasiu-es of truth, hidden away in remote parts 172 Tlie Bible and the Sunday School. of the Bible, or your ' Biblical Treasury ' or ' Sunday School Chroiiicle ' opens before you a wonderful story. To study t-'iich lesson like this means labour, but the result is its sure reward. Twelve months of suck toil will have given the teachers a larger knowledge of Holy AYrit, will have brought their lives into touch with its power, and their scholars' mmds to the light of the Gospel. We have considered a passage that is not stoi-y. A story needs to be dealt with hkewise. You must attempt its realization, however, by the aid of some vivid describer of Scripture. We cannot be grateful enough to those writers who are making the Savioiu-'s land their study, and are collecting for ub such accui'ate statements concerning its details. These, though so needful, are subordinate always to the 2^>'(ictical aim of the lessons we teach. Let the historical setting be clear to ourselves, and therefore to those we instruct ; but let not the gold of tlie ring be too heavy for the size of tlie gem it contains. IV. Let us study the Bible with earnest and continual pkater por God's blessing. Great students of human lore have confessed their dependence on prayer for help in their mentally toilsome endeavours. Much more we require God's aid when we try to study His Word. Om' prayer confesses its depth and our littleness ; that it is Divine, and we are but dust. Prayer is the natm-al attitude of the soul iii studying the Bible page ■ — prayer which trusts iu God's promise of help, and continually cries unto Him. 1. Tf^e oieecl the eyes of our heart enlightened. I was wandei-ing over a height in the mist when I came to a steep incline, and could not tell which way to take. There and then I dared to ask for guidance of Hun who is with us for ever, and before my eyes throiigh the mist shone out the clear-cut gi-een of a path which led me straight to my friends. My eyes were enhghtened to see. In a deeper sense our hearts ai-e taught to know God's will when we pray for light on His Holy AVord. 2. We wa7it the truth we gain to become tlie poiuer of God's life in the hearts of others. Only can the gracious Spirit of God accomplish this. Our lessons must ever be soaked in prayer. 3. We long for our Lord to he honoured on earth. Do we not study, with this end in view, to know Him more, and to spread abroad the aroma of His sweet name ? I met some chilcTren coming back to oiu* smoky town from the country-side. Group after group laden with bluebells ; hoys with their arms full, and girls carrying bmidles, shedding, as they passed, a faint, rich fragrance from the lovelj% swift-fading flowers they bore. And as they met me I learnt this sui-ely, that somewhere along there an abun The Best MdhudH of Bihh Stadi/. 173 danco of bha-bcUs sjiivail like a carpet and lured tiie cliildreii ; and also that bluebells wore pleasant to them. A natural adiidty drew together the flowers and their iinioeent hearts, and I longed to visit that dell of delight. So when men heboid the (children of God coming baek laden with treasures of grace from converse with C'in-ist in the Scriptures of truth ; when men meet them in life again and again and cateli the sweet scent His love breathes forth, they too learn to know of tlie mitold wealth which somewhere is found by those who believe, and they long to enjoy it themselves. Have you not heard those Indians say, after* coming some miles to be tauglit : " Some of your talkers with God have been near our hunting-ground, and have talked with us from the Book the words of Jesus Christ, who loves ns all and came to be our foregoer to His better world, and we are come to the praying-master that he may show us Jesus Clirist's track to those better lands." But we sluiU only be able to carry back words which shall live for ever in those who receive them, as we go with humble, childlike temper and ask God for His grace. " Open Thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law." Dr. McLaren exquisitely says : " Love will discern that it is the Lord when all otlicr sight is dimmed." For the love of Jesus is tlie golden key to unlock the riches of God'a Holy Book. METHODS OF STUDY PROPER FOR SCHOLARS. £j/ Mil. James Bailey (London), In attempting to deal with this subject two things have to be con- sidered, botli separately and in their mutual relation each to the other, viz., the subject of the study itself — the Holy Scriptures, and those who study it — the scholars of the Sunday school. It is clear that the answer to the question. What is the proper method of study ? must depend upon the answer to another question— What do the special circumstances of the scholars requh-e ? The method proper to one class, or group, of students differs from the method proper to another gi'oup, in accordance witli the dilTcrences in their age, capacity, previous training or lack of it, and so forth. The neglect of a careful conside.-a- tiou of this point has led to much waste of conscientious earnest abour, because it has been misapplied, while on the other hand our opportunities are so small and so precious that it is of the greatest consequence to utilize them to the utmost possible extent. If, then, a prime feature of metliod should be its adaptation to the requirements of those by whom it is employed, we must obviously take careful note of those with whose case we are dealing. ■WHO AEE THE SCHOLARS OF OUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS? In Great Britain they comprise a very lai*ge proportion of our juvenile population ranging from the earliest school-going age to IS or 20 years 174 The Bible and the Sundai/ School. of age. and iu many cases going beyond this. They ai"e to a great extent the children of our public; elementary day schools, and, in addition to them, the elder classes of the Sunday school contain very many of an age much beyond that of the oldest day school scholars. I understand that the Sunday schools of Great Britain contain a much larger pro- portionate number of Tery yoimg children than the schools of Anierica, and probably of our Colonics generally, but on this point I hare not a sufficiently accm-ate knowledge of the facts to enable me to speak Avitli confidence. It is certain, however, that English Sunday schools con- tain many thousands of children either of the infant school age or yery little in advance of it. Tlius, the schools in connection with the Sunday School Union, as reported in 18S8, contained in round numbers 1,400,000 scholars, of whom some 200,000 were in infant classes, and 268,000 in senior classes, the remainder being in the various grades of the intermediate classes between these two exti-emes. Now the methods of study, like the methods of treatment generally, which are proper to these several groups, differ in no inconsiderable degi'ce. Let lis look first at the case of very young children, of whom, it is seen, we have such large numbers. With them the process of obtaining knowledge is almost -wholly confined to the operation of the senses upon external tilings, or to verbal descriptions of their elders, which should be simple, pictm-esque, and well illustrated. For school injtrtic- tion and study they are almost absolutely and ■wholly dependent on their teacher, both for the selection of what they learn and for the mode in which they acqiiire it. Study, for them, means chiefly receiving what then- teacher presents to them. As in the Sunday school the chief sources of instruction arc the truths contained in the Holy Scrip- tiu'cs, the natural means of rcseai-ch and investigation by wliich young children obtain a knowledge of the quahties and properties of material things around them are not available. Further, abstract truth they can realize in a vevj limited and imperfect degree only. It must take the form of narrative, biography, truth as presented in connection with natural life and visible things about us. And this is just the form in which much of the truth is revealed to us in the Bible. If, therefore, it can only be brought into contact with their mind, it can be under- stood and apprehended by them. How is this to be done ? Only by the living voice of the teach'n-. It is wonderful to note how exactly the Scripture thus lends itself to the needs of the very youngest. But it must be interpreted and brought home to them by the spoken words of the teaclier. Oral teaching is the great vehicle of commimication, aided by pictorial representation ; it may be also, by black-board sketches and by such illustrations as appeal to the sense of sight. This forms the appropriate method of study for the youngest classes. The process must be aided by all that may help to win the attention, suuple lan- guage, pictm-esque description, clear illustration, winsomcness of manner ; for the mental attitude of attention, which is essential to o\ir purpose, can be gained only bv exciting their interest. The Best 3Idhuds of Bible SUuh/. 175 If this be so it is of inomontous im))oi'tanec that the dcscriplions of the teacher, the pictures of Script are persons, scenes, and incidents, and the blackhoai-d sketches, should uU be ns accurate niul truthful as can be reasonably secured, else we shall be teaching falsely. The more liclpfuland valuable any aid to instruction is, the more certain and fixed the impression made by it upontlie young mind, the more scrupulously necessary is it to have regard to the fidelity to trutli of the instrument by wliich the impression is made. I have spoken of the value of good pictures. There are many such accessible to Sunday school teachers which convey with force and clearness, and in most attractive form, a surer realization of what they represent of Scripture incident or scene than the best words wliich the teacher can employ, and for some of the best of these we ai-e indebted to the enterprise and skill of our American friends. Eut, while this is true, there are probably few of us who have not seen pictures, it may be of considerable merit in respect of correctness of form, richness of colouring, and even beauty of general conception, which by the imagination of the designer, or the taste of the executant, violate propriety and convey obviously misleading ideas of what they profess to represent. To many of us has happened the experience of having to take much trouble to remove impressions and ideas of Scripture matters which subsequent knowledge has shown ns to be undoubtedly wi"ong. So is it also with TITE U6E OP THE liL.VCK-UOAUD, In the hands of a skilful teacher it ia a most efTectire auxiliary tc; the ordinary means of instruction, whether for diagi-ammatic represen- tation or for verbal sketches ; but in incompetent hands it may be, and sometimes is, a very mislending agency to the children, who cannot discriminate between what it is intended to suggest and what it actually presents to the eye. A Hke caution is needed as to the use of material ilhistrating with young children. Well used, they, like pictures and black-board sketches, brighten the lesson, make clear what is obscure, and greatly help to secure and sustain the attention, without which the best teaching elTort is in vain. But it is sometimes faidty, because misleading, occasionally grotesque, or even ludicrous, tending to excite emotion foreign to the pui-pose of the lesson, or distracting the attention of the little ones from the lesson, instead of concentrating their attention upon it. Let it not be stipposed that in thus inviting your attention for a time to methods of teaching I am unmindful of the fact that the subject assigned to me is methods of study for scholars. The two are inextri- cably interwoven. The study of the scholar is dependent ou the method of the teacher, as, in tlie pattern upon the tapestry, the colour and the fomn of it are inextricably as.^ociatcd with the work of the 176 Tlic Bihic and the Sundaij School. ■weaver who has produced it. Here, then, is our method. So far as the young scholar caii study his lesson it must be through the oral descrip- tion oHiis teacher, the pictured representation which is brought to bis aid, and such illustrations verbal and material as the resources of his teacher may enable him to provide. Let us now consider the case of the senior scholars. Through deve- lopment of mental power they are capable of much wide self-effort, and should be encom-aged to rely more and moi-e upon it. Though the work of the teacher in the form of direct communication of knowledge is not yet to cease, the work of tlie scholar in the direction of research, in drawmg upon the stores of memory', in gathering and storing for themselves, in thought and reflection upon what is accumulated, must be ever proportionately increasing. For he can now search, compare, infer, judge, reflect. He neither needs, nor is satisfied Avitli, a mode which throws all the weight of preparation upon the teacher, and which makes Iiim simply the passive recipient of what is presented to him. Even if he were, such a method would not tend to the retention and application of what was so acquired. The work of selection of the subject is still needed, antl that of guidance and direction as to what, and where, and liow, the study should go oir ; difliculties must still be removed out of his way, or he must be helped over them. The Bible must now be a siiith/, itself Jirst. The scholar at this stage should be led to the understanding of tlie Word througli the Word itself, its parallel passages, the references which throw hght upon one part of the text by what is contained iu other parts. Then this must be accompanied by whatever can be obtained from external source wliich may explahi the allusions iu emblems, metajjhors, geographj^ and the social or natm-al conditions of the places referred to m the Scriptm-es. The lessons shoidd be selected in accordance with a carefully arranged plan as that of the International Scheme of Lessons, or some similar scheme. Such an arrangement gives the great advantage of definition and coherence to the whole work, and also makes accessible the lesson helps now so largely provided in the periodical literatm*e pertaining to Sabbath school work. The scholar should be encouraged to do what is practicable by way of preparation for the ensumg lesson. A part, how- ever small, of the time of each weekly meeting should be given to suggesting where, and how, this may best be done. To the majority of senior scholars the resources and opportunities open to them are doubtless very Umited. Eut to a thoughtfid, observant teacher \\ajs will occur of suggesting how most of the scholars may be enabled to bring some contribution, if but aUttle, to the common stock of illustrations, information, and thought, which may assist in the building up of the lesson on the ensuing Sabbath. One most valuable som'ce of lesson help is open more or less fully to all alike, viz., the careful reading of the Scripture itself. If the passage joining the sub- ject of the next week's lesson were carefully read by each member of the The Best, McthAs of Bible Study. 177 class during tlie previous week it woulil materially quicken the interest and aid the intelligent iinderstunding of it. Then tlie mi'tliod of the class work itself should involve a large par- tieipation in tlie process of tiie lesson by the scholars. It should bo largely conversational. This indeed is of the very essence of teaching, tis di.stinct from merely addressing scholars of all ages. But in the case of elder scholars something more is needed than the mere answer- ing of occasional questions. Opportunitj' should be given to them to contribute whatever their knowledge or rellcctiun may enable them to offer. The result of their observation and thought should be freely drawn upon, and should be woven by the teacher into the web of tho lesson as it is gradually unfolded. To deal aright with our subject we must bear in mind that tho proper study of the Bible embraces two distinct views of its purpose. 