The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1912-02-15

Join w. Wiltfong, Plymouth,
1S85-1887.
DR.. j. A. Sutton, Argos, 1887-1893.
l. r. Ladd, Bremen, 1893-1896.
Myron Chase, Tyner, 1896-1897.
John W. Parks, Plymouth, 1897
1902.
Rev. M. Crews, Inwood, 1902-1904
Henry G.. Thayer, Plymouth, 1904
1905.
Rev. D. B. Kessinger, Bourbon;
19O5-19O6.
Prof. l.. S. Hahn, Culver, 1906
1907.
0. S. Ellis, Bremen, 1907.
Township organization was an
early goal slowly arrived at. At
first little more was hoped for than
to secure a township president who
would gather the Sunday school sta
tistics. The first really complete
township report was furnished by
Mrs. A. North, president for Center
township, and presented before the
annual convention in 1888. 1t was
thing to delight the heart of
County Secretary, who is looked to
by the State to furnish figures. Town
ship convention followed. The first
one was held in North township,
Fairmount church, in March, 1888.
Mrs. DR.. i. Moore was president.
At length, in the early summer
of 1894, meetings were held In each
of the ten townships on consecutive
days. Since then the townships have
kept well up to the standard OF or
ganization which now includes three
general officers, and eight Superin-
tendents of Departments. The Sun
day School Association has brought
to Marshall county many men and
women foremost in their generation.
Among the names are:
VIM. III. lowering, Bishop w. M.
Bell. Rev. C. M. Morton, Charles ID.
Meigs, Miss Mabel Hall, Aquila
Lucas, DR.. Stanley Coulter, Pres.
George Burroughs, DIR. II. A. Goblin,
Mrs. Mary Foster Bryner, Mr.. W.
c. Pearce, Rev. E. w. Halpenny,
Alfred Day, Nolan Rice Best, DR..
Christopher Humble, Mrs. Maud j.
Baldwin, Mr.. j. Shreve Durham
and always our State officers. These
all, beside a host of others, in our
own nearby counties. 1t has been
an ambition with those planning the
programs to fulfill all promises.
But not in the conventions, excel
lent as they have been, is the best
work. The best work has been the
constant enlargement in vision OF
those who make up the Sunday
schools of the county. The growth
in numbers is not equal to the
growth in purpose, in desire for
efficiency. "To win souls to Christ.
to build them up in Christ. and to
train for Christian SERVICE is the
true aim.
In the convention of 1894 Mr. c.
ID. Meigs talked on the Home De-
artment-What Is It?' and the
adopted and Superin-
tendent elected. In 1900 there were
added Primary and Normal Superin-
tendents. These are what are now
called Elementary and Teacher
Training Departments. In 1907
Temperance was added. In 1908
Missions and Adult Glass; and In
1909 Home Visitation. In 1910 the
Secondary Department. Each OF
these eight departments has at its
head an enthusiastic specialist, while
the Teacher Training Dept. has also
a Secretary. The criticism may be
urged that this is multiplying ma
chinery: but it does not result in
confusion. Rather it greatly in
creases efficiency. There is no fric-
ton. "'Each is for all, and all for
every one.
We have briefly sketched the
progress of the Sunday School
Association in Marshall county up
to the present time. 1t would be
interesting to know the organization
of the Sunday schools themselves In
the earliest years of their history.
If this shall move some pioneer to
relate his story, it will be welcome
contribution.
Mrs. Mary E. Hume,
Sec'y. Marshall Co. S. S. Association