The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-09

ury has not been drawn upon for dis
trict work
These district conventions are times OF
enthusiasm, study and conservation, and
In most sections Of the state are looked
forward TO as being one of the important
events in the year. The delegates assem-
| blA-~itt- er -rarrEstneys or purpose that
impresses itself upon all hearts, and crys-
talizes into action that IL bearing fruit
There have been here 81 conferences.
These differ from the conventions in that
they are usually confined 10 the teachers
and officers OF A town or village and the
general public are not invited II is in
these meetings that we come into hand
to-hand contact with the individual work.
ers and discuss the problems confronting
them and present plans for more extern
sive work. We feel grateful for what
has been accomplished in these confer
ences.
The several districts have held 10 rail-
lies, usually an evening meeting only, in
some iolated or specially needy section
OF their districts, thus carrying the en-
thusiasm Of numbers into the remote
places Of the state
HOME AND NORMAL WORK.
Our home department and normal work
haze not made the -prngEaSs- this year that
we could desire. So much time and
thought has been given TO district organi-
zation and other branches OF the work
that these two important features have
not received the attention that their inn
portance warrants. Both are. however.
In healthy condition and have more
than held their own.
We need state normal suporintend-
ent and home department secretary
who shall present the work at all dis
trict conventions Your secretary cannot
dO = elo l,e
other pressing duties In the conventions.
The present condition OF primary work
In Rhode Island is Ia some respects en-
couraging, I'm that &c is on the up grade
generally speaking Teachers are being
developed by the Providence primary
union and by the occasional presentation
OF primary methods at the several con-
ventions. But we are not satisfied. Real
izing the Importance of primary work and
believing that more active steps should
be taken for its advancement, the state
executive committee at its last meeting
sanctioned the idea OF organizing a state
primary council TO more critically exam
Inc conditions and plan for special work
In this line during tina -NaaFr--
The true teacher OF Gods word will
teach In constant expectancy that the
unconVerted IN the class will accent
Christ. While IL is true that there are no
fixed times when God Is specially ready
To pardon, Vet the seasons when soul
harvests are more readily gathered are
those which follow periods OF prayerful
teaching and praying for immediate re-
suits. There Is wonderful power I'm con-
certed action. The best and surest way
10 keep the youth from staying away
from the teachings of the Sunday school
Is 10 lead them into fellowship with Christ
and the church while IN early youth. The
observation Of decision day provides
these periods of prayerfu teaching and
concerted action. and does lead the
youth into fellowship with Christ and the
church.
The state association urged the schools
~ the state To set apart Sunday March
Sist. 1901. az decision day and many
schools united - observing IL with re-
suits that were astonishing More than
1000 Of the youth Of our schools signined
n desire 10 become Christians I'm that one
day, and many Of them have since Joined
the church. Decision day has come 10
stay.
There has been placed IN my hands by
q friend Of the cause $3.50 - he used for
q circulating library 10 be kept In the
field secretary's office and which shall be-
absolutely free 20 tho Sunday school
workers OF the state The first order for
books has been siven and they are es-
pected to arrive this week. The library
will contain hooks on pedagogy. psychol-
ogv kindergarten child study. primary
work. normal study. Bible study. black
board ILLUSTRATES. the sunday school
Temperance teaching and general topics
and other books will be added as the de-
mands on tho library increase and as
new hooks arc published. sunusy school
workers arc invited 10 use these books
freely.