The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-02
A STATE SIS. CONVENTION
THE FIRST SESSION OF 1T BEGINS AT
BETHANY PARK.
Addresses and RepOrt-New Mission
airy Society Among Women
Formed at Acton.

Yesterday was a quiet day at Bethany
Park. 1t was the first day of the state
Sunday school convention, and the attend
ance was not up to expectations, but larger
crowds are expected to-day. The usual de-
votional exercises were conducted during
the morning. Mrs. A A. Buxton, of Kansas
City, Mo-, spoke at the morning meeting
on Primary Glass Organizations, which
was followed by An address on bible
Study by Rev. J. l.. Parsons. Sunday
School Types was the subject of a brief
address by Mr. A. A. Buxton. secretary of
the Mission State Sunday School Associa-
ton. He treated of the historical school
under five types, the Hebrew, the early
Christian, the Transition. the Reformation,
the Reconstruction. 1t detailed the causes of
the successes and failures of the past and
pointed out the path along which future
success must be reached. In the afternoon,
under the subject of Mechanism VS.. Or
ganism," he deliberately argued from a
scientific standpoint that the school was
not machine, but living organism, bound
by implacable laws, but endowed with all
the functions of life. and that through these
functions of nutrition, relation and repro
duction it manifests it's true, full life.
The first session Of the convention was
held at oclock, at which the president de-
livered an address, followed by report of
the state evangelist and treasurer. The re-
ports in substance are as follows: State
conventions attended, s; district conven-
tons, 26; Institutes. "a; schools reached, 1871;
attended IA union conventions; organized 81
schools; organized IL Christian Endeavor
Societies; delivered SS1 addresses, with AZ
additions; organized So teachers meetings,
normal classes. and travelled II 200 miles in
the work. Total receipts, $1,12635; standing
Indebtedness, $40: total assets 1891; cash on
hand, $S3. The directors expressed them
selves as we'll satisfied with the report.
The principal event of the evening was the
address on Childhood in the Thought of
To-day" by A. j. Frank of Lebanon The
expression of the subject implies that child
hood may not have occupied the place in
the thoughts of the people of yesterday that
it occupies to-day. The marks of change
are upon everything. The ideas of men
change. Once physical vastness challenged
the admiration, almost the homage of man.
From the admiration of the physical man
changed to the admiration of the intellec-
tual The cultivation of the intellectual
reached the highest point among the ancient
Greeks. Mr.. Frank showed the estimate
placed upon the child by the Romans. 1t
was regarded as of value in proportion to
the service it could render TO the state.
Close observers of passing events have
noted that not until the close of the last
century was childhood born in literature.
Histories tell us that Rome might have con-
tinued as the mistress OF the world If fam
lily purity had been sacredly regarded among
them Mr.. Frank exhibited the teachings
of Christ in relation to children and dis
cussed extensively that which had resulted
from them. His closing thought was the
susceptibility Of childhood to impressions.
The late arrivals registered at the hotel
are: G.. A. Downs, Connersvile; Mrs. Annis
Burk, j. D. Gould, Mrs. p NJ. Dill. Indian
apolis: E. S. Conner. Noblesvile; N. A.
Davey, Charleston Mrs. ". A. Pollard,
Kokomo; Oscar e. Kelly. Roachdale: Mrs.
M A. Whistler. Miss Whistler. Evansville;
Emma NJ. Choate. Newark Del; Henry A.
Burtt Irene Burt. Jacksonville; ]. ii. Me-
Neill, Rushville w. f. Foulke. M. w. Yo-
com. Sullivan.
To-day the state Sunday school conven-
ton will be continued. The Assembly lee
ture will be delivered by Rev d. r. Lucas.
of Indianapolis. Mr.. and Mrs. Buxton will
talk, and in the evening a lecture on Poetry
and Life" is announced to be delivered by
Scot Butler, president of Butler College.