New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-30
ATTACKS SUNDAY-SCHOOLS
BROOKLYNs CHURCH CLUB STARTLED,
BUT APPLAUDS.

MASSACHUSETTS CLERGYMAN PRESENlS
A VIGOROUS ARRANGEMENT OF THE
SYSTEM AND SHOCKS SOME OF
HIS HEARERS.
At the regular meeting Of the Church Club Of
the Diocese Of Long Island which was held in
the Brooklyn Bark Building. in Clinton st.
Brooklyn, last night, the Rev. DR. Pelham Will
Jams. OF Greenbush. Mass. referred TO himself
as the "annihilator OF Sunday-schools.' He de-
livered a scathng and bitter denunciation Of
the work Of this department OF the Church.
He so astonshei and astounded many Of those
present by his unexpected TRADE. which was de-
livered with exceptional eoquence. that the
other regular speakers-H. H. Pike, superin-
tendent of st. Georges sunday-school in Man
haitian, and silas NJ Giddings. president Of the
Brooklyn sunday-school Union-were scarcely
able 10 speak, and, according TO their own con-
fession. abandoned almost entirely the remarks
they had prepared. This radical utterance Of
DR.. Williams is likely TO cause widespread COM
ment.
The subject Of the evening as announced was
Sunday and ii had been expected
that the discussion would be on the most feast
bic ways Of making the work productive OF
good. Although many OF the audience were car
red away by the eloquence and humor OF DR..
Williams, others were indignant, and could
scarcely refrain from speaking out their pro-
tests.
William B. Dali. secretary of the Church Club.
however, told a Tribune reporter that he was
perfectly aware Of the attitude Of DR.. Williams
when he had invited him TO make the address.
That the Church Club Of Brooklyn should coun-
tenance such views is likely to cause much ad-
verse criticism even among Its members.
marks that followed. Mr. Gddngs. in speaking
of DR.. Williams said: II am amazed 10 have
man get up in this age and talk as he did.
consider that have seen a greater curiosity IN
him tonight than II had seen Admiral Dewey,
and then, after Mr. Giddings had quoted stats
tics to show the increase in Sunday schools, the
Rev. DR.. Lincoln. rector Of st. Barnaoas's
Church, in Bushwick-ave.. with tinge OF Wig
orous sarcasm. said: Some one has said that
there are three kinds Of falsehood-lies. darned
lies and statistics" and he continued by de-
nouncing Sunday-school Anniversary Day He
quoted from the Prayer Book to show that last
Friday according 10 the rubrics Of the Church.
was Ember Day. at which time all good church
men were supposed TO fast. and yet" said he
sneeringly. some Of our Sunday-school children
marched up and down the streets on that holy
day. and afterward were fed on ice cream"
SAYS BISHOPS AGREE WITH HIM.
DR.. Williams said that ne not only expressed
his own views but quoted many Of the bishops
Of the Episcopal Church. although he men
toned no names as being Disguised with Sun
day-school work DR.. Williams said:
IT do not believe in any Sunday school that
ever was. that ever is, or that ever will De, and
II am misunderstood prepared TO say
It a little louder and little more emphatically.
MY idea Of q Sunday school is that II exists
in order to enable some people to experiment
with the souls Of other peoples children Ihey
are totally and hopelessly wrong. l first feit
that was alone in this opinion. until recog-
nized that had the backing of eighteen CEN
turtles before these blinkings' came into the
Church OF God have talked with bishops OF
the Episcopal Church. and they have hung
their heads with shame when they have spoken
Of the work Of the Sunday school The worst
teaching in the United States is the teaching
in the name of God under the rules Of the
Sunday-schools."
SIX REASONS GIVEN.
DR.. Williams gave six reasons for his oppo-
sition 10 the Sunday-school. First" he SAID
this portion of the Catholic Church to which we
belong insists upon authority. Because we nave
ten good men in the pews it does not allow US
TO send them up into the pulpit There Is not
a single allusion made in our church law TO Sun
day-schools from beginning to end. sunday
school teachers are neither flesh, fowl, nor
good red herring A good old lady expressed II
when she said: Why should I send my child to
sunday-school to be taught by Mrs. So-and-So.
who is Just as ignorant and stupid as l am
WHY you don't allow a man without
valuable animal, but turn the souls OF our
children over TO unknown ana ignorant per
sons" - -
called the well-neaning incompetence OF the
average Sunday-schoOl teacher" and IN teHus
a story about an ignorant teacher ne SAID
This isn't a Sunday-school story-this Is
In the dark centuries Of Sunday school
teaching" said he, the children have learned ne
in many ways TO know less about the Ola
Testament than they did before the Suhudy-
schools came into existence
In hts third point Dr. Williams said that
there was the greatest danger in joining amuse-
ment Of some kind or other with religion there,
bv damaging religion The Sunday school. SAID
he. lis usually sorry appendage to either
picnic or a festival
His fourth point was that the Sunday-school
was destructive Of church going. and the htth'
that II had done much in the way or destroying
parental responsibility and priestly obligation
In closing the speaker said: / oeIleVe thdt
c,-ndavschools in a very large degree are
teachers OF irreverence. When frivolous and
fippant teachers, out Of their Ignorance OF out
Of the commentary OF some dlssenter W"Si
they have carelessy snatched UP. hold lhe
minds and souls of our children, what are we
coming to? Why. l have heard OF churcn
where there are two women; the one had elghl
children and the other nine. The woman VINO
had eight children went to Sunday school ana
taught those OF the one who had nine, while the
u1nroan az nine children taught the eight OF the
other woman"
EXPRESSIONS OF APPROVAL.
whether on account OF his eloquence or that
his audience agreed with what he said vigorous
applause greeted DR.. Williamss remarks.
The next speaker. H. H. Pike. who Is prorni-
nently connected with St Georges SUNDAY
school in Manhattan. confessed that ne "aS
abIo 70 deliver the address ne had prepared,
Id airlnle manner. ne tOLl