The Republican journal., 1899-11-09
The Elaine Sunday School Association

Read at the North Church Sunday evening,
Oct. 29th, by Miss Edith Stoddard, and
published by request
The first services of the State Sunday
School Association were held in Portland
Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 24th. The early
part of the afternoon was devoted to the
Quiet Half Day and was conducted by
Rev. Thos. Stacy of Saco. Many of the
delegates offe: ed prayer and spoke. The
first address was given by Rev. Aquila
Lucas OF Sussex, New Brunswick, General
Secretary of the New Brunswick Sunday
School Association, on "Joy of our Ser
vice" He spoke of the great work which
the Sunday school is doing in New Bruins
wick and elsewhere in the Canadas, and
referred to the close ties which bind to-
gether New Brunswick and the State of
Maine. With only narrow river to
divide them, with no guns, sentinels or
other waIlike barriers between the two
sections, the Christian workers mingle
with one another and carry on the work
in Christ's service Over here in Maine
they love one nag; over in New Bruins
wick the Sunday school workers love an
other. But in their labors they love a
single banner. Mr.. Lucas words We're re-
ceived with much enthusiasm
At the evening session the church was
crowded, and an inspiring song service
was conducted by Mr.. Stacy. We then
received a most cordial address of well
come by Rev. Luther Freeman of the
Chestnut street Methodist Church, in
which the meetings were held. He said
they had extended the invitation all over
the State for the Sunday school workers
to meet with them, and now ''you are
here"
1t was estimated that about 400 dele
gates were present, and all were amply pro-
vided for
Following came an address on 1.-THE Bus
mess Man aud the Sunday SCHOOL, by E.
S. Everett of Portland. He said the prob
lens of Sunday school work are too hard
and far-reaching to be solved by our local
schools alone. All of our churches have
business men among their numbers. Our
Sunday schools, however, have the in
tluence of but very few, comparatively,
and seldom see their faces at their SEES
sons. How may we keep our boys be-
tWepD fpJlltapu and tVpptU bo Supdav
school IS a question often brought before
conventions. 1t may be that they do not
consider it manly thing to do. Now the
boys from homes where the father is alb
sent, OF not a church attendant, are still
more difficult to influence, and the only
argument of weight to them is that MI.
A., B. or c., whom they know and trust,
whose name appeals to their ambition,
and whose business they sometime hope
to equal in lines of their own, is a teacher
or a constant attendant at the school.
Their reasoning is strong, vigorous and,
to a certain extent. correct. They think
something liz e this: Ii a business man
like him thinks it manly and not beneath
his station or dignity to mix in with the
children, surely it is not for me, and he
goes, enjoys and is helped to fix thoughts,
princi ples and habits in his mind and life
which will be part of his nature and
stay with him while he lives. The schools
need the touch of the business man in
their management. Why, if the business
of the stores was carried on in the happy
go lucky way which characterizes most of
our Sunday schools years life would be
a long time for them to exist. No bust
ness will run itself; neither will Sunday
school be expected to flourish if NO pre-
parations or plans are made for its policy
from week to week. What is true regard.
ing the schools is also true in regard to
the class; thought must be given it out
side the hour, interest must be sought on
the part Of the pupils, and regular plan
of work ! id out for the session. Business
regularity in attendance and in money
collections naturally follow in classes
where business men are at the head.
Have you noticed that the largest, best
known and most successful schools in our
country have business men as their super
intendents? Live, busy men they are, too,
most of them. Men who are called upon
to tax their judgment and decide weighty
and important questions continually, all
day long. The largest Bible classes of
adults are also conducted by such men,
and their words have weight and their
counsels are followed. Our business men
are doing much for our schools, and it is
worthy of note that our schools show the
attendance of many of them. The Chris
tian business man, with boys and girls
growing up about him, realizes that if he
wishes his children to be interested in
the Sunday school he must lead, and not
compel. How true that personal influence
counts SO we urge as strongly as possible
that the business men in our churches
rally round our Sunday schools, give
them the support of their presence, their
influence and judgment in all their affairs.
Following Mr.. Everett came an address
by Rev. Aquila Lucas on "the Benefit of
Association Work to the Church, He
said the Association has associated the
church There was a time when there
was great suspicion shown by denomina-
ton against denomination. But those days
have passed and it is not thought strange
to- day that Christians of different branch
es of the church should labor hand in
hand for the saving of the world He said:
81 do not lose sight of the fact that this
was brought about by other means than
the Sunday School Association. The
British and Foreign Bible Society did it's
part toward bringing unity in the church,
but the S. S. Association has done the
most in this work. He spoke of the