The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-12-17
Found at First Christian
Church Where There
is an Enrolment Of
22oo-Largest Sunday
School in the State and
Largest of That Denom-
ination in the World,


In the First Christian church Sun
day school, which has recently attain,
ed an enrolment of 1900, Canton
bears the distinction of containing the
largest Sunday school in the state OF
Ohio, irrespective of denomination.
The distinction goes even further, for
the school is the largest throughout
the world in the denomination to
which it belongs, and is numbered
among the six largest organizations
of its kind in the United States and
Europe.
In every respect, it is a model of
perfection of Sunday school organiza.
tion and the methods employed in
conducting it, are studied and follow.
ed by hundreds of religious workers
in many parts of the United States.
Not a Sunday passes without several
persons from out of the city visit the
church to obtain ideas in conducting
their own Sunday schools. Persons
have come as far as 500 miles for this
purpose.
The mammoth proportion of the
Sunday school has attracted almost
universal attention in religious cir
cles. 1t seems almost impossible that
city of the size of Canton can sup
port such an enormous institution,
and the world looks on with incred-
ulity as the school continues to grow.
Rev. P. H. Welshimer, pastor of the
church, is about to issue a book dwell
ing up the work of the Sunday school,
and telling of the methods used in
bringing the Canton Sunday school up
TO its present standard. The work
is to be used as a sort of text book
FOR the Sunday school workers of the
Christian church. The book will de-
tail in an exacting manner all of the
factors, prominent and obscure, in the
construction of Sunday school.
Seven years ago the enrolment of
the school was but 120, and it's growth
to the 2200 mark is to be considered
nothing short of miraculous. 1t can
be attributed, mainly, to the jealous
ness with which the work of upbuild-
ing has been conducted; to the fact
that the pastor is in charge not only
of the church, but also acts as super
intendent of the Sunday school; and
to the fine corps of teachers main
tanned, who do not shirk responsible
fly but assume pastoral care of their
respective classes.
The progress of the Sunday school
has beenrone gradual climb for the
past seven years. During that time,
there has been not one day of relaxa-
ton, and not one Sunday has passed
without the adding Of one or more
members to the school.
Now that such height of promi
nence in religious circles has been at
tanned, 1t is the object of the officials
of the church to maintain it, Many
novel and effective plans are attempt
ed to stimulate interest In the work
on the part of the members, and all
of the plans are usually found success
ful.
Among these methods Is the devot-
ing of special attention to music OF
the school, and no difficulty is expert
enced in supporting an excellent Or
chestra Each department has also a
good chorister.
Another plan which has been found
extremely effective, is that of station
ing members of committee appoint
ed for that purpose, in the corridors,
whose duty 1t is to receive all men,
hers and visitors as they enter the
church.
A more admirable or more system
attic organization could hardly be con-
ceiyed than that which is everywhere
noticeable iH the Sunday school. 1t
is very interesting to note the manner
in which this vast assembly Of men
and women and children is handled.
All visitors, as they enter the church
are required to register at the desk
of the visiting secretary. To another |
officer, called the enrolling secretary, |
is assigned the duty of classifying the |
various departments of the church. In
this manner no confusion is ever ex-
perienced in properly assigning new
members.
During the morning there is practic-
ally total absence of monotony, or
dull moments. Activity marks the |
sessions of the school from beginning |
to end. The perfect organization of
an adult class enables them to work |
IN unison, a fact which is largely |
responsible for the lack of dull mo-
ments.
In the church there are about 125
officers and teachers, who have charge
Of the various departments and sub
OF classes of the church.
The church is divided into the fol-
lowing departments: Senior, Inter
mediate. Junior, Primary. Kindergar-
ten and the Cradle Roll. The general
OF the school is Rev.
assistant superintendent,
p. L. Hang; superintendent of the
Senior department, Homer Riley; In
J. ]. Walker; Primary,
Mrs ], W. Cline; Kindergarten, Miss
Maude Moore. The Cradle Roll is
classified In accordance to the sections
of the city, and over each department
II assigned a superintendent.
The largest class In the Sunday
school is that known as the pastors
4