Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-16

did the best Il could" according TO tie
advantages and environment. There
was no Deseret Sunday School Union to
give counsel, direct, unity and solldify
There were no Stake organizations to
aid in this good work. Every Sunday
school followed It's own devices, It's
scholars were taught according to the
best light its teachers possessed, often
hampered greatly by the lack Of proper
books and other appliances, and the
time Of gathering differed according to
the judgment Of the officers or was In
nuenced by local conditions
Il is not surprising that many Of the
early schools were short lived, some
closed as others opened. But year after
year the numbers increased until the
move Of the Church south IN 1858, which
migration effectually closed, for the
time being, the schools established In
the northern parts Of the Territory. In
dian raids had, indeed previous TO this,
been the cause Of the closing OF a num-
Der Of schools In the south. either tenn
porarily or permanently. In the early
sixties Sunday schools increased. and
within a few years they sprang up In all
parts Of the country then settled.
In the schools Of the earlier years the
scholars almost universally brought
their own books, and they were few.
The exercises were largely confined TO
the reading OF the Bible Very little
besides reading was done. In many
schools classes were devoted TO teach
Ing the scholars 10 read, and McGuffy's
Readers and the like were much In evil
dence. This lack OF books was the
great drawback OF those days, and
strange 10 relate, considering our pres
ent ideas Of the advantages Of the Sun
day schools, another obstacle was the
indifference and, once IN a while, the
opposition manifested by the ward and
local authorities. A few not realizing
that Sunday schools were the nurseries
OF the Church." gave them the cold
ENuAIhNl ar a'N AlA AaN AAAlNN at lhAINH AAhA
times have changed. we know better
now, In those early days the singing
also was very primitive. There were no
organs and hymn books were scarce
and again, the hymns sung did not ap-
peal to the hearts and understandings
Of the children, as there were at that
time no special hymn and song books
published for the use and adapted
10 the comprehension and tastes Of our
Juvenile population.
SO for years the Sunday school cause
langulshed in Zion. Elder George O..
Cannon gave II fresh start on his re-
turn. IN 1854, from presiding IN the Eu-
ropean mission. In 1866 he commenced
the publication Of the Juvenile In
structor" which has done a world OF
good IN its sphere. This was followed
/ by the organization Of the Deseret Sun
day School Union In 1867; but Il was not
/ until 1872 that the union fairly took hold
Of matters and gradually gave 10 the
| Sunday schools the unity. the strength
and the excellence that now dlstln-
/ gulsh 30 many OF them, and make
/ them the great power Dor good IN the
midst OF the people Of God which we
are an pleased 10 acknowledge Presl.
dent George O. Cannon has been from
the first the head or general superln.
J feudent OF the unlon For some time n,
had no assistants. Then Elder Georg,
/ Goddard was sustained AZ his only as
| sIstart. and later Elder John Morgan
/ became hts second assistant. After FL
der Morgan's death Or Karl G. Maesei
was appointed 90 ON his place. but n,
one has yet been appointed 20 M IN,
vacancy caused by the more recen
death Of Brother Goddard
Besides the general board OF IN,
union each Stake of Zion has now
Stake SUPPLEMENTARY secretary, treas
ureT librarian, etc. and IN come Of Oh,