The Jersey City news., 1892-03-11
SUNDAY SCHOOL LOGIC.
What Superintendent Ides
of Brooklyn Be-
1ieVes In.
PALPABLE HITS AT SCUDDER.
They We're Unstudied, But They
Fitted Like Bricks in the
Tabernacle.
PALPABLE HITS AT sCUDDER.

tell how to successfully run a Sunday
Church in Grove street.
A committee of twenty-five ladies' from
the First Baptist. the Tabernacle, the
Wayne street Reformed, Trinity and
Hedding NJ. E. Churches served an ele-
CANT supper in the basement. and the
audience remained seated about the
tables while Mr.. Ides talked. He was
piled with questions.
The affair was held under the auspices
of the Hudson County Sunday School
Teachers Association. President James
V. Foster occupied the seat of honor, and
near him sat Mr.. Ides. the venerable DIR.
Parmly and DR.. Daniel H. Lowrie. The
gathering represented the churches and
Sunday schools in all parts of the county.
After the supper was concluded. Mr..
George r. Corfield led the gath ering in
singing "Blest be the Tie that Binds"
Then Mr.. Ides was introduced. He Is
superintendent of one of the Rev DR..
Meredith's CONGREGATIONAL Sunday
schools in Brooklyn that has sevente en-
hundred pupils. H is a well-built man,
of business-like appearance, is blunt and
brusque in manner of speech. into which
he occasionally merges u bit of slang.
SOME EXCELLENT IDEAS.
His first piece OF advice to the superin-
tendents VINO listened to him last even
ing, was that when they entered the Sun
day school room they should know
exactly what they proposed doing during
the entire session, and not break the
school up by nervousness. In his school
there was an orchestra OF violins, flutes
and piano. He used no bell. In opening
the exercises he simply nodded to the
Elady at the piano. She played half
minute prelude as signal for order. He
never attempted to call the school to or
der. He simply called the teachers to
order US general would call his captains.
He held the teachers, responsible Tor the
conduct of their classes.
In speaking of the appointment of COM
mittees to do various kinds of Sunday
school work Mr.. Ides said "We select
committees for their fitness. live, ener-
getic committees. No long-faced, slow
going, solemn visaged members on Sun
day school committees for me, If you
please. We put such members on the
prayer meeting committees"
"They don't belong even there" inter-
rupted Pastor Scudder.
"Yes. they do, maintained Mr. Ides.
"They balance things. They don't give
us all bowling alleys and no church."
The laughter and applause at this re-
mark caused the speaker to acknowledge
that he did not know what produced it,
rs be was stranger in Jersey City.
Later on MIR. Ides was explaining the
difficulties of making young men who are
shut up in factories all the week attend
the afternoon sessions of Sunday School
or remain until the close after putting in
an appearance.
"lnat's where the bowling alleys come
into play" again interrupted Pastor
Scudder.
"No," said the speaker. "We don't
allow bowling on Sunday"
This put another laugh ON Pastor
Scudder, who explained that he did not
imply that bowling on Sunday should be
allowed.
II believe in bowling alleys in connec-
tion with church and Sunday School
work during the week." said Mr.. Ides,
''if the young men are surrounded by in
fiuences that will bring them into touch
with church work"
In answer to various questions Mr.. Ides
expressed those opinions
'sClass cards upon which to mark at
tendance are handler than books.
'Let the review of lessons be short.
$40 keep in the interest when there Is a
constant rotation OF teachers. go down on
your knees. and you'll get 'em.
"A less capable teacher all day is pre-
ferable to a brilliant teacher half day.
mine should constitute the limit of
membership OF class.
"Be careful how you conduct your pri-
mary department. The future behavior
ofahe school depends upon it,"
GRADED CLASSES.
"Do you grade your scholars" asked
one Superintendent.
eyes. AT least, we occasionally bring
down a class from the Juvenile or pri-
mary department from their gallery
above to the main floor as reward of
merit"
"What would you do If you couldn't
control your teachers-reslgnP
'Do look like man who would re-
signp"
"Would you be resignedS"
mo"
You look like business man. How
do you find time to look after the affairs
of such large SCHOOL,"
"I have got on to little scheme. Don't
you give it away. I'd rather be behind
one hundred teachers than do one hun
dred teachers work"
do you believe in supplying the places
of absent teachers by Bible class pupilsS
I'VE have what we call supply class.
They study the lesson one week ahead. If
some of the Bible Glass teachers were not
ents would get along much better. AS to
absent teachers l never make the mistake
of allowing my assistants to stand be-
tween me and them. l am furnished
with list of absentees regularly and go
Immediately to ascertain the cause of ab-
Sence,"
"Have you fixed rule to get rid of alb
sentees"
1--WE have no rules. We work on prin-
ciple. The secret OF success is love. II a
teacher doesn't come often enough to
suit me. l say to him:-'Here, / guess
you're too busy for this school, and put
somebody in his place"
"Should a Superintendent conduct O
teachers meeting?"
depends upon what he knows"
HEALTHY KICKERS USEFUL.
Suppose some of the teachers are OPP
posed to his views?"
"A man can never be a leader if he's
afraid. But never get real positive man
in q corner upless there is a nice little
panelled door near. by which he may let
himself gracefully out. Otherwise hell
fight till he dies. l don't believe in a
chronic kicker, but real, good, healthy
kicker is often useful man."
What about teachers who are long
winded in their prayers?"
"I usually tell 'em they'll never be
heard flom again."
"The interference of Y. NJ. c. A. Sun
day afternoon meetings with school
work." Mr.. ldes said, could only be
remedied by an understanding between
the Sup9rintendents and the Y. M. G. A.
secretaries.
He believed the day for morning school
sessions WAS passed His scheme to en-
force uniform attendance. however,