Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-24
PROPOSED CONVENTION
A Great Gathering Of Sunday School Work
ers Here in October.
Interesting Meeting in Regard to the
Preliminary Arrangements Last
Night-COmmittees Appointed.

Although the inclernent weather detracted
somewhat from the attendance last evening
at meeting Of prominent local Sunday
school men to discuss the feasibility of
holding a local Sunday school convention
during the coming fall, those who assem-
bled at the new Calvary Baptist Sunday
school house at 6th and H streets did not
lack enthusiasm or energy. Each Of them
was Sunday school superintendent, their
names and churches being as follows:
Pierson H. Bristow, Calvary Baptist;
Luctus d. Alden. st. PauPs English Luz
theran; DIR. d. Percy Hickling, Trinity Prot
estant Episcopal; Andrew Wilson, Garfield
Memorial; Dr. Charles r. Clark. Fifteenth
Street Methodist Episcopal: Jerome F. John
son. First Congregational; J.. 3. Sieman.
Protestant Orphan Asylum; A. NJ. McBath.
Assembly Presbyterian; Henry NJ. Shook.
Grace Reformed; Col. Weston Flint, New
York Avenue Presbyterian. and James L.
Ewin. boundary Methodist Episcopal.
The Object I'm View.
Shortly after o'clock the meeting was
called to order with Mr.. Pierson H. Bris-
tow in the chair. and Mr.. James L. Ewin
acting secretary. In response to the chair
mans request, Mr.. j. b. Sleman made an
appropriate opening prayer. after which the
minutes of the meeting, held on July 2, were
read by the secretary and approved by the
meeting. Mr.. Brfstow then detailed for the
benefit of those gentlemen who had not at
tended the former meeting the object in
view. In effect he stated that the plan Is to
hold a convention, such as the different
states hold, during which the Sunday school
work in all its phases will be discussed.
Such a convention, according to Mr.. Bris-
fnyI- hrYGA N-rrD
for the duties Of the coming year by getting
the active people together and affording
the m an opportunity to compare notes. The
chairman invited suggestions and opinions
regarding the idea.
Mr.. A. NJ. McBath thought that the con-
vention would be a great incentive to the
Sabbath school work; but he was not quite
certain that the first week in October would
be the proper date for calling together the
gathering. Mr.. Andrew Wilson expressed
himself as being strongly In favor of the
idea, as he thought tina the Sunday schools
of diffe rent denominations ought to be more
closely related than at present. Col Wes-
ton Flint suggested that the meeting be
opinion that the date spoken of might be q
little early.
Scope Of the Convention.
As all present were in favor Of holding
the convention. the chairman called for
views In regard to a special attraction. his
idea being not only to come together and
listen to a dozen set speeches. A moment
later 1t was decided to have all the chill
dren rally for a great Sunday school choir.
The idea Of having competitive singing as
a fea ture was preached by Mr.. Lucius D.
Alden.
Miss Harlow and Messrs. Hammeil, Her
bert, Lawrence and Pepper. well-known In
Sunday school work throughout the United
States. were named as among the persons
possible to be secured to take an active
part in the work Of the convention. The
general understanding among the gentle
men present was that the first day Of the
should be a popular meeting,
with some well-known and popular speaker
as the central attraction, and Chief Justice
Fuller and Secretary Hoke Smith were
spoken of as suitable individuals to be in
vited. and the names were taken under con-
1t was then put to a vote, and agreed
0 and 10. the first session being on the
evening Of October 8, the others and the
number thereof to be determined by the
committee on program. At this point Mr.
Alden; as retiring president of the Sunday
School Union. arose on a question OF
privilege, and after stating that the union
is In debt, asked that the committee as
sembled consider proposition to assume
and liquidate said Indebtedness On motion
and after discussion the secretary was d.
rected to call upon the several Sunday
schools for their statistics. including those
of 1898.
Committees Appointed. ...
The chairman announced that the general
committee for the convention would consist
Of the executive committee of the Sunday
School Union. made up as follows:
Lucius D. Alden, field worker; Pierson H.
Brfstow. president; Jerome F. Johnson, first
vice president; CHI. Darlington. second vice
president; James H. Ewin, secretary; d.
Percy Hickling, NJ. D., treasurer; Col Yves
ton Flint. Thomas B. Towner, A. NJ Nc
Bath, George c. Samson, Md, and ]. B.
Sleman, finance committee; Rev. +. A. Stier,
VIM. Redin Woodward, F. NJ Wilson, An
drew Wilson and Henry NJ. Shook.
The other committees the presiding officer
arranged as given below:
Finance-L. ID. Alden chairman: F. A.
Stier. c. N. Richards.
Programme. ID. Percy Hickling. chair
man; Frank Hamilton VIM. Redin Wood
ward. J. r. Bradley and C. w. Chappell
Inyitations-Charles w. Needham, chair
man; A. NJ. McBath and Fulton Lewis.
Place of meeting-James F.Johnson, chair
man; Andrew Wilson and Charles II. Clark
MD.
Music-C H. Darlington. chairman; A. L.
keene and DIR. George c. Samson.
Press-A. j. Halford, chairman; W. B.
Bryan and Col. Flint.
1t was the general desire that the place of
meeting for the opening night should be
Convention Hall and the other sessions in
the Calvary Baptist Sunday School House
to leave the matter In the hands of the COM
mittee on place of meeting.
After prayer the committee adjourned to
meet again at the same place On the even
ing OF Monday, August g. at 4 pm.