The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-28
CONVENTION WAS
A GREAT SUCCESS
Sunday School Workers Back
from Montgomery
ATTENDANCE WAS LARGE
Jefferson County Makes Very Fine
Showing, With 222 Schools and
225 Delegates-Work
is Growing.
ATTENDANCE WAS LARGE

Ensley April 27.--(speeial 1.-THE Rev.
I. A. Reagor, pastor of the Cumberland
Presbyterian church of this city, re-
turned from Montgomery today. where
he has been since Tuesday morning In
attendance of the state Sunday school
convention.
He reports one of the most successful
and largely attended meetings ever held
by the association. In discussing the con-
vention he said:
when the twenty-third annual con-
vention of the Alabama Sunday School
association adjourned at Montgomery at
late hour Thursday night, the greatest
and most successful Sunday school con-
vention ever held in the state passed into
history The attendance was unusually
large, there being 9s1 registered delegates
as against 6S5 last year, besides many WIS.,
itors and delegates who did not register.
The large attendance, the unbounded hos
ptalty of Montgomery, the favorable
weather. the encouraging reports COM
ing UP from the counties, the en-
thusiastlc spirit of the delegates, the
oneness of aim of all delegates. and a
fine programme-these all consplred to
make the convention notable one.
mo one church auditorium was large
enough to- Accommodate the night au-
diences and both the First Presbyterian
church and the Court Street Methodist
church were used and filled and the same
programme, practically, carried out at
both places.
This large gathering, however, did not
tax Montgomery's hospitality and r. o.
Blakey and his committee of white caps
deserved and received great praise for
the orderly and successful manner in
which they entertained and cared for
their guests.
1.-THE programme included all sorts Of
practical subjects which were discussed
by all sorts of practical and experienced
workers There were various sectional
conferences on beginners work. primary
work, Junior work and Sunday school SUI
perlntendents and elementary secretaries,
all by specialists.
'arhe convention was blessed in having
worker, Marion Lawrence of Toledo, O.,
who is the general secretary of the In
ternational association. He is energetic,
practical, enthusiastic, sensible and bus
iness-l like and besides is quite an interest
| ing speaker. In addition to Mr.. Law
rence's fine address, there were many
| others. that of Rev. J. r. McMullen of
! Gadsden on the history of the Sunday
school movement, deserving especial men
| ton.
This great convention is witness to
| the fact that the state association is in
| better organized condition than ever be-
| fore The treasurers report showed that
| all debts were paid last year and bal
ance on hand.
This association is growing in magni-
tude and power every year. All but
about ten counties are organized, and
many counties are banner counties. The
last year has been one of the greatest
| progress The reports coming up from
all over the state show that this associa-
ton is reaching out and getting good
grip on the state The movement Is be-
ing felt, and all over the state Christian
people are working up to the great I'M
portanee of Sunday school work. The
nndercurrents of this movement are
deep and strong and powerful. The
masses who are Indifferent are beginning
to realize that the leaders, Joseph Car
thel the general secretary; Miss Minnie
Kennedy primary secretary, backed up
by the state officers and executive COM
mlttee are not engaged in any child
play, but that they are tremendously IN
earnest. Larger things are being planned
for the coming year. subscription of
$500 was pledged and it is probable that
additional workers will be placed in the
field.
~. Armstead Brown of Montgomery,
brilliant Young lawyer and a clean Chris
tan gentleman, was elected president,
and great things are expected of him.
Mr. Lawrence paid quite a compile
ment to the Alabama association in say
ing that the work was in a good state
of organization and that the secretaries
were par excellence.
"a very pleasing and touching feature
of the convention was when the delegates
and counties eagerly and quickly sub
scribed to a fund to send the beloved
primary secretary, Miss Kennedy, to the
Worlds Sunday School convention, which
meets in Rome In 1907.
Jefferson county was prominent in
the convention A special train carried
225 delegates, each wearing Jefferson
county badge This delegation was headed
by r. f. Lewis, who is the energetic and
enthusiastic and able president of the
jefferson County association. On arriv-
ing at the depot at Montgomery the
megaphone shouted: Did you leave any,
body at Birmingham?
Jefferson has more districts and more
Sunday schools and gives more to the
state work than any other county. There
are 222 schools, 10 districts. 10 of which
are organized Last year $3.50 was paid
to the state work and this year $500 has
been promised.
Last year Jefferson county paid out
for all purposes $7S5.
"Mr. Lewis, ably assisted by the faith
full and efficient county secretary, Mrs.
f. c. Thurston, as well as by the dis
trict presidents is planning for even
greater things. Every Sunday school is
asked and urged to make a contribution
to its respective district treasurer. and
these to be reported to the county treas
urer Mr.. r. II. Johnston.
This mighty Sunday school movement
is taking strong hold on the hearts
and consciences of the leading Christian
thinkers throughout the world. and the
great state of Alabama. going by leaps
and bounds with commercial prosperity,
is making no mean advance along spir-