Southern Illinois Record

              The Southern Ilunois Record
A  (iood  Ne\V8paper is a Power in  tho  Home.  Sehool.  State  and  Nation
VOLUME 3
FLORA. HJNOIS. THURSDAY. AUGUST 20. ISHo
NO  48
SUNDAY SCHOOL
CONVENTION
The Clay County Sunday Soliool Convention held In Louisville on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week was an "inspiration to everyone. The sessions, each varied in the line of discussion, showed knowledge and adaptation to the tastes.and needs of Sunday sclif>ol workers thai- deserves the thoughtful consideration of all who are Interested In higher ideals of christian citizenship. Tlie many truths presented could not fall lo tind IfKlgement and response In the earnest minds of those who braved the heat and rain to be present, Pleasure and entertainment were not the aim of the delegates attending. Each ses¬ sion found them regularly in their seats taking notes, and carefully se¬ lecting the material that could be best adapted to the needs of the schools that had sent them to the convention. The spirit they mani¬ fested during the lirstdayof iieat and the second day of rain Is a Hne tribute to the Intelligent efforts of the of¬ llcers of tiie Association to make tlie convention everything It ought to be. During the past few years the ad¬ vance of Sunday scluxil Interests in Clay county has been marked. Much of this has been due to ellloienl leadership, and the splendid organi/ii- tion of tlie scliools of the county, in which every school lias heen made to feel that no association can he stronger than its weakest link. Tlie response of the scIkkiI to the County Convention speaks in stronger terms than can be written their loyally lo Ihe olliccrs who iiave given llieir time and elTorl to this great wurk.
From an educational stindpoliit Ihe convention miglit be called an in¬ stitute. Kvurv teacher in Clay coun¬ ty would have \wen Ihmi 'litlea hv llie many discus-iicin al nu.; educational lines. The simmUcis were not merely llueiil and enrertalniiig. hut presented practical teaching aielhods liial ap¬ ply to day school as well as Sunday school. Rev. Morris on Tuesday night dlM-ussed the "Personality of the Teacher", giving llluslrallons of failure due to lack of preparation that merited the consideration of thoughtful teachers every where. In this discussion he «mpasl7.ed as fact too often overKxiked by educa¬ tional lecturers along tjiis line that is. tliat we are Inclined to bolster up a laxness of moral standards with some (luality that Ik popular. Ills analysis of the demands upon the teaclier showed how easily children puncture the veneer, and l(Hik Into the real value of the one who is giving instruction. We are often pu/./.led at the way in wliich clilldren are in¬ fluenced by teaciiers wlio do not ap¬ pear to possess eltiier the i|ualllies or preparatlim of others of less In¬ fluence. Kev. Morris thinks lliat It Is the power of children to disc-ern moral cleanne.ss that answers the question.
The Gra