The Portland daily press., 1900-10-12
ONE OLA GREAT ARMY.
Interesting Facts Regarding the IN ter
national and State Sunday School As
sociatfon.

collection Of interesting Sunday school
facts The International convention, Of
which Mr.. Lawrence Is general secretary,
meets once IN three years, the next meet
ing to be in Denver in 1872. Hon. Hoke
Smith was chosen president at the last
meeting IN Atlanta, his home. Mr.. B.
+. Jacobs, Chicago, the father Of organ
ized Sunday school work, Is stin Acting
Chairman Of the convention and has
been for forty years at the head OF its ac-
tivities.
The statistical report presented at At
lanta IN 1859, shows the number Of Sun
day schools in Nor h America to be IA, ,139,
with AS, sos teachers and 1907, ,325
scholars, and total enrolment of 13,
400, ,623, gain in numbers Of 464. .905 IN
three years. In the entire world there
are &c, 600, OJO Protestant Sunday school
scholars and teachers, and 10000, 600 Of
these study the International system Of
Bible lessons. The chief system outside
the International is the Blakeslee system.
Some Of the direct steps Of progress re-
sulting from organized Sunday. school
work have been the primary and kinder
garten methods Of teaching the 'little
ones, the Cradle Roll. to catch the babies,
Decision Day movements, to encourage
preparation for church membership; the
Home Department, for those who cannot
attend Sabbath school, normal courses
in the Bible and methods Of work, dis
triet institutes, summer schools and other
conferences, and Sunday school state
papers Of which there ara over thirty in
the United States.
The Maine State Sunday School asso-
citation was organized over thirty years
ago, and its present president, Rev.
Smith Baker, D. D., was one of its earH-
est promoters. B. c. Jordan OF Alfred,
ex-president, was another. Hon. Nelson
Dingley was for a long time leading
officer Its present board Of officers en-
braces five clergymen and four laymen.
The treasurer, Mr.. L. NJ. Douglas, has
found the most arduous duties attached
to his Office, but this year he is feeling
exuberant over the prospect Of going to
T Dexter convention next Tuesday with all
bills paid, including the balance Of
debt that the association has carried for
many years. If he succeeds, there will
be d jubilee indeed in Dexter nex5 week.
The main features of the convention
programme will be furnished by Mr..
Marion Lawrence, Toledo, Ohio; Mr.. c.
d Meigs. Indianapolis, Ind, an inimit-
able humorist and most energetic worker;
Rev. Dr.. c. n Spalding Of Boston,
Mass. A. A. Stebbins Of Fitchburg,
and Miss E. S. Lucas, formerly primary
superintendent Of the association. The
sessions open at 2 80 Tuesday next, and
close st noon on Thursday
The chief reports to be presented will
be that Of the Field Worker, 1. N. Halli-
day, of Portland. This will show that
AIr. Halliday has visited every county in
the State, has attended l6 county oonven-
tions, made 1913 addresses at conventions,
held "a Sunday evening rallies, occupied
pulpit rs times, addressed % week day
meetings, visited rs Sunday schools in
session, reaching in all 80, 600 people, or.
ganized nine district associations, reor-
gapized five district associations, written
100 letters, mailed and distributed
about II, 600 circulars. etc., collected in
offerings and subscriptions $780, His
opinion is that Maine business men are
slow to avail themselves Of a field of
work for the moral uplifting Of the State
that is not to be found in any other or
ganization Of the church. In the schools
managed by business men or women,
who use system and progressive ability
the greatest results have been reached.
This is practical age.
The report Of the primary superintend-
ent, Miss q. S. Lucas, viii speak of new
primary unions in Portland, South Port
land, Lewiston and Auburn, Bangor,
Calais and others revived. The primary
departments furnish the most encourag-
ing features Of the work. Miss Lucas
was employed seven months and visited
many parts Of the State.
e The report Of the normalsup uperintendent
will show a slight increase IN the num-
Der of students who are taking normal
courses. Several will receive diplomas at
State convention.
The statistical reports viii be more COM
plete than ever before, yet come far from
a thorough knowledge of the progress of
sunday school work all over the State.
Several schools in small places have been
given up this year, chiefly because there
is no one competent to conduct them, To
reorganize would be folly until a leader
can be found to manage the school,
Twenty to twenty-five new schools have
been learned of. some Of them most
hopefully started. Several schools report
gratifying Increase in attendance and
interest, and as many report decreases.
There are probably 1000 Protestant
Sunday schools in Maine, 1900 Of them
being connected with the State associa-
ton. Chestnut Street NJ. E. Sunday
school of this city continues to be the
largest school in Maine, with over 1000
enrolled, including Home Department.
Plymouth Free Baptist Sunday school Of
this city ranks next, and Woodfords Con-
gregationsl third. Some Of the small