Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-06-03
SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION
The Largest Ever Held in Washing
ton.


Mrs. George Reiper, the Otero
County delegate to the World ,. ,.
Convention in letter to the Enter
prise tells of having a most delightful
trip and gives us the following inter-
esting account of the great conveh-
tion:
Unprecedented for its cosmopoli-
tanism, unequaled in the magnitude
of its constituency. and unsurpassed
as a spectacle, the Worlds Sixth Sum
day School convention in Washing
ton, D. C., May 1924, marks an event
in religious history.
President Taft was not alone in ex-
pressing amazement over the size and
character of the convention. He
looked out over sea of six thou
sand faces on the opening night,
while outside the convention hall
still larger number of persons con-
gregated, unable to enter. Nearly
twenty-five hundred of the official del
egates wore red ribbon badges with
the legend North America" Some
five hundred others wore blue badges
bearing the names of more than fifty
nations, as remote as China and
South America. Turkey and Austria
liza. In addition to these three thou
gates from every state and province
in the United States and Canada and
from foreign lands, there were about
seven thousand unofficial delegates
or visitors. Sometimes three and
four simultaneous convention sessions
wers inadequate to hold the throngs.
1t was spectacular convention.
The great Mems Bible Class Parade
on the afternoon of May 20 opened
the eyes Of Washington to the virilty
and masculinity of modern religion.
In order that some members of con-
gress might march in the parade, as
they did, and that others might wit
ness it, congress adjourned early on
the day of the demonstration. Tor
rental rains Immediately preceded
and followed the parade, largely re-
ducing the ranks; nevertheless five
thousand men in hammered process
sion a mile long marched down Penn.
sylvania avenue, and were reviewed
at the Capitol by throng of ten
thousand persons.
Another spectacular feature of the
convention was a great openair gath
ering ON the east steps of the Capi-
tol, when multitude of people join
ed in the singing of Christian hymns.
The demonstration accorded Pres
ident and Mrs. Taft-whom the for
mer introduced to the cheering
throng as the real President'-stir-
red the nations chief executive great
ly. He declared his belief in the fun
damental importance of religious
training of the youth of the nation
through the Sunday school.
The convention sat with monster
map of the world before its eyes.
The official button showed the globe
with red cross superimposed there
on. Part of each day was given to 4
Roll Call of the Nations" The
ends of the earth came together at
Washington.
Strikingly, the note of international
peace resounded from session to scs-
sion; the depth of conviction upon
this subject which possessed the dele
gates made the gathering worthy to
rank among the great peace confer
cnccs.
On the closing night OF the convcn-
ton there was a tableau of seventy
five children reproducing the picture
which this convention has made IA
nous: The Twentieth Century Cru
sadcrs." The children of many ma
tions gathered under the Sunday
school flag. At the same time dele
gates from many lands-Korca, Chi
ma. India. Japan. Mexico. Brazil. Tur-
key. ctc.-gathercd on the front of
the platform and all sang together
to the one tune, but each in his own
tongue. one of the familiar Christian
hymns that is sung the world around.
The statistics of the convention
were presented at this time. the flag
of each nation being added to dis
play stand as the figures from that
land were given. The total showing
is 27.S8-+7o members. of whom
above 100000 are found in the Uni
ted States and Canada. This includes
100000 officers and teachers; the
number of schools reported being
2S5.S42. All ages from octogenarians
fants on the cradle roll and in the
kindergarten department are now
found in the Sunday school.
The convention sessions were too
numerous to be mentioned in detail.
On Sunday afternoon there were
twenty-five. and on Sunday night
over hundred. all with regularly an
pointed speakers from a wide area
Convention Hall holds six thousand
persons and it was packed mornings
as well as evenings. and the simultan-
eous sessions often ovcrflowcd also.
Frequently the convention broke up
in sectional conferences. Especially
notable amon~ the speeches were
those of President Taft. DR.. S. Parkcs
Cadman. of Brooklyn: Hon. John
Wanamaker. Rev S. NJ. Zwcmcr. of
Arabia: Bishop J. c. Hartzell. of
Africa: Mr.. Robert E. Speer. and DR..
j.. Wilbur Chapman. Rev. DR.. F. B.
Meyer. of London. who presided. had
a profound influence upon the con-
vcntion.
The retiring chairman OF the exec