SABBATH-SCHOOL CONVENTIONS IN NEW YORK.
By M. H. Brown
DIRECTORS of the T. and M. society in the N. Y. Conference are hereby appointed agents to arrange for and hold S. S. Conventions in connection with the district quarterly meetings, July 12 and 13. As the directors are thus made responsible for these district conventions, they can call to their help the best talent in their several districts. In harmony with the recommendations of our State Association at its January meeting, it is designed to hold S. S. Conventions quarterly in each district, believing that, with proper effort, they will greatly promote the interests of the S. S. cause. Every officer and teacher in our Sabbath-schools should attend, and secure from their respective schools the attendance of as many as possible. We trust that the following programme will be carried out. The director is authorized to vary it according to his judgment. 1. Have uniform lessons. These are arranged as follows: 1st, or Infant Division,—Lessons for Little Ones, lesson 18. 2d, or Children's Division,—Lessons for Children, lesson 27 in the Instructor. 3d, or Youth's Division,—Lessons for Youth, lesson 53. 4th, or Adult Division,—the second lesson in the July Lesson Sheet for Bible Classes. The State S. S. Convention to be held July 19 and 20, will use the next lessons respectively in order. 2. Each director should at once appoint some one to write an essay to be read at his district Convention. 3. For Concert Exercise,—the Lord's Prayer. For General Exercise,—Incidents in the Life of Paul. These to be connected with the Sabbath-school exercises on the Sabbath. 4. The following points should be impressed on every mind: 1st, The responsibility of officers and teachers in the Sabbath-school. 2d. The importance of good lessons, and how to learn them. 3d. The value of concert and general exercises in adding to the interest of the Sabbath-school. 4th. The utility of maps, Bible dictionary, etc., as aids to S. S. work, and how to conduct a map exercise. 5. The necessity of a systematic plan for raising a Sabbath-school fund for the purchase of Records, maps, and other S. S. supplies. 6. The importance of prompt reports, quarterly, from each S. S. Secretary, and using the Records prepared by Bro. Bell as the basis of such reports, and also to secure permanent and uniform records of each school. 7. Above all, seek the Lord that wisdom may be given, and that his blessing may crown the efforts we put forth in the S. S. work. Lastly, let every director and S. S. officer preserve this for reference, and aid us in carrying out its recommendations. Each convention should have a secretary, who should report its proceedings at once to the State secretary, Mrs. N. J. Walsworth, Adams, N. Y.