Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-12
SURVEY OF WORK
DURING LAST YEAR
Reports to Religious Education
Association.
PROGRESS OF CONVENTION
President Roosevelt Receives Dele
gates at White House.
RESULT OF ANNUAL ELECTION
Topics Of Speakers and Discussion
Of Their Views-Secretaries
and Committees.
RESULT OF ANNUAL ELECTION

and Committees.
The second general session of the con-
vention of the Religious Education Asso-
citation was held in the First Congrega-
tional Church. 10th and G streets. this
morning. 1t included joint meeting OF
all departments to listen to the reading
of annual reports or surveys OF the
work OF the association and of the prog
ress in moral and religious education
Rev. Or. F. D. Power. pastor OF the YER
| ment Avenue Christian Church. conduct
| ed the opening devotional exercises.
| Henry F. Cope of Chicago, genera! sec
| rotary of the association. presented the
| survey of the work Of the association, IN
substance, as follows:
| "A general survey of the work In 800
leaves the impression, first, of its rape
and yet natural development. The asso-
| citation no longer needs to seek out act1vi-
ties; duties are thrust upon it: indeed,
| here are calls for larger service imam cdii
| be rendered under existing conditions O
| support. The association is better under
stood; it's purposes and plans are Gear TO
many who formerly could discover In ~
no practical use: il is today trusted by
many who once doubted it's motives; 1t
numbers in it's fellowship those who once
stood aloof The result is that. in lncreas-
ing measure. 1t IS called upon for the
service 1t was organized TO render-
Maintaining the Membership.
in the direction Of organizing the force
for religious education the membership
has been fairly well maintained in num-
bers. The process begun last year o!
eliminating the names of those who havo
had no vital connection with the worl
for several years leaves a list of 1894
showing $50 new members received. Will
237 have been removed. either at their
request or on account of long-continueC
inactivity, and forty members have been
lost by death. Almost without exception
Withdrawals from membership have been
by those who had fallen seriously into
arrears with dues. The number Of life
members has grown to 20, all increase o.
8; and sustaining members to %. an in
crease Of % The permanent exhibit and
reference library. at the executive office
continues to develop; the latter now has
900 books, over 1900 pamphlets and
the different departments. In the gen.
raj promotion of the association and It's
plans the Office has sent out $3.50 pieces
Of mail. or. counting the Journal, total
OF over $1,000 pieces
1.-THE principal editorial work has been
the preparation OF the volume The Ma
tertals Of Religious Education book o.
80 pages. comprising the addresses de-
livered at Rochester and the proceedings
with list Of the membership Six is
sues Of Religious Education have been
published.
Work of Field Secretary.
I'm the capacity of field secretary the
| general secretary has travelled over 46 coo
miles in thirty-one states attending con-
ferences and conventions. The work of
the association has been presented in
about two hundred gatherings, the most
important being the conference of the
assC ciatfOn held In connection with the
National Education Association at Los
Angeles.
The financial report. covering only
eleven months. shows that In all 5000. II
was received in contributions and the pay
| ment Of pledges outside OF membership
| fees. from SOL different contributors near
| ly the whole OF this sum being secured by
the efforts Of the general secretary.
The percentages Of expenditures for
| 1907 are as follows Reduction OF old
| cent; postage and express. 8 per cent;
rent and incidentals IL per cent: secre-
tary's salary. 30 per cent; other salaries.
10 per cent; travel and conference. III per
cent: religious education, 81. per cent;
other printing, 3 per cent"
Dramatic Incident Of the Year.
| 1.-The Annual Survey Of Progress in Nor
al and Religious Education was read by
Rev. DR.. George Hodges, dean Of the
Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge.
Mass. as follows:
1.-The only dramatic incident of the year
occurred in connection with the public
schools of the city of New York. 1t
seemed for a moment as if-all mention of
| he Christian religion were to be for
hidden in these schools even to the abo-
| lition of Christmas carols. This happily
proved to be a misunderstanding, but it
alarmed many people and led TO much
discussion in the newspapers and IN meet
| ings Of ministers. The discussion estabt
| ,ished two significant facts: First, that
public opinion is stoutly against the secu-
| larizing of the pubic schools: but, second,
| that nobody sees clearly what ought to
be done about it, or. If he sees. is not
| yet able to convince any considerable
company Of his neighbors-
! "In Boston. and l suppose In other
cities. the impending problem of lawless.
| irresponsible and malignant youth weighs
upon the consciences of thoughtful people
There is q steady increase Of juvenile
crime.
but nobody knows what ought to be
done. Nobody knows how the influence
| OF the school may best be brought to
| bear on character. At least, there is as
| vet no dominant conviction. no large
agreement, such as would lead to action.
Meanwhile, the churches are, for the
most part. preparing themselves to I'M
dartake any such larger duty as the COM
munity may wish. by a steady improve
ment in the method and quality Of their
| Sunday school instruction. The held In
! this direction is limited by the shortness
of the time which Is at the disposal of
the churches for this purpose.
Sunday School Association Active.
..,rba International Sunday School AS