The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-02-08
AN OPEN LETTER.

To the Sunday School Workers Of
West Virginia. Greeting:
Dear Fellow-Laborers:
The time OF Our amman convention Is
approaching. Elkins is the place, and
April 20-21-22 Is the time.
Every thoughtful and proper ar.
rangement Is being made by the good
people Of that city, for the convent.
ence Of the meeting and the entertain.
ment Of the members. and we are in
tensely anxious that this shall be the
best assembly Of all the years.
The reports Of the superintendent.
made at the mountaineering Of the
Executive Committee, show that splcn.,
dldwork has been done in all depart.
ments.
As you are sadly aware. we have
met with great loss this year, in
the Home. Going Of our beloved Gener.
al Secretary. Brother VIM. c. Shafer.
His devotion to the work OF his life.
his exemplary Christian character. and
the noble worth Of his manhood. threw
about us a charm which We could not.
IL we would, cast aside. The perfume
fthe flowers that grew in such pro-
fusion in the garden OF his soul, and
filed with such fragrance the enlarg-
Ing field of his Influence, will long lin.
ger TO make our lives more sweet and
beautiful.
Peace to his ashes, and blessing to
his memory.
The Executive Committee immeli-
ately placed in charge OF the office.
and OF the work, Miss Martha v. Ora
ham. whose experience. wise judg.
ment. md wide knowledge Of the field.
eminently fitted her for the RESPONSE.
BILE position. and under her direction
the work has most exce1lently gone
forward.
The programme Of the coming con-
vention is being carefully completed
and the indications are that II will
be one Of the very best.
A subcommittee. after much cor.
respondcnce. and after careful and
prayerful investigation. recommended
to the Executive Committee. at It's
annual meeting. the employment OF
Mr.. A. T. Arnold. OF Wheaton. llln.
OILS. to be o,ir State general secretary.
which recommendation the committee
endorsed, md he was SO employed.
His work to begin February |. 1909.
Without having made for himself. or
any other having made for him an ap.
plcaton for the place. the committee
found him to be most thoroughly quail.
ifieI for the position.
When his college life was completed,
he chose The Sunday school MS his life
work.neld. and for twelve years has
been employed by the Illinois State
Association as one Of It's field workers.
He comes to lis ut a financial loss. but
comes because he believes this to be
the place where he can make the best
life Investment OF his intellectual and
spiritual forces. The committee belicv.
ell TINT It was directed of the Lonl in
his selection.
We call upon all our workers and
friends to rally about him as about
another in the past. and give him n
royal. welcome. and the assurance OF ,
their lenrtiest cooperation.
Our work Is growing. More and
more are the Sunday school people of
the State coming to know the help.
frncss of the Associated workers. !
More and more are those hitherto I'M.
interested. coming TO see the matc.ilcss
beauty OF the Book. It's unparalleled. In. |
telectual grandeur, and the sublime
heights OF It's spiritual attitudes.
The Young people must be led to love
its precepts. and the older people to
trust It's promises.
Fellow workers: We have every
reason to rejoice and no reason to fal.
ter OF fail.
Let us come together in our annual
convention to renew our conservation
to that highest Of all callings. (teach.
Ing in home, pulpit or school) and to
receive an insrrirational nRlift that
shall help rs through the days when
shadows may darkcn, and difficult
problems may perplex.
r." A. ]. HIATT,
State President,