Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-13
GRADED SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSONS HERETICAL?
Resolution Before Baptist Con-
ventiOn, Attacking Lessons
in Use, Causes Sensation
BY ALEX w. BEALER.

BY ALIEN w bEALEh
BALTIMORE, Md. May IA resolu-
ton that will create a sensation in the
Sunday school world was introduced in
the convention this morning by DR.. j. NJ.
Frost, secretary OF the Sunday school
board. IL calls for the convention Ia
divorce itself from the international
graded system of lessons, which are IN
use all over the world. About forty years
ago. what is known as the uniform sys-
TEN OF lessons was adopted by the Inter
national Sunday School convention. The
prime mover was B. F. Jacobs. Baptist
layman of Chicago.
These lessons. arranged by a committee
from the different denominations. have
bee nused I'm all the Sunday schools and
have given complete satisfaction. Recent
" published along with these lessons the
committee has presented what is called
graded lesson system. To this objection
is raised. The resolution sets forth that
these graded lessons are heretical anG
rank. They lead the pupil to the conclu-
sion that salvation Is a matter Of charac-
ter rather than OF regeneration, that a
man can be trained into heaven rather
than be born there by the power OF God.
These graded lessons seem to teach that
the chid is naturally instead of spirit
ually born into the kingdom.
These graded lessons seem TO be taking
with scripture instead of taking scripture
and Illustrating it with all subjects. All
OF this the resolution states Is very OBJ
noxious to Baptists who believe in follow
I'm gthe teachings of the Bible. taking il
as the guide to the feet and the lampsto
the path. The resolutions call for conf
mittee of inquiry to recommend what is
best TO be done.
MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE.
The committee was to be composed of
]. B. GambreI. Texas: o. c. S. Wallace.
Maryland: J. p Green, Missouri; b. w.
Spillman. North Carolina; l. J. Van Ness,
Tennessee: +. c. Dargan. Georgia: B. III.
Dement,. Kentucky; W. f. Hatcher. Vir-
ginia, and Preston Blake, Alabama, who
shall meet I'm Nashville or at such other
places and times as may best suit their
convenience I'm the execution of their ap-
pointed work. And at it's final meeting
prior to presenting its report to the con-
vention, the committee shall be enlarged
by the addition OF the following members.
chosen from states not already named:
A. J. s. Thomas. South Carolina; Lee
MacDonell. Florida; L. p. Leavell, Mis-
sissippi: II. A. Sumerell, louisiana; ]. J.
Hurt, Arkansas; A. y. Hill. Oklahoma,
and John E. Briggs. Washington, d. c.
TO PREPARE ORTHODOX LESSONS.
This committee is to prepare orthodox
graded lessons in keeping with Baptist
belief The resolution was sent to a
committee to clear up certain statements
that were not exactly clear. When IL
comes back il will be unanimously adopt
ed a letter of eCeeting was read to the
convention from Dr. J. w. Willard, and
]. ]. Wicker, who have a party in the
Holy Land. They wrote the greeting at
the close of a Sabbath day after a visit
had been made to the sites of Gethsem-
ane and Calvary. During this morning
DR.. L. @. Hardman, of Comerce, Ga,
one of the vice presidents of the conven-
ton, presided very gracefully over the
deliberations. Rev. J. II. Shakespeare, a
leading Baptist of London, England, ar
rived in the city to attend the convention.
A committee was appointed to meet him.
telegram OF fraternal greetings was
received from the Methodist conference
In session at Asheville, y. c. The secre-
tary was instructed to reply.
The claims of the Southern Baptist
Theological seminary were presented to
the convention. DR.. z. T. Cody, of South
Carolina; DR.. W. o. Carter. of the SEM
mary, and DIR. W. z. Hatcher of Vir-
ginia. spoke as to the needs OF the SEM
mary. DR.. Mullins stated that the insti-
tuition was engaged in raising an endow-
ment fund of 100000. There had been
raised sos, 600. He said II looked like a
collection was bound to break out on the
convention, for a man had just announc-
ed that he would give s., 900 to this fund.
That man was Joshua lowering. and his
brother, Eugene lowering, gave a like
amount DR.. Hartman, of Georgia. gave
1000 One other $500 subscription was
sent II. another for $1,000 and a number
of others for smaller amounts, until the
sum of $4,000 had been raised. Wilson
Nichols. a member of the local entertain
night while discharging his duties. The
convention passed a resolution Of sym
pathy for the family, and appointed J..
L. Gross and T. w. O'Kelley, former
Georgians. to attend the funeral