The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-27
THE INDISPENSABLE SUNDAY
SCHOOL.

SCHOOL.
For tho development and extension OF
efiicient Sunday school teaching, its
seventh annual training school for
workers In this field is being held here
this week by tho Baptist Sunday School
Association OF Richmond and vicinity.
~ enroils teachers. pupils and officers
or such schools and going beyond de-
roininational lines. includes like work.
ers from other churches. Its aim is to
do In very brief time for tho Sunday
school teacher what the normal school
does for the public school teacher.
Tho sunday school Is such IN estab-
lishcd institution that sometimes We
tend TO underestimate its service TO So
ciety IN inculcating morality and de-
fnocracy When we considor that In
tho world there nre 296,12o Sunday
schools. a.e3S,l2o Sunday school teach
crs, md 26,G53,715 Sunday school schol-
ars. total Of 29.2Ss.635 persons inter
estcd In Sunday school work, we get
some idea OF the power and Importance
OF these organizations. When we CON
slider that In tho United States alone
there nre l60,225 Sunday schools, H.
57o,1SS sunday school teachers. and
l3,907.S +5 Sunday school scholars. ,ye
get some idea of tho power and i'm
portance OF these organizations In our
own country. Nor do these figures In
clude the instructors and pupils in the
schools OF the Roman Catholic Church
and the noncvangelical Protestant
churches. 1t is estimated that in the
United States the number Of scholars
in the schools OF the Roman Catholic
Church exceed 100000
Withou; reference 10 denominational
lines. every American should rejoice
that the sunday school Is so popular
and so vigorous an institution. II Is
one Of the strongest and noblest forces
IN national life. II places nil Its pm
pills upon the same level. and Is thus
q mighty creator and scrvitor Of de-
mocracy, teaching under the same con
ditions MI children. rich and moor
proud and humble, foreign born and
native
Moreover tho Sunday school IS =
powerful force for the creation and
maintenance or national morality.
Saturday, the twcnty-cichth President
OF the United States rededicatcd Con
srcss Hall. IN Philadelphia, where, III
years before. the first President OF the
nation read his farewell address, the
body of doctrine which to-day insp!res
republic. in that luminous Discourse
on government for the future guidance
OF tho American people-a document
too little read and studied by them
Washington said:
or all the dispositions and habits
which lead to political prosperity. re
iigion and morality ARC INDISPENSABLE
supports. In vain, would that man
clnim tho tribute OF patriotism who
should labor TO suhvort these great
pillars OF human happiness. these frm-
est props Of the duties OF men and
citizens. The mere politician. equally
with tho pious man. ought 10 respect
ana to cherish them. y volume could
not trace all their connections with
private and public felicity Let Il sim
ply be asked, where is the security for
property. for reputation. for life. II
the sense OF religious obligation desert
the oaths. which arc the Instruments
or investigation in courts OF iusticao
az" tct US win caution indulge the
supposltion that morality can be main
tanned without religion. Whatever
may he conceded to tho Influence of re-
hned education on minds OF pecpliar
structure. reason and experience botb
forbid us 10 expect that national mo.
iaiity can prevail in exclusion Of re-
ligious principle
sunday schools are tho seed OF the
church. National morality depends
largely upon the church. and the church
depends largely upon the SUNDAY
school It's greatest recruiting rrou,6
Whatever Increases the efficiency Of the
sunday school increases the national
defense against ignorance. irrespons,-
billy. immortality. lawlcssness. crime
anc anarchy.