Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-03
No Material Success for ReII-
gion Class Until il is
Done.
WHAT PRIEST. LuNo SAID.
Interesting and Instructive CoDvcn-
ton Held Yesterday in iIarratt iiail
several Stakes Represented.

There can he no success for Religion
class work unless the parents are first
converted to It's usefulness SO de-
clared President Anthem ii. Lund yes
tcrday IN Barratt hall at a convention
Of Religion class workers OF Davis
Salt Lake. Ensign. and Tooele stakes
And President Nephi l.. Morris advised
the unconverted saints TO quit calling
this organization the ilfth wheel.
This convention was held IN response
to call from the general board OF Re-
llgIon classes. There were two meet
ings. one IN the morning and another
In the afternoon; at the first session re-
ports were given by the four stake
superintendentH. Under questions ana
answers came out the unique con-
ditlons that the officers and instructors
have TO meet.
1t was hero that President Morris
made his effective short-talk. Some one
had remarked that SO many people OBJ
ject to Religion classes on the ground
that 1t Is equivalent TO q fifth wheel
10 % wagon--and as unnecessary. I'VE
must QUIT calling It by this contemp-
tuous cpitbet," said President Morris In
effect, "or we can never make the or
ganization fruitful OF good. Nothing
that originates az did the Religion
classes and that Is doing the good they
are doing, can be nth wheel Let
those who pat forth their hand TO help
the progress or Gods work get rid Of
such damaging notion about part 81
that work. aud let them instead use
their efforts TO promote the growth OF
Religion classes
A very spirited talk was also given at
this session by Bishop Plat OF tho
Thirteenth ward. II am converted"
he said. ito the good and the usefulness
OF this organization, and want TO see
1t In operation In my ward even IL
only q single child should attend
DEPARTMENT WORK.
The afternoon was devoted almost
entirely to department work. The pi-
mary grade meeting was presided over
by William Cassidy of Tooele stake.
Josephine Chambers, OF the Salt Lake
stake, read a paper on Methods OF In
structing Children. which was discussed
by the teachers; and Mrs. Eva Il. Odell
Of Ensign stake conducted class, Ell
der Kelsch OF the general board was
present Mt this meeting. The interme-
dlate department was presided over by
H. y. Elder OF salt Lake stake. A class
exercise was given by Mrs. Amundson.
and Jennie Huffnker of Tooelc stake
read u paper on the subject, Some
Ways of Reducing Instructions to
Practise" also generally discussed. El-
dor Joseph J. Cannon OF the general
board was IN attendance here. Leo ].
Muir OF Davis stake was chairman of
the advanced grade meeting. A class
exercise was given by II. j. Sheffield,
Jr., OF Davis stake. and Vera Noall read
a paper on How 10 Make the Adj
vanccd Department More Successful"
when there followed a general discus
sion. President Anthem II, Lund, Ed
ward King and John Henry Evans OF
The general board attended this depart
inent.
INTERESTING REMARKS.
At the general meeting held at $3.50,
Elder Cannon and President Lund each
made brief remarks. The latter spoke
mainly ON the real need OF Religion
class work among the saints. "No one"
he said In substance, "will oppose this
organization who understands Its real
aim and workings-the saints least of
MI. iiticc no SucccSA can come 10 tne
movement until tho parents are con-
verted TO It's usefulness And
he urged those present to labor
with the parents who did not en-
courage their children TO attend the
classes. Speaking OF the recent in
structions Of the first presidency to
take the classes from the schoolhouses,
President Lund said I'VE knew when
we Issued those Instructions that con-
siderable injury would result to this
organization. But we felt that II was
better to take the action we did, I'm or
der not 20 jeopardize the liberties OF
the people, And so we should do the
hest under the circumstances to help
along the cause Of religion classes"
He spoke OF the very liberal laws OF
the Canadian government. according TO
which any denomination may teach it,
children every day, II thought neces-
sary, and IN connection with the school
THE idea is growing among the Amer
lean people" added President Lund.
that religious instruction Is indispena-
able to the proper training Of school
children, and that. too, IN connection
with the study OF language, arithmetic,
geography, and what not. So we are
only IN advance OF our time IN the in
auguration OF these Religion classes"
MUSIC A FEATURE.
A striking feature oe all the meetings