New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-29
CONFERENCE OF TEACHERS.
Affairs of Catholic Sunday Schools Discussed
Yesterday by Laity.

The beautiful Sunday school chapel Of the Church
CT St Paul the Apostle. where every Sunday
morning 100 children assemble. was the yes
terday Of a much smaller but no less important
gathering. conference, namely, Of the Sunday
school teachers OF the archdiocese of Nsw-York.
Ehe conference was arranged by the committee IN
charge Of similar conference at the Catholic
Summer School. and viii probably be an annual
affair
more appropriate place for such a gathering
could hardly have been found for St Pauls Sun
day school chapel IS the envy OF oil the Sunday
school workers who have seen it
Originally e h6eous basement with huge but
tresses OF masonry supporting the pillars Of the
church above. II has been transformed into
thing Of beauty and delight TO the thousands Of
little folks who frequent It. Over the altar IS a
representation In stained glass OF the blessing OF
the children, with St Agnes. the patron Of youth,
on one side and St Michael the patron OF the
chapel. on the other. The stone buttresses, whose
blank CgHEess long perplexed the mind OF the d.
rector OF the school, the Rev. Father Thomas No
MILAN. turned out be .ust the thing for frescos.
and every OF them is now SO adorned, each
picture being selected with view to its accepta-
bity 10 the child mind The reverend director
has vivid recollection Of some sleepy saints who
used TO his childish soul, and he showed
the visitors about the chapel he was particular to
point out that there were 10 sleepy saints there
They were all busy with the affairs of active life;
St Jerome studying Hebrew, St. Joseph shaping
g block OF wood and Abraham placing food before
his angel visitants. giving ''puddin to the
ladies'" as ore Of the boys OF the school put it.
regardless Of the fact that theology requires angels
% be masculine.
The chapel was decorated yesterday in Christmas
green. with the manger OF Bethlehem at one side
% the elter and tables in the side aisles were
some interesting exhibits from the Sunday schools
OF the city and Coney Island These consisted
chiefly OF little books. n which the children had
collected poetic and pictorial illustrations of their
lessons With such a subject Christmas or
Epiphany they would have a dozen pictures by
aoHT he with IFS
Of appropriate verse. or brief composition in the
child's own language. The children enjoy this
work tremendously, It is SAID and willingly give
considerable amount Of time TO it.
The conference was one IN which women were
conspicuous not only by tkeir presence. but by the
emphasis which all the speakers laid on the work
that they might Go for the church.
The priests and the religious orders are over
whelmed with work" said Mrs B. Ellen Burke
VINO presided at the afternoon session Ihere are
thousands OF children who can never be taught IN
less the laity come forward ana do It,"
The Italians are drifting away from the Church
by thousands" said Miss Margaret E Jordan, who
labors among those people in Chinatown. They
make very poor Protestants Protsstants them
selves admit and If they are 20 be saved TO the
Church something must be done. The priests can
not help ii. What man Go in a parish OF
twenty thousand? But thers are thousands OF
young women who might act real apostles If
shey were properly trained and directed"
Dr. James Lee one Of the district superintendent
o. the public schools, said he had been thunder
struck At the difference between the work done
L. the laity in Protestant churches and in his own
Church and said that there were thousands OF
young women and hundreds Of young men VINO
ought II be engaged II the work Of teaching IN
the Sunday schools.
Miss Agnes Boyton suggested central head
quarters from which the work might be conducted
and teachers sent TO the places where they are
most needed
The Rev. John F Brady u. O.. Of St, Joseph's
Seminary IDunvyoodie told of the Of the
Se~-YOrk Normal School for catech.sts, an in
stltuti0n founded five years ago by Miss Marion
Eurrey AND the Rev J. F Fenelon made a plea
TT the extension Of the work OF the COnfraternity
Of Christian Doctrine Miss Consuela Sierra told
q her work with Cuban children at the Church OF
s. BENEDICT the Moor, and the Rev. p r McDevitt,
- Philadelphia. said that the situation IN PhIla-
delph.a very similar 10 that In NeW-fork.
The Rev. Thomas j. O'Brien told where the best
sunday school equipment might be found. ana
t-arles Henry Schultz. II the Newman School,
lIackensack discussed the child mind. telling how
The ancient iGca % table Of which char
a"te5 was 10 be INSCRIBED had given place 20 the
modern idea - p 'Stoi house 20 he stuffed with
al sorts 81 curious things
At tle evening session the Rev Father Ormond
iiE3-- ralFaG about boys clubs.
4 letter OF greeting from Archbishop Farley was