But often in the conduct of the school infelicities occur. The different parts do not move in harmony with each other. Cases of variance between pupils and teachers arise. Often times the school suffers from financial lack. The chief officer of the school is the one to whom all such matters come for final adjudication. The superintendent therefore must be (h) a person of good executive ability, that with firm, strong hand he may hold each part of the system of which he is the center revolving in its own orbit, never flagging, never tiring, never ceasing to do its own part in the work, never clashing with any other. Such are some of the principal qualifications of the superintendent.
II. What should be his personal character?—In general, all that is suggested in the foregoing outline as to qualifications. But our requirements must not end there. A man may be a so-called Christian and yet be far from possessing the character which is an essential to the Sunday-school superintendent. He may be a church member, and be even less than a so-called Christian. He may be a good judge of human nature, and yet himself a poor illustration of it. He may be possessed of fine teaching power, and yet misuse it. He may know the Bible as well as Erasmus, and yet be like Erasmus, the subject of Luther’s keen reproach of being everything in word, and nothing in deed. He may be all we have described, and yet lack in character.
The superintendent therefore should be pious, “having reverence for God, and for religious duties.” He should be devout, that is, should carry into daily life the active expression of his piety. This would forbid sudden anger, inconsiderate levity, trifling with Scriptures, by thoughtless quotations, and all outward conduct that does not comport with true consecration. He should be honest, truthful in word and act, humble, loyal, and scrupulously observant of the Sabbath.
His constant motto should be as he daily studies to build character in himself and others, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.” Let the student make for himself an outline of what the superintendent should be in character.
III. What are his duties?—They are four fold. (1) To his church. (2) To his pastor. (3) To his teachers. (4) To his pupils.
His duties to his church are plain.
1. He should attend the regular services of the church regularly.—This can admit of no negative. He should do it for its effect on himself. He should do it as an encouragement to his teachers. He should do it as an example to his pupils.
2. He should impress habitual church going as a duty upon his teachers and pupils from the desk in the Sunday-school room, and should use all means to effect the object.
3. He should contribute regularly and uniformly to all the benevolent objects which the church presents as worthy of Christian liberality. The reasons for this are too plain to need mention.
4. He should urge to the same duty the teachers and pupils of the school, that they may each do their part, no matter how small, in the work of Christian benevolence.