The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-03
The Second Annual Convention Ad-
journs After q Successful
Session at Bozeman.
Great Interest Shown by tho Del
egates Despite the Small
Attendance.
Officers Elected and the Next Meeting to
BE Held at Butte-NOtes of
the Session.

i He boCONu bbdLe fouHuHy bCHOOl COnVeH-
ton of Montana has just adjourned after
very successful three days meeting at Boze-
man. 1t has not been heralded as a great
event. Scant mention has been made of il,
and it has apparently excited but little
general interest. And yet it is questionable
whether there has been or will be any gath
ering this year within Montana, in which so
manyipcople will have a direct interest. and
which will exercise 80 great an influence on
the vital interests of the young Common
wealth.
According to statistics, confessedly as
imperfect as Porter's census, Montana has
1853 Sunday schools, with an enrolment of
1854 scholars and i ,16l officers and teach
ers, showing grand total Of 1868 men,
women and children within the limits of
the state actively engaged as teachers or
learners in the Sunday school work. Yet
this work is only in its infancy. The or
ganization, both state and county, is still
very incomplete. Only five countless so far
as known, held county conventions, and
many counties have no organization what
ever. The outlook, however. is very
cheering one. The progress of the past
year has been very great, and the promise
for the future is still brighter.
The convention opened in the afternoon
of June % in the Presbyterian church at
Bozeman. Fifty delegates were present, of
which twenty were from Gallatin county,
thirty were from Lewis and Clarke, Deer
Lodge, Silver Bow. Jefferson, Park and
other counties. All corners we're Hospitality
entertained by the Bozemanites, and the
only complaint was that no more had come.
Owing to the refusal of the railroads to
grant reduced rate, many lay delegates
we're kept away by the expense of the trip,
but a goodly numbes of pastors, superin-
dents and teachers (more than half these
women) gathered in spite of all difficulties
and made up in enthusiasm what they
lacked in numbers, They had no great
Sunday school worker from abroad. but
this was regarded as really an advantage as
the delegates were thrown on their own
resources, and all felt that they must do
the best they could. They did it, and the
result was great success. The convention
was fortunate in having an ideal presiding
officer in the Rev. A. G. Coney, of Deer
Lodge. the president of the association.
He was indefatigable in stirring up an in
terest in the convention, and his ability,
tact and unfailing courtesy won the hearts
of the entire convention and audience.
The pastors were naturally the leading
speakers, but the lay teachers, whether
men or women, were not backward when
called upon and contributed many telling
experiences and practical hints.
Excellent addresses were made by Revs.
Bell, Brush, Tabor, Moore, Barnaby and
others; but the most valuable part of the
proceedings were the discussions which
were freely taken part in by all. The true
way of studying the Bible and of impart-
ing Bible knowledge to the young were the
themes which came up again and again un-
der different forms. The discussions were
carried on in a free and liberal spirit and
showed plainly that the hearts of all the
delegates were in their chosen work. II is
questionable whether there has ever been
held an ecclesiastical gathering of any kind
in Montana. where the members, both lay
| and clerical, showed an interest, at once SO
intelligent and enthusiastic in all the ques-
tions discussed. One would hardly believe
it possible that Montana could have held SO
good Il Sunday school convention, when the
many difficulties under which the state
laborS Is remembered. The sparse and
scattered population, expense OF travelling
and general apathy were against the success
of such gathering; but on the other hand
these very difficulties inspired the workers
with more earnestness and to greater eff
forts. They did not become teachers and
scholars in the Sunday schools simply as
a matter of course. They went into the
work because they loved it. They felt
that a work was done by those schools
W hich could not be done by any other
agency, that this work must be done for the
children, and that they are the ones to do
it.. Therefore, spirit of practical earnest
ness and enthusiasm characterized the con-
vention throughout it's proceedings.
The next convention is to be held at
Butte. and it is to be hoped q much larger
number of delegates will attend. Tho Sun
day school work is peculiarly the work OF
the lay members of the oburcn. The work
week after week without any apparent re-
suit is apt to become little dull and dis
oouraging at times to most of them. They
need just the help which comes to them
from attending these conventions, the
strength which comes from numbers. the
practical hints which comes from the ex,
periments of others. the glow of enthusiasm
which they cannot help but carry ava,
from such convention as the one just
closed.
The officers elected were: Hon. j. h
Richards, president; Il. Sharpe, recordins
secretary; ii. c. Arnold, statician A. II
Barrett treasurer. Executive committee
Peter Koch, chairman, Rev. w. G. Goulder
+. ii. Fisher, III. c. Cookrill. j. L. Stack
II. L. Jones, II. Nj. Patterson.
"Che Woven Web"