The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-12
THE sUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK
Plan for Organizing an Institute Adopt
ed by Union Meeting of Schools.
It Proposes to Strengthen and Improve the
System of instruction as Carried on by
the International Association.

terday afternoon at the First Presbyterian
Church was largely attended, and from the
ton taken and the interest manifested, there is
little doubt that the primary object for which
the meeting was callsd-that Of making this city
the headquarters of the international Sunday
school Association--will be accomplished. Nearly
every Protestant church and Sunday-school in
the city was represented, many by their entire
quota Of Sunday-school teaohers-so that there
audience large enough 10 fill the church.
Rev DR. Rondthaier, of the Tabernacle Pres
byterian Church, beng chosen to preside,
Immediately called for the repors of the commit
tee which had called the meeting, in order that
its object might be explained This report. read
by Mr.. McNeely, of Hall-place NJ. E. Church. bad
been prepared by committee representing the
Union Teachers Meeting, the Onion Ministers
Association. the Marion County Sunday-schoOl
Union and the Indiana State Sunday-school
Union. 1t presented the following facts and
recommendations
The International Sunday-Hchool Associa-
ton, composed of all denominations of Protest
ants. has created new Departments of work.
styled the Department Of Instruction, the OBJ
jeet of which il TO secure the more thorough
preparation of Sunday-school teachers. The
Rev. j. E. Gilbert. D. D.. Of this city, has been
elected superint endent of the department and
has accepted the position For The fullest sue
cess of his lebors, and therefore the largest good
OF the schools OF the whole Nation. and, indeed,
of other nations, there 10 needed at the head
quarters Of the department. society in which
there may be n complete application
under favorable circumstances. OF every plan pro-
posed by the superintendent. 1t is believed that
Indianapolis 10 adapted by its central position to
be the headquarters; and that, because of the
interest in Sunday schools aud the public spirit
of our people, such society may be formed and
the desired conditions for praatice and drill
niy 81 l. Ill - l~k
organization will DO imme nsely valuable TO the
city. Besides. DIR. Gilbert is now fully identi-
fed with us, and he can, doubtless, with orr as
sstance, realize his desires more quickly here
than elsewhere For the foregoing reasons we
recommend:
/. That there be formed this city society to be
known as the Sunday school Institute
2 That every Sunday-school in the city and county
be invited to become auxiliary to said institute
B. That the institute shall have three separate de-
partments. styled, respectively, the lesson depart
ment, in which plans shall. be laid for the weekly
teaching OK the lessen OF the interna
tonal series the lecture department in which shall be
provided each wear course of lectures on Sunday
nent. IN which thorough and systematic course OF
instruction and training shall be provided for Sunday
school teachers and young people Designing to enter
4. That the committee by which this meeting was
called be requested t. issue circular to each Sunday
auxiliary TO the institute and to elect person
Representative delegate for the purpose of organ
ization.
D. That all the delegates chosen assemble in the
leetu, Groom of the First Presbyterian Church, on
proceed 20 adopt constitution and elect officers.
4 That IN all the plans as contemplated above.
Dr. Gilbert be requested Incorporate with the COM
mittee.
s. That when the institute is thus formed its Of
ncers be Instructed to request the executive commit
tee of the international Sunday school Association
to make the city Of Indianapolis the headquarters Of
the Department. of Instruction
That in perfectng the organization of the in
stitute the COMMITTEES be requested to consider the
propriety of seeking the Inference of that large class
of worthy Christian and phlanthropic people who
are not engaged in sunday work, but who re-
1olee in the success OF every good cause.
The committee also recommended the adop-
ton of the following
Resolved, That, having heard the statements and
suggeaIlons OF = eommttee OF ministers ana ayInen
day school officers and teachers of the city of Indian
apolia. in mass.meeting assembled. do heartily ap-
prove the same and pledge individual and
effort for the success of what is therein proposed.
AT the conclusion of the reading of the report
DR. Rondthaler stated that he intended TO call
ent TO say what he thought of the proposed
work. As for himself, he Thoughts IL opened
grand field for Improvement in Sunday-school
teaching and that it would also help to "boom
the city," which would be desirable thing He
thought the proposed lecture bureau IN it,
self enough to commend the plan. that would
the first rank of Sunday-school workers.
He first called on DR.. Gilbert, but the latter
said that lnasmuch as he was 80 directly inter
ested In the matter he would prefer TO hear
others speak. Il was mercy question as to
whether the Christian people 1t indianapolis
wanted to support that kind OF work.
Professor Grant, principal of the High school,
said that the plan proposed would furnish the
thing much needed-trained Sundav-school
teachers. The great drawback to Snnday-school
work at present was that it TO large extent
was unorganized and teachers were not properly
trained
Capt Eli F. Ritter, of Central-avenus Meth
odist Church. said that it was merely question
whether they ought to 60 into the work. They
ought to If they could. and they could il they
ought to doso. The plan proposed complete
organization Of Sunday school instruction
The ony thing that had approached that here
tofore was The Sunday-school Union, which had
been in existencs fifteen years. and ye t there
were plenty OF SundaY-School teachers in the
city who did not know of ito existenc Q. The
proposed organization was prect cal and if
carried out would certainly acco mplish great
good. Therefore Central avenue would be heart
lily IN favor of It, 1t would also be golden
portuDity to give reputation and honor to the
city. He called attention to the fact thar the
present system of uniform Sund ay-s school les
now IN the world over was established
at q convention in the Second Presbyterian
Church in this city. in 1872 Eight millions of
these lesson-leaves were now used every Sun
day He in favor of Indianapolis starting
another great enterprise.
Rev. r. " Hunter Of the Seventh Preshy-
terrain Church, was in favor of the movement
because it would help Indianapolis along. and
also because il would be . grand thing for Chris
tianity and for the Sunday school children of this
city 1t could be done. The plan provided for
a Sunday school teachers coliege--..a university
the faculty of which would be drawn from the
world.S
Short addresses were then made bv represent
atives of nearly every Sunday-schooi in the city,
and each one gave assurances that his school
would enter heartily into thesproposed work, and
that II would undoubtedly prove IA splendid thing
for the Sunday schools of the city aud for the
reputation Of the city IN the world at large
DR. Gilbert brought the speeches . close by
address in which he set forth more miautely
the nature of the work contemplated by the In
ternational Sunday school Association. AS the
head of the organization he had no doubt that
he would ba allowed TO select tho HEADQUARTERS
OF the organization. although the matter would
have to be determined bv the executive commit.
tee. He desired to remain in this city and make
it the headquarters Of the organization. although
he had received urgent appeals to to New
York. Chicago and other cities Milwaukee, his
former charge, had offered to pay half of bis ex-
pensss If he would come there. He desired to
remain here however. but before deciding TO do