1. TUE INTELLECTUAL STX;DY OF IT, for tlie pui'pose of imderstandlng its contents as we understand ail ordinary book of English literatm-e. 2. THE EEVOTIOXAL AND sriRITUAL STUDi* OK IT, for the purpose of affecting the conscience and the life. And while tliC latter purpose should not bo absent from the teaching at any point of oge or attainment, it shoidd enter with even increasing emphasis into the study of the elder scholars. In Jacob Abbott's ' Young Christian,' one of a series of works of ttlmost priceless value to the teacher and the taught alike, well known doubtless to many who hear me, there is a chapter rich in suggestion on our present topic, entitled " How to Study the Bible." Laying stress on the point that the Bible should be studied, as distinct from being cursorily read, the author proceeds in his most graphic and interesting way to give a practical illustration of how the Bible student should proceed to deal with the Epistle to the Ephesians. With the aid of a map, and a Bible Dictionary or Commentary, he gathers, before i-eading the text of the Epistle, what may be learnt of the city of Ephesus and its inhabitants, of Paul's relation to it and to them ; what light may be thrown upon it by an examination of the Acts of the Apostles, and by any allusion to those events in the Epistle itself. It is then pointed out how much a preliminary knowledge of these cir- cumstances of the case will increase the intei-est and profit of an examination of the Epistle itself. Next, taking a supposed case of a family study of the Bible, he suggests how one member of tlie group might have a reference Bible, another a Concordance a third a Commentary, a fomth a Bible Dic- tionary, and how each in turn under the guidance of the parent might contribute to the exercise whatever help may be gained from the book before him. N 178 Tlie Bible and the Sunch)/ School Now I think there can be no doubt that we have in such suggestions as these, the niodes suitable for senior class study, with such modifica- tions as the different conditions of each class make necessary. The personal interest gained by the personal effort of each individual scholar is worth any effort to secure. Then, too, we have illustrations from the same source of the value of picturing to the imagination the events and scenes described in the Bible. This is what is needed to give life and reality to what is read ; "without this it is apt to be little more than a barren, profitless waste of words. The power and the habit of infusing this reality into wliat is read or heard should be sechdously cultivated by the teacher, and imparted to the scholar. It comes, not by demanding it, not by asking the class to fancy this, or to imagine that, but l)y quickening the lesson tlu'ough vivid pictm-esqueness of description, from the earliest stages of instruction, and inviting the eftbrt necessary to realize what it thus describes. I have endeavoured to lay stress on the necessity for the proper study of the Bible, on a careful, thoughtful readhig of its contents, an intelligent understanding of what it teaches. Philip's question to the eunuch, " Understandest thou what thou rendest ? " is one Avhich must be ever present to the mind of the teacher of the senior class. In thia way only can the meaning of the words, of the metaphors, of the spiritual truths conveyed in parable, prophecy, doctrine, discourse, be rightly apprehended. To this, I will add a word as to the value of the committal to memory of portions of Scripture. It is not too much to allege that a danger incident to the reaction brought about by improved methods of modern processes of instruction from the tmintelligent and too exclusive memoi'izing of former days is that of neglecting the committal to memory of forms of words and especially of the words of Scripture. The reasonable limit of time allotted to me prevents my dwelling on the methods of study proper for scholars of the age intervening between the infant and senior classes. If what I have imperfectly advanced in respect to them be correct, it may be reasonably inferred that in pro- portion to the gradually increasing mental power of the young student there should be a gi-adual lessening of dependence on the teacher, and a corresponding increase of effort on the scholars part, the teacher ever in advance, selecting, guiding, helping, but ever encouraging more and more reliance upon memory, investigation, thought, and the expression of it, ever, too, deepening the sense of personal responsibility, both for the increase of knowledge and for the increase of that application of it by which the Word shall bring the learner ever nearer to Him of whom it testifies. The President : Arrangements have been made for those of the foreign delegates (a limited number), who desh-e to see the process of Lord's Day Observance. 179 the piiuthig of the Gospel, to iicjept the kind invitation of JMessrs. Eyro & Spottiswoode. It may have occuiTed to you tliat to-nioirow is the 4th of July, and so tliat we may celebrate it witliout interfering with the Convention, we have arranged to have a celebration in the basement of this church, beginning to-morrow afternoon with a tea at five o'clock. We will not celebrate the day in the Convention, but we are going to take cpiiet tea together in a very modest manner, and strictly in accord- ance with Sunday school delegate lines. ADDRESS ON LORD'S DAY OBSERVANCE. By Rev. Dk. Fulton {SioUzerland). 1 left the mountains of Switzerland to see a greater object than I have ever seen before, and that is the World's Sunday School Con- vention. I felt in my heart in Italy as I never felt before that there Nvas work for you to do here for the whole world. In America we are hot doing what we ought to do. We have received millions from Europe, but we have never put our brain, and arm, and heart to work for the whole world as ■wo should have done. England lias done this, and to-day the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be preached iu India and Afiica and all parts of the world, because the shadow of the Union Jack is cast over the world. Now, I had the feehng in Italy that there was a little work this Convention might do. I was so impressed with the importance of its being done that I left my daughters to travel alone, and came here at once to say a few words to you. You may not know it, but Europe is without a Sabbath as we have it in America and in England. They know uotliing about it. I have seen the pictures of the Assumption and the Crucifixion, but my Lord is on the mediatoi'ial tin-one, and He desu-es that you and I should represent a livmg and not a dead Chi'ist, and I beheve He wants us to represent it now in Europe as never before. I want om* executive committee to have theii* attention dra\ra to it. I have already spoken to our distinguished fi'iends from New York, Chicago, and Rhode Island about it, and I want to bring it before you for a moment so that you may appoint a committee or instruct the executive to di'aw up a paper that shall be heard tlu-oughout the world. 1 do not feel that we as Christian men and women are holding the position we might if we only had larger faith iu God and moi"e faith in vhat the truth can do. In other words, let me say that if this World's Sunday School Convention could find it iu theii' heart to have a paper, drafted by a committee whose names are known all oier the world, to be edcbessed in a proper and respectful manner to the Emperor of Ger- many, the King of Italy, aud other potentates, calling theii' attention to the fact that the Sabbatli, as God planned and commanded it should be honoured and observed, is utterly unknown in Europe, and that K 2 180 The Bible and the Sunday School. because of that it is utterly impossible to have a Sunday school thci'c to-day. I want to say this question was pressed more and more on my heart as I prayed about it. I talked to several influential men, gentlemen con- nected with religious work in Eurojie, and asked them what they thought could be done. One said : " If you would put influential men in com- munication with our largo manufacturing interests in the land wliei'c there are large nmubers of men employed, so that it should be given out that there should be no work on the Sabbath day, you could have a Sab- bath morning congregation and a Sunday school." Something must bo done. When I read tlie story of Mordecai and Esther, and how he told her she must go uato the king on behalf of her people, she said, " All right ; you go and call om' people to prayer, and I and my maidens wiU go to prayer, and I will go into the king, and if I perish I perish." That very night when she and the people went to prayer the king could not sleep, and he arose and asked that the records should be read to him, and Mordecai was brought to his attention, and the people were saved. I met m Italy the missionary of the Baptist denomination, and I asked him why he did not ask God Almighty to tm-n tlie heart of the king, and his ministers, and the people towards himself. I liave the honour to be that man who through the power of prayer was the cause of the conversion of Mr. Stanton, American Secretary for War. I felt bound to offer up a prayer for him, and afterwards I went to huu and told him of it. He said, " It is a queer tiling, for seven days my mind has been occupied with the thought." I said, " I don't know what is coming, but I think you have no time to lose. God Almighty wants you to give Him yom' heart." He asked me to lead in prayer, and I did, and he broke into tears and was converted. God Almighty can touch the heart of a ruler as well as of a ^irivate person. Some time ago a Con- vention met in Italy and prayed for its rtders. Three days from the time the Convention bowed in praj'er for the ministry and King of Italy, Comit Crispi, who has done more to break the power of Komanism than any other man, said in a speech, " We must lean on God." Every paper in Italy opposed the speech, but Crispi stands to it. Was it an answer to prayer ? I think something in this form would do. Dr. Fulton suggested that a memorial be sent to the crowned heads of Em'ope on the observance of the Lord's day. Let it go, said he, winged with prayer to the potentates of the earth and the people of Europe, and I believe om- Sunday school work will begin a new era and a new mission. Mr. P. B. Betck {Glasgow) : This is a mightily important matter that has been submitted to the Convention, and I do not think it would be wise to do anything impulsively. I move that it be remitted to the eleventh session of this Convention, and dehberately looked at and disposed of by the Convention itself. Mr. B. E. Jacobs : I am greatly surprised to see Dr. Fulton to-night. I have just seen a young brother from Kew Tork, who has called M\f LorcVs Daij Ohscrvance. XSI attention to tlic f;iet that an intornational Sabbath Convention has bcoii called to meet in the City of Paris in October this year, and wo are not going to wait for tlie elcventji session. This brother has been resident for seven years in Paris, Mr, Andehson (Paris) -. I feel proud to appear before you to-night. I come from the American Sunday schools in Paris, and many Americai3s who have come to our schools have said what a pleasure it was to find a really first class Sunday school there. I received a letter a few days ago saying that the World's Convention called together in Paris, under the permit of the French Government, would meet on the 13th of September, and I had been nominated as one of the delecrates for the United States. I think that movement will bring fortli great results. Before we can do any really Christian work in Europe we must have Sabbath observance. Now you cannot get at the natives, because they take that day for their own enjoyment. We are goinn- to make a great effort to let this Convention have a great effect in France, and all over Europe. Leon Say and many of the deputies have taken the Convention up, because they have recognized from a social and political point of view that it is necessary to have one day of rest. In Paris to-day there are nearly 500 young men and women studyinnf art. They come from pure homes and Christian families, and they have no idea of doing that which is wi'ong ; but most of them are without means, and they are obliged to seek what lodging they can find, and they are drawn amongst temptations which people have no idea of who have not lived artist life in Pai-is. The result is that not 5 per cent, come into the church or attend rehgions instruction. There is no place where a man can drift as he can in Pai'is. That they do di'ift we liave many lamentable instances before oiu" eyes. They go back to America, and there they have great influence. Nobody wdl deny the influence of art on life, and of the life of the artist on his work. We do not want a Continental or French Sunday in America. There are young men to-day having the greatest influence in art who are holding their studio receptions on the Sabbath day. My idea is to have an oro'anization in Paris to get them together when they come to that city and keep them under the same influences they were under at home. Any one who goes back to America, and knows of artists coming to Paris, who wiU send us their name, we will see if we can keep them from drifting in that direction. Mr. Gheen (Manchester) -. I move that the paper read by Dr. Fulton be referred to the executive committee called to meet to-mon'ow morning, and that Dr. Fulton be invited to meet them there. The Eev. Dr. Hall : I second the motion. This question, touching as it does international interests and relations and many delicate matters, the form in which it is to be put is of the greatest moment ; therefore, I hope the executive will carefully consider the whole matter. The motion was carried unanimously. The session was closed with prayer aijd the benediction. ( ^82 ) THIRD DAY— SEVENTH SESSION. Thursday Morning, Jult 4th. THE WORK IMPEOVED. THE VALUE OP EXISTING SUNDAY SCHOOL ORGANI- ZATIONS. The Pi-esideut (Mr. F. F. Belsey) occupied the chair. After a brief service of song and prayer, The President said : Before we proceed to the business of the Convention proper, we shall be happy to avail ourselves of the interval by hearuig any remarks brethren may have to offer on the work we have been doing. A dear friend from Paris who was interesting iis last night with some observations is, I believe, wishful to submit to us a resolution bearmg upon a very important Convention to be held in Paris, in connection with the better obsei'vance of the Lord's Day. I suggest that we iise part of the interval in listening to any remarks Mr. Ajiderson may have to make to us on the subject. OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD'S DAY. By Me. Anderson {Faris). I attend the Convention as a delegate from France, bemg a member of the Sui^day school committee there, and I am also a delegate from American Sunday schools. Q''herefore, I come from the two great Republics of the world. I am in England, the land of my ancestors, where you find as much liberty, equahty, fraternity, wi'itten on the hearts of eveiy true loyal subject, as you see engraven on the front of public buildings in France. "We are assembled here as people above all peoples, as belonging to the kingdom that is above aU. kingdoms — the people of God and the kingdom of heaven. "We are to repi-esent that, and I feel it to be the greatest honour to be a fellow-worker in this great cause. In connection with that great cause a subject came up last night which seems to have the widest and most practical bearing of anything brought before the Convention, viz., the Observance of the Sunday as the Lord's Day. There is no help for a Sunday school like Lord's Daij Ohscrvanre. 183 that of liaviii^ a Suiulay. I liavo bciMi appointed a dt-U'gate to a con- Tt'iitiou to be lu'lil in I'aris i'or (lie piirjiose of brinn;iii(j before tlic country and the worlil tlie necessity of reeogni/.inj;; Sunday as tlie Loi-d's Day ; and I should Hke to be able to convey the feeliiiir of the World's Sunday School Convention on that important sidjject. A resolution will be brought forward, wliieli no doubt will meet with approval, and wo shall be helped to carry on the work. On my return to America two years ago, I noticed a decided falling-off in the observance of Sunday. The lust Sunday I spent there with Mr. David Alexander, son of Dr. Alexander, with whose works we Sunday school workers are no doubt familiar. There was a lawn tennis club, and as we were coming from church we saw people dressed in lawn-tennis costume playing at the game. That was on a Sunday. Public opinion would not have allowed that ten years ago in America. Tlio attempt to throw open picture galleries and n^useums on the Lord's Day may seem, at first, a small matter ; but it is the thin end of the wedge, which may be driven right against one of the Divine commandments. God Ims told us to reverence the Sabbath Day. I do not see how we are to get the children togetlior to teach the Sunday school lessons, if the sacred day is broken in this way. In France, during summer months, when out- door sports arc possible, and are indulged in, Sunday schools are frequently closed. These facts are very painful. 'Without the observance of Sunday it is impossible to carry on Sunday school work. Thoi'cfore, I say, we must have Sunday for the Sunday schools, and Sunday schoola for the Sunday. The PnESiDKNT : Mr. Anderson will probably submit a resolution in the sense of the speech we have just heard for the consideration of the executive committee at the proper time.* Mr. HiTCncoC'ic {Australia) : We are fighting this same battle of the Sabbath in Australia, where mauy people will not recognize Sunday from a religious point of view. In order to inlluence these persons, it appears to me that we must keep prominentlj- before them the idea that the Sabbath is a day of rest. Even secularists will admit the force of the plea — a day of rest from labour. As Christian people and Christian workers, we have, many of us, grievously sinned by vising railways and tramcars on the Lord's Day. "Wherever we have advocated this question of Sabbath observance, that inconsistency has been thrown in our teeth to the great detriment of om' action. Let us, who ai"e in this Sunday School Convention, be faithful in this particular, and make up our minds never to do any unnecessary work on the Sunday, and never to do any travelling on the Lord's Day. We find that, on the outside public, example has greater influence than precept. Fidly con- vince the people, whether Christians or not, of the wisdom and advan- tage of Sunday as a day of rest, and, depend upon it, we shall then do * See Appendix for resolution ultimately adopted. 