The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-04-04
SOMETHING ABOUT
REV. CHARLES ROADS
The New General Secretary of the
Haryland Sunday School As
ISOLATION,
ISOLATION.

In the 63 years of its existence the
Maryland 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 it more effectively And it is
felt that the new general secretary,
Rev. Charles Roads, D. D., is the right
man to represent the ideas of the as
ISOLATION and carry forward its plans.
DR.. Roads has had extended 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 Episco-
pal Sunday School Union. AS matter
of fact, DR. Roads has been actively en-
gagged in Sunday school work since boy
hood. He taught class at IA and was
an assistant superintendent at II. After
entering the ministry he served promi-
nent churches in Philadelphia and nearby
towns for several years, paying especial
attention to the development of Sunday
schools and young peoples work.
In 1928 he was president of the
Pennsylvania Christian Endeavor Union.
He served as chairman of evangelistic
work at several international Christian
Endeavor conventions, and was the
originator of the plan of holding religi-
Gus meetings in factories, stores and
shops in connection with conventions.
While pastor in Philadelphia Dr.
Roads was at the head of the movement
whice gave the children of that city
their summer Fairgrounds in school in
closures, on wharves and in parks-a
movement that has spread to other
cities. He was active also in the Law
and Order League, and Social Purity
Alliance and the Pennsylvania Prison
Society.
For three years he was associated
with the remarkable group of men who
have made Pennsylvania organized
Sunday school work famous John
Wanamaker, H. j. Heinz, DR.. C. r
Blackall, S. E. Gill, Dr. 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,
supplemental lessons and city Institutes.
The state associations furnish such
inspiration and help to local workers
that the whole state became organized
and frequent conventions were held
with large attendance.
When, in 1901, DR.. Roads became gen
earl field secretary of the Sunday school
work of the M. E. Church he entered
upon an era of wider helpfulness. Since
then he has travelled about 25, 900 miles
year, made $50 to 500 addresses each
year and held Institutes and conven-
tions in 80 states.
He was 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 literary work. He has been
on the editorial staff of the Christian
Standard, the Philadelphia Methodist,
the Christian Statesman and other
journals; has prepared primary and be-
ginners' lessons and published number
of books on Sunday school work. Dr.
Roads regards Maryland as an unusual
ly promising field for the best modern
Sunday school development. The con-
sentative and church-going character
of the people, and especially the large
number of men in the churches, the
fact that Sunday school sessions are al
most invariably in the afternoon, the
lively interest exhibited in recent con-
ventions, together with other indica-
tons, points to a commanding place for
this state in Sunday school work.