The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-10-30
NEW HAVEN VEST CONFERENCE
of Congregational Churches-Thirty-
eighth Annual Meeting.

et2nEh annual MeeJlnSs
The thirty-eighth annual meeting of
the New Haven West conference Of
Congregational churches was held at
Humphrey street church yesterday. The
conference was called to order by Rev.
DIR. William w. McLane of this city,
A. B. Miller of the United church was
elected moderator.
The standing committee consisted of
William w. McLane, Charles B. Cam
ada and Benjamin NJ. Wright The
conference included nearly all of the
Congregational churches in New Haven
county Each church is represented by
it's pastor and one delegate for each
one hundred members.
The devotional exercises were con-
Quoted by Rev. Fl. H. Morse. The first
topic considered was the discussion,
Shall the Sunday School be Changed
to Day SCHOOL," and was opened
by Rev Henry w. Davies Of West
vile. Mr.. Davies closed his paper as
follows:
bSlOFS ClOSlLSS may Wy SkhtASAP~-
ton, answer certain objections which
occur as we contemplate this argument
| from efficiency. 1t should be remen-
bered that the point we have been deal
| ing with refers to the transfer of the
| Sunday school from Sunday to a week
| day, not to the defects or merits of the
| Sunday school as such: only the tenn
| poral element is involved at present.
| There are some, Notwithstanding, who
| will object to such a change on the
| ground that it is revolutionary. The
answer to this is that the fear is ex-
aggerated, and cannot be sustained if
/ efficiency is the aim of the spiritual
service, not magnitude. A more serious
| objection is that it would not work.
1t is estimated that there are some 25,-
900, 900 persons in the Sunday schools
of the world. Our objector asks: How
many of these would be able (presup-
| posing willingness) to attend on week
day? He declares that statistics would
be against the change. 1t is obvious
that this objection rests its case
on magnitude, not efficiency, upon the
fear of losing the present large figures
entirely in the interests of efficiency.
Our Lord the perfect teacher, trained
twelve men. This was efficiency as dis
tinguished from magnitude. Another
objection contends that the change
would inevitably tend to lower the sa-
| credness of the Bible. This I cannot see
in the least, for there is no possibility
of changing the truth of the Bible 1t
is as sacred on Monday as on Sunday.
And if the Bible does not suffer from
week day handling, it is certain that
week day life would not suffer by be-
ing handled by the Bible in close quar-
ters. Another objection is that suitable
teachers could not be secured in the
week time to undertake the work. It
is not clear what the word suitable
means, but I am convince that teach
ers quite as good as those now at work
could be found to take up the work
and this is saying much for our Sun
day school teachers. Finally, it is
claimed that the change is precluded
absolutely by the already crowded
work of the weak time. 1t is easy tc
reply to this objection by saying that
people have time for theater-going, fol
parties and social functions, for pleas
ures of all sorts, but this appears tc
me to be weak form of pleading, fol
the pleader can nearly always be showr
to be guilty in the premises. The true
reply to it is: People will always fine
time for thing that needs to bt
done when the right motive is brough
forward for its execution. No one il
so busy, except the idler, that he ha:
no time for work which means tht
moral improvement of himself and hi.
kind. The Bible is the most import
ant instrument of spiritual knowledg,
we possess; to be ignorant of it is bat
enough; but to be unwilling TO TAXI
trouble to make it an agent in tn,
moral improvement of the nation is no
only unpatriotic, but little short o
I selfishness; and there is no arguing
; with the selfish; they simply canno
comprehend spiritual value.
1 am aware that l am pleading {
forlorn hope, but 1 have this satisfac
. ton in concluding this paper, viz: o
suggesting way whereby the Bibl'
might be made the most efficient agen
of moral education. Whether the Sun
day school "shalP' or "will' undertake
the work remains of course to be seen
At twelve o'clock the meeting ad
journed and in the basement of thu
church the ladies served to the dele
gates delicious collation.. At on
o'clock the meeting came to order ant
the report of the nominating committee
was heard, which was Immediately fol
' lowed by the report of the CO. operating
missionary committee. At two o'clocl
there was a. discussion on 1.-THE Neet
" of Systematic and Liberal Giving t.
Our Missionary Boards Opened b,
Judge Livingston w. Cleaveland, whicl
was at three o'clock followed by AR
+ Auxiliary Societies Helpful to tn
q Churches?" Such as Mems clubs
Rove Snoiatioc ot<