184 The Value of existing Sunday School Organizations, away with a large amount of the jSabbath desecration ■which we now so much deplore. Mr. GepiiaRT (Pennsylvania) : One of the things we find necessary in our country in order to make the Sunday school attractive is to pro- vide a comfortable building in which to hold the school. For our school we have a better building than we have for the church. The result is that the children like to come to the school. I believe that is also the case with the Bethany Sunday school in Philadelphia, which is one of the largest schools in the United States. They have a large comfortable building on the first floor, adjoining the chui'ch ; it is nicely lighted, comfortably seated, and attractive in every sense of the word ; so that children dehght to come there. I beheve tlie lack of comfort is one of the obstacles in the way of schools in England, if there are any obstacles. I went to several in Liverpool, and noticed how unattractive they were. I am satisfied that proper attention to such matters would advance the attendance one half. One of the ques- tions, therefore, we have to study is how to make the place so attractive to the children that we shall not be able to keep them away. Money would be well spent on improvements in that dii'cction. Mr. Sawyer {BrigMon) -. I rise to speak to one point, and that is the persistency with which we, as Sunday school teachers, should keep up a work we have once begun. I am led to offer that remark by the appearance of a map of New Jersey hanging at this moment in front of the gallery of this hall. Born at Brighton, I continued there, as a teacher, for several years, and afterwards as superintendent. In God's providence I went to a certain part of New Jersey. I was on a farm with my father, which he had purchased. I found no Sunday school there, nor near. I felt it was not right, and so I begged the loan of the old school-house, near to the farm. I gathered teachers and scholars, and then the library. In God's providence, I afterwards moved to New York, and thei-e continued as a superintendent vmtil I left America, and retm-ned to Brighton, where I have remained connected with Sunday school work now for forty-fo\u' years : and now I have been asked to be president of the Brighton Sunday School Union, which office I have very willingly accepted. My point is, wherever we go, let us be at work for the Master ; for, no matter whether we be sent hither or thither. He is sure to find us something to do. EXAMINATIONS FOR TEACHEES AND SCHOLARS. By Rev. T. W. Holmes {Sheffield). For many years it has been my pleasant but laborious duty to examine a great number of papers in connection with the Sheffield Sunday School Union Exammations. These examinations, which are divided into junior, middle, and senior divisions, are very popular in Sheffield. It is of my experience in connection with the last of the three divisions of which I Ej:aiHlnation3 for Teachers and Scholars. 185 am going to spciik. You will remember the saying of Jean Paul Ricliter, that every man's opinions about education would be valuable if he only wrote what ho did not copy. The principal, I should perhaps say tho only, value of what I have to submit to the Contention is derived from the fact that it is the result of my own experience. When some thirteen years ago I had a bundle of the senior examination papers to go through, I was struck with the pathetic ungainliuess of the hand- writing. It told of limited o])portunities of education, and of dis- heartenmg difficulties resolutely overcome. It revealed also the fact that the examinations had awakened an immediate interest in the very people we expected to reach last. Gradually, as years went on, the influence of the improvement in general education caused by the development of the Board school system made itself felt. The old style of handwriting became almost a curiosity. It became plain that the earliest papers had just caught and retauied the impression of a vanish- ing era. The later ones bore traces of the arrival of a better educational epoch. But it was not all gain. If we missed the cramped mechanic style of writing, we missed something else also, and not without regret. In the early days the answers were often as quaint, original, and un- conventional as the penmanship itself. There had been flashes of a homely wit, outshining a rare gift of hxunoiu-, worthy of President Lincohi himself. The replies in those primeval papers were the ripe fruit of the devout but uncultured imagination, as little artificial as the blackberries that grow on our yet unenclosed English commons, or the wild roses of our untrimmed but picturesque hedgerows ; such proofs of original thinking became gradually and noticeably more rare. You have all seen the specimens of handwriting that hang at the door of the counti'y writing-master who takes private students : " This is a speci- men of my handwritmg before taking lessons." This formula is signed by a number of pupils. Each signature is usually as fidl of character as the autograph of Queen Elizabeth. Afterwards come a number of specimens of " our handwriting " after the receipt of ten lessons, aU faultless and all alike. The thick strokes all swell out at the same spot, and the hair strokes all slope forward at the same angle, but all ti-ace of individual character has vanished. Now, since Sunday school examinations have entered upon the era of little text-books, individuality in the answers has displayed a lamentable tendency to vanish. There has been the usual result of the temptation to cram when the opportunity has presented itself to the yoimg teacher and the yomiger student. There is now more mere memory work, more imiform repeti- tion of the same phrases than in the earlier times. There is more accuracy within certain defined limits, but there is less evidence of the working of the individual mind, less stirring of the imagination and qvuckening of the thoughts of the students themselves. There is now little or none of that homely, if sometimes far-fetched, speculation which showed that the student's mind was at work. There is too often nothing far-fetched— not farther than the nearest, ov cheapest, or most highly ]8G The Value of existing Sundaij School Organizalions. recommended text-book. Now, I do thii-.k om- gifted brethren, who are continually producing text-books that bring into smaller and j'et smaller compass the amount of information reqiiired by the student to enable him to answer the questions set, might let us alone for a Httle while. At any rate, they might leave lis a little more dependent on the study of the original text-books themselves, whose existence seems too often to be forgotten. I am often asked for example, " Where can I find the best handbook on Christian doctrine ? " by anxious mquh-ers, to whom I usually reply by recommending a little work published in England for Id. called the New Testament. To other friends who ask my advice as to obtaining a convenient text-book on Early Chm*ch History I generally recommend a little work called The Acts of the Aj)ostIes. My fi-ieuds, I notice, often seem astonished that they had overlooked these pubhcations. By this almost universal use of text-books the answers, which are in the very language of these labour-saving manuals, present a uniformity wlxich reveals little concenaiiig the student except his possession of a good memory, and nothing of his teachers beyond a faithful and uude- ■('iating adherence to his text-book. The memory, it is true, is crammed with facts, often rootless and but slightly adhesive, for there is no evidence that the facts have stirred the imagination or q\iickened the heart. There is no spontaneity. I have seen iu oue of our provincial workhouses a mechanical arrange- ment for the musical accompaniment of pauper psalmody. It consists of a box, with a slit on one side and a handle on the other. In the slit are pushed pieces of cardboard with holes in them. Then the handle is tm-ned by the presiding, and generally very melancholy-looking, pauper. Something, supposed to be music, comes out when the handle revolves. The cards are perforated by a machine wliich at a blow can as easily perforate fifty as one. It is very expeditious and very economical, but it has one di'awback, the music is execrable. We are in peril of approaching the poverty produced by the skill dis- played in the method of perforating cardboard by the ahnost exclusive use of text-books, which leave nothing for the personal influence of the teacher in the instruction, nor any room for the play of the student's own mind. This is oiu' rock ahead. What we should seek is not the pro- duction of an artificial memory, out of which the facts shp away for ever after a few months, but an intelligent acquamtance with the Scrip- tures that will enrich the whole futiu-e life of the student. All we ask for, therefore, is to be severely let alone for a while by those very clever and well-meanmg brethren who are endowed with an almost super- natural facility and fecundity of mind for producing manuals, hand- books, and helps. The result of the examinations has been conspicuously manifest in two du-ections. The numbers who failed in the earlier years of their Exarnhuillons fur Tcaclicra and Scholars. 187 institiitiou made thouglitfiil teaclicrs concerned and anxious as to tho quality of tlie instruction gi^cn, and their failures tended to inspire the pursuit of plainness, directness, and lucidity in the teaching. It lifted almost immediately tho standard of teaching in the Sunday- Bchools bj' revealing its previous unsuspected weakness and defects. So far as tho students themselves are concerned, it awoke in the more thoughtful of them an interest in the Holy Scriptures they had not ]-)rcviously felt. Books on Palestine, Egypt, and the Gospels -were sought for and eagerly read, and the httle sketches that have adorned the margin of many a set of papers prove how firmly and accm-ately the locahties had become impressed on the memory of the best studciits. I can speak in the highest terms of the good accomplished by these examinations. They have had some imexpected results. In my neighbourhood they hare put down the mighty from then- seats, and exalted those of low degree. The chief honours have been carried away by a village school some nine or ten miles from Sheffield, where the people are without any of those aids to cultm-e in the shape of free libraries, athensBums, and music halls, which leave so many people fools. There, where the scholars have to tramp through dark and noii-y lanes in the winter time, the work of preparation has been done so well that for sevei-al years the school has won the " blue ribbon " of the examination, namely, a certificate that it stands at the head of all competitors. I have only been able to speak in the broadest outline, but I am glad to have been permitted to commend these examinations to so large and representative an assembly of fellow-teachers from all parts of tho world. In this Conyention we meet to help each other. We have no other rivah-y, and the presence of so many of om- kin from beyond the sea, generously bringing us their latest suggestions and experiences, reminds me of a lovely old Jewish story of two brothers. It is said that then- father, when dymg, divided his land betwixt hia two sons, and that about a year after his death one of the brothers, wallcing with a grateful heart in harvest time across his own land, came to the conclusion that his brother's sheaves were neither so uiuuerous nor so heavy as his own. He was not aware that his younger brother had clone the very same thing, and had come to exactly the same con- clusion. The next night the elder of the men went to his own field, and, puttmg a bundle of the ripest and finest sheaves on his shoulders, started for his brother's field, to put them, as he hoped, unobserved among the other sheaves that stood there in the solemn and beautifu moonlight. As he passed down the lane with his head bent mider his bm'den, he suddenly ran against somebody also carrying a burden up the lane. The two biu-deu-bearers staggered back a pace or two through the collision, and di'opped their sheaves. Then the brothers looked into each other's faces and discovered thut each was doing the same 188 The Value of c;cistln(j Sundcuj School Orrjanizalions. thing, and lliat each had been moved by thf same generous spirit, Ilere Ave meet also as brethren — the elder and liome-stajing brother -with his homely wit, and the younger -with his delightful vivacity and youthful freshness ; and in this Conventioii we pause and put do\ni the burden of the sheaves ve are carrying each to enrich his brother's harvest, My contribution is not a sheaf, but only fi gleaner's modest but honestly acquii-ed haudfvil. NORMAL AND TRAINING CLASSES. 3j/Mn. W. H. Geosek, B.Sc. {Londo7i). Each epoch of human progress appears to be characterized by the up- sprhiging of great questions, theoretical or practical, "wliich assert their claims to an immediate and satisfactory answer, and which absorb for a tune the chief thought and interest of the public. It is so in the realms of science, poUtics, philanthropy, and religion, as eveiy diligent student of history well knows. It is not needful, however, to supply illustrations from spheres outside our own department of Christian thought and action. The Evangelical revival of the ISth centm'y pressed home upon the consciences of Englishmen the gi'eat question of the Eelation of the Clim-ch of Clu-ist to the "World around it, with a force and directness which coidd not be evaded ; and no aspect of that question excelled ii; breadth ov importance that which was represented by the iuquii-y, " WHO SHALL TEACH THE CHILDREN ? " The answer was furnished by the Chi'istian zeal and intelligent phi- lanthropy of Eaikes and his early coadjutors. The modern Sunday school, at first somewhat amorphous, ciystallized in the com-se of a few years into the form in which we see it, that of associated " groups " or " classes " in one organization, combuiiug happily the advantage of both the collective and the individual systems of instruction. Its outward aspect has thus i-emained vmchanged ; but its inward development has been great and salutary. Originating as an eleemosynary — one might even say a remedial — agency for the suppression and correction of juvenile ignorance and imgodlmess, it has by slow degrees obtained its rightful position as the Church's chosen mission to the yomig, irre- spective of all social distinctions — amission parental and educational, as well as Evangehstic, and limited by no conventional barriers what- ever A few of the pioneers of the enterprise discerned this capabihty from afar ; but the Church of Chi-ist m England (though not in the principahty of Wales) has been disastrously slow to learn the lesson. The aroma of pubhc charity which sm-rounded the cradle of the Enghsh Sunday school still affects, with the pertinacity of hay fever, the sensi- bilities of not a few good Christian people. They are able to detept a I^nnnal and Traininr/ Classes. 180 ti'acc of pi'iinitivc raguiuuHiuisin in tlic most advanced of 19th century Sunday schools. "You may break, you may sliattcr the vase, if you will; But the scout — iiot of roses — will cling to it still." So tliey manifest their sympathy with this benevolciil work by a very modest annual subscription, a bland attendance at the Anniversary Sermons, and a systematic absenteeism, on the part of themselves and their children, from the sphere of the " benevolent work," during the remainder of the year. Across the Atlantic, and on the continent of Europe, and in those distant colonics more recently founded by our kith and kin, the escutcheon of the Sunday school bears no bar sinister, nnd no shadow has fallen on the promise of its lusty youth. For the future of each and all we have no fear : " lie that belicveth shall not make haste." About half a century rolled by before a second question, the correlate of the fii'st, came prominently to the front in the world of l-eligious education. Logically regarded, it ought to have taken precedence of the former, for it propomided the inquiry, " WHO SUALL TEACU THE TJ3ACllEltS ? " But human progress moves not by way of syllogism, and it is a notd- ■worthy fact, though time forbids our enlarging upon it, that at each stage the secular movement followed rather than prou)pted the religious one. Confining ourselves, therefore, within the narrow limits of our allotted theme, we may record that the first definite attempt to organize a plan of instruction for Sunday school teachers was on the " mutual '* principle, and took shape as a " Prej^araiioii Class," just forty years ago. It assembled weekly in the then committee-room of the Sunday School Union, 60, Paternoster Row, under the presidency of its earnest and devoted originator, the late Francis Cuthbertson, an active and useful member of the committee. Tlus representative association of teachers became, during the first seven years of its existence, the pai-ent and pattern of many others, all established, though under slightly diflercnt names, on the principle of allotted departments to different members, and a mutual communication of the knowledge thus acquired, the lesson for the succeeding Lord's Day afternoon, as found in the Union "List of Lessons," forming the invariable subject of considera- tion. The simplicity and flexibility of the scheme, and its direct con- nection with each returning Sabbath's labours led to its speedy trans- plantation across the Atlantic, as well as to the Continent of Eurojie and the British Colonies, while its vitality has stood the test of forty years ; so that one might hazard the conjecture, in the absence of complete statistics, that of existing classes, designed in various ways to fit Sunday school teachers for their work, three-fourths would be found to follow. 