It met at West Unity, Williams county, Ohio, Wednesday evening, August 8. Opened by a hearty address of welcome by W. P. Burchard, and a response by Adam Kline.

      At 9 a.m. Thursday organized by electing S. Lilly chairman, and D. S. Warner secretary. Attendance rather slim owning to the Convention being to the extreme west end of the Eldership. Bro. J. H. Redsecker and all Sabbath-school workers were received as members of the Convention. Rev. Allwood, of the U. B. Church, Rev. Mooney, of the M. E. Church, and Rev. Stocton, of the Presbyterian Church, were received as advisory members.

      The subjects announced in the programme were all discussed with considerable life and much profit. These meetings conduce very much to enrich and sharpen the mind, as all contribute their best ideas into one general fund, and each individual takes the whole. Besides out zeal in the Sabbath-school cause is much stimulated by deliberating upon its importance.

      I think we should hold our Convention in the spring, about the time schools are opened. This would enable us to have a full report of the previous term, and would enable superintendents and teachers to begin the work with all the improvements they have learned in the Convention. I hope this will be properly considered and a change soon made.

      The children's meeting on Thursday night was a real success. Not only were the children interested, but the whole congregation seemed to appreciate the speeches and music. There was a prevailing desire to appoint the next Convention in the east, feeling that it was not only courtesy. but justice to the eastern brethren. Shenandoah was unanimously agreed upon. But on learning that the school there was not controlled by the Church of God exclusively, it was reconsidered, and Kirby, Wyandot county, selected. Time, second Tuesday in August, 1877.

      Committee on Programme, D. S. Warner, S. Kline and J. V. Updike.

      Committee on Blank Reports for Superintendents, D. S. Warner, J. V. Updike and G. T. Kimmel.

      The following resolutions were adopted:
      Resolved, That each Sabbath-school in this Eldership be requested to lift a monthly collection to be sent to the treasurer of the Eldership for missionary purposes.
      WHEREAS, We have been favored with the pleasant company, interesting speeches and good counsel of Bro. J. H. Redsecker during the Convention; therefore,
      Resolved, That he has our sincere thanks, and that we earnestly invite him to return and cheer, and help us again in this good cause. Also,
      Resolved, That we are highly pleased with the Sunday-school Gem, and that we greatly appreciate the labors of Bro. Redsecker as editor of the same.
      Resolved, That he has our prayers and co-operation.
      Resolved, That we return our sincere thanks to the brethren and sisters of West Unity for the kind entertainment we have enjoyed among them.
      Resolved, That we are grateful to the West Unity school and the Findlay delegation for the good music with which they have favored us.

[The Church Advocate 41 (September 6, 1876): 3.]

      Daniel S. Warner's "Sunday-School Convention of the West Ohio Eldership" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 41, No. 19 (September 6, 1876), p. 3. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article printed from a microfilmed edition of the newspaper held by the State Library of Pennsylvania. Thanks to Adams Memorial Library for arranging for the interlibrary loan, and to St. Vincent College Library for the use of its microfilm reader/printer.

      Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 23 May 1999.
Updated 15 July 2003.