Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-16
Convention Of the Maine Workers
At Augusta.
Addresses Pull Of Thought and Sparkle
Before 200 Delegates.
Rev Smith Baker OF Lowell. Msss.,
abilities OF Our Sabbath 0choo.s

!
Sunday School workers was commenced in
the audience room of the First Baptist church
yesterday afternoon. During the forenoon
| the trsns brought large numbe of delegate
into the city who upon reporting to the enter
tainment committee were assigned places Of
entertainment. The people of our city
proved themselves very hospitable and threw
their homes open for the cordial welcome Of
all delegates. The committee had planned
for the entertainment Of about $50, but the
number that arrived yesterday proved that
this number sill be increased fully
one hundred more before the meetings
are fairly under way. The immense attend
ance and the hearty feeling manifested. eveo
before the initial session Of the convention
~as called to order. showed that the conven-
ton was to be one of exceptional interest
to those interested in Sunday school work
and one of untold value to the work itself.
The ringing of the afternoon bell at 80
o'clock called out the entire delegation and
4 large number of our citizens to attend the
preliminary services Of ope ming the conven-
ton. Rev. B Z. Snow, secretary of the
a socistion. presided. A short, Informal
honr was then held under the direction of
the veteran christian worker, Rev. Chas
Allen. 1t WAS most hearty and interesting
service. This was veritable reunion of
Sunday school workers, and addresses by
many of the enthusiastic workers were made
and were heartily listened To by the audience
who appreciated the practical talks of these
practical men. Foilo~in this the
delegates were divided into sect on,
That containing the Sunday school
superintendents was placed under the charge
of Mr. Wm. Reynolds of Peoria, H., presi-
dent of the International $ s Convention
The Bible Teachers section was placed un
de- the directorship of Rev + n Peloubet
ID ID. Of Boston, the Junior Glars WAS given
to Rev. b. Z. Snow. Secretary of the con
vention and the primary class was placed
under the Instruction of Mrs, w. +. Crafts
of New York. After this orgaDiza
ton the various ss ctons came right down
to work and for a brief hour the leaders
were piled with questions from those who
were anxious to learn advanced methods of
instruction. 1t was a most profitable hour
At 1 o'clock vocal chorus WAS organized
and given short drill to prepare them to
lead in the sing ny Of the convention. The
practice WAS most beneficial and the dele
gates and friends were more than enthusias.
tic for the exercises Of the evening
The printed programme for the exercises
as issued in the journal. promised an even
ing of more than usual interest and AZ con
sequence the delegates and the good people
of our city turned out in crowds and at I
o'clock the church was packed and the ush-
ers were bringing in extra settees to accom-
modate the throng which still crowded in.
At Z the first formal session of the conven-
toa WAS called to order by President Cousins
of Cumberland Mills. The devotional exer-
cises were conducted by Rev. T. +. Jones
pastor of the Methodist church, and
were most helpful and interesting in
character. The address of welcome was de-
livered by Rev. J. NJ. Wyman. pastor
of the Baptist church. The address was a
most happy and cordial one and the dele
gates who listened to it could not fail to see
that the speakers words of welcome were
spoken from his own heart and were the re-
Election of the thought of the Christian men
and women Of Augusta who are glad to ex-
tend the hand to delegation of men and
women who are working for the upbuilding
of work in which they themselves are in
terested.
Rev. +. NJ. Cousins, president of the
association responded most pleasantly in be-
CATION, and followed his speech BY delivering
the annual address.
President Cousins reviewed the extensive
work done by the State Association during
the past year giving some most interesting
statistics as to the financial and numerical
condition at the commencement and close of
the year The figures gave most credita-
BILE showing and most ably proved that the
members of the association had not been
backward in giving money to the cause or
in personal work for its advancement Fol
lowing the history Of the years progress
the President spoke Of the relations of the
pastor, the superintendent and the church to
the Sunday school. His ideas were clear
and we'll arranged and were evidently the
result Of much thought and practical ex-
perience in the branches discussed.
After singing by the entire congregation,
the president introduced Rev. VIM. Rey
nolds of Peoria, ILL.,, vho presented the con-
vention with some spicy and pertinent, greet
ugs from the field In his introduction
Mr.. Reynolds spoke of the portion
which Maine occupies. There is no
state which has done more to
move public sentiment in the right direc-
ton in the West than Maine. Your prohibi-
ton has induced us to prohibit. You came
near giving Us pfesltnt. ttheefsJ we
want you TO be one of the banner Sunday
school States. You have no less a number
Of scholars than in other States, but they
lack proper organization. You have had a.
good an opening at this convention A. l have
ever seen. l bring to you greetings Of llli-
nois, the State bich leads ia Sunday school
work. 1t held 1915 Sunday school conven
ton. in 1883 and 1900 this year. II spends
$40 600 this year in sustaining the work. |
believe in denominationalism, but we should
make that flag fly under the flag Of the
cross. Since last year | have attended II
convention. in as many States. l have spent
/ fve months in the South. There is more
religion there to the square foot than in the
North The poor white trash" haven't the
! intelligence or ambition Of negroes. The
/ latter are anxious TO learn. Not one in
seven poor whites can read and they have no
ambition to virginIa raised $1,000 to pay a
man to do the work Of a State secretary
North Carolina raised $1,000 and South Car
DINA $50 TO help educate the poor whites.
| At Kansas 800 delegates we're in attendance
on the convention. In one hour they raised
! 1900 to sustain aud keep secretary in the
| field and those not there pledged an addi-
tionaI 5000. Colorado raised s2s5O to keep
a secretary IN the field. I give you these
figures to show ~ha; other States are doing
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