Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-13
SPIRITUALITY AT A Low EBB
More Aggressive Sunday
school Work Desired. X,
A MEETING OF SUPERlNTENDENTS.
Held in Central Church Tues
day Evening.


Two things were manifest at meet
ing of Sunday school superintendent
in Central Presbyterian Church Tues
day night, first desire for more aggres-
sive work in the Sunday schools, and
second, n feeling that spirituality is at
a low ebb in Wilmington. And to
summarize, If possible, the burden of
the thought while discussing these
two things, would be to say that in
the Sunday-school is seen the hope of
turning the tide towards revival of
religion.
Temporary organization was effected
by the selection of William X. Crosby
as chairman and James Fl. Appleby as
secretary. The following preamble and
resolution offered by Samuel HI. Bay
nard, was unanimously adopted; M
Whereas, 1t has become very evil
dent that a more systematic effort
should be put forth in Sunday school
work in our city, and believing that
in union there is strength; therefore,
be it 4,
Resolved, That we organize ourselves
into an association to be known as the
Sunday-school. Superintendent Asso-
citation of Wilmington, Del. ID
MIR. Crosby thereupon submitted q
brief set of rules for the society, which
were also adopted. According to them
the membership shall consist Of supor-
intendents and assistant superin-
tendents together with other active
Sunday school workers who may desire
to join. Its object shall be the i'm
provement of the members along
Sunday school lines to the end that
the Sunday school work of the city
shall be more efficient. Excepting in
June, July and August, the asso-
citation is to meet monthly and each
meeting is to take up special Sunday
school topic and to devote portion Of
the time to prayer for Divine blessing,
especially upon Sunday-school work.
J. H. Appleby, George W. Todd and
Thomas j. Porter were appointed a
committee to nominate officers. Their
report was adopted and the following
officers were elected:
President, William X. Crosby: Vice
President, Samuel H. Baynard !; Secre-
tary and Treasurer, DIR. +. w. Lang /;
Executive Committee, Lewis p. Bush,
Charles w. Pussy, H. S. Goldey, G.
H. Cantwell and J. H. ApplebyS
In accepting the presidency of the
association, Mr.. Crosby made a speech
showing the need of work and de-
claring that the superintendent can
make their influence felt. In his
judgment there never was time in
the last 20 years that Wilmington
needed mighty religious awakening
moro than now. Indifference, the
spirit Of worldliness, the secular spirit
is, entering the churches. There is a
tremendous dearth of spiritual power
in this city and the great need is an
outburst of religious zeal.
Mr.. Appleby was appointed to call
upon the superintendent who did not
belong to the association and ask them
to join. There was a feeling that if
the superintendent did their best
work, the schools would be generally
successful.
It was decided to hold the regular
meetings on the third Monday night of
each month in Central Church.
For the next meeting Peter B. Ayars
is to introduce the subject of the Will
mington Superintendent Association
and its work.
At the conclusion. of the business ses-
sion of the association last evening the
members and special guests were enter
tanned at most enjoyable supper
served in the large parlor of the
church. The tables were decorated
with carnations and candelabra, and
the menu was very tempting.
Those present included; The Reys.
T. A. McCurdy. d. D., of Central
Church; A. N. Keigwin, ID. D., West /;
w. L. S. Murray, D. D., st. Paul's /;
Presiding Elder Robert Watt; +. f.
Briggs, Second Baptist; w. M. Schall,
First Presbyterian; L. W. Long, Green
Hill; A. p. Mihm, German Baptist,
and ]. r. Milligau, d. D., Oiiyet;
William X. Crosby, L. p. Bush,
Central Sunday school; Thomas X.
Porter, William M. Pyle, Hanover; g.
H. Cantwell and I. II. H. Messenger,
State Sunday. school Association; Will
liam H. Foulk, local Sunday school
union; @. w. Pusey, H. s. Goldey,
Grace; Charles F. Wollaston, Second
Baptist; Frank Sheppard, Charles N.
Bower, DR.. f. w. Lang, West /;
Howard Z. Wallace, First Presby-
terrain; Peter b. ,lAyars, Delaware
Avenue Baptist; s. H. Baynard,
Charles Gray, st. Paul's; Charles
Simmons, j. H. Appleby, Francis
Taylor, North Baptist; Charles
Beadenkopf, Cookman; I. Elmer
Perry, Asbury; John White, Epworth;
George w. Todd, Kingswood; Richard
w. Brown, Riddle Memorial; j. A.
Downs, Olivet; j. W. Robertson, Har-
rison Street; William @. King, Madeley.
z. When the coffee was reached, Mr.
Crosby as the presiding officer, opened
the speechmaking. He referred with
pleasure to the absence Of denomi-
national lines, and spoke of the need
for combating the influences which
are in opposition to the Gospel Of
Christ. He called upon several of the
ministers present for speeches.
DR.. Murray of St Paul's touched
upon the need of an awakening in the
churches and. said that the superin-
tendents can do more than any other
workers. He expects great good from
the association and that it will aid in
bringing a reign Of greater spirituality.
r The Rev; F. F. Briggs of Second
need in the churches and suggested
that ministers should devote them
selves to preaching the deep truths of
Gods word. The growth of the church
must come along spiritual lines He
believed the future to be bright with
hopes.
DIR. Keigwin, in n stirring speech
reverted to his studies of prophecy and
said that although the time Of the
second coming of Christ is entirely
beyond the possibility of knowing, yet
he believes that new era is about to
dawn on the earth. 1t is TO be a
glorious era, the world to be prepared
for it by an Elijah, who is to turn the
hearts of the fathers to the children.
This is tho Sabbath-school age and he
believes this to have been in the
nrophet's mind. In the next 10 Years