The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-26
CONVENTION NOW
IN SESSION HERE
Many Sunday School Delegates
from Alabama Attend
PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED
II. C,.uJ-. C.baoI WorLarc ~ stan
The Sunday School Workers Of the
State Will Be In Session Here
for Three Days-lnter-
estins Topics.

of the Alabama Sunday School associa-
ton was called to order yesterday after
noon by President &. L. Russell at the
First Cumberland Presbyterian church of
Birmingham at 2:s0 o'clock.
More than three hundred delegates from
various sections of the state had arrived
and were in their places when the con-
vention was called to order Every train
coming into the city during the day
brought large numbers of delegates and
visitors, and many more are expected
terday cut off the attendance considera-
bly,, but every part of the state is well
represented and very full delegation is
expected to report to today's sessions.
The Rev. l. d. Steele, pastor of the
church where the convention is being
held, welcomed the delegates and visitors
to the city and TO his church, and led a
short devotional service.
Major j. G. Harris of Montgomery was
introduced to the convention and made
a short address, which was well received.
Major Harris was president of the In
ternatlonal Sunday school convention that
met in Pittsburg, Pa. in 1890.
Prof H. M. Hamill, d. D., of Nashville,
superintendent of teachers training work
of the Methodist Episcopal church, south.
made an address on THE Sunday School
as a Missionary Force" which was re-
ceived with marked attention.
Professor HamiPs Talk.
Among other things, lrof Hamill said:
1--WE must sweep away certain illusions
in regard to missions,
First, that missionaries of the first
century We're more sacred than those of
the twentieth century.
Second, that missions abroad are dearer
to God than missions at home. This is an
illusion unwarranted by the word of God
or by common sense.
Third, that to serve God in a mission
airy way we must go into the field in
person as a missionary and render such
service.
There are men today at home and
abroad doing quite as great work as
Paul ever did. There are missionaries
in Alabama who are distinguished, l be-
lieve, in the book of heaven, and will
appear so at the Judgements much SO
as was Paul in the first century.
with God boy saved in Birmingham
is just as dear and valuable as one in
the Congo district of Africa.
IF l give $40, l am giving myself for
1t has cost me part of my life to make
it, The Alabama Sunday School asso-
citation is doing a missionary work as
/
Young People.
b. M. Washburn of Montgomery, dis
cussed Work Among Young People," in
which he outlined the duties of the teach
er of young peoples classes, tabulating
those duties as follows:
l. ITO Pray for Them"
g. ITO Go Out After Them If Absent"
g. ITO Visit The Sick Scholars"
He stated that of a class of 165 pupils,
he sees, writes to or telephones every one
each week Last Sunday he had an at
tendance of 107
j. S. Bridges of Birmingham, talked on
| the subject of Organized Glasses of
| Young People" In part Mr.. Bridges said:
1.-THE trouble with much of our Sunday
school work is that we get into a rut.
I'm every group of young people there
are some who are born leaders, and have
the capacity of leading and influencing
others. These should be used by the
teacher, by organizing the class into
groups of FIVE or six, and holding the
leader of each group responsible for the
group.
1.-The teacher of a class ought never to
be absent unless actually sick In bed.
1.-Two committees are of great value In
the work among young people; commit
tee on socials and committee on personal
an Qn1iql
committee. Have socials at least once a
month.
"The greatest work of the teacher is to
lead souls to Jesus Christ"
General Discussion.
Then followed general discussions or
the questions that had been introduced.
It was decided to hold the night SEES
sions at 8 o'clock instead of 1880 as was
a. first announced.
The two telephone companies operating
In Birmingham have placed telephones
in the church for the use of the convention
which is greatly appreciated and a great
convenience to the people. The numbers
of these telephones are: Bell, 1883; Peoples
1884
The Headquarters.
l.. Ine it' -
vided stamps and all necessary stationary
for the use of all delegates while in at
| tendance on the convention
The entertainment committee of which
| r.. f. Lewis is chairman. has headquarters
in the building formerly occupied by the
American Trust and Savings company on
First avenue. next to the Woodward build
ing, where the delegates are registered
| and assigned to their homes as they ar
rive. The entertainment committee Is com
nosed of about 100 young ladies and gentle
men and they were kept busy all day
meeting trains and escortng delegates
and visitors to headquarters and theil
resnective homes. These all wear white
cloth caps and are known as the white
tanners" They are showing the visitors
every courtesy and have instructions to
answer all questions and to give all infor'
nation about the city that is asked Of
| them
Last nights session was opened at
o'clock with devotional exercises conduct
ed by the Rev l.. S. Handley of Biz
| ningham.
"Child Training the Hope OF the World