The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1900-07-11

The statistical report compiled by the Standing
Committee at Atlanta from seventy-six Presbyteries
out of seventy nine, showed encouraging number
of additions to the communion from the Sunday
school, 4,76I but in the matter of total enrolment
decrease of about 1900 compared with $780, and
about 5000 as compared with 1893 was shown and
about 900 churches made reports, reasonable in
terence being that large majority of these 900 Pres
byterian churches have no Sunday-schools That our
statistics defective is admitted but not more so
than the statistics of other denominations for we
still claim that the capacity for making reliable re-
ports great among stated clerks of our sessions
and Presbyteres among like officers in other de-
nominations and in fact pride ourselves upon the
education of our ministers, who for the most part
fill the office of stated clerks of the Presbyteries
We must face the inference to be drawn from the
statistical reports which is that our Suuday-Schoo
a0ork is not holding its OgVn.
In view of these facts the recommendations of the
Assembly should be carefully considered, and the
Prebyteries and church sessions should see that they
made effective. The recommendations are all
based upon tried and tested methods so we shall not
be entering upon untried paths to carry them into
effect. The need for carefully nurturing this great
agency, from which come about so per cent. of the
additions to our churches profession of faitll-the
only real growth the church makes-is realized by
ALL and it is also conceded that there is crying need
for the introduction of better methods of work in all
Sunday
The success of other denominations in securing
these ends by of the careful supervision of
trained men, and the benefits other church agen-
ces have derived from such supervision, are a COM
plete answer to the objection that such an officer is
not needed
The recommendation for the employment of
Sunday school secretary which must be ratified by
majority of the Presbyteries before becoming effec-
tive, is the only that needs to be specially en-
eizp6 met nc La
before the church in various forms for a number of
years, but in its present shape The question
OF multiplying agencies, and the additional expense
involved, have been the two obstacles which have inn
PEELED many brethren to oppose the creation of such
office in the past
The election of this superintendent will not call
for the creation of new executive committee at
present for he is to be employed and directed by the
Committee of Publication who now have charge of
our Sunday-school work
The expense of the office is to be borne by special
collections taken up in the Sunday-schoos and Young
Peoples Societies of our church. 1t will be argued
that this IS an untred of revenue and there is
no assurance that sufficient funds will be realized
from these sources to pay the salary of man and
his incidental expenses, and in the case of deficit
the Committee of Publication will have to appropr-
ate funds used in other directions We can only
refer to the of other denominations i'm rails
ing such fund and will cite only one instance
The special collection taken in the Sundayschools of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in June 1900
for the special purpose of charging their Sunday
school work amounted to $2,655. If their 1912
schools raise $2655 in one collection it is a safe
proposition to say that orr 2Ioo schools and 800
Young Peoples Societies can raise $1,000 if the mat
ter is properly presented to them
Our Sunday schoos reported $3.50 spent for cur
rent expenses and $2oII7 contributed for other
causes in 1900 while Young Peoples Societies
reported about $4,000 contributed for various causes
total of 100000 given by young people, so it is
reflection Upon their generosity and enthusiasm to