The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-14
CHRISTIAN TRAINING

Not ono paIggsss. IN city %cva ;4zas; how
great are forces now at work for
Christian education. Sunday school
teachers and scholars of the world
number 100000 OF which number
more than half. SIG. o00.0 are IN the
! United States and Canada. During the
| last three years sunday schools have
! increased by 200 a week. and additions
! 10 Christian churches from them
have averaged 7J5 a day. The men ?
Ilter<a 'age 3.AaaA roc Assasrse-ss,+, Tg.sssa in
| Sunday school work to-day or more
than in all tho mems guilds. the
brotherhoods, tho Church clubs and
/ the Young Mems Christian Associa- e
! lions combined.
Tho soc called trusts, the politics OF
| state and nation, the labor unions,
world missions hardly ono or all Of
I these arc more generally, and perhaps
more thoroughly organized. than is the
Sunday school business. The world
North America tine State the country.
all these have their working organiza-
lions. And they are working organt-
cations. not tied down by traditions
aud having shoulders at their wheels
that are owned hy able men and Wom-
en-. one need not undertake to re-
member the names OF the various or
Eanjzations, nor Ulcers Of them. Bet
ter that one remember facts about
their work, mud their achievements
study Of The Bible. and of other
helps 70 The Christian life, by boys.
girls, men. women, is the foundation
of Christian progress. What shall be
studied? committee selects lessons.
not at random but hy a system. and
by making them Uniform the inspira-
uon That comes from doing htg tasks
and doing them well Is gained Much
more than that there is gained the
economy of common lessons helps A
committee serving for six years, and
having upon il able leaders and In
struotors, has since back in the seven
ties selected common Bible lessons.
These are known as the International.
Ihey are studied by people all over the
world. 2s,0o0,o0d Of them
This lesson committee does not com
Went upon the Bible text That task
~ loft 10 editors who prepare lessons
Tor use In various religious bodies In
these bodies are many Sunday school
organizations. With them cooperate
the lesson committees, and all general
organizations. The whole form vast
but harmonious machine for tho ef-
fective preparation Of the Gospel In
the hearts and heads of Christian poo-
pie, especially the children Of Chris-
tfan peopfe who nrst. In their turn.
take upon themselves the Christian
force and forces Of the world
There t. an International Sunday
school association which is the central
organization Of the sunday school
forces of the United States and Can
ada It's aim rs educatonaI-~it I'm.
proves method, II Is propagandist-
II encourages Bible study II Is mis-
sionary-~it spreads the Christian reli-
gion once in three years this Asso-
citation holds a convention to bring
leaders together, To inspire workers
Tor further advance, to talk over new
ana better methods, 10 make them
se'Hes ana the world know they exist |
and they exert uplift Influences Three |
years ago this convention was held in |
Louisville. This year, for the first |
time In thirty nine years OF effort. the |
convention will he held west of the
Rocky. Mountains,