Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-03
ANNUAL CONVENTION
District Sunday School Asso-
citation in Session.
MEETING LAST NIGHT
OPENING ADDRESS BY MR.. n. B. F.
MACFARLAND.
President MILAN Reviews Work o
Year-Rev. Winbigler Discusses
Influence of Bible.

day School Association of the District of
Columbia had its beginning last evening at
the First Congrega tional Church. A praise
service from 100 to s, conducted by Mr..
Percy s. Foster, director, and Mr.. H. l..
Amss, organist, preceded the program of
the evening
President w. w. MILAN called the con-
vention to order at o'clock. Rev. Dr. s.
NJ. Newman, pastor of the church read the
Scriptures and offered a prayer, after which
Mr.. II. B. F. Mcfarland, president of the
board of Commissioners of the District
made a brief address Mr.. Macfarland said
that he came to testify to the worth and
| Importance of such a gathering; that Off
cially he was the spokesman of the COM
munity. and he came to say the word which
is in the heart of the community. Contin-
uing. he said:
You represent over one-sixth of the pop
| ulation of the District. Under your leader
ship they are studying the greatest and the
best of books They are studying 1t systemat-
ically and with moral purpose. Not as
an object of art or a curiosity of science.
but a guide to life. The mere statement
of tins fact, together with our knowledge
that the Bible school is now by far the
greatest means for teaching the Bible and
its truths. pictures the Importance of your
work. Without payment in money, without
reward in fame. you and those whom You
represent are steadily doing an incalculable
service to this community. 1t is easy to see
defects in the Sunday school, as in any
other institution managed by men and Wo-
men. But its merits and its achievements
so greatly exceed it's shortcomings that no
intelligent person can upon examination
fail to count it one of the great factors N
advancing the highest civiiza ton. Imagine
it abolished knowing that there is nothing
to take it's place. and you realize its vital
Importance. Only the ignorant attack the
Sunday school. and it profits by improving
,xl,, aly no a
ing so much for the District deserve its
hearty thanks"
President Millan's Address.
President w. W. MILAN followed Commits
sioner Macfarland in his annual address.
He said he desired the convention to be
more than mere love feast. and that new
ideas and inspiration should be gained. He
called attention to the report of the field
worker. which shows gain in membership
of 10. as opposed to last years loss CT 500,
the increase being largely in the home de-
partment. The Sunday school field he
said. lis well occupied in the District, but
there should be gain. especially among the
adult church-goers. The character of the
work done by the schools is up to the best
standards in the country.
Mr. MILAN referred to the observance of
Decision day and Rally day" with their
good results. and also to the excellent work
of the home department and primary
lens" he said. lis how to stop the leakage,
and the way to do it is to have the father
and the mother in the school The Sunday
school ideal for the twentieth century is
all the church in the school While most
of the GcceSSionS to church membership
come from the Sunday school. yet many
boys and girls drift away from both school
and church. He told of a Sunday school
thermometer for the District, which he had
made. the temperature being shown by the
ratio of school enrolment to church mem
bership. This association" he declared
in closing. desires to help you to help the
great work of the Sunday school,
After the offering, Miss Elizabeth Wahly
sang. with fine effect, "Open Ye the Gates
of the Temple
The Bible and It's Influence.
The main address of the evening was de-
livered by Rev. DR.. c. F. Winbigler, pastor
of the First Baptist Church. His theme
was, THE Bible and Its Influence in the
World" He spoke of the books of the
Bible and their authors; that it treats OF
all sorts of subjects, and the consumma-
ton is Jesus Christ; but that in one thing
it is remarkable, namely, that there is es-
sential agreement all through about God
and man.
"The Bible also teaches" he said, that
God made provision for mans sins. The
cosmogony of the Bible is superior to that
of the ethnc religions. Ii has been often
OVerthrOWn. seemingly, but IL Is stronger
than ever. 1t is the book of God for man,
and satisfies his deepest lOngings and an
swers his hardest questions. 1t is the
source of the best morals the world knows.
1t furnishes the best literature and inspires
the best art and music OF the world. Only
where it is taught does science achieve it's
triumphs. 1t gives peace in this world and
promises peace in the world to come
THE Bible was never so popular as now.
In the past ten years nearly 6o,Gm,pOO
copies of ii have been issued by the Ameri-
can and British Bible Societies alone. Only
here is taught the fatherhOod of God and
the brotherhood of man. lntidelity would
destroy it, but gives nothing in its place.
1t is a universal book; it is Gods book,
Gods love letter to men. If all people in
Washington for the next five years would
obey its commands there would be heaven
among us"
At the conclusion of DIR. Winbigler's ad-
dress. President MILAN announced the COM
mitteeS. On nominationS-MessrS j. s.
Barker. J. f. Johnson Washington Top
ham. ]. T. Dawson. c. a. Baker. On reso-
lutions-Messrs l.. ID. Alden, l.. S. Depew,
c. w. Bohannon, w. f. Hummer, j. A.
Scott.
The meeting adjourned with the singing
of a hymn and Il prayer, and benediction
by Rev. DR.. j. j. Muir.
Second Session.
The second session of the convention was
begun at 2:3O o'clock this afternoon. The
time is being taken up chiefly with a con-
ference of the District Primary Union, led
by Mrs. NJ. G. Kennedy of Philadelphia.
There will be an address on primary work,
by Mrs. Wilbur F. Crafts, honorary presi-
dent of the International Primary Union.
| A pleasing musical program has also been
arranged.
| The other sessions of the convention will
| be held at 30 o'clock this evening and to-
| morrow at 1890 O'Clock am. 80 in the
| afternoon and 7:30 In the evening
Quality is what makes price. If Burrett's
| Vanilla Extract was n better than other