The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-11
CITY NEWS.
TALKEDOFS.S. WORK
Annual Conference Of Missionaries
and Officers Of A. S. S. U. Labor
ing in Minnesota.
Topics of Vital Importance in Work
! Reviewed by Men in
. jf.l,i Field.

The annual conference Of the mission
aries and officers Of the American Sun
day School union now laboring IN Min
nesota met Tuesday and "Wednesday at
the St James hotel In this city thirteen
missionaries were present beside the state
missionary, F. A. Bartlett, OF this city,
and District Superintendent F. G. En-
sign of Chicago, Seventeen years ago the
first district conference Of the northwest
ern district, including nine states was
held here. and the entire force Of mission
aries in the whole district was equal to
Just the present number In Minnesota,
while the present force In the district
is $50.
After a very helpful devotional meeting
Tuesday led by ". NJ. McCoombs, J. O.,
Ferris Of Brainerd opened the discussion
of How to Organize Sunday School,"
suggesting how best to find the needy
places, how to gather the children and
others into a Sunday school, how to find
material for manning the work. how to
organize the school and how to inspire the
people for the work. c. M. Williams next
read an excellent paper on Home Wis
ttaticn." He showed how missionaries
should be pastors to the countless pas
torless homes, and related some remark
able results Of visits in neglected homes.
Mr.. Sullivan Of Winona showed how i'm
portant were gospel meetings for opening
the way, arousing interest and providing
most needy districts. He reported fifty
five conversions in one such meeting.
Others reported similar remarkable re-
suits.
In the afternoon B. L. Weber led the
discussion Of the topic How to Make
Our Sunday Schools Permanent" Pray
erful and careful preparation and work
In organizing, and constant watch and
care by the organizer or by any minister
and use Of revival meetings were sug
gested. It was shown, however that
some Sunday schools which continue only
a short time accomplish great results. as
for example the conversion Of world-re-
nowned preachers. Rev; George r. G.
Fisher Of Northf1eld showed how home
department work might be organized to
provide Bible teaching for districts where
1t Is impossible to open a regular Sun
day school. J. e. Robinson Of Fairmont
gave excellent illustrations Of how to use
blackboard object lessons. This was fol-
lowed by interesting experiences and in
cidents related by each missionary in
turn. and this by some very helpful sug-
gestions to the men by State Mission
airy Bartlett and Superintendent Ensign,
who have won the hearts of the mission
aries and the confidence OF so many in
fluentia1. Christian business men.
In the evening a delightful banquet was
presided over by D. G. Bell At his call
Superintendent Ensign briefly stated the
character Of the American Sunday School
union and it's object to provide Bible
school privileges for every destitute COM
mun1ty that Is not reached by any church
agency. and to put the results of the
work into the hands Of the churches best
prepared to care for them. Several prom
inent pastors and business men and others
were present at this session sf