The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1915-06-19
SUNDAY SCHOOL
CONGRESS MEETS
Religious Workers Get Royal
Welcome atBirmlngham, Ala.
THOUSANDS IN ATTENDANCE.

National Body Has Many Notable
Fsatures-Ths A. r. Boy Cadets and
National Baptist Band Receive Big
Ovation In Street Parade.
Birmingham, Ala.-Five thousand
people witnessed the opening of the
tenth annual session Of the Sunday
school congress, which was called to
order In the Sixteenth Street Baptist
church, this city, on Wednesday, June
o, by Rev. 9. II. Clark, d. d., of Nash
willie, Tenn, chairman Of the congress.
The formal opening took place in the
afternoon, while Birmingham's vel
come and cordial reception were given
at night in the presence Of an audience
that filled to overflowing the spacious
edifice.
Never in the history of the city has
the religious fervor reached such
high degree as was evidenced begin
ming on June 8, when the first special
trains began to arrive. In the language
Of some on the streets "the pot boiled
over" today when special after special
pulled In, all Of which were met by
cheering crowds and enthusiastic work
ers bedecked in the Sunday school con-
gress uniform, white congress cap with
black visor, wearing badges and carry
Ing pennants. representing some of the
organized classes or worded Sunday
School Congress"
-. The finishing touches Cor the demon.
stration came when the Sunday school
congress special arrived at the Union
station. The entire local committee,
known as the central committee, which
Is composed Of the Baptist ministers
conference Of Jefferson county and
Greater Birmingham, with the 300
singers, making up mammoth chorus,
two brass bands and waiting public
thronged the station to greet the ar
rival Of the congress special.
Magnificent In its appearance was
the personnel making mp the parade
which marched from the station to the
church. The National A. r. boy cadets
attracted the most attention. Soldlerly
looking In their bearing, they went
through the streets to the tune Of Hail
the Baptist Congress-" played by the
National Baptist band Of Nashville.
which escorted the delegation.
Great is the Sunday school congress
and valiant are the workers of the plan
for building front line Sunday schools
was Birmingham's verdict as enun-
ciated by the various welcomes extend
ed In the formal opening at the church
Distinguished citizens and prominent
churchmen participated In the local
program which virtually turned the
keys of the Queen City" Of the south
land over for the five remaining days
which were devoted, according to the
congress secretary, Henry Allen Boyd,
to a school Of methods, with general
sessions In the forenoon and depart
mental meetings In the afternoon.
These departments are under the
supervision Of able conductors selected
from various states In the Union. At
the general sessions there were twelve
topics discussed, but on some Of these
subjects fully 100 persons spoke. Not
over ten minutes was given to any
speaker to deliver his paper or speech,
and not over three minutes were al
lowed for open discussion.
The key to the congress, declare the
officials, is the Bible conference, which
opened every morning for one hour
and half for the careful study Of the
Bible by subjects and topics. Every
delegate at the congress was requested
to come to the conference with Bible I'm
hand. Every Sunday school worker,
old or young, big or little, man or wo-
man, who came with a message was
heard. This was the great desire of
the Rev. II. r. Boyd, d. D., the direc-
tor Of this host that captured Birming-
ham.
There was Metoka and Galeda
night, devoted entirely to the demon
stration of the organized class effort In
Sunday schools. Following this there
was boy cadet night. The taking Of
San Juan hill was graphically and pic
turesquely portrayed by the members
Of the A. +. boy cadets throughout the
United States. representatives Of which
were here in the second annual en-
campment Dunbar hotel was trans
formed into barracks. The tap Of the
drum and the sound Of the bugle, with
the steady marching feet of many boys,
brought military discipline under reli-
gious influence and Leadership.
The literary entertainment given
showed the talent that makes up the