St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-10-24
The Sunday School Convention.
one of the Largest and Best in the
History of the Association.
Editorial Correspondence

NNSoONAeNT
+ion at Randolph last Tuesday, Wednes-
day and Thursday was not only one of
the best attended but will be remember
ed as one of the most uplifting associa-
lions ever held. Nearly $50 delegates
were present from every county in the
state, representing all the denominations
identified with the Sunday School move
ment. The good people of Randolph
proved ideal hosts, and besides enter
tanning the delegates each night served
dinners and suppers daily in the vestry
of the Congregational church. The SEES
sions of the convention were held either
in the Baptist or Congregational church
and at each afternoon and evening ses-
sion over 500 were present and some
were standing for lack of room.
In the absence of the president, G. F.
North of Burlington, the first vice-presi-
dent Gen. N. G. Williams of Bellows
Falls, was in the chair and was afterwards
elected to the presidency. The praise
services were led by F. o. Mortified of
Grafton and at each session fifteen min
utes with the Word was given by Rev.
DR.. S. G. Barnes of st. Johnsbury, which
was an inspiring Interpretation of the
divine message.
The international committee was re-
presented by w. c. Pearce of Chicago,
the international teacher training secre-
tary. He had part at every session
and his helpful words, his ready wit, and
above all, his delightful personality COM
bined to give especial emphasis to his
addresses. Fresh from the field he
brought the news of the growth of the
Sunday School movement in all parts of
the country. His addresses were largely
upon the general theme of more efficient
training and preparation for the word.
He also conducted several conferences of
especial helpfulness and was much in
evidence in the general business of the
convention.
Prof. Edward P. St. John of the Hart
ford School Of Religious Pedagogy gave
four lectures along psychological lines in
necessity of thoroughly understanding
the child's mind in order to influence him
spiritually. The subjects of his lectures
were Early Childhood" early Boy
hood and Girlhood,' Early Adde'S
cence," Late Adolescence. The lectures
were illustrated with charts and black
board and were very helpful to teachers
and parents who have young children in
their charge.
Thursday afternoon the educational
secretary of the Massachusetts Sunday
School Association, Rev. DR.. J. D Pickles,
gave an address on Living Forces in
Bible School Teaching" in which he urged
the teacher to present four things to the
theliving church and the living soul
The other speaker from abroad was
Rev. DR.. Philip L. Prick of Chelsea,
Mass, who spoke Wednesday afternoon
on "The Two-Fold Mission of the Sun
day School," The two-fold work was
first reaching after the scholars and then
bringing them into the kingdom.
Interesting reports were given of the
work by the various officers of the or
ganization. H. A. Slayton of Morrisville,
chairman of the executive committee,
reported receipts of SITS 76 from about
700 schools the past year, a smaller sum
than the year previous when $1100 was
collected. Anticipating a debt at the
end of the year he said he wrote to a
number of friends of the work and many
generously responded. while some never
returned the two cent stamp. He then
read an extract from letter from ex-
Senator Edmunds, sent with his contri-
button, and it was the finest tribute to
the work given at the convention and
greeted with hearty applause. The
veteran statesman said,
Il am glad because believe so strongly
that the teaching of our Sunday Schools
is among the most potent agencies for
social improvement as well as the basis
of a Christian life. Please give my best
regards to all my old friends. am still
Vermonter."
The nominating committee presented
their report on Thursday afternoon and
these were elected:
President, N. G. Williams of Bellows
Falls.
vice-Pres., Rev. A. c. Mcdaniel of
Woodstock
Secretary, Rev. A. F. Walch of St.
.Johnsbury.
Treas, W. S. Pingree of Hartford
Auditor, ]. L. Hall of Burlington.
Chairman executive committee, H. A.
Slayton of Morrisville,
Members of executive committee: for
one year, Z. M. Mansur of Island Pond;
for two years, F. S. Pease of Burlington;
for three years, w. W. Stickney of Lud-
low.
Trustees of the permanent funds, for
one year, c. P. Smith of Burlington for
two years, H. A. Slayton of Morrisville;
for three years, J. T. Richie of St. Johns
bury.
An important feature of Thursdays
session was the adoption of the new
constitution which conforms to many of
of the other Sunday neutrality-suspicious.
in the other states. BY this change the
work of the organization is managed by
the executive committee, who in turn
appoint other committees for all branches
OF the work.
Though Secretary Fuller had prepared
full program every speaker kept to his
allotted time and every part on the pro-
gram was carried out 1t would be i'm
possible to give detailed report OF the
various addresses, but the effect OF such
large convention will be of lasting
benefit to the Sunday schools of the state
as well as an inspiration to all the dele
gates who attended.
General Secretary E. M. Fuller OF Bur
llngton,in his fourth annual report stated
that 81 conventions and rallies had been
held in the wear. all but eight of which he