The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-09-24

render this service is the testimony
of many who have studied the prob
lem. One Of these experts says: "l
know of no better place to discuss al
the problems Of rural progress. and
to develop constructive plans for reaI
community building than the Sunday
school,"
In rural communities, made up OF
two or more denominations, and
these taken separately. present d
weak force, the citizens ought to
unite in the support of union Sun
the consolidation of the various de-
nominations, but would maintain a
common Sunday school for the gen.
eral welfare of the community. The
same principle should apply to neg
lected rural communities where no
church organizations are maintained.
WORK OF AMERICAN SUNDAY
SCHOOL UNION.
For ninety-one years the American
Sunday School Union, with headquar-
ters in the city of Philadelphia, has
been graphing with and helping
salve some of these problems. 1t
has organized, and is now organic
ing, more Sunday schools than any
other agency in the world. The late
Morris K. Jesup, Of the Chamber of
Commerce, of New York city, was
one Of it's distinguished presidents
Mr.. Martin l.. Finckel of Philadel-
phia, is now the president of the So
ciety The work Of the American
School Union is directed bv
a board of managers, consisting OF
thirty-six judicious. Christian bust
ness men. They are from various de-
and donate their SER
vices. The society also has we'll
known vice presidents in forty states.
The object of the society is ex-
pressed in the following words: "To
establish and maintain Sunday
schools and to publish and circulate
moral and religious publications
Its aim is as follows: Every
child in rural America in Sunday
school. and a Bible in every home"
"In laboring to promote this great
object it uses two principal agencies
l. The living teacher.
=. The printing press.
This calls for the employment of
Union Sunday school missionaries.
When a mans support is secured
from church or individual he is
given a commission with an assign
ment Of territory. The work on the
lowing manner:
First. The Sunday school mission
airy makes religious survey of the
field assigned to his care. He as
certains the vital facts on which the
social and religious progress OF the
community depend. He co-operates
with religious organizations on the
field and seeks out the needy places
for the establishment of union Sun
day schools of all denominations. He
make out monthly reports in detail
OF the work accomplished on his
field. and forwards same to the
American Sunday School Union.
Second. With the aid of the pub
lications issued by the union press
the Sunday school missionary pro-
vides the communities he serves with
moral and religious publications. No
books are published without the
sanction Of the committee Of publi-
cations, consisting OF twelve mem
bers from various denominations OF
Christians. The members of this
committee come from not fewer than
five or six denominations, and often
eight or ten denominations are thus
represented. Not more than three
can be of the same denomination, and
no book can be puDlished or sold to
which any member OF the committee
shall object. These books are not
sold for profit. and many are given
| away to individuals and schools.
The American Sunday School
Union now have five men employed
in the Carolinas. There ought to be
many more. 1t is hoped that de-
nominational Zealots will not try Ia
tlock the progress of this good work
The society is patriotic and national
and does not organize churches OIL
attempt in any way to take away the
| prerogatives that belong to the var.
ious denominations.