190 jf^/it' Value of existing Sandcuj School Organizations. more or less closely, the Cuthbertsonian type, while of these some have attained a magnitude and Tigom* vindreamt of in the old rooms at Paternoster Row. Thus arose the modest association known to EngUsh teachers as THE " rEEtAllATlOX CLASS." Its adoption by many local unions and individual schools brought prommently into view both its advantages and its defects. Among the latter it was observed that, while admirably adapted to furnish attend- ing teachers with Scripture facts, doctrines, and practical lessons, it gave but little help in the selection and arrangement of the raw material thus gathered. A diligent member of such a class wotdd, like King David of old, accumulate no little store for a building yet to be erected ; but it seemed to need a Solomon to design the sacred edifice, and rear it on high, fi'om the foundation to the top stone. Thus far no Sunday school Solomon seems to have arisen ; but in the fall of the year 185G several appeared contempoi'aneously in Pimlico — then a semi-nu-al subtirb of south-west London. While heartily approving of the collection of Bibhcal material at the weekly meetings of a preparation class, they averred that in theu- judgment more yoiuig and inexperienced teachers failed through ignorance of method than through lack of Scripture knowledge. To remedy this defect, they proposed to give demonstra- tions of teaching by means of oral lessons in public to actual classes of Sunday scholars. "With the assistance of several able and earnest members of the Westmmster Traming College in the neighbourhood, an extremely valuable course of meetings was arranged for and excited deserved and continued mterest. The actual lessons given were in many cases made the subjects of friendly criticism by the other members to the benefit of all concerned, and alternating with these were lectures and addresses on Bibhcal and educational topics. The founder of this movement was the late estimable Eichard J. Brand, for many years a member of the Parent Committee. Another stage in Sunday school progress had thus been reached by the establishment of the first TEA1N1K& Class for teackei's. The next step that suggested itself was the Unioii of the two Objects-^' the gathering and distribution of material and the acquisition of right methods — in one organization. This was proposed, and a rough outline sketched, by the father of the jDresent writer, in a paper written for a! local conference in the year 1857. The Committee adopted the sugges- tions of their colleagvie — then and for many years after one of the secre- taries of the Union, and determined to estabUsh a composite class, in! which, as the prospectiis stated, "a com-se of training in the theory and practice of teaching " should " be combined with special prepa- Normal and Tra'inintj Classes. 191 ration of Sunday school iossons." Accortlinglj, a preparation class was held once a montli, while demonstrations of teaching, lectures, written sketches of Bible lessons, and other kinch'cd topics, occupied the other evenings of meeting. So fully had this form of teacher-training commended itself to mctro- pohtan teachers, that this Class has continued to be held with scarcely any intermission until the present time, and has reproduced itself in various other localities in town and country. It may be noted as an interesting fact that tliese classes attracted the special notice, and won the enthusiastic support, of the late Mr. K. G. Pardee, the worthy representative of the New York Sunday School Union, and by his earnest advocacy the movement was brought under the notice of many workers on the other side of the Atlantic. Shortly after this, the first permanent American training class was commenced in Chicago by our lughly esteemed friend and co-worker, the Rev. (now Bishop) J. H. Vincent, whose active and fi-uitful mind expanded and elaboi'ated the engagements suitable for such an organization in a degree surprising to slow-thinking Englishmen. For example, I need only refer to his vohime entitled "Sunday School Institutes and Normal (or Trainiug) Classes,"' published in New York by Carlton & Lanahan in 1872. Vai'ious efforts have also been made by Dr. Yiucent and other lead- ing workers in the United States, and by some members of the Sunday School Union Committee m England, to render training class exer- cises more definite and systematic by providuig limited courses of lectures, lessons, and conversations, extending over the whiter months of one, two, or three successive years, so as to give a somewhat connected view of the chief Biblical and educational facts and principles important for the mental fmniitm'e of the teacher ; and in some of these a full measvu'e of success had been attained. It miist be regi'etfully confessed, however, that here, as in so many other cases, those who most need the proffered aid are tlie least conscious of their own deficiencies, and the least ready to avail themselves of its benefits. A yet fm'ther stage m the work of associated training was reached in tliis country about the year 1862 and in America some five years carher, the two movements being quite independent in origin and dill'ermg somewhat in plan and detail. I refer to the NOEMAl C1AS9 scheme as outlined by Dr. Yiucent, in the little work already quoted, and by the present writer in a pamphlet called " The Introductoiy Class," the name fh-st proposed by way of distinction from those above mentioned. Origmally designed to take such scholars from the senior departments of om* Sunday schools and yoimg persons fi-om our congre- gations as were willing and desu-ous to engage iu Sabbath teaching, and to prepare them, in respect to both matter and method, before entering 192 The Valde of existing Sandcli/ School Organizations. upon tlie work, it was fondly hoped, at least by the Enghsh proposer, that a panacea had been discovered for the only too coraiuou evil of imper- fectly furnished teachers. Take them hi hand, it was urged, before they have encountered the difficulties of the work, instruct them in the what and the how, and you will save them from many un- toward blunders and many bitter disappointments, and preserve for long and usefid labour some who woidd have retired m failure and chagi'in. Experience has shown that it is easier to originate an educational idea than to make it germinate in the minds of others. A thought, like a seed, demands many favouring conditions for its development, and in this country some such conditions have been found ; but here and there superintendents, not always the most receptive or far-siglited of men (I speak as one of them) have looked but coldly on a plan, which seemed to delay the thi-usting of youths and maidens into positions for which they were but imperfectly prepared, but which the exigencies of the school demanded should be occupied by somebody ! Some senior class teachers have opposed the scheme on the ground that their scholars were learning to teach while imder their care, forgetting that the methods, as well as the matter, must needs differ •with pupils of widely diffei'ent ages and attahiments. And thus the Normal Class movement had to be so broadened in its aims as to include actual teachers as well as intending ones, and it is seldom that a single school is able to maintain such a class withoiit such expansion. In this combined form, however, some good and successful work has been done during the past twenty years in giving hmited but systematic courses of instruction to teachers and senior scholars. It is a pleasure to mention the names of Mr. Gougli of Bristol, the late Mr. B. Pask, of the London committee, and our able friend and colleague Mr. Alfi-ed Sindall, whose Normal Class, meethig weekly durmg the winter montlis in the Lectiure Hall, Old Bailey, has been attended with gratifying success and annually extending iisefulness. I am not at all sure that I shall not trespass beyond my province, if I refer to any modes of teacher trainuig which are not of the collective and associated kind. In justice, however, to my colleagues, I must just ventm-e to state that, in view of the still inadequate attendance on the part of English teachers in general, at preparation training, or normal classes, the committee have carried on for several years a system designed to promote private study where no such classes exist. It bears the title of the "koemal students' association," and encourages and directs teachers in short coui'ses of reading; certain text-books on Biblical subjects, and on tlie principles and art of teach» ing being supplied at a small expense. Sets of questions on these works are supplied to students, to which answers ai'e sent in writmg to an appointed examiner, by whom certificates aro awal'dod at the close of Normnl and Trainintj Chisties. lii.j each poui'so, Tlio iiiiivi'iucnt is one whicli dcsorvcs cxvvy en'-oiirago iiicnt. To tlio „ COERESPONDEXCE CLASSES in Greek and Hebrew, as to those held on the premises of tlie Union for the oral teaching of these languages, I can do no more tlian give this passing reference, as evidence of continued progress on the part of the committee of the Sunday School Union in the endeavom- to answer the question which was adverted to at the beginning, " Wlio shall teach the teachers? " I know no valid reason why such classes as we have just tried to sketch, meeting for a comparatively brief period, and occupying them- selves with a limited but definite and systematic course of study, should not be established wherever the desire for help exists. Professors, pas- tors, and trained teachers in public and private scliools, are found both able and wilhng to distribute of their stores of knowledge, Biblical and educational, of which most encouraging proofs have been given during the last few winters in various parts of the metropolis. The real need is a deeper conviction on the part of Christ's disciples that they are not only permitted, but solemnly bound to give the best of their knowledge and tlie best of their skill, intelligence, and self-diseiphne to whatever work they attempt in His name. There is too much of base metal, even yet, in the temple furnitui'e. What is called for everywhere among Christian men and women is a nobler conception of Christian service, and among our fellow workers and ourselves, a loftier elevation of " the Sunday sdiool idea." Without these our wisest plans are mere words, and our most finished organizations inoperative. " More light ! " was the prayer of the German poet-philosopher as he neared the eternal world ; " More light I " should be the daily and hourly prayer of every toiler in Christ's kingdom, whose poems are little clukken, and whose phijosopliy finds its centre in the Gross. " Darkling our good forefathers went The first steps of the way, 'Twas but the dawning yet to grow Into the perfect day. And grow it shall ; our glorious Sun More fervid rays afibrd ; The Lord hath yet more light and truth To break forth from His Word. " Father, Son, and Spirit, send Us increase from above ; Enlarge, expand all Christian souls To comprehend thy love ; And make us to go on to k'low, With nobler power? conferred. The Lord hath yet more light and trnlh To broak fcith fiom His V/ord.'' 194 The Value of existing Sandaij ScJiool Organizations. The Phesident : At the meeting last night a resolution was passed, asking the exeeutivc committee to prepare a memorial to the crowned heads of Europe from this Convention setting forth the evil effects of non-observance of the Sabbath in their dominions. Tlie Eev. Dr. Hall read the memorial prepared by the e^eoutivo committee, which, after a brief discussion as to some words and phrases, was unanimously adopted.* At the request of the President, Dr. Hall led the meethig in prayer for God's blessing on the memorial. After the siwgiug of a hymn, the next paper read was on PAID AND VOLUNTARY SUNDAY SCHOOIj MISSIONARIES. £^ Mr. BosTOK W. Smith (Minneapolis), 1 notice the three letters, "U.S.A.," following my name in tho programme, and I thought I would like to add one more to them, the letter " E.," so that they would read "U.S.A.E."~Unitod States of America and England. Eor I come to you as an Americanised Englishman, havmg had the good fortime to be born in John Bunyan's county ; but they caught me wliile I was quite young, and took me to America. This brought a little incident, which occurred in my missionary work in Minnesota, to my mind. I had been talking at one of our Sunday schools about boys and girls earning the money they give for mission objects ; I beUeve they ought to do it. I sug- gested various ways in which it might be done. On the following day I got on board a train, and saw ahead of me there a little boy, about eight years of age, who kept looking at me as though he wanted to come back to me and talk. I called him to sit beside me, and he said, " Ain't you Uncle Boston ?" — that's what the boys and girls call me — I said, " Y'es." I asked him where he was going, and in his stammering way he replied, " Up north, into the wheat fields of Eed Eiver Valley, to pre-empt a farm." " Have you any money to invest in land ?" He pulled out his little pocket-book, and emptied nineteen cents out of it. I told him he had better be careful about aUowmg people on the car to know how much money he had. The little fellow looked up into my face and said, " I —I — I know you." " What do you know about me ?" " You were at our Sunday school on Sunday." "What are you going to raise on the farm?" "Wheat and oats and corn, and I'm going to raise some for you." I said, " That's good ;" and I thought my sermon was going to take efi'ect. " AVhat are you going to raise forme?" "I guess I'll raise you a chicken." "What kind of chicken are you going to raise forme?" " I guess I'll raise you a rooster." " Well, what good will a rooster do * See Appendix. Paid and Vohtnldvi/ SiDidaij School Missionaries. 195 me, I'd like to know ?" " AVliy, what good will lie do you ; c— c — can't lie crow for you ?" I wish I Imd the roostei' here this morning to crow for Queen Victoria and the 4tli of July. I began my voluntary missionary work in Illinois. Mr. Jacobs eaine to a Convention, and said, "They're all dead in IMadison County; they don't do anything for Sunday schools down there." I had a young fellow with me there, and when we went away we went to our employers, and said we wanted a week off. A\'e got it, and went ofl' on the Monday morning eai-ly, and travelled all over the county, and visited every township, and at the next Convention wc came up as a banner county for Illinois. That was my voluntary Sunday school mission work. As we look at the great need in our rapidly developing country, wo see that wo have to go on further and luoro rapidly, with men who are more fitted for the work to lead tho advance. The American Sunday School Union has done a great and wonderful work : but, dear friends, the work is growing so rapidly, that the denominations are beginning tho battle ; they must take up the work. Now, look at this map of Minnesota ; you see how little it is in tho United States, and yet it comprises over 83,000 square mUes. I want to say, before I speak of that map, that, though I am engaged in denommational Simday school woi'k, I defy you to find a man, woman, or child, who has heard me say a word against any other denomination. Wo can work together on denominational lines, and I believe the time is coming when we must work on those lines. When I went to Minnesota nme years ago, we had 15i Baptist chapels there, but only sixty-six; Sunday schools, which I marked on the map in crimson spots, and I asked if that ought to be. I found on inquiry that there were forty-seven chapels that reported no Sunday school work at all, and I thought, if a Baptist chapel had no Sunday school, it must be a veiy dark neighbourhood, so I marked those places with a black spot. Then there were thirty-one places where the Baptists, Cougrega- tionalists, and others joined in a united school, and those I marked with a green spot, and this is how the map looked. Now, the work of a paid missionary is to go to these places, and improve the schools by holding meetings, and so on. God has greatly blessed His work in our hands, and in our schools there have been young men who are now studying for the ministry, others who have had their ambition raised, and have fitted themselves for other places of usefidness, and you don't know the need we find for them. The day before I came from my home there were twenty-eight ixrgeut letters on my desk, to ask mc to go to needy districts. We want a training school for the missionaries, like those at Spring- field and Northfield, and we need to pay the men. I tell you, dear friends, a man's time is worth something. You are aware that people get large salaries in ordinary business life — some of them. Some ministers do not get more than £150 in twelve months, some not so o 2 196 Tlic Value of cxhthui Simdai/ Scliool Onjanizations. iiiufli lis that. Quo I know received only ILCty dollai-s in money during fifteen years, and could not have lived but for his little farm. We want to get these missionaries free from their work to go into the great field. When I began work in Minnesota, I said we wUl see if we cannot change the look of that map, and so set to work to get rid of the green and black squares. I came this morning to bring the result of this work for the past eight years. We have had to work in all sorts of ways. Down in the south-west corner of the State there was a man who moved mto one of the new parts where there was no church, no building or hall, no place where a Simday school could be gathered. This man, however, organized a Sunday school on tlie shady side of his house during the summer, but that could not be done in the winter. He said he must do something to keep up the school, and so he wrote to the superintendent of the railway at St. Paid. The superintendent wrote back, " The rear car of our express shall be side- tracked, and you can hold your Sunday school in that." So the school was carried on m the car. The result was that that whiter ten or fifteen young people were led to Jesus Christ, a church was organized, and you would now find there a neat little meeting-house, and a pros- perous church which had sprung out of that Sunday school car. Some time ago I was talking with a business man of New York, who said he believed in paid Sunday school missionaries, and believed that the money he gave to aid them was a good investment. He also asked me what we were doing, and how we were doing it. I wont home with iiim to his house, and told him what he wanted to know. That gentle- man said to me, " Put me down for a thousand dollars this year." He said it was the best investment he could make. Another instance in the Eed River Valley. I was heljnng a pastor near Manitoba, and we were going to visit some parishioners. There was a bitter wind, and the pastor said he did not think it woidd do any good going across the praii-ies. I said we would go, and presently we came to a deserted farmhouse. We asked some people wliere Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair had gone, and were told they had gone into winter quarters. We went to the river, and came to what looked like a bare yard with fowls in it, and also saw what appeared to be a square hole in the river bank, facing south and covered with branches, from which a ghl about nineteen came and called the pastor. We went inside, and the branches used for rafters had sprouted, and a bird in a cage amongst them gave a hearty welcome. We talked about Sunday schools, and Mr. St. Clair said thei-e were no people thci-e to foi-ra a Smiday school. The family consisted of father, mother, and nine children, and I asked what more they wanted to start a Sunday school. I gave them some papers, and the school was organized. The father was elected superintendent, the mother vice-superintendent, the other children officers, except the baby, who waf3 left in the Infant class. A year ago ln?t PeoernbGr I was at the- dedication of a meeting-house Paid and Vnlitvldvi/ Sunday School Missionaries. 