The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-17
Rivalry With Gadsden Was
Keen at Session Being
Held in Huntsville
ANNUAL REPORTS
MADE YESTERDAY
Feature of Day Was Midday Confer
ences Held at Three Different
Places and Addressed by
Various Speakers

Huntsville, April Especial. MO
bile late this afternoon was designated
as the preference of the Alabama Sun
day School association as the city for
the 1914 convention.
The vote on the four cities that
asked for the convention was as fol-
lows: Mobile 191, Gadsden 1876, Flor
ence a5. Dothan 27
The rivalry between Mobile and
Gadsden was keen and an active cam
paign was carried on by big delega- :
tions from both towns, but Mobile was
first on the scene Monday night and
secured a great many pledges.
The feature of today's convention
was the midday conferences at three
places. At the elementary division
lunch and conference addresses were
made by Mrs. 8. I. Douglass, w. D.
Baton of Selma and Rev. A. L. Phil
lips. At the secondary division con-
ference addresses were made by Miss
Minnie Kennedy, Burr Blackburn and
J. l.. Rhoades. The adult division
heard addresses by w. c. Pearce of
Chicago, B. M. Ohme, w. S. Frost, DIR.
Lola Taylor rand others.
Attendance Is 1913
The attendance total amounted to
1915 registered delegates. Reports OF
the years work were made at the
morning session and because of results
accomplished in the year banners were
awarded as follows:
Secondary division, jefferson coun
ty; adult division, Elmore county
homes department, Birmingham dis
trict; training department, Covington
county; mission department Lee coun-
ty: temperance, Covington county.
W. C. Pearce of Chicago lecfured on
"The Cost of Christian leadership" He
congratulated the leaders on the re-
suits attained during the last year and
said they must certainly understand
the work assigned them. He said there
are four essentials to Christian leader
ship, knowledge of the Bible, knowl-
edge of the persons with whom you are
dealing, knowledge of the work anu
how to apply the work.
All of the field workers made brief
reports showing great progress dur
ing the year in all, departments.
Leon C. Palmer Reports
Leon c. Palmer, general secretary OF
the Alabama Sunday School association
made his annual report to the state
convention this afternoon. As a pre-
liminary he gives some idea of the
W ork that the association is doing
when he states that during the past
year he has sent out total of 80
10i letters, 1917 packages, delivered 31z
addresses and travelled 1858 miles.
This year again every county in the
state is up to the banner standard, the
13 counties that lost heir banners hay
Ing regained them during the year. Ten
new gold star counties are reported
nd n nh
Fayette. Clark, Marengo, Lee, Walker
north jefferson and Geneva. One OF
the last years gold star counties lost
Its star The county referred to Is
Colbert. Plans are being made there
to regain the lost star. Macon county
lost its gold star but regained it dur
ing the year. This gives total of 81
gold star counties and II more are
planning to become gold stars before
their next county convention.
The work in each of the seven de-
partments, elementary, secondary
adult, home, teacher training, missions
and temperance, has made great prog
ress during the last year. At a con-
ference called by the general secretary
on June "a, last. each of the state de-
partment superlntendents adopted an
aim for the years work Every one OF
them has reached the goal set and much
more than reached 1t.
If the years work of our associa ton
has had any pleasure Of success, con-
tinues the report, the credit is due our
executive committee for their wisdora
in planning and directing the work, to
our state department superintendents
for their energy and enthusiasm In
developing the work of their respect
i've departments and to our splendid
county and district officers for their
self-sacrificing service and loyal sup
port of the work.
Miss BatcheIder's Report
The annual report of Miss Myra
Batchelder. field secretary of the as
sociation, was also made today. 1t is as
follows:
I'm my work as field secretary OF
the Alabama Sunday School association,
have had the privilege of visiting ev-
cry county in Alabama since the last
state convention. coming in contact
with Sunday schools in cities, town.
and in the remote districts. At one
time I visited Sunday school and held
meeting IS miles from a railroad sta
tion. l have visited in all 136 places
Travelled by rail 1902 miles and By
private conveyance 1917 miles, ad-
dressed approximately 1926 persons
made 347 speeches and have written 59t
personal letters and distributed 1861
leaflets"
County reports occupied the greater
part of the afternoon and the programme
also included addresses by Prof r. y
Webb of Auburn and an open parlia-
ment presided over by w. G. Pearce, IL
which school efficiency was discussed