Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-22

Delaware State Sunday-school Associa-
ton convention was called TO order Mt 10
o'clock a. m. Thursday by Joseph Pyle, tho
president After service of song. which
was conducted by Professor John X.
Sweeney. Mr.. Pyle read = scriptural selec-
ton, following which ii. s. Goldey, the
recording secretary offered prayer.
The enrolment Of delegates was followed
by the appointment of the following Conf
mittees:
Credentials-J. Il. Appleby. George W.
Todd, w. K Crosby.
Nominations-William H. Foulk, Chas.
c. Beadenkopf William II. Jakes.
Finance-Charles Baird, G. W, Pusey,
John +. Jones, w X. Crosby, George
Pennewell.
Resolutions-Th Rev. T. L. Terry, ]. NJ.
Comfy. Alfred Gawthrop.
Auditing-W. o. Hofrecker, d. W.
Harlan A. G. Cox.
Following another song service the Rev.
A. n. keigwin delivered an address of
welcome and Mr.. Pyle responded.
A. letter from b. 4. Jacobs chairman OF
the executive committee OF the lnterna-
tional Sundav-school Convention. i'll rea-
ton to its general work and requesting
financial aid, was read and referred.
In his annual report Mr.. Pyle stated that
he was pleased TO say there has been con-
tinued and gradual increase in the interest
in Sunday-sGhool work in this State. The
interest, he added is not confined to the
young and inexperienced, or to those who
have little interest in the business COM
munity, but has permeated the whole
mass of society, drawing into its
embrace many Of the business men and
wealthy women of this city aud State.
This was wonderfully manifested in the
Sunday.school parade last summer, in
soI, oil bx ,.f
tive of our largest business establishments
and in which were honorable men of var
ious professions, including judges. lawyers,
doctors and some of the most public spirited
and wealthy citizens Each county, he said
is fully organized and had a successful
convention during the year. In conclu-
sion he thanked the convention for hav-
ing honored him with its confidence and,
IN the name of the convention, thanked
the committees for their faithful and zeal
Gus labor.
Other reports, all of them of an en-
couraging nature, followed.
Aubrey Vandever, the statistical secre-
tary, reported that there are in the State
4OS Sunday-schools, which have $3.50 Off.
GERS and teachers, 43, S0i scholars and a
total membership of 49,493.
Mr.. Crosby reported that the Sunday
schools in New Castle county are in better
condition now than they ever were and
that five schools had been organized in the
county during the year.
Mr.. Jakes presented an encouraging re-
port for Sussex county.
After service of song the benedietion
was pronounced by the Rev. s. b. Meeser.
The exercises Thursday afternoon
began with service of song conducted
by Professor Sweeney. Alfred Gawthrop
read chapter of scripture and the Rev.
s. B. Meeser offered prayer.
An interesting paper entitled "The
Supreme Need of the Sunday-school"
was read by the Rev. John d. q. Hanna.
The needs Of the Sunday-school could
easily be discussed, he said, but the SUI
premc need is something else. They
wanted good singing. Some people
wanted only nice children in their
schools, but he thought that they wanted
those who were not nice, but who should
be made nice. But what is the supreme
needY 10 his mind there were three
needs, each equally important, and they
were the supreme needs. In the first
place they needed a competent superin-
tendent. He should be general. A
man who would be successful Sunday.
school superintendent could not be kent
IAAFGNSf ~ Az hVlG IL luG ARMY. III re-
quired more ability to be Sunday.
school superintendent than it did to be
the pastor of church. The superinten.
dent should be prompt. He should have
tact. He should be firm. He should in.
sist on order in the school. Too many
schools run riot. But he should also be
gentle. He should be trained man. HI
should be a man whose education should
command the respect of the scholars
Then the teachers are great need. The
teacher should be disciplinarian. II
the teacher does not control his class nc
superintendent can keep order. His en-
deayors some times may cause friction
between superintendent aud teacher
The superintendent should be an auto
crat; what he says must not be cues
stoned. The teacher should study thu
lesson. A teacher who does not dig int
the word Of God and find its gems will
meyer make q successful teacher. Tb,
teacher should also try to find the ben
Of the scholar. The supreme need o
Hle Sunday-school, in his opinion, is thu
need of a deeper spiritual tone than i
= seems possible to get. The suprem
need of the Sunday-school is to max,
the scholars religious, and its obiec
should be to get the children converted
The schools need the power of God
when they have it the supreme need o
the Sunday-school is satisfied.
w. X. Crosby said the question wa
one which divided itself into two parts
the human and the Divine. From til
human standpoint the wants are legion
One want is better teachers. There ar
some good ones, but more are wanted
Ihe supreme need is an increase q
spiritual power. In his opinion what
needed is the cooperation of the Diyin
power with thoroughly equipped an
working Sunday-school officers an,
teachers.
"How can we elevate tho ayeraV
Sunday-school teachers standard ?' wa
ably discussed by Isaac L. johnson. II
imagined that he was addressing thos
teachers whose standard is higher tina
the so-called average and those who d
not need to be reminded of their fai
ures. Let US, lie said, take counst
together how those who are really an
actually Interested in the great cause
the Sunday-school can contribute SOM
thing to make more efficient the work
the teacher. To raise the standard
any institution we must begin at the Il
anu work down toward the bottom. III
superintendent must be man Of his
ideals, leader who will be pushing Ii
standard forward and with enthusias
will draw after him those who teach an
are taught. He must always supply il
spiration where inspiration is lackin
be hopeful when others lose hop
direct, suggest, check and i
strain as times and occasions ma
require. Such superintendeI
Will elevate the standard OF work b
showing always a high ideal, and |
adopting means of creating amor