The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

When the decision was made at Louis
vile, in 1905 to take the thirteenth in
ternational Sunday school convention tC
San Francisco. many ardent Sunday
school workers shook their heads. "It is
too far" they said; you cannot get the
people to attend" When, on June 20, the
opening session OF the eight days con-
vention was held, the Immense coliseum
at the entrance to Golden Gate Park
was filled. Later meetings, too, were
crowded, In spite Of the fact that the
city makes siIent appeal to visitors
to go out and see the beauties of hill
and bay and ocean, and to marvel at the
miracle of the. rebuilding OF the 10000
structures burned in April, 1906.
Day after day was filed with inspiring
addresses by men and women from the
field. Some OF these addresses were given
In great mass meetings, but the larger
number were made at the numerous
workers conferences, which assembled at
a number of churches. The convention
was noteworthy by reason OF these con-
ferences. In the words of one of the
delegates. "The meetings in the coliseum
gave the convention picture in the large.
get the carefully wrought out details"
To W. N. Hartshorn, for nine years
chairman of the executive committee of
the international association. belongs a
large part Of the credit for this arrange
ment OF the programme. From his room,
to which he was confined by illness our
ing most Of the convention, he sent this
message: For more than a year past 1t
has been my purpose so to build the pro-
gramme that the delegates may be seized
with the conviction that the Sunday
school is the supreme agency within the
church to induce Bible study, to build
Christian character, and to gain and re-
tain church membership"
Compared to Railway System.
7 Mr.. Hartshorn's report for the tri-
ennium, read by his secretary, had this
introduction, which is well worth re-
peating:
"The International Sunday school
system made its survey, finished its
grade, completed its track and equipped
and operated its first train from Indian
apolis, Ind, in 1872. B. F. Jacobs, Chi
cago, discovered the route and was the
superintendent of the promotion and
construction department. Rev. John H.
Vincent early became his associate.
This system has 26,000,000 stockholders,
located all over the world. 1t is now
giving special attention to its grades
Also, to Strengthening its curves and
introducing safety signals.
The international Sunday school sys-
tenn, either by its direct line or Its
branches, aims to reach every Sunday
school on this continent 1t Is now
making surveys to extend its lines
around the globe. Its trains are splen-
didly equipped. Day coaches only. An
approved guide book has been adopted
Interpreters accompany each train
Each passenger hears the guide book
interpreted in his own tongue. It may
be Methodist. Baptist, Presbyterian,
Congregationalist, or any one of the
twenty other tongues.
THE International Sunday school sys-
tenn has more than 100000 regular pa
irons. A president and board Of ninety
six directors command the services Of
more than 100000 local and travelling
agents who represent the system at 1872
900 stations in the United States and
Canada. At each station is a reservoir
into which has been gathered material
which is available for the use Of every
station agent along the line. The divi-
dends are paid on demand and average
a full 100 per cent"