197 ^\licrc tlic family lived, when a good woman came up and said, "Do you remember the river-bank Sunday school ? You led to good times for us. The three eldest ebildreu were led to the Lord, and all the rest have been brought to Ilini, except the baby, and I guess lie will be converted soon." I also visited in the central part of Ihc State, and the i)astor and I went to a village sixteen miles across the prairie. He asked me what I liad come to that place for. I said to organize a Sunday school and lielphis work. lie replied that I might as well go to my next appoint- ment, as I coidd do nothing there. I asked him if I could have his chapel for a meeting, and he told me I could, and we then agreed to divide the village between us, he to go one way and I the other, to work up a congregation. I had not gone more than a block when I saw some boys playing base-ball. I stood and watched them, my fingers itching to get hold of the ball, for I used to play once. At last I said, " Boys, can I have a hand in this game ? " In a little time I was at home with the players. After the game, as we stood round talking, the captain came up and asked if I played regularly. I said I was out of practice, and he said, if I played like that when I was out of practice, what must I do when I was in practice. He then asked me if I woidd play for them in a match the next day, and I said I would let them know m ten minutes. I went to the parsonage, and found the parson there ; his face lighted up with smiles, and he said : " 'We are going to have a meetmg to-night ; the people are all glad you have come. What have you been doing?" "Playing base- ball." "Is that what the Society sent you here for ? They shall hear of this." I said, " The boys want me to play in a match for them to- morrow ; hadn't you better put off writing till you know the result ? I have come to ask yom- advice about going." He said, " Are you going ? " I said, " Yes." However, I went the next morning, and I never played so well in my life, and we won the match. The captain said they owed the match to me, and asked what I was. I said, "My friend, I am a Sunday school missionary." " Are you a preacher ? " " Yes ; and I have come to encourage the pastor of this little church, and help him in Simday school work." The captain took off his cap, and said, " Boys, come here. Stranger, if you want any help in the Sunday school business, just call on us." What was the outcome of it ? Two of those men are deacons in the church to-day, and another is trustee. Whenever I go there they ask me to go a day before, so that we can have another game at base-ball. You will remember we put sixty-six crimson spots on the map I showed you, and I put a fresh one for every new school. Now, instead of the sixty-six schools, we have 201 Baptist Sunday schools, and in these schools there are gathered every Simday 16,500 scholars for the study of God's Word. That is not the best of it. The other denominations would bear just the same record if they woidd speak. The Presbvterians have a Simday school missionary, and the Con- 198 Tlie Value of cvistinr/ Sunday School Organizations. gregationalists have theirs, and wc work together, and meet in blessed conventions, sometimes at one church and sometimes at another. During the hist four years more than 2500 of our young people, boys and girls, have been converted, baptized, and brOLight into tlie cliurches. God liave all the glory, and give this blessed Sunday school mission woi-k a place iu our hearts ! The other day a man heard about the work, and sent his cheque for 36,000 dollars to help it on. The Peesident : We can draw one moral from this speech. That is the kind of work we want om- Continental Sunday school missionaries to do. We want oxw new Sunday school secretary in India to do the same work amongst the Hindoo villages. Let us make this Convention the starting-point in renewed interest in this work on the Continent and in India. Dear friends, we have arrived at a most historical day, and Time, the healer of all things, enables us to look back calmly upon it. I was at the old South Church in Boston the other day, and I was shown relics of the Eevolution, and some referred to the shooting down of the citizens by the soldiers of King George. They attempted to hurry me by these, but I said we had had to face the redcoats on our own side now and then. Now, we can together look back and see that the daughter left the mother, but did not lose her love ; they still hang together. I wish to move this resolution : — " The English and Colonial delegates at this Convention congratidate very heartily their American brothers and sisters on this auspicious day, and trust that the anniversary, spent in this coimtry and under tliese happy circumstances, may be fraught with many happy remi- niscences." Here, with the Union Jack on one side and the Stars and Stripes on the other, I will ask you to stand up and sing two verses of the Ame- rican national anthem, and then I will ask om- American friends to join in a verse of " God save the Queen." The hymns were sung, and cheers given for the Queen and the Presi- dent of the United States. The President : On this day, when this union of hearts has been so happily proclaimed, I am going to ask Mr. Jacobs to take the chau- for the rest of the session, and, no doubt, it will be a rehef to the Conven- tion for him to do so. VISITATION OP LOCAL UNIONS AND SCHOOLS. Btf Mr. B. L. Geeen (MancJiester). In introducing the subjects now to be submitted for consideration, it is desirable to notice that they are placed in the programme of the Convention under the general heading of "The Woee Impeoted," and not either with " The Woek Eepoeted," or " The Woee Examined." We ai-e called upon to deal with them as among the existing organizations of great value, hcf capable of improvement. No Visitation of Local Unions and Schools. 199 one familiar with tlio liistory :aid progress of Sunday school work in tlii.s eountry — and it may be in other lands — can for a moment hesitate; in awarding a high plaec to the benoQts following the visitation of local imions and of Sunday schools. In America and on the Continent of Europe Protestantism and Christianity owe much to tlie visitation conducted by Sunday school ])ioueer3 and enthusiasts. But every caudid friend must admit that the beneficial inllucncc of such Visitations may be vcri/ f/reallij extended and increased. Oui- provmce is to consider — with reference to the more ellicicut conduct of each — how improvement can be effected. And first, with reference to the Visitation of Local Unions, by which is understood the presence of representatives of the parent union, or some other special delegates, at local Sunday School Union meetings and conferences. The objects aimed at by such visitation include chiefly: — Tlie introduction of, and sustauung the discussion on, topics of practical importance connected with Sunday school work ; The stimidating of local combined effort in and through Sunday schools ; The raising of the tone and character of the religious teaching of children and young people ; The extension of the influence and power of the Sunday school institution ; The securing of larger returns and increased profits in carrying on the vast business for God and humanity in which we are employed. These objects and others of similar character may indeed be aimed at by indiridiial schools without the aid of any outsider, and in some instances with 2}(t>'tial success ; but they may be secured generally — as lias been the case often during recent years — by the union of scver:d schools of a county or district in a general assembly or confei-ence attended by an experienced co-worker, whose voice is not so familiar to those assembled, and whose suggestions and thoughts are, therefore, likely to come with unaccustomed freshness and power. Accepting this conviction, local imions ask for a deputation, and the Sunday School Union gladly responds. The representatives thus sent are often members of its committee, present or past, or occasionally some othi?r prominent Sunday school men possessing the requisite ability and leisure; and their visits have generally been highly appreciated and often eminently useful. Officers and teachers have been stimulated and encouraged. Fresh life and energy have been infused into school engagements. New fields of enterprise and labom* have been entered for both the educational and physical advantage of the scholars and others. Many a conference has been the birthplace of invaluable institutions and movements which would not othei-wise have been brought into existence. Let vs ask then, and attempt to answer, " How can this Jlsitation he improved 1 " 200 The Value of existing Sunday School OvfjanizaiwnS. Fir-^t. — Is it not desii-able that the area embraced hy it should be generally on « widely extended scale '? We liave had experience of visiting local imions with grand gatherings of teachers in an entire county — in some instances, indeed, two or three counties have been associated for the purpose — and these meetings have been fraught with incaleidable advantage to all concerned ; but we liave also known of visitations being made to unions of very limited dimensions, restricted indeed to one small district, and have indeed known of three or lour nnions being visited on the same day at dilTerent towns of moderate size within easy reach of each other, and, though attended by only a score Or so of teachers, some special delegate from the parent imion has been present at each. It may be true that these meetuigs, thongh very tliinly attended, may have some elements of usefulness ; but a chilling, repressive atmosphere naturally prevails, discussion is dull, or becomes personal, and imdoubtedly the proceedings lack the variety and the vigour so essential to wide and lasting nsefulncss. Besides which, such an arrangement involves a great expenditure of power and energy, and faUs to pi'oduce the enthusiasm and beneficial results which accompany larger gatherings. Secondly. — The Selection of Suhjects at these Conferences is of the highest importance. The practical should ever have precedence. Not, however, that form of the practical which appeared necessary in our fathers' days, when deputations visited local gatherings more as ad- vertising agents for the Union, to make known and almost to canvass for the sale of their publications. No, the cii-cumstances and needs of our schools have essentially altered since those days. They have ascended to a higher plane. Their objects are now less literary and more spu-itual. This fact should be even more recognized than it is by both the officers of local unions and the delegates and visitors who attend their meetuigs. But caution shoidd also be exercised not to attempt the discussion of even practical subjects of too large a range. For example : we met the other day with the report of a recent conference on the subject, " The Organization of the Sunday School, considered in its Relation to the Wants of the Times." Only fancy having to prepare and read a paper on this subject to occupy fifteen or twenty minutes. The object of these local conferences is to quicken teachers into more vigorous life, to brighten and intensify their powers, so that they may more successfidly conduct the great business entrvisted to them for the benefit of human souls, for the puriiying of national and domestic life and for promoting the kingdom of God ; and this grand object should never be lost sight of when Sunday school teachers meet in conference. Thirdly. — Some of the most successful conferences of local miions have been those in which what are styled " Model Lessons " or "Addeesses " have been given, followed by a fx-ee and full discussion, sometimes, it may be, a little more free than full. On other occasions, the use of the Blackboaed has been illustrated, or teachers have been shown pi-actically — what, alas ! so many do not seem to understand Visilalion of Local Unions nvd Sdiools. 201 —how to teuili coUoclLvely ; or dillen-iit stjles of Iwicliiiig have Uvu ilisphivotl. Fourlhly. — A considerable iiiipi-oveiueut may, in our judgimnit, be elll-cted ill tlic Visitation of local unions by oecasionally varying the engagements by the holding of a Teacher a Experience Meeting mulcr the guidance of the visitor, or some other thoughtful, experienced, and earnest man. DifRculties might then be dealt with and dispelled ; discouragements — if not removed — might be seriously lessened ; im- pulses might be quickened ; defects in mode and errors in matter might be exposed ; and strong brotherly sympathy and aid imparted which woidd be helpful in the highest degree. Tiflhbj. — Nor can we refrain from mentioning the intelligent nso of " The Question Box" as a valuable addition to the proceedings at such assemblies. We have known more real good accomplished by the judicious replies to inquiines thus presented than by a most carefully- prepared paper i^reviously read and discussed, and we strongly urge its more general adoption when local unions are visited. Sixthly. — It is also desirable, we think, that the scholars should take part in the engagements connected with the Visitation of county imions. Wherever it is possible the depiitation should visit the schools in the town where the Gonfei-ence is held, to see the teachers in their work, and to offer such suggestions as may appear desu'able, and, if it can be arranged, an aggregate gathering of the various schools on a Sunday afternoon might become a memorable occasion. Or, if the day selected for the Conference or meeting be a national or local holiday, the scholars might be assembled, as is the case sometimes, on the morning of the day, the visitor giving an address, or, if two places of worship or public halls are needed, he might give an address at each, as it fell to the pleasant lot of the writer to do last Good Friday in one of the Eastern Counties. Seventhly. — But the chief object in the Visitation of local unions being to help the teachers to increase their devotion to their work and their intelligent and earnest discharge of it, Ave suggest the holding either of a United Communion Service, specially for them and other Christian workers, or a Consecration Service, say, after the Sunday evening's public worship, when the teachers of the town or district should meet together to re-dedicate themselves to their Master's work ; or both these sei'vices might be held with great advantage. Eighthly. — Why shoidd the Visitation to local vmions be generally restricted to members of the Parent Committee or other distinguished laymen ? Why not secm-e the Co-operation of our Ministerial Friends 1 The question of the relation of the School to the Church, which caused irritation and trouble in time past, is now virtually settled. The almost universal acceptance of its only true solution, and the con- sequent existence of a happier and more healthy feeling, opens the door for securing the aid of ministers in this department of Sunday school organization. We contend that it would be of much advantage if some 202 The Value of exisilng Sunday School Organizations. of our