Bridgeton pioneer., 1915-11-25
A Review of the Recent
Meetings in MiIlviIle.
MUCH INTEREST
Fifty-Seventh Annual Convention
OF N, j. Sunday School Associ-
alton Was a Wonderful
Success.

w. II. middleton, editor or the Mill
vile Republican has written an ex-
cellent review of the recent Sunday
School Convention. part of which is
reproduced here:
That the Fifty-seventh Annual Con-
vention of the New Jersey State Sun
day School Association, held in Mill
vile, November 16, IL and 18. closed
in blaze of glory is literally true,
for on the evening of the last day,
more than a thousand men of the
Sunday Schools of Millville and
neighboring towns, formed a great
parade and to the music of several
bands and fife and drum corps with
flaming torches, plenty of red fire,
and with banners flying, covered a
long march over Illuminated streets,
proclaiming to the world that they
were enlisted in the great army of
the King of Peace.
The parade was an innovation in
the programmes of the Association s
gatherings, but was a fitting close to
what was pronounced one of the best
conventions ever held.
Beautiful weather marked the three
days of the convention, contributing
much to the pleasure of the nearly
five hundred delegates who attended
from all sections of the State, and
the hundreds of visitors from the sur
rounding country.
The convention met on Tuesday af-
ternoon at 2 o'clock in the First M. e.
Church. of which Rev. Alexander Cor
son is pastor, and was opened with a
song service under the direction of
Messrs. Hall and Mack, the noted mu
sic publishers of Philadelphia, with
DR.. Adam Geibel, the blind organist,
of the same city, at the organ. Pres
ident Samuel w. Downer, presided,
and General Secretary Isaac Burgess,
who is a wheelhorse in Sunday
School work, looked after the general
detailed work of the convention.
On behalf of the local Sunday
Schools, Rev. Mr.. Corson extended
warm greetings to the delegates and
Mayor Harry Gieg, the city's execu-
tive, welcomed them on behalf of the
city. These greetings were responded
to by President Samuel Downer on
behalf of the assembled delegates.
The three days were busy ones for
the workers, meetings being held
morning, afternoon and evening. That
much was accomplished to forward
the great work of the Sunday schools
of the State is certain.
The attendance of we'll known Sun
day School workers was large
The social side of the convention
was not neglected On Tuesday eve
ming the Teachers Training Alumni
banquet was served in the First Bap-
tist Church, at which Miss Margaret
oldttery was the speaker
Great Sunday School Army
The army enrolled in the Sunday
schools of New Jersey is big one
and is growing General Secretary
Burgess gave these figures at the
Wednesday afternoon session:
This year there are 100000 persons
enrolled in the Sunday schools as
against 441,000 reported at the con-
vention year ago and $1,000 have
Joined the church and Sunday School
as against 10000 year ago, or 5000
more The number of schools using
graded lessons in at least one depart
ment has increased from 726 to 91S
and the number holding workers con-
ferences has increased from 571 to
769 Just 229 teachers training di-
plomas were issued in 1915 as against
SO in 1914, remarkable growth. The
number of organized and registered
adult Bible classes has grown from
762 to 1,115, and the temperance
pledge is used in 667 schools as
against 497s in 1914. The number of
schools visited was 1877 as against
943 last year. The enrolment at the
summer training school at Asbury
Park was 345, an increase of 60 over
last year. These figures provoked ap-
plause.
General Secretary Burgess then