Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-03-12
Proceedings Of Their Annual COnVen-
tiOn at Milford.
OPENING SESSION THURSDAY
Number of Schools and Mem
bers by Counties.
MISS HARLOWS WORK ILLUSTRATED


nual convention of the State Sunday
school Association convened in the
Presbyterian Church yesterday after
noon. Vice-President Hoffecker of Kent
county presided. About 200 delegates
were present. DR.. I. E. Martindale
delivered the address of welcome aud
the presiding officer responded. Prof.
j. r. Sweeney led in service of song,
after which prayer was offered and the
convention was declared open for bust
ness. The following committees were
appointed;
CREDENTIALS. b. Anderson I,
Elmer Perry and A. Il. Fowler.
Resolutions-S. III. Baynard, the
Rev. Adam Stengle, j. II. Appleby,
George b. Money and Miss Lottie
Brockson.
Nominations-w. X. Crosby, P. F.
Causey, G. b. Taylor, I. H. II. Mes
singer and Miss Rena Hall.
Finance-W. II. Jakes, Charles Nor.
gan, ]. j. Hayes, Charles Mason and
L. Il. B. Woodall
Special Rev. Robert Watt, B.
F. Savage, the Rev. Cyrus Cort, j.
A. Smith and Rev. II. L. Bunstein.
The statistical secretary submitted
report, of which the following is
syn psis;
New Castle County-Schools, 1T;
officers and teachers, 1928; scholars
%, 279; total membership, 26. POT.
Kent County-Schools, 106; officers
and teachers, l,26s; scholars, S,306;
total membership, 9,574.
Sussex County-Schools 139; officers
and teachers, 1,692; scholars, IL, 049 /;
total membership, 10, TAI.
Miss Annie s. Harlow, superin-
tendent of the primary department of
Bethany Sunday school,, Philadelphia,
addressed the convention and 200
Sunday school children. She took next
Sundays lesson and taught it in an
excellent manner She was revelation
to the average teacher here.
Most of The afternoon was consumed
by services in memory of the late presi-
dent of the association, Joseph Pyle
S. II. Baynard read paper, rehearsing
the virtues of the deceased, as did also
Charles Baird. The papers were ordered
to be spread upon the minutes and pub
lished with the secretary's report
William Reynolds of Peoria, ILL.,. paid
a high tribute to the worth Of Mr..
Pyle.
In the evening the crowd was so
great that the large Avenue M. Il.
Church had to be opened,
Mr.. Reynolds spoke at the Methodist
Church while Miss Harlow was spea
ing at the Presbyterian Church and
vice versa.
Milford, March 7.-Soon after the
assembling of the State Sunday school
convention, yesterday morning, there
was spirited discussion respecting
proposition to reduce the number of
delegates. 1t was decided not to mako
the proposed change.
The special committee, to whom
was referred the report of the execu-
tive committee, submitted the follow
ing; p, II, ...,... t..
was referred the annual report of the
executive committee, respectfully sub
nit tho following for the considera-
tion of the convention, viz: The points
presented by the executive committee
to challenge the attention of the con-
vention may be comprised under two
heads: First, The home class depart
ment, which provides or an extension
of the Sunday school work to the homes
of those who, or various reasons are
unable to meet in the sanctuary to
study the Sunday school lessons on the
Lords day. We believe that such a
scheme could be successfully introduced
and would be of vast benefit to the
Sunday-school cause and to hundreds
Of persons who might thus be enabled
to enjoy the privileges of the systematic
study of Gods word in the precincts
hot 10
ince of your committee to give de-
tailed statement of the method of pro-
cedure in organizing the home depart
ment. A tract issued by the Congre-
gatinnal Sunday school Publishing
House at Boston, gives valuable and
necessary information on this subject.
Copies of this tract are in possession
of the executive committee and can be
had on application by members of the
convention. On this head we recon-
mend the adoption of the following
resolution:
Z" Resolved, BY the Delaware State
Sunday school Convention, assembled
in annual session at Milford, March,
1896, that we heartily approve of the
organization of the home class depart
ment in connection with our Sunday
schools wherever practicable and urge
upon all Sunday school officials the
great Importance of this work.
Second, Local Institutes and Normal
Glasses. In regard to the Importance
of local institutes and of normal classes
for the special training of Sunday
school teachers there can be no ques-
ton. The State convention has in
former years recommended these yalua-
BILE auxiliaries and that recommends
ton we renew and emphasize in the
light of experience of communities that
have carried them into effect But
these and all other interests of the
Sunday school cause can be best pro-
NOTED, we think, by providing for the
appointment of field secretary. The
organization of home departments,
local institutes and normal classes and
every other interest OF progressive Sun
day school work would he furthered by
the services Of competent field secre-
tary. Such an official could give needed
advice and helpful assistance in every
sphere of organized activity. A Sun
day-school field secretary would bring
the entire work into personal touch
with the State convention. As to off
cial representation he would carry into
effect its resolves and recommendations
in every part of the commonwealth
from one years end to the other, as has
been the case in other States of our
American Union. The main obstacle
in the way of appointment of such an
official is the matter of expenses. We
believe that a large part Of the ex-
penses pertaining to the office and Its
administration can be raised by the
field secretary himself IN the shape of
collections and contributions to be Sc
cured in the communities that he may