Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-22
SUPERINTENDENTS.
Shall Sunday Schools Adopt the Sys-
TEN of Paying Salaries to Themp
IN EVERY SENSE 1T WOULD PAY.
Several Interesting Questions PrOpOunded
for the Next Quiz bay.
EEWSH NOTES FROM THE CHURCHES

A paper that aroused much interest was
read at the Presbyterian Ministerial Asso-
citation, the 10th inst, by Rev. W. E. Don
aldson, pastor o. the Bethel Presbyter-
ian Church, Allegheny. The theme was
''Salaried Sunday School Superintendents.
1t being a new idea to many who think all
Sunday school work should be voluntary,
there was considerable divergency OF views
ss to its expediency. A summary Of the
paper is given:
''The Sunday school has steadily risen
from place of little or no Importance, as
many considered it in its early history, to
place at the side OF, and inseparably con-
nected with, the church. The relation has
become more intimate, and the pastors look
now more than ever before to the Sunday
school as the source from which the church
will increase its membership. The superin-
tendent is usually a business man who has
hut little time to attend to the school.
"Some churches or schools have said to
their superintendents, we appreciate your
work in the school, and that you may de-
vote all YOUR time to it, we offer you salary,
believing thar the results of the work will fully
Justify the additional expense Movements ID
this line are new, and pastors are SLOW 10 ADOPT
them till they have been tried.
The first one to receive salary, at least as
far as is known at present was Deacon John
Wizard of the South Congregational Church,
New Britain, Conn.,, in March, 1881 OF whom II
is said Under Mr.. Ward the school has stead
lily increased in membership and in attendance
till they have outgrown everything, and nave
been compelled TO build new and larger
house. The school has multiplied two or three
times and now stands as one OF the leading
schools of New England Rev. &. Z. Arm
strong, Superintendent of the training school
for Sunday school workers in Springfield,
Mass saws: There are in the United states
pipht salsried superintendents OF whom 1 know
-one in Presbyterian church, two in Baptlst
churches four in Congregational churches;
also there are 81 lay helpers who perform the
duties Of Sunday school superintendents; VI
the pastors whom know have yet to md one
who will not urge the great assistance derived
and relief gained from their labors, besides the
increased work accomplished
"a report equally good comes from the First
Congregational Sunday School. Oakland, Cal,
of which Rev. J. Rea is the superintendent,
where it has been in operation over seven
years Mr.. Rea was brought up in the First
Presbyterian Church Of this city, and is, there
fore, especially interested in Christian work in
these cities. Mr.. Marion Lawrence, SuperiD-
rendent of the Congregational Sunday School,
Washington street. Toledo, O.. shows conClus-
lively that it has resulted faVorably, and says:
In every sense, it pays.
The plan will not be adopted in all parts OF
the country but most of the churches in the
cities and larger towns might, by this plan,
solve the now perplexlng question, HOW TO
reach the masses and bring them directly under
the influence of the churchY Many are the
instances in which whole families have been
brought into the church by first getting the
children into the Sunday school.
'Of course such a superintendent should un-
derstand that his work must be under the
supervision and have the approval of the pastor
and officers Of the church. In large churches
such a man, thoroughly adapted TO and
equipped for his work, might be a power for
good TO the church and community. In the
PRESBYTERIAN Church there are III schools OF
between 4UO and 500 members; l34 of between
500 and LEGO; % of between 1000 and 1000, and
5 with over 1000 Surely these are large enough
to require the whole time and attention Of the
superintendenIs thereof
The fields are opening and developing, the
harvest is ripening, where are the reapersf
''Men don't believe in a devil now as their fathers
used TO do:
They've forced the door of the broadest creed to
let his majesty through:
There ism I print of his cloTen' hoof, or fiery
dart from his bow
To be found in earth or air to-day, for the world
has voted IL SO.
'But who is mixing the fatal draught that palsies
heart and brain,
And loads the bier of each passing year with ten
hundred thousand slain?
Who dogs the steps OF the toiling saint and digs
the pits for hls feet
Who soFs the tares on the fields Of Time whereon
God sOws His wheat2
The devil was fairly voted out, and of course the
DEVILS gone;
But simple people would like to know who carries
his business On?i