pvorament London and pvovincial ministers would attend local Sunday Scliool Conferences, and cither introduce, or take part in the discussion of, the subjects brought forward. We question wliether the benefits wonld be all on one side. Gladly sliall we hail the advent of this ans]Dicious day ! N'mthlif, and lastly under this head. — In order that the Visitation of local unions may become even more useful, and be invested with a higher attraction and significance than heretofore, why not — at all events, occasionally, and specially where two or three counties are united — tvhi/ not Itave arrangements made for meetings of a varied character and extending over two or three days '! Tliis would permit of the holding of sectional meetmgs for the consideration of special topics, not perhaps of universal interest, but of grave importance to portions of our number. Of this plan there have been some most successful examples, notably ui our recollection, one in Liverpool some years ago. "VVliy should not our Conferences be on a similar scale to the meetings of the British Association, Co-operative Societies, or Trades Unions ? If worldly men, and those who take pleasure in such things, can give several days, or a whole week to races, ci'icket matches, lawn tennis tournaments, and the like, surely, now and then, if not annually, two or three days might be given by Sunday scliool teachers and the promoters of religious education to discuss plans for then' own improvement and the extension of their entei-prise. The one set devote time and money for momentary gratification, and it may be a little pecuniary gain, or, more generally, loss. We, who compose the other set, might assuredly follow their example, for we aim at higher issues, ineludhig the life-long benefit of others, and their eternal gain. Very briefly must we now refer to the other kind of Visitation included in the double title for tliis paper. The Visitation of Sunday schools is one of the essential and most important duties of a local union. Indeed, one of the chief reasons for the very existence of a imion would be gone if this department is neglected or only carelessly attended to. Therefore, for many years, the visitor has been generally a recognised and necessary officer of a xuiion, and where he is endowed with the requisite qualifications, and possesses the confidence of the committee, he is a power for good. Such a man, especially if he has rehnquished his intimate association with feUow-labourers in his own school in order that he may devote himself to this work, should be, nay, has been and will be, received with nluch esteem in the schools he visits, and become most useful to those engaged in them. His experience and his sympathy will constitute him, as it were, both a reference libraiy and a circulating library of the good things he has acquii-ed and observed in Smiday school manage- ment and operations. Thus he can judiciously suggest plans and give recommendations of the highest value to both officers and teachers. Without such visitation many good details and methods, though of Vlsllatiov of Lnral Uniava find Schools. 203 universal apjjlicatiun, liavo beoii only partiiilly adoiitecl, and ignorance 1ms prevailed of nnuiy valualjlc jilan.s in o[)en»tion oven in neiyUbouring scliools. But prodtablo Visitation dejjonds upon its being conducted by the rij^lit men and in the right spirit, /riie visitor sliould be an intelligent thoughtful man, with mueh love to cliildren, and great faith in tlie Sunday school system, possessing much tact and prudence, of a cheerful disposition and pleasant manners, a Christian man endowed with practical sagacity and spu'itual apprehension, who knows when to say the right words and how to say them. For, Mr. President and Brethren, the profitable and happy result of such intercourse with our fellow- workers depends, as in other relations of Ufe, not only on what we say but on Jiowvfe say it. In a tone of admii-ation a loving husband says to his wife, "You are a heautj/, you are .'" and that which follows will be pleasant. But another husband may say the same words with a dilTei-cnt emphasis. " I'ou are a beauty, i/ou are! " and the results would be different. (Laughter and applause.) I see you perceive the lesson and will not enlarge. Am I asked, " Can such men be found ? " Undoubtedly ; they have been, and still are found. Some yeai's since, when secretary of the Newington, Lambeth, and Camber- well Auxiliary, the writer had, as one of his most honoured and beloved colleagues, one of the right sort, Mr. FrankUn Allport, the Treasurer of the Auxiliary, remembered, no doubt, by some present, who gave his whole heart to this work, and with conspicuous success. In other districts men have been found who, by a faitliful and synipatlietic discharge of this function, have been the means of removing abuses and of giving an impetus to the more etllcicnt conduct of Sunday school operations. But has it always been so ? "VVe fear uot. Occasionally, it may be that union committees, impressed with the desirability of having the work done, have, perhaps imjiatiently, too readily accepted the offer of service from inexperienced, imskilful men. Good Sunday school Visitation is a difficult and deUcate task. It must be conducted with honesty and skill, without any dictation, but with hearty sympathy on the part of the visitor, and a readiness to leai'u aiul accept good counsel on the part of those visited. On both sides much discretion is needed. When Sir Joshua Reynolds was once asked " How he mixed his colours," he replied, " With brains, sir ! " So here, if common-sense does not prevail, if brains are not well used, there will be little advantage. As to the mode of conducting visitation, it is impossible here and now to go into details. Suffice it to say- That a visitor slioidd be at the school before it is opened, and spend sufficient time in it to take note of all its operations ; That he should have his eyes and ears open, and be more quick to observe than to criticise ; That he should not take a class or give an address — except uuder very special circumstances ; 204 The Vahie of existing Bnndmj Scliool Orgrinizalions. Tliat lie sliovild make a report, first, verbally or in writing to the ofliccrs and teachers of the school visited — and then in writing to the committee whom lie represents. I have a sample here, dated Sept. 24, 1858, of one of the reports by the esteemed visitor to whom I have referred, but will not trouble you now with the details. But, useful as good visitation is, I say dehberately, better have no visitation at all than entrust it to one who is incompetent or imwise. A self-opinionated, conceited, talkative, fussy man, wherever else he may be of value, is worse than useless here. Such a visitor runs tlie risk of bemg dismissed from a school in the spu'it, if not with the words, which Mrs. Jones is said to have used to her inquisitive and faidt-finding neighbour Mrs. Smith, who, as Mrs. Jones politely rose to say good-bye to her, said," Yow need not get up ; don't trouble to see me to the door," and was answered, " Oh, it's no trouble, quite a pleasure, I assure you." Finally, Mr. President and Brethren, I ask, Ai-e we satisfied — I speak specially to the British portion of the Convention — are we satisfied with this department of oui" work ? Nay, vei'ily ! We are put to the blush by hearing of the magnificent resvdts following the visitation of Sunday schools in America. We are grateful, hut discontented. There has been some success, but more, vastly more, remains to be accomplished. The very atmosphere of success is charged with a sacred discontent — discontent with things that were and things that are, combined with tlie sti'ong conviction that perfection is yet before us, that there is always somethmg better, grander, within our reach. Let us ever keep before us the ideal of what we woidd do and be, and we shall constantly be aiming at both doing and being gi-eater and better than anything to wliich we have yet attained. Is it not so in art ? " I wonder if ever a song was sung, but the singer's heart sang sweeter, 1 wonder if ever a rhyme was rung, but the thought surpassed the metre, I wonder if ever a sculptor wrouglit till the cold stone echoed his ardent thought, Or if ever a painter, with light and shade, the dream of his inmost soul portrayed." With such feelings let us address ourselves, bretlu-en, to our Visita' tion work in the future, and attend to all other departments of our Sunday school work, gladly accepting the mottoes in the Sunday school map of America, placed before us : " Walk about Zion, tell the towers thereof,- mark ye well her bulwarks "—and ivhat lukvarlcs so wide, so firm, and so enduHng as our Sunday schools ? " Let us be careful to know the state of our flocks, and look well to our herds ; " and faithfully " Woi'k on till the stars appear." Aye, and till they disappear in the full light and glory of heaven's eternal day. Convciilions and IvstitiUrs. 20.'5 CON VKNTIONS AND INSTITUTES. Address ly Mr. E. CoWDEX (Galioii, Ohio). I have been asked, at a few liours' notice, to speak to you on tlio subject of Conventions and Institutes, and although the treatment of such a topic would justify the use of a great deal of time, I promise you that I will be brief. These are really two separate subjects, utterly distinct from each other in purpose aiul method. I shall first speak, for a few moments, on Conventions, as we have them in the United States of America and the British American Provinces. A Convention is a meeting of Sunday school workers, employed over a wide field whether a county, a state, a nation, or a world, held for the purpose of looking over that field in order to ascertain wliat has been done in it. With that object in view, statistics are collected, collated, and published. Again looking over the field, we inquire what remains to be done, and maps are prepared to show where the vacant places are. Then we de- termine upon the best methods for completing the work. Such are tho prunary objects of the Convention. Incidental to these, though scarcely less important, is the magnetism we gain from each other by meeting together and taking touch of elbows, by joining with each other in song, speech, and prayer ; and, by the inspiration that comes upon us from the presence of the Holy Spirit, we arc stimulated and encouraged to go out into the field and to do more and better work for Jesus than we have ever done before. la America, we have a system of gradations of Conventions. We began with the first national Convention in 1832, just one hundred years after the birth of the great man whose name and fame are held in precious memory on this 4th of July. The next Convention met, I believe, in the following year, or very soon thereafter. The third was held in 1859, the fourth in 1869, the fifth in 1872. The first, third, and fifth were somewhat distinguished, each in its way. The first was the beginning of a certain series of Conventions, the third was the first at which the instruction was given to go out and organize States ov extend the work downwards towards the masses of the people. The fifth was tlie one that gave us the International Lesson system, of which so mucli was well and beautifully said yesterday and last night. After the organization of all the States, the next step is to organize all the counties of a State, and a State sometimes has more than one hundred counties in it. Every county is organized according to some general plan ; then, in every county, every township of that county is organized, and sometimes thei-e are fifteen or twenty townships in one county. As yet, we liavc but a single State so tlmrouglily organized, i.e., every township and county in the entire State, for holding a Convention in every year, and that State is New Jersey. However, that ie the ideal ; i.e., wc want to extend tlio Convpntinn syslprn down frnm 206 Tlie Value of existing Snndaii School Organizations. State to county, and from county to townsliip. Every family is visited, so that every family may hear through iis the voice of the blessed Saviour. We look iip not only every boy and girl, but evci-y neglected and neglecting j)erson, for the neglecting class are as lai'ge as the neglected. Of course, there are difficulties attending the carrying out of this Convention system, as there are difficulties encountered, at times, in all Sunday School Union work that is successful. In one county more than twenty years ago I knew a man — I will not say whether he Kved in the territory of the older or of the younger brother — but he was appointed secretary to the County Sunday School Union. He was new to the work, and was without experience. He had to learn liow to work from his superiors and ciders. Ho had sent fur certain reports, but they did not come to liim. So ho went to the president of the union and stated his case. Said the president, " Have you a horse ? " " Yes," was the reply, " I have." " Can you ride ? " " Yes, sir." " Then, I advise you to saddle that horse, mount him, and go for them." And he did just that tiling. For a M'cck or ten days he visited every school in the county, and collected statistics in the only way possible. Thus was laid the foundation of the county Sunday School Convention, which has been flourishing over since. This Sunday School Convention is really the most in^portant of the series, because it is the one which reaches the masses of the people. In order to accomplish that object, we begin the work upwards. Our Canadian brethren came to the United States in 1872, and took us all in, and from that time we became an International Association, and we hold our International Convention every few years. Now we have come to the World's Convention. We carry ou the work throughout on the same plan ; we go dovm. and back up again. We attach to this idea of the Sunday School Convention a great deal of importance. I wish I had time fully to elaborate and to give the incidents of the blessedness that comes from these gatherings of the people. I cannot do it, however. I have here a little paper, containing fourteen rules or suggestions for the holding of a county or a township Sunday School Convention. It tells you how to make a Convention a success, how to prepare a programme, to print and publish itj besides other necessary details. This is the paper : — How TO Makk Yotjb County Sunday Scuooi Convention a Success. 1. Have your programmes printed a full month before the date of your meeting. 2. Put no person's name on as a speaker, unless he first agrees to fill the place. 3. Have it understood that the speaker who opens each topic is to occupy but fifteen minutes, to be followed by an open discussion of CovvniliiniH and JiiHtitidi's. 207 the topii'. (1'liis iloes not rofcr (o cvriiiiif; addresses or Normal Lessons.) 4. llave j^leulif of jtrogrammes printfid. Mail five ))ro{!^"ammes direct to each Siiperiiitciideiit in the county ; ask him to have three or more delegates elected to the County Convention, two weeks before the time of meeting, and give each delegate a jjrogramme. Tlie Superintendent and Primary Class teacher should always bo among tlie delegates. 5. Send each township president enough additional programmes to supply each Supermtendent and Pastor of his township, and to provide against loss by mail of those sent to Superintendents. 6. Notify each township officer that he will be expected to report in person as to the condition of his work, and call his attention to the particular Session of the Convention at which he is expected to report. Also notify him of schools wliich he should specially visit before the Convention. 7. In the town or city where the Convention is to bo held, the Superintendent of eacli school shoidd have enougli programmes to give one to every officer, teacher and scholar in his school. 8. If a "Children's Meeting " is to bo held during the Convention, it shoidd be specially announced in each school in tlie town for three successive Sundays before the Convention. 9. Before the programmes are printed, the Pastors and Sunday school workers of the town where the Convention is to be held, should bo called to meet with the County Executive Committee to arrange for the enter- tainment of delegates, provide for the music, make suggestions as to programme, and see that everything is done to jirepare the waif for the success of the Convention. 10. Request each newspaper in your county to notice the Convention for thi*ee weeks, and to print the programme in full one week before the Convention. They will rarely refuse to do it. 11. See that a Convention is held in each township within the tlu-ee months previous to yom- County Meetuig. At least one member of your County Executive Committee should attend every township meeting ; two is much better. 12. Kequest each school in the county to send a contribution, equal to two cents, for each menaber of the school, to the County Ti'easurer, for State and County Sunday school woi'k. A clear statement of the object and needs of our work shoidd be sent with tliis request. If the schools ai"e properly visited, and the township work conscientiously done, they will generally respond to tliis call. The money should reach tlie County Treasurer before the time for him to make his Annual Report. 13. Leave notluug undone to secure a fresh and full report from every school in your county before your annual Convention. Request especially that the additions to the Church and anioiuit of missionary contributions be reported by each school. Tliis will add much to the interest of yoiu- meeting. 