The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-21
STATE SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
The Montana Sunday School Asso-
alton Meets in Convention
in This City.
Interesting Programme in Which
the President Makes an Ad-
dress of Welcome.
Stirring Speech from VIM. Reynolds
Appointment of Delegates-Pro-
gramme for To-day.

The first state convention of the Montana
Sunday School association met i'll the First
Baptist church, corner Eighth avenue and
Warren street. at o'clock last evening.
There was a large assemblage of delegates
from different parts of the state and teach
ers and friends of the Sunday schools in
this city.
The convention was opened with song,
John w. Eddy, chorister. President A. II.
Nelson then delivered an address Of well
como to the delegates He said 1t was a
welcome duty to speak words of welcome,
and more especially so under the clrcum-
stances. This was the first state conven--
ton of the Sunday School association ever
held in Montana, and the pleasant duty
fell to his lot to extend WORDS OF welcome
to the delegates. 1t was of peculiar Sig
nificance that the association has now as
sembled for the first time since Montana
became state. 1t Is con
viction settled in the minds that
the hope of the church is in the Sunday
school. There a prejudice against the
church that is deep rooted and 1t IS only by
the grace of God that it can be destroyed.
This must be done by the religious training
OF the young. Secular schools are Jealous
of introducing religious training ana tne
children must be taught in the Sunday
schools, It is most efficient agency. for
religious training. We must lay broad and
deem the foundation for upbuilding the
Sunday school. We are assembled here
that you may carry away some information
i'll regard to the work. The most lmPortant
duty is to thoroughly organize for Sunday
school work. We have among US repre-
sentative of the International Sunday
school, whose experience will be OF great al
vantage in helping on with the work. al
Jude to Mr.. VIM. Reynolds. OF Illinois. IN
Montana there Is no organization. An e.
fort was made two years ago, but the coun-
ties are SO large and the population SO scat
terinp that not much has been done. 1t is
hoped that before the convention year ends
every county will be organized for Sunday
school work. Friends of the Sunday school
association, I bid you one and all most
hearty welcome to this. our first state con-
vention.
At the conclusion of the address an inter-
mission of fifteen minutes was taken IN Or
der that the delegates might become ac-
quainted, and there was a general hano-
shaking all around.
On again calling the meeting to order the
president announced the following COM
mittees: On constitution-Pcter Koch, OF
Bohemian, j. M. Armitage and >. b. Good,
win. On credentials-H. 9. Arnold and
Il, Wilson. of Helena, and Rev. w. B.
Coombe, of Great Falls.
Rev. D. r. Price was elected temporary
After another service of song the Presi-
dent introduced Mr.. William Reynolds
who spoke at some length upon the Sunday
school work.
Tue manner in which Mr.. Reynolds
handles all Sunday school topics at oncs
impresses the nearer that he is far from be
ing novice in this work, and is thoroughly
conversant with the subject in all lts
bearings
He referred in the beginning of his re.
marks to a convention which he attended
in this citv two years ago, and expressed
himself as believing that the result of theIi
labors at that time have proven to be OF
great benefit to the Sunday school cause in
this state.
He said that more and better work is
being done in the Sabbath school to-day
than in any other of the great agencies for
the uplifting of humanity. Said he: 1.-The
Sabbath school is the great source OF sup.
ply of the church to-day. 1t is the hope Of
the church to-day for the conversion of the
youth. It is the right arm of the church.
The Christian education of the youth of the
nation to-day is almost entiely in the hands
of the Sabbath school,"
One of the most gratifying things to be
found in conventions of this character Is
the fact of the uaion of the various relig'
ious denominations. Throwing aside al
differences of belief and making one united
effort for the advancement OF the cause OF
Christ. It is the only platform on which
gether laying aside our peculiar difference!
and modes of worship. We want to stimu
late and put more power into the agencies
that exist. Every church in this land oush
to be mission church. Every man ant
that belongs to tine anesker osh
that the value of organization was almos
beyond computation and referred at consid
cradle length to the Sunday school
throughout the United States and especial
to those of Illinois, where, he said, that tn
most systematic organization prevailed.
The idea which II great many people !
the world entertained that the Sabbat
school was exclusively for the children wa
certainly very erroneous in its character
We are getting rid of the idea that the Sal
bath school is only Tor the ohiiaren Ill.,. ~,
child only should be in the Sabbath schoo
The Sabbath school should be i'll tn
church and the church in the Sabbat
school.
According to the idea of the speaker mol
information can be gained in half HOT
in the Sabbath school than under the go:
pei in most instances. because of the fat
that a great many individuals are not dit
posed to listen attentiyely to the mlnlsteI
while in the Sabbath school questions ma
be asked of the teacher and general intel
The great work of the laity was mex
touched upon and their usefulness in Sun
day school work was very forcibly illus
trated by reference to numerous example
of illustrious church workers in the worl
who have come from the ranks of the laitN
through the medium of the Sunday schoo
The address was concluded with the hop
that the convention would be a source {
inspiration and power to all who ATTENDED
and would prove Il most valuable place fc
the acquisition of new ideas and methoC
III the Sunday school work.
The illustrations by humorous inciden
of the different thoughts presented by Il
speaker were highly appreciated by q
present. and the many happy hits mac
would, in all probability, have been Il
plauded had not the audience realized Il
character of the assembly ard the place
which they were gathered. a.,
The Entertainment committee is con
posed of the following members: Jno.
Eddy. Mrs. Il. c. Wallace. Mrs. Il. Hillma
MIR. and Mrs. II. c. Arnold.
The meeting closed with the song, LAB
on in which the entire convention ioine
Benediction by Rev. MIR. Dodd.
FL owing is list of delegates present:
Bozeman-Louise Cockerell, Peter Koc
DIR. Sanderson. Mrs. H. N. Moore.
Deer I.odge-Rev. James Reed. w. Bu
kett Mrs. Adam johnson, Mrs. X.
Whitehill. Miss Matte Humber and Nj
Kettle Ward.
Butte-Jchn NJ. Poets and Mrs. L. NJ,
rilI.
Boulder-J. H. Spencer.