The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-10-06
SUNDAY SCHOOL
CONVENTION

udy OCuOOl dSSOCldIlOu, WAS uelu ldSI
Thursday in the Chapel of the First
Presbyterian church, Doctor Swift,
pastor, Honesdale, when upwards of
one hundred and fifty delegates,
representing the one hundred Sun
day schools in the shire, assembled
to listen to inspiring addresses, and
to talk over plans for the advance
ment of the spiritual interests of
the 10000 inhabitants of the coun-
ty.
Morning, afternoon and evening
sessions were held, with audiences
that taxed the seating capacity of the
auditorium of the chapel to the
limit.
DR.. Otto Appley, Damascus, call
ed the convention to order at 10:1 15
O'Clock, when an opening devotion
al service, consisting of responsive
readings and hymns, was led by the
Rev. Geo. S. Wendell, pastor of the
First Baptist church, Honesdale.
The address of welcome was de-
livered by r. M. Stocker, Esq, who
spoke in part as follows:
We are gathered here from long
distances to learn how to teach more
efficiently in our Sunday schools
This convention could more appro-
priately be called an Institute. The
work done in conventions is institu-
tional, just as in the day school.
The Sunday school is the nursery of
the church.
The Sunday schools in the rural
districts are the nurseries of the
church, not only here but also in the
cities. The stalwalt men in the
churches to-day are from the coun-
try. In a city like Honesdale the
things that initiate against the Sun
day school are many. We have so
many attractions in all directions
that it is hard work to get them to
study the lessons.
| am convinced that there are
far better Sunday schools scattered
through the county than in Homes
dale. In the country districts there
are a good many foreigners coming
in.
Thirty or forty per cent. of the
people in the Lackawanna Valley are
from Southern Europe. We must
do something to educate and Chris
tianize them.
Il believe and know that the
Sunday school lends solidarity and
catholicity to Christian work. Here
we are from all denominations.
The Christian Endeavor, the
Y. M. C. A. and the Sunday school
are unifying the church everywhere.
The Sunday school is the founda-
tion place of our work. There is
nothing then can take the place of
it"
Admonishing the delegates to rid
themselves of all " straight-laced
sentiments" DR.. Appley called for
reports from the five districts in
Wayne County.
w. w. Wood, president of the
Honesdale district, gave way to
secretary D. w. Hull, Waymart, who
reported that there were 32 active
schools in the district, 27 of which
training classes, 10 Home depart
ments and 16 Cradle Rolls.
Rev. Edw. w. Morrison, president
of the Hawley district, was unable to
be present at the morning session.
DR.. A. W. Simons, South Sterling,
reported for the Sterling district
that the Moravian Sunday school at
newfoundland with a membership of
220, had the largest enrolment in
his section.
For the Damascus district, DR..
Appley reported that the tendency
in Wayne county has been to drop
Sunday schools Years ago we had
145 schools in the county, now we
have only about 100. At one time
we had Is schools in the Damascus
district. Last year we had only IL,
but this year we have IA"
These fourteen schools, according
to Or. Appley, report membership
of $50. Nearly one-half of them,"
he said, are district Sunday schools,
| a schools Oathnrnd
in district school houses. Ten Cra-
die Rolls, Home departments and
3 adult Bible classes are organized
in this district.
Miss Frances Tyler, the secretary,
read the report of the Orson dis
trict, which comprises Is Sunday
school with Cradle Rolls.
Miss Carrie Clark, County Cradle
Roll Superintendent, reported 45l
Cradle Rolls in Wayne county.
Mrs. Maud ]. Baldwin of the
Pennsylvania State Field, delivered
an inspiring address on /" An Ele-
amentary Vision," followed by w. D.
Stem, of the Pennsylvania State
Field, who spoke on the subject, |
" Why An Organized Class?"
At the business session these COM
mittees were appointed. Nomina-
tions: Andrew d. Thompson, Miss
Carrie Clark, d. w. Hull; Resolu-
tions-R. M. Stocker, Esq, NJ e. !
Simons, Esq, w. w. Wood.
Dinner was served to the visiting |
delegates in the banquet room of the |
chapel, by the Presbyterian ladies,
under the direction of Doctor |
Swift's Young Ladies' Bible class.
The afternoon session was opened |
with devotions led by Rev. c. c. |
Miller, pastor of st. Johns Lutheran
church, Honesdale. Strong ad-
dresses were delivered by Rev. r.
Clayton Burch, on Light and |
Life; Rev, B. P. Ripley and Rev.
Frank e. Meyer. Miss Eberhardt
sang and Mrs. Baldwin explained |
Graded Lessons" Mr.. Stem spoke
on " Glass Activities"
The chapel was packed when the
|evening session was opened at 1880
O'Clock by Rev. A. L. Whitaker, rec
tor Grace p. e. church, Honesdale,
who led the devotional service. A
|combined choir composed of mem
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