542 History of Methodism 



pire by which they may yet be printed and circulated among our 

 people, and preserved among the cherished records of the Church. 

 In reviewing the past two years immediately connected with the 

 history of our present organization, we have much to encourage our 

 hope and strengthen our faith in this peculiar and privileged labor 

 of love. What faithful man or woman of God has not felt it a 



Delightful task young souls to win, 

 And turn the rising race 



From the deceitful paths of sin 

 To seek their Saviour's face? 



Can there be a more important work than the careful and proper 

 training of the young heart for usefulness here, and heaven here- 

 after ? It constituted an important office in the ministry of the 

 Master, and when he commanded the repentant Peter to feed his 

 lambs, he enunciated as positive an injunction to his disciples as 

 when he said, Go preach my word. Is it a task, brother, to work for 

 Jesus ? Is not every precious lamb of the flock worth saving — worth 

 a jeweled crown in heaven ? 



But the work must not all be left for the minister and teacher to 

 do. Home influence must bear a cooperative and important part in 

 this great work, and if Methodist fathers and mothers desire to have 

 their children grow up in their faith and become Methodist Chris- 

 tians, they must see to it that efficient home training and influences 

 are brought to bear upon the young and susceptible hearts of their 

 children. They must be taught at home to love the Church and 

 cherish its institutions. 



The day of miracles is past, and the Sabbath-schools cannot be 

 expected to do every thing unaided and alone. Christian people 

 must give their prayers, their labors, and their money, for their sup- 

 port — divinely sanctioned, and the recognized and legitimate nurs- 

 eries of the Church, whence we must confidently look for the supply 

 and increase of the harvest of converted and pious souls. 



The board, in their last annual report, gave the gratifying intel- 

 ligence that two hundred and thirty-one conversions had taken place 

 among the children in the various Sabbath-schools connected with 

 this Conference. It is a source of deep regret that we are not now 

 able to give definite information upon this, of all others, most im- 

 portant point, but, from the unavoidable fact that the reports from 

 the several stations, circuits, and missions, during the past year, can- 

 not be obtained in time for immediate use, we must be content to 

 await their publication among the Minutes of the present Conference. 



