Sabbath-School Convention.
By Editor
OUR first regular Sabbath-school Convention was deeply interesting, and therefore successful. It was held under the direction of C. H. Jones, president of our State Association, an efficient Sabbath-school worker. The Convention met Tuesday, April 28, at 4 P. M. The workers from the various schools met to consult in regard to their work, and the hour was well occupied with instructions, questions, and suggestions. In the evening an address was given by the editor of the SIGNS, on "The Church, the School, and the Home." On Wednesday morning, prayer-meeting was held as usual at six o'clock. At 9 A. M. the secretary's report, and reports from delegates, were heard. These were followed by an address by Professor Ramsey, on "Preparing and Teaching the Lesson." We expected to hear an address by Professor Grainger also, but he was detained at Healdsburg. The "Question Drawer" was attended to by Elder W. C. White. This was an occasion of profit to officers and teachers, as also a similar exercise in the afternoon. The afternoon meeting was opened by an address by Elder White on "Sabbath-school Contributions." He showed the propriety of such contributions, and the advisability of the plan adopted by the schools in this Association. This was followed by an excellent address or exercise—both in one—by Mrs. M. K. White, on "How to Teach the Children." It was practical and instructive. This again was followed by a practical illustration of primary-class teaching281by Miss Marian Kleabir. The little folks did credit to their teachers. The closing address in the evening was by our assistant, "E. J. W.," on "The Teacher's Weapon, and How to Use It." It was full of instruction in every sentence; forcible in its illustrations and Scripture expositions. Of course this is but an outline of the real proceedings. We could but regret that it was not more largely attended by the representatives of the schools throughout the State. It will greatly raise the standard of Sabbath-school work if such conventions are regularly held and generally attended. There are now, including two Sunday-schools held by workers in new fields, 44 schools, with a membership of 1,738. Last year there were 30 schools, with a membership of 1,338. Donations for the last quarter, $765, all given to the Australian mission. The average cannot be computed on the membership, as schools have quite recently been opened aggregating about 300 members; and several did not report anything for the mission. Some doubted the propriety of donating funds raised in our Sabbath-schools to the Australian mission, considering it better to give them to the General Sabbath-school Association to aid in its work. Our people in California, both old and young, feel a deep interest in that mission. This is shown by the large contribution for the last quarter. Our State Association recently gave $200 to the General Association. This may look like too small a sum; but we think it will all come out right. Let those States which did not donate any school contributions to the mission, now give more liberally to the General Association than we are able to, under our present circumstances, and we will try to follow their example in this direction in the future. We do not believe that it is right to bestow all our contributions upon one object. Let the spirit of benevolence widen out. There are hundreds of children in California who will now watch the work in Australia with an interest which they would not have if they did not feel that they are "a part of the concern." We feel confident that the rich blessing of Heaven will go with that money; and we pray that a like blessing may abide with our Sabbath-schools.