Smyrna times., 1904-04-27
SUNDAY SCHOOLS IN GOOD SHOWING.
Interesting State Convention at Laurel Last
thursday and Friday over Which Presl.
dent Walter 0. HOffecker Presided

Smyrna had a distinct part in the
Seventeenth Annual Convention of
the Delaware State Sunday School
Association which met at Laurel
Thursday and Friday, in that Mr..
Walter o. Hoffecker of this town was
president of the organization and had
much to do toward making the musical
part OF the program a success. The
cow entlon passed off with more than
usual interest and in point of attend-
ance and enthusiasm, it was one of
the best held in recent years. The
convention proper began Thursday
afternoon and after short devotional
service President Hoffecker delivered
his annual address, his theme being
what the Times Demand of Our
Sunday Schools" He advocated the
training of teachers for more thorough
capacity for their work and believed
that the advance methods ia use in
the Sunday Schools of to-day are emf
nently essential to create proper in
terest among the pupils and to secure
results that will benefit the church
Mr.. Hoffecker's theme was taken nm
by several members of the executive
committee who offered brief sugges-
tions for the furtherance of SUNDAY
School work.
Slap Against Sunday School Orchestra.
Miss Lottie Brockson of Blackbird.
one of the most efficient and active
Sunday School workers in this vicin-
lty, read an interesting report upon
the teacher training effort and pre-
sented five graduates of the Teachers
Training Glass, who were awarded
diplomas by DR.. E. W. Cooper of
Camden. The excellent program con-
tanned some of the very best talent
IN the state, and among those who had
prominent parts were Prof. H. S.
Goldey, DR.. E. W. Cooper, Mr.. W.
X. Crosby, Rev. G. s. Stevens, Mr..
Peter F. Causey, Rev. A. W. Light
bourne and the Rev Alexander Nc
George. Some little spice was occa-
stoned by the remarks of Rev. Nc
George of Delaware Avenue Baptist
Church, Wilmington, when he put
himself on record as being opposed
to orchestras in Sunday Schools. He
was pronounced in his condemnation
OF any and all forms of sensation in
Sunday School and Church work. He
said he believed religion properly pre-
sented had charms enough to recon-
mend it to any intelligent person
without borrowing the livery of the
play house to garnish it into attrac-
tiveness--and thought that among
such surroundings the kernel of truth
was often lost among the chaff of or
namentation.
Waller o. tiOffecker Again Elected President.
The election of officers resulted in
Hon. Walter o. Hoffecker being the
choice of the convention for its presi-
dent for another year, and in addition
to this he was made Delaware's men,
Der of the international executive
committee. He will also be chairman
of the Kent county executive commit
tee and tho chorister of the Sunday
School ASSOCIATION. Miss Lottie
BrocksOn was made state superin-
tendent of normal work. Most all of
the officers were reelected. The |
statistics show that there are in the |
state of Delaware: 353 Sunday Schools,
,911 officers and teachers, 80, |
scholars and that there is an average
attendance of %, 15S. This does not
include As schools which failed to re-
port. All the Sunday Schools in this
vicinity were ably represented by del
egates. Sunday afternoon at Asbury
NJ. E. Church, Mr.. Walter o. Hof-
fecker gave an inter esting review of
the Convention.
WILL OF THE LATE STEPHEN BOYER.