The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1913-05-08
HISTORICAL "REMINISCENCES.

HISTORICAL "REMINISCENCES.
Paper Read at the Silver Anniver.
saF!y OF the Steele County Sunday
School Association, by G.. G. Boise,
May8rd, 1913.
CONTINUED from page p
best developing the usefulness of the
children Of that period, that they
might be fitted for the more arduous
requirements of citizenship in mould
Ing the affairs of this new common
wealth, when they should arrive at
the age Of assuming that responsible
tty. Thus no means, or opportunity
to advance the educational standard
in the public schools. was neglected.
At the same time the different
church denominations recognized
that North Dakota was a vantage
ground of no e opportunities, and
respectively organized to enter in and
possess the land. This campaign of
conquest did not contemplate, or rec
ognize, the necessity of combined
Christian effort to make the Masters
kingdom strong in it's forward move
ment to win, where all the new set
tiers had been reared under the in
huence of different denominations by
baptism in the paternal sanctuary,
but few in specific UNCONVENTIONAL
numbers in the new home of their
adoption. Thus UNCONVENTIONAL
strife, hindered the development OF
church and Sunday school influences.
The Sunday school Of that time,
did not make the progress or WELD
that distinctive influence which it
should have done, from a lack OF
that cooperative influence and spirit
which is the foundation OF success;
the adaptation of methods of work
in line with the requirements OF a
standard of instruction, which would
at least compare favorably with the
day school standard.
Realizing that a crisis in Sunday
school work was at hand, a territor-
ial Inter = UNCONVENTIONAL Sunday
School Association was formed; it in
turn desired local organizations and
the cooperation of all the Sunday
schools in it's domain. County organ
izations were perfected and Miss
Emma Schwartz, additionally from
Aberdeen, in what is now South Da-
kota, was sent up into our part of
the territory, to organize each oun
ty, or at least to the extent she might
be able to do so.
On Sunday evening, September
25th, 1888, general notice having
been given of the contemplated meet
ing in the Congregational church in
this city, Miss Schwartz, after a very
complete explanation Of the neces-
sity of such a cooperative organiza-
ton, called for an expression from
the large audience in attendance, as
to it's desire in reference thereto. No
one who had heard the earnest ad-
dress of Miss Schwartz, could for a
moment hesitate in endorsing the
proposition of at once organizing a
county association and the verdict
was unanimous in it's favor.
c. G.. Boise presided as chairman
for the evening, and A. S. Moote
served as secretary. The nominating
penter, ]. G. Lang, and A. S. Moote,
recommended the names OF the fol
the officers for the ensuing year: c.
G. Boise, president; T. M. Owens,
vice president and E. II. Badger, sec
rotary. The adoption Of a constitu-
ton was deferred until the first an
nual convention thereafter held on
July 9th, 1889, in the Congregational
church in this city, at which time,
the association constitution was
adopted, practically as it remains to-
day; it's motto, "Steele County tor
Christ"
AS the time for the first convention
approached, the desire OF the asso-
citation officers was to make it a
marked success, yet the knowledge
of those in the county who could OF
would participate in the program ant
prove to be an aid to it's usefulness ir
developing interest in all it's sessions
demonstrating it's Importance as
factor in educating Sunday school OF
ficials and teachers in new methods
of work, was very limited. There
fore it was decided to invite Rev. E
H. Stickney, state field secretary, o
Fargo, Rev. c. H. Phillips, of Cum
mings-noW of Jamestown-and Rev
s. N. Griffiths, at that time of Cas-
selton, to aid those who had bee.
secured at home.