The Washington times., 1901-10-29
WORDS OF CHEER SPOKEN.
Distinguished Speakers Addr, S
Sunday School Convention.
Commissioner MacfarInnd Presides
mt the Opening S"session-Dr. Whit
man. Formerly President of Co
iumbian College. Endorses Work.

,
An immense religious gathering last
night filed the Calvary Baptist Church
| for the opening session of the eighth an
nual Sunday school convention of the Dis
trict of Columbia. Distinguished sneak
ers churchmen, and laymen loaned their
encouragement to the Sunday school en-
deavor in Washington, and inaugurated
in impressive addresses an event which
already gives promise Of considerable i'm
portance Every seat in the church was
filled. and earnest attentiveness charac-
terized the congregation.
The convention was opened by a song
service conducted by Percy S. Foster
Jerome +. johnson, President of the Dis
triCt of Columbia Sunday School Associa.
ton then introduced the presiding officer.
II. 3. F. Macfarland. President of tn
Board of Commissioners, who said
"It is an honor to preside over this con
vention, which represents in its twelve
hundred delegates over fifty Thousand OF
the people of the District of Columbia
There is no other element in the District
which contributes more to the permanent
Improvement of our citizenship. if all the
learners whom these delegates represent
practice the lessons that they are taugh.
there will be 4 wonderful advance toward
the noblest ideals OF living.
THE six thousand teachers in the Sun
day schools of the District of Columbia
all of them volunteers, serving without
any other reward than the results of
their work. are rendering a service ia
the community which many of them do
not realize and which many of their fel-
low citizens do not appreciate. 1t is an
unselfsh service on their part, involving
not only ability attachments. and con-
stant hard study, but self-sacrifice, pa
tience persistency, through all difficulties
and discouragements. For the most part
it is done in obscurity and without tho
recognition or the praise of men, but
with an eye single to the glory Of God
1T has become however, a delightful
service to many, who would not give 1t up
for any other. 1t is full of inspiration.
II deals with the eternal things and with
immortal spirits. and at the same time
in the most practical way II steadily irn-
proves the character of the community
life These teachers, who are helping to
make good citizens. deserve the thanks
of the District and all the encouragement
that can be given them
Rev. S. NJ. Newman, ID. z, conducted
the Scripture service and was followed by
=
dents address.
Mr.. johnson complimented the associa-
ton on the earnest support given it by the
pastors of Washington churches. Ad-
vance in the work. he considered. required
greater preparation among teachers.
Rev r. L. Whitman, ID. D., LII. D.,
formerly President of Columbian College,
this city, and now pastor of the Fifth
Baptist Church, of Philadelphia, who
came to Washington for the purpose of
being present at the opening of the con-
ventlon, was introduced by Commissioner
Macfarland.
MacfarlaEd, has never been able to fill
the place made vacant when DIR. Whit
man went to Philadelphia. This is the
first time that he has spoken here since
ed in kind, referring to Commissioner
Mcfarland as an IDEAL citizen With
Good Citizenship as his theme, Dr.
Whitman spoke at some length of the
need of morality for the proper discharge
Of public duty. Purity of morals was to
be obtained. he asserted, through such
efforts as the association was furtherinS
President Johnson announced the APP
pointment OF the following committees:
Committee on Resolutions-Rev. Stanley
Billhcimer, Mr.. A. L, Dietrich, MI Il. A
Muir Grant Leet, Arthur RoDb.
Committee on Nominations-Mr. A. NJ.
McBath, Mr.. E. I. Booraem, Mr.. w. j.
Bowman. Mr.. j. h. Dawson, Dr H. H.
SeltZer.
DIR. whitman offered prayer and pro-
nounced the benediction.
The convention will be in session until
Wednesday night. The following is the
programme for today:
Tuesday. October g, 2:15 p. m; Devo-
tional exercises. Rev. Gerhart A. Wilson;
Dr. F. A. Swartwour, cornetisti Mrs
Thomas Z. Gilbert, pianist 2:30, address,
The What Why, and How of Normal
Work" Rev. a. II. Mckinney, Superin-
tendent of Normal Work for State of New
York; 900 addresses, How / Conduct an
Adult Class" Judge Stanton J. Peele,
Francis w. Vaughn, Miss Katharine ].
Laws; 3:30. "A Normal Lesson Taught
with the Audience for a Class, Rev a:
S Mckinney; 4:1o. singing; 400, round
table. subject, Normal Training Classes
Tuesday. October 29, 1880 y. m, Judge
Thomas II. Anderson presiding-Service
of song led by Hamli9e Church choir,
William ]. Palmer, director; Otis T.
SWEET organist; Dr f. A. Swartwout,
cornetist; 1850. reading of Scriptures and
prayer. Rev. Granville s. Williams, d. D;
S, annual report of secretary and field
worker, w. W. MILAN; $40 annual report
of treasurer, ]. II. Lichllter: Offering;
music. led by Hamline Church choir; $50,
Decision Day (ten minutes each), +. i.
Middleton. f. ]. Booraem, DR.. II. II.
Scltzer; $50 address Adolescence, Rev
a II. Nc chimney: prayer and benedictlon