Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-29
Program Complete for Gathering Of
Delegates This Evening.
DISTRICT ASSOCIATION CONVENTION
Abstracts From the Annual Reports
of the Officers.
HOUSE To- HOUSE CANVASS

The mai arrangements Tor the gath
ering of Sunday school representatives to-
night at New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church were made Saturday evening at
a meeting Of the executive committee of
the Sunday School Association. This as
ISOLATION represents the 154 Sunday schools
of the white evangelical churches in the
District. The committee meeting was held
at the residence of the secretary, Mr.. Je-
rome F. Johnson, with the president Of the
association, Mr.. p. H. Bristow in the
chair. Others present were Messrs. L. d.
Alden, c. H. Darlington. ]. H. Lichliter,
Weston Flint, A. NJ. McBath, John B. Sle-
man, L. w. Glazecrook, Jas L. Ewin, J.
A. Scott and VIM. Redin Woodward
Reports were made by Mr.. Alden as
chairman Of the convention committee on
credentials and by Mr.. Ewin as chairman
of the press committee, in both of which
the publication of the list Of delegates in
Saturdays Star was referred to with ap-
probation.
Mr.. Ewin also reported for the subcom-
mittee on river excursions, which was the
formed here the past year for the purpose
OF securing, If possible, "a suitable ex-
cursIon steamer and accessible excur-
sion place free from the sale of intoxicat-
ing drinks
The reports were accepted and will come
before the convention
Inc program for this evenings session
OIL the convention is as follows:
Service of song, male chorus, Percy S.
roster. director; reading of Scriptures and
prayer, Rev. George A. Duncan, Phi. D.;
hymn; o'clock. words of greeting Mr.
John B. Wight: S:1O annual address of
president. Pierson H. Bristow; $40, annual
report Of secretary and field worker. Je-
rome F. johnson. to be followed by a solo
ny MISS Bertha Bristow: $780, address,
THE Book of Books" Bishop H. Y. Sat
terlee: appointment of committees: singing:
closing prayer and benediction, Rev. A. w,
Pitzer. d. d.
President BristOw's Report.
President Bristow. in his annual address,
Will enter into the question of the work of
the year only In general way. He will
not give statistics, leaving that to the field
worker and secretary. His address will
treat mainly of the work as a whole. At
tention will be called to the fact that the
union of the District stands as a state or
ganization in its relation to the interna-
tional convention.
The address will urge the importance of
a greater interest on the part of Individual
| schools toward the international work
through the District union 1t will say
that at present the union is giving but 800
per year or less than an average of 81 per
school. This amount ought to be greater,
and might be, If all the schools should CO.
operate with the union. The attention of
the convention will also be called by him
In an official way to the recent death of
Mr.. VIM. Reynolds of Illinois, the field
superintendent of the international work;
also the effort which will be made or IS be-
ing made, throughout the country to raise
| a memorial of $4,000, the interest of which
is to go to Mrs. Reynolds during her life
and the principal to revert to the conven-
ton at her death.
The needs of the work in the District will
| be set forth and plans urged to meet them.
The, address will, in fact. be an appeal to
| the Sunday school workers of the District
| for enlarged work.
The Field Work.
Asked for some of the interesting facts
that will appear in his annual report as
| field worker and secretary, Mr. johnson
stated that one year ago the white Protest
| ant evangelical schools numbered 80 and
have increased to 154, with toal enroll
| ment of 33,222, gain of LIPS. The num-
Der uniting with tie churches from these
schools the past year was 1852.
The greatest increase In enrolment re-
ported is from the Presbyterians, with a
total of 1872. The Episcopalians lead in
the number Of schools with 81; the Meth
odists coming second. with 81.
"A very interesting feature of Mr.. John
sons report will be the growth of the
| home department in connection with the
schools. Two years ago there were but
two home departments in operation in the
District; they now number "a, with a to-
| tdA oiiiiSht Us lfOO.
Result of the Canvass
In regard to the recent house-to-house
visitation, made under the auspices of the
union, Mr.. Johnson said his report will in
clude the results of the canvass summarize
ed so far as figures can give them, as fol-
lows Total persons visited. 165, 432; total
persons between three and twenty-one
years Of age not in Sunday school. IL. s65:
n
express church preference, - 2O5; total
persons not in Sunday school who EXPRESS
willingness to join, 1855; number of fam
lilies and individuals found without Bibles
$500; total number invitations given
1882.
The general statement concerning the
movement will be:
AT the convention one year ago the ex-
ecutlve committee of the Sunday School As
soclauon was directed to organize and
carry out a house to- house canvass Of TN.
entlre District To carry out this work
board consisting of fifteen members and
representing eight different denomin a tions
was selected, and the date finally fixed
upon was October IL. 1 shall tell the story
ol tne canvass IN the fewest words. because
many OF you shared in the work and also
because. at a later session there will he
otner reports which will give US a closer
view and more of the details.
The District of Columbia was divided
INTO LA districts. each with a chairman to
organize and superintend the canvass. A
| large majority of these chairmen were
sunday school superintendents L think
express the opinion of the board that.
though the plan of organization was sim
PIE, 1t would not be changed if another
| canvass were to be made at some future
| time
Experience as n Teacher.
Each member of the board of fifteen
had the charge of and the supervision over
| certain number of these ia districts. and
after the canvass looked after, or is look
ing after. the distribution of the inrorma
ton intended for the churches. We have
learned that experience is a great teacher.
While 1t was not a new or experimental
mode of Christian work. so far as MANY
cities and states were concerned, but SEEM
ingly thoroughly practical, vet II was a
new thing for Washington.
THE early date October l6 did mt al
low sufficient time after their return to the
city from summer vacations for some of
the canvassers to become Thoroughly ia
miliar with the matter they were to use.
Again, we found that two days, say Friday
and Saturday, would have been much bet
ter than one. Many canvassers obtained
a. n nv inf ~