208 The Value of cxhihuj Snu'Iaij School Organizations. 11. Pray and work for a rich spiritual blessing upou youi' Sunday school workers at your Convention, and expect it. God is not slow to answer such prayers. He loves to give, and loves to have us ask for great things. Duties of Township Officees. 1. To visit eacJi Sunday school in your iownshq^, at least once each year ; if possible, once each quarter. Get acquainted with the superintendent and learn his plans of work. If he is discouraged, help him with kind words ; pray with him for his school ; tell liini liow to overcome his difficulties, or invite him to visit some other school, with you, where such difficulties have been overcome. Especially invite him to attend your township Sunday School Convention, and the County Convention also. 2. See that a Sunday School Convention is held in your township at least once each year ; if possible, each quarter. Co-operate with the officers of your County Sunday School Association, and secure the attendance of one or more of them at your township meeting. AiTange a programme that will suit the needs of yoiu: schools. See that each superintendent has enough programmes to supply every officer, teacher, and scholar in his school. This should be done at least two weeks before your township meeting. The cost of programmes is nothing compared with the advantage of having yom' Convention well advertised. If possible, visit each school at this time and personally invite all to attend your Convention. 3. At your Convention, call for a report from each superintendent as to the encouragements and difficulties in his work, and have some bright earnest Clu-istian tell how to meet these difficidties. If more schools are needed in the tovniship, try to get some one to organize them the next Sunday ; and ask all in that neighbourhood to attend and stand by the school. Arrange to have the whole township visited from house to house, and every man, woman and child invited to attend Sunday school and church. 4. Assist your County Secretary in getting reports from the schools of your townsliip. This should be done about a month before the Annual County Convention, so that you can present a full report of your work and tlie condition of your schools at that meeting. 5. Go to the County Conventioii ami make your report in person. Do not fail to do this : it is of the utmost importance. Thus you will encourage your comity officers and interest all in yom- work. Have at least three delegates to the county meeting appointed fi-om each school in yovir township. 6. Do all your toorJc as in the sight of Gody and so as to meet Sis approval. Pray much about it alone, and with others. Seek to win every soul in yom* township for the kingdom of God. I am also asked to speak about the Sunday School Institute, which, as I have already intimatedj is a distinct organir.ation with n dififei'ent pur- Conventions and InstUates, 209 l)o^c from lliat uf Uiu Cuii\ fiiliuu. In 1872, tlic liiU'i'iialioiial Coiiveii- tion f^iviug us the Intel-national Lesson System, rendered it nccessarv that sunietliing should he done for the improveniont of .Sunday school teaeliers ; and so, in tlie very next year, the Chautauqua Sunday School Assembly was organised for the purpose of helping Sunday school teacliers. Froiii that great gathering others ha\e been organized, until now we have lU'ty-flve in tlie United States and Canada, and then tlie idea has been extended downwards to denominations and lesser organi- zations, imtil institutes, with smaller nieetuigs and of a somewhat gene- ral cliaracter, are now being held in village, city, and country place all over the laud. I know a little denomination in the United States tliat has already 2000 of its teachers in training classes of this kind. Teachers' training is one of the most important things that has been thought of in this day. The Sunday School Institute has no secretary, treasurer, committee, business, or discussion. It consists of a number of people collected together for the purpose of learning how to do work, how to organize schools, how to illustrate lessons, and all such matters about the " how." The Convention answers the question as to what has to be done, what to do, and so on. But the Institute proposes to answer the question how to do it. So you see the import- ance and distinctness of these two organizations. We insist on every denomination, as far as possible, organizing institutes for itself among its own congregations, so as to keep its own teachers trained for the purpose of improving the work in the class and the school. The Lard hasten the time when these two great ai'ms of the Church, the Conven- tion and the Institute, shall bring our people to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and to final salvation in heaven ! Tlie session was brought to a close by prayer. ( 210 ) THIED DAY— EIGHTH SESSION. Thursday Afternoon, July 4tii. MANAGEMENT OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS. Mr. F. F. Belset, tlie President, occupied the Cliair. The Kev. Dr. CiiAia (Rehgious Tract Society) opened the proceedings with prayer. The President : I am very sorry, my dear friends, for the sake of those who will not be here xmtil thi-ee o'clock, that Lady Aberdeen's engagements this afternoon are of such a character that she will be obliged to take advantage of arrangements we have occasionally made for opening the business of the Convention a few minutes earlier than has been advertised. In order that we may lose none of her ladyship's paper, I must ask you to consent to tlie opening of the Convention business at once, and we wUl commence the session now. I shall only take a moment or two in introducing the audience to her ladyship and lier ladyship to the audience. I think, your ladyship, you see before you one of the most cosmopoUtan of audiences. In front of us on the right are representatives of our Canadian feUow-subjects, behind them are friends from Australia, while India and China bring up the rear. Immediately before you, in aU the glory of theu* 4th of July celebra- tions, sit our American delegates. On this side are gathered delegates from our chief provincial centres and from the principal countries of Europe, veterans in Sunday school work, who, I trust, wiU be able to carry many suggestions contained in your ladyship's paper away with them to theu' homes. Further still to the left are the representatives of our prmcipal Missionary and other Societies, while in the gallery we have many visitors. Having introduced the audience to yom' ladyship, I do not think it will be necessary for me to spend a moment in saying a word of intro- ductioij so far as Lady Aberdeen is concerned. I am certain that, wherever the English tongue is spoken, and wherever Englisli news- papers are read, the name of the Countess of Aberdeen is honoured and esteemed by every one. (Loud cheers.) I shall, therefore, with this very brief introduction, ask the Coimtess to favoiu? us with the paper which, I am sm-e, will be of deep interest to aU of us engaged in rehgious work. IXccrealioc Evciunf (who was received with clieers) said : I should Uke to say at tlie outset how honoured I feel to be invited to take, however small, a part in the proceedings of this Convention, and also to express my regret at what, I am afraid, must seem like dis- courtesy in running away immediately after my pajjer. I assure you I would not have done so but that I have to take the chair at an important business meeting which cannot be postponed. There may not at first seem much connection between the subject of my paper. Recreative Evening Schools, and Sunday School Work ; but I think, when we come to look into it, we shall find one subject bears very much ou the other, and that we shall find that the Recreative Evening Schools Association has a very definite message for Sunday school teachers. I think it has very much the same message to us, wlio are Sunday school teachers (cheers), as I saw in a little tract I came across the other day, which tells us of the advice that a minister gave to his congregation. Tliis minister was very much depressed by the little that was done by members of his congregation. He had tried meetings and mission services, and prayer-meetings and Bible readings, but all of no avail. It seemed as if he could not stir up his people, and at last one year, just before the beginning of the week of prayer, he addressed liis congregation, and rather surprised them by addressing them somewhat like this. He said : "You all know this is to be a week of prayer, but I am going to ask you to make a change, and I am going to ask you to make it a week of practice instead. I am not going to ask you to go home and to practise in the ordinaiy way, but I want you to take, as it were, topics for each day this week — take topics very much in the same way as you generally take subjects to pray for this week. For instance, on Monday I will ask you, instead of praying for temperance work, to go home and try to be temperate in thought, and word, and deed in all ways. Ou Tuesday we have Sunday schools to pray for. WeU, I will ask you to look up yom- Sunday scholars in their homes. On Wednesday is a fellowship meeting. You are asked to go to a great fellowsliip meeting twenty-five miles away. A great many cannot go, but I tliink we can all try and cultivate fellowship amongst our friends, and go and see all our friends who have been cold to us, and with whom there have been breaches of friendship, and with whom any passage of arms has occurred, and remember that we are bretkren. On Thm-sda}' we are asked to pray for the famil}'. Let us then remember — as fathers and mothers, as children, in all relations of the family and fi-iend — let us remember how the Lord acted towards His church, and let us try and imitate His example. Then on Friday we are asked to pray for the church. Let us try to think in our every- day life hotv He would have acted, and let us try to follow Him. And on Satiu-day there is missionary work. AVeD, I have often brought p 2 212 Management of Sunday Schools, before you niissiouarv work, but tbis time I waut you to go and try and find out tbe people for yourselves. And at tbc end of tbe week let lis all meet together, and eboosc some brother by vote who will tell us liis experience of tbc week." They aU received Iris proposal very enthusiastically', and said they would all try this work, all except one old gentleman, Squire Amos Tucker. When they met at the end of the week they did so with sad- dened faces. When they handed round the ballot-boxes, it was found that tbe lot had fallen to Deacon Emmons to relate his experience. He did not seem very pleased, and said that be bad not very much good to report ; but the minister said he must report wbat was bis experience, and what be went tbrougli from day to day, and I cannot do better than read you tbe residt. [Lady Aberdeen then read a pamphlet showing bow a week's practice began a memorable year in that cbapel, aud bow it brought about a revival wliich a week's service had not been able to attain.] I think tbe Kecreative Evening Schools Asso- ciation bas very mucb the same message for us, and it gives us very much the same advice. We are professing and trying to bring up Sunday school scholars so that they may be enabled to live pure, bright Christian lives. We tiy to pray for them as Chi'istian soldiers in every- day bfe ; we make our teaching to bear upon that every-day life ; and we want to make them live Cbi'istian lives. "We must try and get bold of these young people in tbeu" every-day lives, not only in their homes, but during evenings in tbeu* spare boiu's, and tbis should be done, especially with our elder boys and girls ; and if tbis weie done tbe ques- tion bow are we to obtain our older scholars would be practically answered here. What is tbe problem that tbe Recreative Evening Schools Association set itself to accomplish when it set itself to work ? Let me read a few sentences written by Mr. Flower, tbe secretary of the association : "At the very age when tbe mind begins to awake and tbe bodily powers to develop, when a wise discipline and training are most needed and would be most fruitful, the scholars are permitted, both by law and by the public opinion of their associates, to enter on the work of life without any further educational assistance or restraint. Tbe results are disastrous and full of peril to tbe community. The little learned at school soon leaks away ; the scholars are cut adrift without any real equipment for the woi-k of Hfe, and fall an easy prey to tbe temptations which beset tbe idle or vacant minded. They have no resom'ces in themselves ; their bomes are often dull and dii-ty ; while tbe streets teem with attractions. Tbe glai'e and music of tbe public-house allure them ; tbey crowd into the cheap theatres, dancing and music-halls ; in many cases they fomi habits and companionships which corrupt tbeii' whole life, or, at the very best, by early mamage wreck their own happiness and aggravate the miseries which arise from the mx^ltiplication of the profits, Nor is this all : Tbe results from an industrial point of view ax'c no less menacing. Vast nimibers of our youth are growing up year by year to swell the ranks of the unem- licarntive Evening CUtuscsi. 213 ployed, because unskilled ; while, at the same time, the demand for unskilled liiboiu" is year by year decreasing. These are facts of serious import. Tiiey are the raw material of revolutions. They constitute a social and political danger of the first magnitude." Then, again, I will tell you what Mr. Besant says : " Boys and girls afc tlurtecn have no inclination to read newspapers ; after their day's work and confinement in the hot rooms they are tired, they want fresh air and exercise. To sum up : there are no existing inducements for the children to read and study ; most of them are sluggish of intellect ; outside tlio evening schools there arc no facihties for them at all; they have no books. When evening comes they are tired ; they do not understand their own interest ; after tlieu- day's work they like an evening's rest. The street is always open to them ; here they find the companions of tho woi'k-room ; here they feel the swift strong current of life ; here some- thing is always happening ; here there are always new pleasm-es ; here they can talk and play unrestrained, left entirely to themselves, taking for pattern those a Uttle older than themselves. As for then- favourite amusements and pleasures, they grow yearly coarser ; as for their con- versation, it gi'ows continually viler, until Zola himself would be ashamed to reproduce the talk of these young people." Has that nothing to do with Sunday school teachers? Can the hour or two that we spend with the children on Sunday counteract the evening education of the streets ? Let us see how the Reci'eative Evening Schools Association sets itself to work to remedy this. Let us read what Dr. Baton, the founder of tliis*lissociation, says — whom I am glad to see is to read a paper at this Convention, and of whom it is impossible to speak in words of too liigh praise or of too great reverence. He says : " How can we win the children from the street, seeing that we have no powers of com- pidsion and no inducement, but such attractions in the school itself as will make it more pleasant to them than the street, or the low amuse- ments that lure them to ruin ? " And, again, how can we win them, when gathered together in the school, to the love of good and hatred of evil ? This, verily, is a large question ; and the answer, too, is larger than I or any one can fully give. But the question is urgent, and some great elements of the answer are clear and certain enough. Broadly speaking, the attractions of tho evening school, to be powerful for the object desu'cd, must be threefold. First, there must be in them healthy play, the charm of music, and the splendour of colom-. They can entice our young people to the school, as now they entice them from it. And most certainly each of these can be made the means of physical, mental, and moral training, with- out losing any of their fascination. The principles that uuderhe tho Kindergarten must be applied to education for older children who are passing through the fervid spring-tide of Hfe, when their senses are so vivid, and their social instincts and physical powers are so rapidly developing. 