Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-03-02
DR.. MELFREsH SPEAKS
TO SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKERS
Gave Two Addresses at Y. NJ. c. A
Hail with Many Present.

Rev. Franklin McElfresh DID,,
teacher training secretary Of the In
ternational Sunday School association,
was the speaker Monday at two serv-
ices in the Y. NJ. e. A. building for
the Sunday school workers of this city
and vicinity. In response 10 invita- :
tons TO the schools of New London,
Jewett City and Baltic there were
representatives from those places
present.
The first meeting was at D. m. in
the Association parlor, where the at
tendance was about 30. b. p. Bishop.
New London county director Of the
Connecticut Sunday School association
and chairman Of the religious work
department committee of the associa-
ton. called the meeting to order, and
Rev. K. w. Potter of Jewett City made
the opening prayer. Mr.. Bishop ex-
tended the welcome to the association
building and introduced Rev. G. A.
Rae, secretary of the Connecticut
Sunday School association, who spoke
In praise of the loyalty Of this city to
the state association, and introduced
DIR. McEIfresh.
With ready command of every de-
tail. the visiting speaker presented his
subject of The Scope of Teacher
Training. The old slipshod methods of
Sunday school work, he said, must be
left behind, and there must be trained
teachers. The evangelistic opportun-
ity of the church is in the Sunday
school, and the greatest need of the
school Is the teacher properly trained.
He explained the two standard courses
Of study for teachers adopted, one OF
so lesson hours, taking a year. and the
other of 100 lesson hours, taking from
two to three years. Thousands Of
classes are enrolling for these studies,
-H.-C rks t. 4 L. al - -
better life of the Sunday school in ev-
cry denomination. He indicated three
forms of classes by which the studies
could be taken, a sele cted class OF
young people. the teachers already in
the school, and union classes, and told
of the great accomplishments OF a
number of these. They will enable US
to grasp our day OF opportunity, which
is at hand, with the schools properly
OrEaAized and the teachers instructed
and trained.
The afternoon closed with a ques-
tion hour in which Dr. McElfresh an
swered q number of inquiries and a
discussion was held ever subjects sug-
gested on leafiet which was distrib-
uted.
The second meeting was in the eve
ming in Association hall with an at
tendance of fifty. The opening prayer
was by DIR. NJ. 3. Kaufman. and MIR.
Bishop and Rev. Mr.. Rae both spoke
in Introduction Of DR.. McElfresh. The
Educational Value OF the Sunday
School was his subject. which he in
troduced by indicating how education
was becoming more and more secular
and even the homes are leaving relig-
ious education more to the Sunday
school so that there is the greater need
that tke Sunday school should be eff
cfent. The Sunday school is aiming
at the attainment of high standards OF
character, the cultivation of those fin
er. higher feelings such IS reverence
and sympathy, which men are deplor-
ing as entering so little into the day
school life 1t Is reaching the child
with a psychological understanding Of
the imaginative period of life, the boys
and girls in their time of hero-wor-
ship. and If ever a generation had a
task laid out before IT, we have to-
day. Never has there been given such
a task as has been laid upon US in the
formative stage of American life, and
what we do In the next Jew years In
the higher and finer things of life will
determine what America will be and
japan and China and the world. We
must give the answer In great, strong
manly characters builded upon big
ideas.
And the Sunday school aims to in
fiuence the, will, bringing a mighty ur
gency for decisions for God and right
eousness through the consecrated Sum
Gay school teacher face to face with
the pupil Erom cradle roll to home
department, the whole church should
be in the Sunday school, whose relig-
ious ideal is the using OF the highest
personalities for the development of
Christian character.
AS In the afternoon, DIR. McElfreshs
words were followed by a number OF
inquiries, which he was called upon to
answer giving many practical sugges-
tfons for the solving OF Sunday school
problems presented by hts question
erS.