Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-02
The Annual Conventions.


For seven wears past there has been
held annually delegate convention that
has taken rank l am justified in saying,
with those of the states. An average Of
about 900 delegates have attended these
conventions annually. The expenses have
been met by the voluntary contributions
from the schools, whereby they were free
to all.
TN this connection wish to speak of our
next convention. The"dates fixed upon are
October IS to 30, and the use of the CAL
vary Baptist Church has been granted.
DR.. Talmage has consented to deliver the
address at the opening session, and Mr.
Lawrence, the general secretary for the
United States, Is expecting to be with us
throughout the meeting. The program will
include addresses and practical instruction
in the organization Of normal courses for
Sunday school teachers and scholars, by
Rev. A. H. Mckinney. Phi D., superintend-
ent of normal work for New York city.
"'Decision day will have it's place, with
it's value and results, by some Of our SUI
perintendents who can speak from per-
sonal observation. The day, February 8,
was observed by the schools more general
lv this year than hitherto. and, far as
i have been able to learn, the results have
net been disappointing.
1.-THE matter Of increasing the number of
delegates from the schools Is under con-
sideration, as thereby the smaller schools
may derive greater benefit from the con-
vention. A strong committee on appliances
are planning an exhibit of all that goes to
beautify and equip an up-to-date Sunday
school room. We feel that every superin-
tendent and every officer and teacher
should give to the annual District of CO.
lumbia Sunday school convention the en-
couragement Of his or her presence at as
many of the sessions as possible.
1--WE have in the District of Columbia a
Sunday school for close approximate to
,1nts
that 20 per cent Of the population are en-
rolled In the Sunday schools. I believe the
adult membership of the Sunday schools
of city is increasing more rapidly than
any other.
Nothing in the religious world in recent
wears is so remarkable as the forward
movement In the field Of Sunday school
work. We have here, he said, referring
to a booklet given each guest, "a detailed
report of great tranScontinental tour last
year, and scarcely had the twentieth CEN
fury dawned before another was planned,
and has just been completed The condi
tions are favorable in the District of Co.
lumbia for the best work. The sitting pro-
cess in our civil system brings to the cap
ital of the nation a large proportion Of rare
men, and I am fully persuaded there was
never a time when there was so large a
percentage of them Christian men and
experienced workers as there is today
The Closing Address.
An address by Mr.. Edward P. Seeds, the
new deputy auditor for the War Depart
ment followed Mr.. Seeds was introduced
as "of Iowa and New Mexico" and spoke
with characteristic western breeziness. He
took as his theme Spiritual Courage"
which he distinguished from the physical
and moral qualities. 'sWhen is such cour-
age needed?' he asked, and suggested three
answers, % "In times of prosperity for
fighting the temptations to sloth and idle
ness and pride Of heart" co I'm times of
individual encouragement and despair and
(3) I'm times of mighty upheavals of pas
sion and SIM" His next question was
From whence shall we get such courageF'
and the answer, From God. through
Christ" and his last question was, '.How?'
and the answer, There is no other wav to
obtain ench courage than by manly study
of the u ord of God.
Mr.. Seeds had taken the place Of DR. Mer-
rill E. Gates on short notice, as brother
Congregationalist, and was naturally apolo-
getic but the general expression of his
hearers was that the address was both
rirnely and excellent.
Impromptu addresses followed at the call
of the POSTMASTER from the Superintendent
of the Sunday school of Ascension Protes-
tant Episcopal Church; Mr.. A. l.. Dietrich.
non Place NJ. E. Church South; Mr.. Brad
ley, superintendent of the school of Faith
Chapel (Presbyterian), and Col Weston
Flint city librarian and member of the ey-
ecutive~ committee.
Two of the superintendents had snoker
of the help anticipated from the comnIetion
of the city library. and Col. Flint took &C.
CASTOR to say that he could promise Of
least "a reference library on Eible Utera-