Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-21
SUNDAY SCHOOLS AND TRACTS.
Second Days Session Of the Columbia
Association OF the Baptist Church.

Second Days Session OF the Columbia
Association OF the Baptist Church.
A REPORT on SUNDAY SCHOOLS p1scussxD-TuE
MISSIONARY sPrRrr-BrBLE AND TRACT plsrRI-
BurIoS-THE EVOLUTION OF TIE TRACT, ETC.
The second days session Of the Columbia
association Of the Baptist churches of the Dis
trict was opened this morning at the Calvary
church with devotional exercises conducted by
w. s. Olive.
The report Of the committee on Sunday
schools was read by the chairman, r. c. Fox.
He prefaced the reading of the report by stat
ing that letters Of inquiry were sent to the
superintendents Of all schools in the associa-
ton SO that the statements Of the report were
based on facts and were not mere theories.
The report noted the great interest displayed
in the schools in matters of personal religion.
1t was stated that the system Of rewards and
prizes was becoming obsolete. Special atten-
ton was called to the display Of
THE MISSIONARY SPIRIT
in the Fifth Baptist church in being willing to
mortgage their unencumbered church property
for the purpose of establishing mission on ~
street, near the u. 8. Arsenal grounds. The
report deplored the fact that such a large pro-
portion of the church members were not inter-
ested in Sunday school work.
Rev. Mr.. Green, in commenting upon the
report. emphasized the Importance of looking
after the spiritual interests of the Sabbath
school scholars and bringing home to them the
personal question Of their souls salvation. He
thought that this was more feature of Sunday
school work now than in the past.
In speaking in the same tone Rev. Mr.. Stakely
suggested that some special means be adopted
for teaching in the schools the doctrines of the
Bible and. the distinctive doctrine of the
church.
Mr.. 2. Richards advocated the teaching of
the assembly's catechism, and r. w. Fenwick
spoke OF the importance Of the church men,
bers becoming Interested in Sabbath school
work.
Rev. C. C. Meador, Rev. D. ". Faunce and
X: Q: Fox took part in the discussion, after
which the report was adopted.
BIBLE AND TRACTS.
The committee on Bible and tract distribu-
ton presented the report through tie chair
man, E. B. Curtis. The Recommendation was
made that the publications of the church be
more freely circulated among the church men,
bers. They also urged that the executive board
appropriate money for the purchase of tracts,
and that the general missionary be instructed
to preserve tracts suitable for distribution by
the pastors and others in their work The re-
port also favored the publications in the Bdp-
tSt DtUCOU Oh u series Oh ARTICLES on the OOc-
trines of the church, which could be generally
disseminated
Prof Otis I. Mason in speaking of tracts and
their uses gave an entertaining account of
THE EVOLUTION OF TRACTS.
He said visit to a great library would show
that some years ago the tract was very gener.
ally employed as a vehicle for reaching people
If the feelings of some one was to be injured
or their character to be attacked q tract was
issued. As an illustration of the former he
said that in the congressional library there was
tract called "a gentle purge for a Catholic
priest" Tracts Of this kind were followed by
the goody-goody tracts and then came those
the object Of which was to convey informa.
ton. That was the modern tract, and
it was the circulation of tracts
Of the sort that the report recommended. He
went on to say that it was not expected that a
good healthy boy fifteen years Of age would
read Jeremy Taylor, Jays Morning and Even
ing Exercises, and other good devotional books
of that sort. The children must be given
books that are interesting and suited to modern
tastes, and unless right reading is supplied to
the children they will supply themselves and
perhaps in q way that is not desirable.
The report was adopted.
A recess was taken for lunch, which wal
served in the Sunday school room Of the church
by the ladies Of the church.
THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING SESSIONS.
The afternoon session was resumed at :
O'Clock, when the hearing Of reports was con
tinued.
The meeting this evening will be devoted Il
the interests Of the Home for Aged Women
Georgetown formerly occupied by Jas. s
WEIGH, and the home will be removed there
The present property on d street will b,
leased.