Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-04-12
Something About Rev. Charles Roads

In the So years of its existence the Mary
land Sunday School Association-formerly
the Maryland Sunday School Union-has
done much for the Sunday schools OF the
State. 1t is now proposed to extend the
work of the association and do 1t more
effectively. And It is felt that the new gen.
eral secretary, Rev. Charles Roads, ID. d.,
is the right man to represent the ideas oil
the association aud carry forward Its plans,
DR.. Roads has had extensive experience In
Sunday school work, having been general
secretary of the Pennsylvania State Sunday
School Association from 1897 to 1901, and
since then general field secretary OF the
Methodist Episcopal Sunday School Union.
AS matter of TACT, DIR. Roads has been &C.
lively engaged In Sunday School work since
boyhood. He taught class at IA and was
an assistant superintendent at II. After en-
tering the ministry he served prominent
churches in Philadelphia and nearby towns
for several years, paying especial attention
to the development of Sunday schools and
young peoples work.
In 1923 he was president OF the Penn
sylvania Christian Endeavor Union. he
served as chairman of evangelIstic work a.
several international Christian Endeavor
conventions, and was the originator oil the
plan of holding religious meetings In facto'
ries, stores and shops in connection with
conventions.
While pastor in Philadelphia DR.. Roads
was at the head of the movement which
gave the children of that city their summer
Fairgrounds In school enclosures, In parks
and on wharves--a movement that has
spread to other cities. He was active also
in the Law and Order League, the Social
Purity Alliance and the Pennsylvania Pris-
on Society.
For three years he was associated with
the remarkable group OF men who have
made Pennsylvania's organized Sunday
school work famous-John Wanamaker,
II. J. Heinz, DR.. G. X. Blackall, s. e. Gill,
DIR. Alexander Henry and others. Every
present phase Of the work was wonderfully
developed during those years-normal work,
the decision day movement, house-to-house
visitation, home department, grading, sup
Elemental lessons and city institutes. The
State associations furnished such inspiration
and help to local workers that the whole
State became organized and frequent con
ventions were held with large attendance
When, In 1901, DIR. Roads became general
field secretary Of the Sunday school work
of the M. L. Church he entered upon an
era of wider helpfulness. Since then he
has travelled about 90 900 miles year, made
450 TO 500 addresses each year and held in
stitutes and conventions in 80 States.
He was the first to give courses OF lee
lures to colleges and universities on Sunday
school work and Bible study. DR.. Roads
has also done a considerable amount OF lit
erary work. He has been on the editorial
staff of the Christian Standard, the Phila.
delphia Methodist, the Christian Statesman
and other journals; has prepared primary
and beginners lessons and published
number of books on Sunday school work.
DR.. Roads regards Maryland as an unusual
ly promising field for the best modern Sun.
day school development. The conserVa-
tive and church. going character Of the peo-
pie, and especially the large number OF men
In the churches, the fact that Sunday school
sessions are almost invariably In the alter
noon, the lively interest exhibited In recent
conventions, point to commanding place
for this State Sunday school work.-BaI1o.
american.