214 Management of Sundaij ScJiools. " Song, it seems to mc, that very Syren bj- whieli so many of our young are sediiecd, lias a measareless power in it for tlic highest good of the people. There is no inspiration of truth, love, duty, cliivalrous courage in defending the feeble and rescuing the fallen, manly purity, womanly grace, but you may breathe it and quicken it in the souls of the young, and make it a ruling power in their lives for over, by the refrains and reiterated harmonies of song. Ballads still, if we but knew it, could do infinitely more than laws for the ennobling of the people. " Second ; the active energies of youth must be engaged and wisely du'ected in these schools. People are interested in what they do — ■what they like to do and can do. Pre-eminently is this true of the young ; give their hands something to do, and you have won them. Their hands are their busy organs. Their brains are often numb, •whilst their hands are ahve with mischievous energy. Is not the mis- cliief of youth but healthy energy misdirected, as dirt, a veteran stateman told us, was but wholesome matter misplaced ? Let that vital energy be seized. By it we draw the youth, and by rightly training it we save him. What may not be taught the boy, through those restless fingers of his, of cunning skill, of patient labour, of a divine order, and heavenly beauty ? " And, lastly, everything in the school must bear closely upon the reaUties of life — iipon the world aroimd our youth and the life before them. Their interests and sympathies at that age are keen in their attachment to, and quest of the actual, which they themselves so won- drously idealise. Thiis everything should train the children for their future." Then, if we ask how the Eecrcative Evenmg Classes attempt to carry out these ideas, let us see the classes that they carry on. They are carrying on in London more than 100 evening schools, and there are over 600 teachers engaged voluntarily. The cliief subjects taught are reading, writing, arithmetic, English, geography, history, elementaiy science, and domestic economy. I would advise those who want to have some idea how these different lessons can be made Hght and attractive, and at the same time eminently practical, to procure a pam- phlet by Mr. Flowers, called " Recreation and Education," which gives advice as to how evening classes can be made practical, musical, and bright, and how even the three R's can be made interesting to the scholars. The Lantern Lectures are among the most attractive of the methods employed. Mr. Flowers speaks of how " geology can be brought home to London lads by telling them in Kingsley's fasliion about the mud of the Thames, of which they willingly procure specimens; physiography, by expanding the lessons of volcanoes, glaciers, rivers, and waves. The chemistry of common things, with many simple experiments, is another popular subject, as also are electricity and magnetism. Another large and useful branch of instruction is in connection with our industries, Itccrrnlive Erciiing Clasaoa. 215 for whicli wo have slides providod : on " Our coal, and how wo get it ;" " A halo of cotton ; " "A chest of tea," and so on ; and there are occa- sional lectures on suhjects of practical interest, such as ventilation, foods, and food supplies. Musical drill is one of the great means of instructing and amusing. It is wonderful to see how the young hoys and girls, and tlio young men and yoimg women, enter into this musical drill. Peojilc siiy that these girls are so tii-ed after their work that it is no use trying such tilings ; but it is interesting to see the part they take m these drills, and how they long to exercise their limbs in some free way ; and with music how attractive it can be made to them. And, then, handwork is most important ; teaching them to use their hands in conjunction with their heads. We have seen a good many results of historical wood- carving throughout the country. Then, again, we see how eagerly young men and boys take to it, and how delighted they are to have the chance of using theu' hands, and learning how to make pretty things for their homes, even if they cannot do them to sell. Then, with regard to girls, there is fancy needle- work, and teaching them how to make the most of scraps, and teaching them how to trim their bonnets and to make dresses. Then there is cookery. But, to make these things bright and attractive, you must needs have bright and attractive teachers, and that object will be the better gained by having voluntary teachers, and teachers who will not be too professional in their way of teaching. At the same time, you want them to care enough about what they are doing to make themselves thoroughly masters of the subject, and bo willing to go in for a proper ainount of training. But the main thing is, you want to have people who care a1;)out the children, and who feel the vast importance of what they are domg; and surely there is nobody whom we can appeal to more strongly than Sunday school teachers. I am not sure whether there are many Sunday school teachers amongst those who are enlisted in this work ; I should think there is a large number ; but I assiu-e you it is a subject of immense importance, and it only needs to be brought before Sunday school teachers for them to see its importance. I do not know whether our friends in Amei-ica have associations of the same kind. Probably they have, and I hope they will have the opportimity of telling us what they are doing in the same direction. But, from whatever point of view we look at it, we cannot help seeing the urgency of the matter. We are constantly being saddened and distressed by hearing of the many miseries, of the terrible poverty of a certain class of people, of those who suffer under the sweating system, of those whom the Poor Law fails to reach, of those who are out of work ; and, whatever investigations are made into these matters, you always find the same thing, that the vast majority of those who are thus suffering are the unskilled, the untrained, the incompetent ; but there is generally work and fair play for those who are trained and skilled. It is the untrained and the incompetent who have to submit to those 216 Management of Sunday Schools. terrible hours, and who have to take the wretched pay which must grind all the spiritual life out of them, and which must prevent the soul awakening to a sense of its high destiny. Therefore, Recreative Evening Classes have a grand opportimity, be- cause here they are helping to lay the fomidation and give a desire for that technical training, and give that instruction which will alter the destiny of the young people under our care. Therefore it is a work of the highest patriotism, as well as of true religion, which is undertaken. But, again, if we only look at it from the point of view of how to increase the efficiency of our Sunday schools, Sunday school teachers must see its importance. It is the merest commonest truism that no mere Sunday school teacher can possibly be of much good to liis scholars unless he knows them in their home life ; he must know them outside the scliool. And here we liave a splendid opportunity. We have them during their leisiu'e hours ; we have the means to interest them, the means to arouse their enthusiasm, the means to awaken them into a sense of the beauty, which is a gi-eat thing in itself, and a sense of the ideal, and a wish to reach it ; and if we can be by the side of our Sunday school scholars when they are awaking to that sense of duty and the ideal, if we can be by their side when they are making efforts after beauty, efforts to im- prove themselves, and if they feel that we are entering thus into their lives — if we are so charged with the spirit of Christ which enables us to lay down our own hves so as to enter into the lives of others — can wo doubt that thi-ough these Recreative Evening Schools, and efforts of the same sort, we shall be the means of forging many and many new links, of uniting these many young souls, for whom we hold ourselves respon- sible, to their God and their Father. (Cheers.) ThePsESiDENT : Though it is not part of our arrangements to accord votes of thanks to those who favom* us with papers, still, if it wei'c so, I am sure one of the heartiest votes of thanks would be accorded to the Countess of Aberdeen. (Cheers.) Though that is not om* custom, from the bottom of our hearts we thank her for her kind presence here to-day. (Cheers.) The Earl and Countess of Aberdeen then left the building amid cheers. The Peesident : We all, my clear friends, have rejoiced to find tlie ladies in these later years taking so prominent a part in the great volim- tary rehgious movement of our day. You have listened to the Coimtess of Aberdeen, and now I rejoice to know tliat she is to be followed by an American lady, Mrs. Wheeler, who will give us a paper on Primary Classes, and a hearty welcome, I am sure, awaits her. PEIMAKY CLASSES OF AMEKICA. 5j/ Mes. E. Gr. Wheelee (Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.). In that part of America of which I am a native, Minnesota, we often awaken vx the early winter mornings and look out upon the beautiful Pr'niniri) Classes. 217 landscape, with here niid there a snowflake Hying in tlie air; but, as wo gaze, wc see another and still another coming, as children freed from school, until at last the earth is covered with a mantle of purity ; but Boon the north wind begins to blow, and those particles are brought close together, still closer, until we see great banks of snow. But you say, AVluit of that? Look ; yonder is the mighty engine coming with its load of freight, travelling with such great speed that one can hardly see it before it is gone, leaving behind its track of smoke blaekciiing the purity of the earth's white garment. But now it moves slower, still slower, and at last it stops. Why ? What is the matter ? Only some snowflakes in the way ; but they say, " Stop, we are small, but -when imited you cannot pass with all your strength and pride." So it seems to me are the little children all over our lands, the pure white snow- flakes from Heaven sent to lighten and cover with purity our earth- You say, What can they do, so small among the many great ? Perhaps but little when scattered, but when brought together in our Siuiday schools and led by the Holy Spirit they become a power which says to that mighty engme of sin, " Stop ! you can go no farther ; ive are /icre.^' I am to speak to you concerning a small part of the great department cf our Sunday school work. Our Primabt Class, which is often a strange mixtm-e. With nmnbers depending upon the size of school or congregation and abiUty of the teachers, it consists of the smallest of the children, with freaks and capabilities as fickle and varied as April showers, and as sweet as May flowers. What it should be. — As the name signifies, it should be composed of oiu* youngest scholars, save the Infant department, of which I will speak later, and some teachers make it a ride to admit into our primary classes none under three or over ten ; but it seems to me better to be governed by ability rather than by age, so that in our teaching we should not have to aim above the heads of the smaller ones to meet the needs of the older, nor yet ignore the wiser to amuse the babies. Grade. — Again, our teachers require a certain general knowledge of the Bible fi'om then- pupils before promoting them into the juvenile or second department. The usual outline is the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, names of books of the Bible, 23rd Psalm, also 103rd, and to be able to read, so that they may follow the lessons of the juvenile coiu-se. Oeganizatiok. — In organizing a class, we first find a teacher who is filled with the love of Jesus and love for the children. Let her make her plans in accordance with her smToundings, bettering those where she may, and making most of those she cannot help. There are a few of our churches where the primary classes cannot have a separate room, but only 218 ManaffGment of Sunday ScJiools. a comer, the most cheerful one, of course, ciu-tahiecl from the main room ; but most of our teachers have their own apartments, and there with car- peted floor, low seats or chairs, organ, black-board, charts, maps, and any other attractions she may obtain, either by her own ingenuity or by gifts, using all those things pleasing to the eye or useful in her work, she tries to conibine the home and church hfo for the child as far as possible, and teach them Jesus, who said, " They that seek Me early shall find Me." Some supei'iutendents prefer to have theu- little ones Mith them in the opening and closing of the school, but the most approved plan is to have them entirely by themselves in all their exercises, perhaps joining the school on review Sunday, with their part in the programme, and on the anniversaries, Arrangemext. — Our teachers also differ as regards the arrangement of thou* classes. Tl.e first, and by some still considered tlie best, plan is to have the class aU in one, with low benches arranged in tiers smaller in front, or else having difierent size chairs — the largest at the back and smallest in front. The idea is to have the class so seated that they may all see the teacher and she each cliild. In this plan most of the teachers have young lady assistants, who conduct the music, take the collections, call the roll, distribute the cards or books, and, in fact, make them- selves generally useful, leaving the teacher free for her own teacliing working. Others take the largest scholars of her school and organize them into a class called " the workers," and they act as assistants. Still others appoint monitors either once a month or week, one for each row of seats, who care for the cMldren on that row, and lead in the class exercises. These teachers believe that there is an inspiration and enthusiasm in numbers, that the older feel a proud responsibility of earing for and leading the younger ; and that it is better to have one good teacher than many poor ones. Others of our teachers are following the newer plan of dividing their large class into httle circles of from six to ten, and appointing teachers over each, who are responsible for their own little band in regard to attendance, attention, and knowledge of the lesson. Here, agam, we have variety in methods. AU, I beheve, have the general exercises to- gether, conducted by the primary superintendent ; in some classes the head teacher gives the lesson, the others do the supplemental work ; while in others the superintendent opens the lesson of the day, first reviewing the former one, and then the teachers continue the work in their separate classes ; then the superintendent reviews and clinches the thoughts given in a short summing-up of leading truths and lessons learned. These teachers believe that more personal work can be done by this plan ; that more children can be reached in their home and in the school ; that the work is divided, and " many hands make light work ;" Priniari/ CJfiKxrx. 219 thnt the cliilili-cn when promolid froiii tliis room into the main room with their teiiehcr will he more contented than ii3 if going into a strange department witli a new teacher; and that teaclicrs arc being constantly trained to enter into the more general Sunday school work. That all may teach with the same central tlionglit, some primary superintendents hold a weekly primary teachers' meeting. In our larger cities wc havo organized the Primary Sunday School Teachers' Union, where teachers of all our Sunday schools gather together and are taught the lesson and other departments of our important work. And still other teachers take a preview of the lesson, detain their teachers a lew minutes after the school, and give them tlie central thought and plan for the next lesson, and hold a monthly meeting for prayer and conference concerning their work. And now lately ono more advance has been made in our primary work by organizing an infant department, separate from the primary room, and there the littlo ones are gathered together and taught on the Kindergarten plan of tlio day schools, using the Bible as the text-book. Gathering. — You know the old saying, "You must first catch tlie bird before you can cage him." We have our cage made and planned what we would do with the birds if we only had them, and now we will go out for them, the little wee twittering timid ones. How SHALL WE GET THEM ? — Do you remember that little incident of the child whose mother said, " We have no record in the Bible that Jesus ever smiled;" but the little daughter, standing near, said, " Mamma, I know He smiled once when He said, ' Let the little children come unto Me,' or else they never would have come ; " so we must go with a cheerful face, for often the teachers' eyes, as well as the mothers', are the babies' skies. We visit the homes to get acquainted with the mothers, and, if the children are too small to leave the home nest alone some of our teachers have seats for the mother in then- classes, and invite them too, for we believe there should be perfect co-operation of mother and teacher to obtain the best results. We also invite the cliildren to our homes, some having certain days of the month called children's recep- tion day, others give children's parties or picnics, Cliristmas entertain- ments, and many have mission bands and children's societies, all these being ties closely drawing about them and holding them to their Sunday school home. We also remember their birthdays by a letter, with perhaps a pretty card enclosed, and some of the teachei's have the children remember the day by giving a thank-offering the Sunday after their birthday, bringing to the Sunday school and placing in the birthday bank as many pennies as they are years old, and then the class repeating a little prayer thanking God for this little friend, and asking His blessing upon her for the coming year. We lu-ge them to attend church service by keeping a record of church attendance, and our pastors help us by feeding the lambs as well as the sheep. Oiu- motto is, Traia the children for Christ now, for future usefulness in 220 Manar/cmenl of Siindai/ Schools. the chui'clics, and for the home in heaven. You say all this takes time ; so it does, but it is time that is well spent that is spent for eternity. And we have aids in our woi'k in the way of printed invita- tions or reminders signed by the teaehers. These are used in inviting new scholars, looking xip the absent ones and seeking assistance of the niothcrs in helping the cliildren in their lessons, or sending them on time to the school. Other of our cities imite and appoint from each Sunday school a committee called the visiting committee, who district