Smyrna times., 1913-05-07
DELAWARE STATE SUNDAY
SCHOOL ASSOCIATION MEET
ANNUAL SESSION MET AT PEO-
PIES CHURCH. DOVER

esting Program Was Rendered
Officers Elected for Ensuing Year
The twenty. sixth annual convention
of the Delaware State Sunday School
Association, representing churches of
all the Protestant denominations in
Delaware, convened in the Peoples
Christian church of Dover, Wednes-
day, with an attendance at the open
ing session Of over 200 delegates, be-
sdes officials of the organization and
alternates, as we'll as many ministers
of the several denominations. The
attendance is said to be larger than
any convention held in recent years.
Because OF the convention being held
in the Peoples Christian church, which
membership and the church was the
outcome of the split in the Do
yer Wesley NJ. E. Church in 1909.
after their pastor. Rev. A. w. Light
bourne, d. D.. the present pastor of
the Peoples church. was ousted from
the NJ. E. church. much speculation
has been had as to whether the Meth
odists Of the state would send dele
gates to the convention: also from the
fact that some Of the high officials of
the church in their respective local
ties and elsewhere had discouraged
the attendance of their members to
the present convention. All Of this,
however, seems to have had no effect,
as the large majority of delegates
present at Wednesdays convention
came from the NJ. E. Churches of the
state, some even being represented by
their ministers. The local entertain
ment committee, of all the Dover
Protestant denominations except the
M. E.. was somewhat hampered by the
refusal Of the NJ. E. churches, of Do
yer to offer entertainment, which,
however. was overcome by arrange
ments made by the committee in send
ing them to other homes which were
opened to the delegates. Some of the
NJ E. families Of Dover volunteered
their homes, not officially however,
from their church. and are entertain.
ing some Of the delegates.
I.Elmer Perry. the President, in Chair.
Wednesday morning session was
opened by the president of the asso-
citation, l. Elmer Perry, Of Whining
ton. Revs. Messers. Stewart, Davis,
Weddell and Lightbourne. took part in
the devOtions. after which Professor
Wesley Webb, of Dover, acting for
John B. Hutton. greeted the delegates
the response being made by Mr.. Perry,
the president. The aftrnOOn session
was takn up in discussion of Sunday
School work, including "Value of
Class Organization" by Robet G.
Houston. Of Georgetown: Promoting
Bible Study and Prayer Life, "by U.
Franklin Smiley, D. D., Of Whining
ton; ''The Pastor in the Sunday
School,. " Rev. ]. E. Hunsberger. Of
Wilmington. Del 1.-The Challenge of
Adolescence. " John L. Alexander, OF
Chicago. A feature Of the after
Moons service was the section confer
enees, including County and Hun
dred Officers. Miss Edna c. Barker
Elementary Division, Miss Clara
Mendenhall; Secondary Division,
John Alxander;" Teacher Training. -
Miss Edna f. Ewell. Thursday tn,
second days session of the convention
opened with an increased number o.
delegates and visitors. John l.
Alexander, of Chicago, H., gav'
most interesting talk long the line o
school organization and teacher train
ing, emhasizing the necessity of botl
as a means Of success for good Sun
day School work. The report Of IN
general secretary Miss Edna c. Bar
ker, showed an increase in member
ship during the year Of /. 179, max
ing a total enrolment for the Stat
Of 55, 702. Sussex county Shove
the largest gain by reporting an il
crease Of s51; Kent county, 624
while in the city Of Wilmington tn
gain was but 127. In rural Ne
Castle county Of 296. Four schOo
closed the doors during the year, gi'
ing now only 399 schools. Thr,
hundred and eleven schools are genuil
evergreen schools. " Only 80 schoo
report accessions to the church,
total of 1, $50. The secretary fu
ther reported. that she had written 81
personal letters and 1s4 postal car
and sent out IL, lis circular letter
making a grand total Of 2,O16 Il
ters. The financial outlook as submi
ted by J. H. Burns. recording seer
tary Of the association, showed co
tributions from schools Of s465.
or less than one cent per member
a. a membership Of over $4,000.
20 increased amount was asked for I
.d,epming year. The report Of the 10,
Entertainment ia committee shows