Smyrna times., 1909-04-28
SMYRNA GIVES WELCOME
GREETING TO DELEGATES
TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL CON.
VENTION SUNDAY SCHOOLS
Convened Yesterday Morning For a
Two Days Session in Smyrna
Splendid Program Rendered.


Splendid Program Rendered.
Smyrna is agog this week with
convention delegates from all parts
of the state who came to Smyrna
yesterday to attend the two days
session of the Twenty second Annual
Convention of the Delaware State
Sunday School Association. Of the
313 white Sunday Schools in the State
about 300 are represented and this
large delegation is being well taken
care of by the people of Smyrna.
They have the "keys of the city,
and the welcome greetings and pleas
ant social pastimes are marked fea-
ture of the convention. Asbury M.
E. Church, where the convention is
held, is prettily decorated and so
large has the attendance been at
some sessions that the galleries had
to be opened to accommodate the
overflow.
DR.. Watt Welcomes the Delegates
The mornings session began at
TO- 80 O'Clock with Robert G. Houston
the president of Georgetown, presid-
ing. The convention was opened
with song service led by w. o.
Hoffecker, of Smyrna for which Mrs.
Hoffecker was the accompanist. Fol-
lowing scriptural reading by W. o.
Hurst, of Seaford, and prayer by the
Rev. DR.. Dashiell, the delegates
were welcomed to Smyrna by the
Rev. Robert Watt, D. D., pastor of
Asbury Church. The response was
made by the Rev. DR.. Joel Gilfllan,
of Newark, after which Mr.. Hous-
ton read his message. The feature
of the session was an address by the
Rev. H. W. Kellogg, pastor of Grace
M. E. Church, Wilmington, on "The
Demands of this Century Upon the
Sunday School. The appointment
of committees was then announced,
and the session was closed with bene-
diction by The Rev. George w. Burke
of Smyrna. Yesterday afternoon s
session was devoted to addresses by
the Rev. DIR. A S. Mowbry, M. E.
Superintendent of the Wilmington
district; the Rev. Franklin McElfresh,
Phi. D., James F. Price, Mrs. Will
liam B. Haddock, Mrs. G. T. Cros.
san, Frank Shepherd, Mrs. Lottie T.
Brockson, Miss Clara Mendinhall anC
1. Elmer Perry. During the after.
noon Hon. w. o. Hoffecker sang q
solo.
Big Crowd at the Evening Session.
The evening service opened with {
song service under the leadership Of
Hon. Walter o. Hoffecker. The frs
speaker of the evening was Rev. E
Burgette Welsh who spoke at length
on "The Sunday School and the Grea
Commission. 1t was a vigorous
earnest address. After a solo ant
chorus by Mr.. Hoffecker and congre
cation, Rev. DR.. McEIfresh was in
troduced and gave a scholarly address
on "The Educational Value of tn
Sunday School," A social evening
followed the session.
Officers Elected For the Year.
This morning opened bright an
beautiful and early the delegate
were astir. An executive meetin
was held at $3.50. At o'clock tn
Convention was called to order b
President Houston. The first bust
ness of the day was the report fror
section conferences, which showed
healthy growth. of the Sunday Schoc
movement. Mrs. Kate E. Coo
talked on Teacher Trairing'' afte
which the class of graduates of tn
training class were presented wit
diplomas. Supt. A. R. Spaid of tn
New Castle County Schools gave a
excellent address on Temperate
Training. A number of short ad
dresses were made by the officers 9
the association on Facing Facts
and "Facing Opportunities" anon
which was one by our townsmar
Hon. Walter o. Hoffecker. TIL
election, which followed, resulted
these officers being chosen: Pres
dent, Robert G. Houston, Georg'
town; vice presidents, for New Cast
County, Prof. H. S. Goldey, Whining
ton, for SUSSEX County. j. r. Gi
christ, Milford; recording secretar.
/. Elmer Perry, Wilmington; trea
urer, George J. Chandler, Centr
vile; chairman of executive commi
tee, G. H. Cantwell. Wilmington
general secretary. Mrs. Mary
Hopkins, Seaford; financial secreta
Rev. ]. Edgar Franklin, Wilmingt'
superintendent of department worl
Teacher Training Work, Mrs. Ka
E. Cooke, Seaford; Home Depar