Evening star., 1905-10-28

ternatlOnal sunday school lesson eaCn
week The Star has obtained the services of
one of the best-equipped men in the coun-
try for this purpose. DR.. Gilbert has been
engaged for many years as a teacher of
the Bible, and is a thorough student of its
contents and of the methods OF pedagogy.
About two years ago the American Society
Of Religious Education held a convention
in this city, and the addresses delivered by
DR.. Gilbert and other prominent religious
educators from all parts of the land were
listened to by hundreds and read by thou
sands The entire work of this national or
ganiZation, with branches in nearly every
state in the Union, is under the direction
of DR.. Gilbert, who has been the most po-
tent factor in its organization.
Sketch of DR.. Gilbert's Life.
During a residence of twelve years In
this city Dr. Gilbert has made extended
acquaintance in the churches of all denom-
nations and by invitation of pastors he
has occupied nearly every pulpit in the
city. 1t Is probable, therefore, that the
following sketch will be interesting to
many.
He began public life as the city editor of
the Daily Courier of Buffalo, which posi-
ton Re relinquished to take the principal
ship of a large grammar school in the
same city. While thus employed he lee
tured at teachers institutes, prepared the
curriculum for the Buffalo public schools
and introduced a system of language les
professional abilities were recognized by the
school board of Sandusky, by which he was
elected city superintendent, but he declined
the place to enter the public schools of
Dayton, Ohio.
An early prompting toward the ministry.
which never departed, led DR.. Gilbert to
forsake the school room for the pulpit. En-
tering the Cincinnati conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, he served sew
eral large churches in western cities. being
transferred at the request of church Off
ciais from state to state. He became wide
ly known in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa,
Kansas, Wisconsin and Michigan, partic-
ipating in the philanthropic, religious and
educational movements of those states and
of the various communities in which he was
stationed.
Society Organized.
In the latter part of 1888 he united with
others to organize the society named above,
of which he has been the continuous sec
retary. Many scholars of all denomna-
tions, educators and ministers have been
identified with this organization, which in
a very quiet way has exerted All influence
in. religious education in all parts of the
land.
DR.. Gilberts duties as secretary have
been literary and supervisory. He has
written and published sixteen biblical and
pedagogical books for the various depart
ments, and some of these have passed
through ten to fifteen editions He has
travelled widely, ten to twenty thousand
miles each year, entering all the states and
territories, lecturing and holding institutes
and conventions.
The various departments of the society,
six in number, all DR.. Gilbert's creation.
He conceived the purpose, devised the plans
wrote the circulars, prepared the books for
each, and endeavored to bring them all
into one grand unity. He has clung ten
aciously at all times to the essentials of the
evangelical church, believing that religious
education must be religious-it must tend
to develop aud strengthen the spiritual ma
ture. The emphasis laid on this point has
given peculiar color to the work of the
society and of its secretary.
DR.. Gilbert's largest work has been in
behalf of the training of Sunday school
teachers. This he began while teaching in
Buffalo, and this he continued through all
the. after years. making it a prominent fea-
ture of his society He has the distinction
of laboring in this field for a greater num-
ber of years than any other living man.
He has in his office an enrolment of nearly
eleven thousand persons who have been
under his Instruction. These have been in
all parts of the Union and in Canada
Many of them are in this city, and they
speak in high praise of the benefit re-
ceived.
Closely allied with the teacher training
work is the "School of the English Bible"
also department of the society.s This orig
mated with the secretary, and for 1t he
prepared a series of text books designed to
guide students in orderly and compre-
hensive study of the entire sacred volume
The work may be done in three years at
home without a teacher, occupying but
few moments each day, This school has a
registration of over four thousand persons
widely scattered through the country.
Writings Widely Read.
In biblical exposition Dr. Gilbert has
been engaged for fifteen years. His writ
ings have been widely used by the secular
press, and 1t is estimated that they reach
over a million persons each week. forming
ths largest and most widely distributed
class of Bible study In the country. Many
of the students IN this course have regis
tered their names In the office of the So
ciety In this city.
Notwithstanding the numerous duties out
lined above DR.. Gilbert has found time to
write for the press on general subjects,
contributing to several religious periodicals.
While engaged in teaching or In the pas
torate or serving In his present Office he
has filed the editorial chair, doing double
work In this capacity he served the Buff
falo Christian Advocate. the Sunday School