The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1898-03-11

decay The reason given for
making this assertion is, that a
careful study of over two hundred
Sunday schools reveals this condi-.
tion in nearly every case" He says
the question is asked, "What is the
matter?" but the answer does not
come, although the reason is on
the surface and can be seen with
out glasses, by careful observer.
This, it seems to me, is a grave
charge, and one entirely unwar-
ranted, for if the school is in a
mouldering condition, as we are
told, all christian people should be
anxious to ascertain the cause and
discover a remedy whereby this
condition, so undesirable to all
God-loving people, might be arrest
ed. The writer will find it hard
to convince the readers of the Jour-
nal that the christian people, who
of all people are most interested in
the upbuilding of the Sunday
school, would see it decaying, and
an willfully neglect to point out
the things detrimental to its
growth. We do not wish to be
understood as saying that the two
hundred schools examined by the
Journal writer we're not as repre-
sented by him, but we do say that
such a thing could be true and yet
not prove that the Sunday schools
were decaying, Much depends on
the particular time of year this
investig alton was made.
All who know anything of Sun
day school work, know that during
certain seasons of the year the work
is prosecuted under circumstances
unfavorable, and that the small
attendance and apparently lifeless
condition of the school is due to
these circumstances, instead of the
superintendent, or the unattractive
appearance of the teacher, or his
methods.
Again, we might inquire into
the condition of two hundred
schools run by some denomination
which opposes the best methods of
running schools, and opposes every
other advancement as being of the
wicked one and which, in conse.
quence thereof, is rapidly passing
away to give place to advanced
thought and methods, both in the
Church and school. These might
be found in a mouldering condi-
tion, but the denomination would
also be found in the same condi-
ton. This would not justify US in
making the assertion that "the
average Sunday school is in state
of mouldering decay"
1t has been my experience that
where the Sunday school was de-
caying, the church was in the same
box. During the past year the
Sunday schools Of the church Of
which | am member, have made
rapid advancement. They have
given more for missions, both
Home and Foreign, than ever be-
fore, and there has been a larger
per cent. of the Sunday school pu-
pills converted to Christ, and |
think am justifable in saying that
our Sunday schools are in better
condition today than ever before.
This is based on active reports,
and when we consider, that the
people mentioned here number
two millions, it goes far toward
proving that the average Sunday
school is not nearer deaths thres-
hold than it was years ago,
Why should it be? The Journal
would have us believe, that it is
because the superintendents, as a
class, are stupid, lacking in force
of character and personality. Be
cause the teachers are not capable
of teaching, and lacking in spirit
uality, That they should all be
women instead of men, as many OF
them are, and women of peculiar
kind or at least different TO The
average women. Now let us ask
with all due respect, have the
churches, Notwithstanding the ad'
vancement he admits they have
made, become SO Indifferent to the
welfare OF the Sunday school that
they put over it as superintendent
men less qualified than they did a
few years backP Or are men
retrograding2
All must admit that men are as
we'll qualified now as ever to be
superintendent. The helps put
within their reach are as plentiful
and are certainly as helpful al
they were at any time in the past
This admitted, as all must admit
the first reason given is not wei
founded, consequently proves moth
ing.
Again if the churches are ad
vancing as the Journal admits
they certainly have an eye on tn,
Sunday school, it being a part o
itself, and would select a superin
tendent of the best material they
have, and they certainly have a
good material to select from il
securing teachers, as churches did
a few years ago, This being so
would they willfully select thos,
!