The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-07-17
WARD COUNTY S.
SCHOOL CONVENTION

The Seventh Annual Convention of
the Ward County Sunday School Con-
vention has passed into history-but a
record of it may be of interest to
many of the independents readers.
1t convened in the Methodist church
ut Des Laos, and the Evangelistical
church was used for the Sunday
School exhibits. With very few ex-
ceptions the program was carried out
just as printed in the Independents
columns recently. The reports OF De-
partments were of great interest to
everyone present. They each contain
ed a resume of work already done,
and suggested what should be done in
the future in Ward county. Each de-
partment showed much progress.
Rev. C. C. Heidelberg reported for
the Department of Evangelism.
Mrs. j. G. Webster for the Element
ary Department.
Horace Davy for the Secondary De-
partment.
Mrs. P. Bertleson for the Home De-
partment.
Mrs. Chas. Ouradnik for the Mis-
sionary Department.
G. E. Waterman for the Temper
ance Department.
R. T. Fulton, Adult Bible Class De-
partment.
Fred Groninger for the Teacher
Training Department.
Possibly the greatest visible gain
was shown in this latter department.
Last year seven Teacher Training
classes were reported, membership 81.
This year ID classes with a member
ship of 1873.
The first evening of the convention
was held a most interesting service
that of the first Graduation Exercise
in the Teacher Training Department
of Ward County-when class of ten
received their diplomas for the COM
pletion of the First Standard Course.
Mr.. Groninger, superintendent Of this
department for Ward County, gave
most interesting address on the great
value of teacher training in the Sun
day school, and urged every school in
the county to take up this work Rev.
R. 7. Fulton presented the diplomas
in the name of the state association,
paid fitting tribute to the Depart
ment superintendent, Mr.. Groninger,
and said that with the exception of
Cass county, Ward county had the
greatest number of Teacher Training
students. He advised that each of the
graduates take for their motto: keep
on keeping on"-and not be content
with the work achieved but to take up
the advanced course at once. The
Union Class, Union, Des Laos, have
for their motto: Farther On" and
their colors Crimson. The class COM
prises eight members as follows:
Mrs. Chas. Ouradnik, Douglas; Don
H. Davy, Burlington; Mrs. Don H.
Davy, Burlington; Horace T. Davy,
Des Laos; Fred W. Groninger, Bur
lington, Nellie Groninger, Burlington;
Rev. and Mrs. W. E. Speaker, of Vel
va; Jos. M. Shaw and Mrs. Dickinson,
Of Minot also received Diplomas.
At the close of the above service
Mrs. Dickinson and Daughter, Mar
garet, received Robert Raikes diplo-
mas for six years perfect attendance
at Sunday school. Rev. P. w. Erick-
son gave a splendid address on EVAN
gelism in the Sunday School'-sound-
ing the keynote of the convention. He
particularly emphasized Teacher
Training and Memory work.
The next forenoon was taken up
with routine work of the convention,
reports Of committees, etc.. with only
one address, that of Don H. Davy Of
Burlington on Country School Prob
lems," which was of great interest to
all. Ward county has about rs coun-
try Sunday schools, which is larger
proportion, probably, than any other
county in North Dakota.
President Burkhart told of work
accomplished thru the District Insti-
tutes held in Douglas, Sawyer, Surrey,
Minot, Berthold and Donnybrook.
The Treasurer's report showed a
small balance on the right side of the
column, and much credit is due Mr..
Ernst for his faithful work.
The Secretary's report showed a to-
tai Of SO Sunday schools reporting to
Ward county with total of 5548
members. Ward county has nine
points on the Standard of Excellence
and brought home pennant from the
state convention for being banner
county. Also the first premium for
largest percentage Of public school
enrolment in the Sunday schools. The
Secretary's report showed advance
ment along all lines of Sunday school
activity in the County.
The music was special feature Of
the convention, and greatly enjoyed
by all. The singing was led by the
Des Laos choir, and Rev. Fulton sang
several beautiful solos.
In the afternoon the reports OF
schools on the points attained in the
Standard Of Excellence were of great
interest and showed what effort car
do towards building up a Sunday
school. All agreed that it was well
to
"Hold the Standard high,
And we'll reach it if we try
Or in the effort we will die"
An interesting feature of the at.
ternoon's program was a memory
work drill by small class of girls
from the Presbyterian Sunday schoo
at Minot. They really represented
three different classes, and the schoo
regretted that SO few could be present
but the girls gave good demonstra
ton of what is being done in this par
ticular Sunday school in every class
from beginners to adults. They re-
cited passage after passage of scrip