The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-20
.D.R KEN1'S PLEA
FOR CHILDREN
Distinguished Educator Delivers
Notable Address at Banquet
In Richmond.
sUNDAY-sCHooLs CELEBRATE

Officials and Teachers Spend
Enjoyable Evening at Ma
sonic Temple.
Tho annual banquet OF the Christian
Of Richmond and vicinity
was held in tho assembly room OF tho
Musonic Temple last night, and was at
tended by IL gathering OF more than 200
ladies and gcntlcmcn
An elaborate supper was served, tho
tables being tn tcfully decorated Will,
ferns and cut flowers. Tho social gath
crlng of the officers and teachers WIS an
element of great enjoyment. and It Is
hoped Tint 1t will cngcnder an inter- &
course that will greatly benefit the work
of the Christian Sunday-schoos In Rich
mond. Mr.. Frank II. sutton presided
ana gracefully introduced the A'eakera
of tho evening, the committee OF ar
being Mr.. j. L. Hill. Mr.. w.
j. Nmbrough and MIR. II. w. Ware
Speeches Made.
The first speaker was Rev. Gerald
Culberson, pastor OF the Third Christian
Church, WHOSE subject was che PASTORS
Relation to the sunday School"
"In the first place. he said. "thc pas
tor has many rcln Ions. He Is the most
sprodigious patcrfamillas on earth. These
matters, these ohseqnious sisters these
noble brothers-they MI belong to the kin
ship. There Is no kinship SO sacred to
every pastor as that of the Sunday
school,
1T is a relation that will ever look
up to Him for leadership and fraternity
1t Is an unlimited work. You can no
moro limit the bounds OF the Sunday
schools than YOU can bound the child's
horoscope. The pastor should love the
gSunday-school--s should love 1t for the
children's sake. for their tender, simple
faith. In their hearts he is crowned
o king, and to his scholars he is y.
king"
Rev. Henry Pierce Atkins, pastor of
West End Church, spoke on THE Teacher
In the Sunday School. emphasizing the
Importance OF Sunday school work.
IT want to ask every, one Of us who
has in charge tho training OF others
In the study Of the Bible to look upon 1t
as n. calling, OF greater dignity and inl-
portance than VIC have heretofore! regard
ed. That which has to do With bring
Ing the knowledge of the, Bible to our
young people is of more Importance than
the running OF twenty oyster suppcrs.
which net the church WON'T say how
many dollars.
Cart we who have been teaching learn
just where we can put our best efforts
and give our time and lifework to the
department for which we seem to be
best fitted? Let us count the Office that we
hold, the responsibility and opportunity
| that comes to us every week. as the
| one thing that we want to do. and let
us do 1t we'll.
The speaker closed with n strong ap-
Cal
| preparation.
Rev b. H. Melton. Of the Marshall
| Street Church., discussed the subject The
| Spirit OF Unity He shortened his re-
! marks in favor of the later speakers
i closing by quoting, How pleasant 1t is
| for brethren and sisters to dwell together
| in a spirit OF unity" Let us not preach
Christianity less, hut practice It more"
The presiding officer then introduced
/ Mr. J. c. Holiday, the State secretary
of the Christian Sunday schools Of Vir-
| ginia. Mr.. Holiday opened his remarks
with a compliment to the Christian
schools Of Richmond and to the officers
Z abiding to the far-reaching Importance
of Sunday school work. made strong
4 appeal for the attendance OF parents and
grown people, saying that he looked for
the time when the entire membership OF
the churches would be enrolled IN active
4 membership III lne sSQIlQHy SCHOOiS.
Mr.. l.. j.. Mcintosh. secretary OF thu
Tnterdenominational Sunday School AS
ISOLATION of Virginia. told Of the <.ea
!. Sunday-school convention schedule,
for Louisville, Ky. IN 1908. and urge'
tthose present to make some arrange
] mcnt for being represented.
] Dr.. Kent's Address.
I Mr. Sutton then presented the las
! speaker Of the evening, Or. Charlie
: w. Kent, professor of English at tn
: University Of Virginia. DR.. Kent isai
Q in part:
8 "rhe two things most needed Il
= American cities today are the emily
!. ening OF the moral element and til
uplifting OF the cliildrcn-n0t only til
outcasts, but those who are neglected
those who have no particular privi
4 lcges.
) and churches MS the three agents fo
z the moral elevation Of the children {
this country How shall moral educa
ton be given to this neglected re
|. siduum? The criminal element como
largely from the untaught or neslccle
element In the city's life.
THE Sunday-schcol problem is
ZONE respects the unsolYcd problem :
our country to-day. One Of the mo-
= serious considerations Is tho questlo
~ OF how to reach this neglected ca
II ment In our cities. The mere opcl
ID Ing of our church doors VIII not q
ii tract: tney listen with deaf ears
ii your beautiful chimes; they pass W
q moved while your choirs sns "ithi
L, 1t is not enough 10 invite them
m You must 20 after them. They W
~ not come to you. To reach tho 81
~ mnnts you are after. n some cas-
!" You must 80 down to them, and no
n, Sunday schools In some hall or roo
Of inthair midst. ai
he mrhc lesson OF the increase. OF mel
TT bcrsl1in before. the picnic ~ Cnris
a. mas tree Is that at other times {
~ program Is barren and boring;
= have frequently only twenty gnllhuLt'
Ici us get Mt the heart OF the matt
and leave out intellectual discussio
md mn, Theological dissertations Z,
"A wandering quest for the maid
name Of the Queen OF Shebn VIII y
~ produce vita Interest. What MN , %e nc =.
need is the personal touch, me !, I :
$50 thai somebody loves the child WI
itsTlittle unreas0ninE heart noli y
closer To tho Sunday school tnAh u
. rift on the Christmas tree
"All the work falls II ~ doesn't (:
9 fire TO tho ambition. The coming
children to some sen ools nus ~, pasi,
# salvation mol dOnly OF the chlld, !
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