The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-07

The opening session of the Alabama Conference Sunday School Institute was held last night in the Sunday School room of the Court Street Methodist Church. The institute was called to order by MT. A. Roemer.
 Nearly seventy delegates representing all parts of the Alabama Conference. which includes Southern Alabama. and a part of Florida, were in attendance. Many more delegates will arrive today to take part in the sessions of today and tomorrow.
 In addition to the delegates from a dis tance, the Sunday School room was filled with an audience of interested workers and teachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
 Prof H. M Hamill of Nashville Is to lead the work of the institute. He is considered one of the foremost Sunday School workers in the world and is a man or distinction. For twenty years he serv- ed as Field Secretary of the Information al Sunday School Union. Dr. Hamill is now superintendent of training work of the Methodist Episcopal Church. This offlce was created by the General Con- ference which met in Dallas, Tex, last May. pr. Hamill was immediately ap- pointed to the ofice.
 Dr. Hamill Is a native of Alabama and is a son of Rev. E. Hamill. himself. during his lifetime, a member of the Alabama Conference.
 The institute was opened by a song and prayer service.
 MT George Stowers of the Dexter Ave- nue Methodist Church delivered the ai- dress of welcome. MT. Stowers in a few well chosen words told of the object of the institute and its plan of work; and welcomed the visitors in behalf of the people and the Methodists of the city.
 Rev. J. T. Mangum of Jackson respond ed to the welcome in behalf of the dele gates. He said that he was glad of the opportunity to come to Montgomery for Montgomery alway sopened it's doors to strangers. and he knew that he voiced the sentiments of all the delegates. He spoke briefly but with strong apprecia- ton and said he hoped that all the dele gaaes would weigh carefully all they heard, digest the good and go back home prepared to profit by the lessons taught. In behalf of the delegates he thanked Montgomery and the churchmen for their hospitality and their pains and their work in preparing the program.
 Mir. Roemer spoke for about ten min utes on the sacred calling of the teacher in Sunday School wor1x-their great work was the salvation of their scholars and developing the child into a strong, trua Christian.
 Judge Joseph Carthel was called upon to give an outline of work done in the State. Judge Carthel is the Field Secre- tary of the Alabama State Sunday School Association. He had just return ed from Lee County where he said the work in Sunday Schools had wonderfully progressed. He believed in a house to house canvass ,and cited the great work of the Opelika Sunday School which now leads in the State as an example of what can be done by persistent, systematic and intelligent effort.
 Dr. Hamill. whose train had been de- layed. came in at late hour. He begged the indulgence of the audience and said that after a conference with a few ott.- CTS he had decided to give only one of his addresses. Hrs. Hamill. also. who was to have spoken. would postpone her ad- dress until this morning at the lO:3d session.
 Dr. Hamilrs subject was "The Problem of the Teacher" He divided the problem of the modern Sunday School teacher into three parts, or rather told of the three- fold burden which has been cast upon his shoulders.
 He gave the resume of the early his tory Of Methodism when conversions de- pended largely upon evangelistic work in periodical revivaIs. Now the ancient order has passed away, and religion in the