Evening star., 1901-10-30
IH
Sunday Scho6k' Workers Receive In
struction. in Art of Teaching.
THE ADDRESSES DELIVERED TODAY
Founding q. New y Department il"
Field Hfherto Overlooked.
THE LOCAL CONDITIONS


the home, the primary work and the gem
erai work of the teachers in Sabbath
schools, the eighth annual convention OF
the Sunday School Association of the Dis
trict of Columbia will come to close to-
day. The morning assembly was devoted
to the home department of the association,
and the program included discussion of
the methods whereby Sunday school teach
ers reach the '.shut-inv and invalid work
ers in the cause. This afternoon the dele
gates are being taught modern methods OF
expounding the Sunday school lessons for
the understanding, of primary pupils. now
the blackboard talks" and the use of music
in the primary room. The evening meeting
will include the report of the committee on
nominations, the election of the officers of
the association and twelve delegates to the
tenth International Sunday school conven-
tion and two addresses.
The discussion of home work naturally
drew to Calvary Sunday school house only
the delegates to the, convention partlcu-
larly interested in that feature of the work.
The meeting was regarded, however, as one
of the most practical and helpful ever held
at an annual convention of the association.
In the course of the three addresses deiv-
cred the delegates heard innumerable StO-
ries of home work successes.
Welcome and Review.
Miss Katie S.. White, the president, OPEN
ed the meeting with brief statement IN
tended to serve both as welcome to the
delegates and review of the past years
work A''-~'
Twelve new departments are reported
as having been organized since the last
convention she said, Presbyterian, four;
Methodist Episcopal, three; Methodist
Protestant two; Baptist, one; Lutheran,
one The total membership in the District
is as follows: Methodist Protestant. 1856;
undenominatienal, 1873; Christian. 1876; Luth-
eran, 212; Congregational. 293; Methodist
Episcopal, 400; Baptist, 631, and Presby-
terian, 1,121, making a total of 3,1o7. The
gain during the year was $685.
1.-The Presbyterian is the banner denom-
ination. 1t still holds the lead as regards
the number of departments and members.
Last year it's roll included 749; this year
1,121 showing a gain of 372. 1t now has
sixteen departments.
by means of our union the workers ara
coming more into personal contact with one
another, and this helpful Influence is telling
In the establishment of new departments
and in the increase of fellowship and inter-
est in the work. I hope there will be more
of it in the coming days"
The Field Workers.
Mrs. Mary Foster -Bryner, one of the field
workers in the primary department for the
International Sunday School Association,
spoke at some length on the establishment
of new societies and the encouragement
given home department workers. Instances
Of families seeking home department help
at distance Of 300 miles; Of 240 members
obtained through the effort of one woman;
Of societies that grew far beyond even the
hopes of their. founders were cited; and the
methods adopted explained. The work as
signed to children was dwelt upon, particu-
larly the .cradle eroll'-a scheme of enroll
ing babies before their first birthday ami
older members of the department by the
youngsters Of the infant schools. Finally
the speaker went over In detail the steps
necessary to found a new department In
field hitherto unworked, and closed with
very pathetic anecdote of an entire family
brought into the Sunday school through
the accidental enrolment of a baby's name.
Rev. Charles Alvin Smith, pastor of Peck
meeting with brief application of Mrs.
Bryner's principles to local conditions.
Afternoon Program.
This afternoon the delegates are consid-
ering the District Primary Union, under
the leadership Of Mrs. Weston Flint The
program includes an address on Lesson
Construction by Miss Elizabeth " Brown;
a talk on blackboard instruction by Mrs
Bryner and a paper on music in the pri-
mary room by Mrs. Julia T. Bodfish. The
last feature of the afternoon Will be the
toaSiii 3 "a sAS fSaiA.'"s SSAooi leSSoH loE
November 3. ~
Normal Work Considered.
The normal work of the Sunday school
and a night session given over to the gen
eral problems of Sunday school labor oc-
cupied the delegates yesterday. The at
tendance at both meetings was large In
the evening, on the night previous, the
church building was filed to the doors.
Throughout both sessions of the convention
the closest possible interest was manifested.
but the object lesson in the instruction of
normal classes was apparently the most
absorbing feature Of the day.
Rev. A. II. Mckinney superintendent of
normal work for the state of New York,
was the chief speaker of both meetings.
In the afternoon he delivered an address on
1.-The What, Why and How of Normal
Work. and conducted a class as he would
teach the usual normal class in the Sunday
school, making use of the audience as pro
tempore pupils. This was set on the pro-
gram for $50 o'clock, but out of Difference
to the wishes of many teachers at work In
the departments was deferred until 400
The lesson evoked demonstrations of the
liveliest possible approval. 1t was moreover
demonstration of the precepts announced
by Mr.. Mckinney in his address earlier in
the afternoon.
Prerequisite to Teachers knowledge.
The speakers position was that normal
work was a prerequisite to the teachers
knowledge of the Bible and his ability to
teach the Bible. Before Mr.. Mckinney clos
ed he reviewed the normal work now done
in New York and touched briefly upon the
advance in the training of teachers being
made throughout the country.
Brief talks on the instruction of adult
classes were made lby Judge Stanton j.
Peele of -GAuse> of the Covenant. Mr..
Francis W. sdaughi of Calvary Baptist
Church, Miss Katherine J. Laws of Foundry
Church. all thYees hsYingr made particular
study of nstxHcting. grown-up Sunday
Mr. James L. AEwfh, second vice president
of the associaeibn5 presided over the after
noon meetings Those who took part in ad-
dition to the speakers indicated We're Rev,
and Mrs Thofqas Z. Gilbert.
Annua Report.
In the evening ,JVage Peelle presided in
lieu of JudgetoW II. Chambers, who was
unable to be pfesenef because of illness. A
brief song service Needed the formal ses-
sion.
The secretary and field worker, Mr.. W.
port m hh Mhieh 1 w part. as nis foiows sMnuai re-
from