Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-26
SUNDAY SCHOOL COUNCIL
ADOPTS LESSON COURSE
Delegates From Thirty-Four Denoni-
lions Assemble Here for
Conference.
BIG INCREASE IN ENROLMENT
Reports Indicate Attendance on Sun
day Schools Larger by 100000
Than in Previous Ycars-Recep-
ton Tonight.

ton Tonight.
The Sunday school Council Of Evan
cclical Denominations of the United
states and Canada, with more than 100
delegates, numbering some OF the most
prominent church and Sunday school
workers in America. and representing
,hirty-four different denominations,
opened it's annual conference ycster-
day afternoon at o'clock with a gen
cral session in the assembly hall OF
Murphy's Hotel business was trans-
acted with considerable dispatch. aud
many reports from special committees
We're considered.
The outstanding feature Of yestcr-
days session was the. report Of the
secretary Of the organization. which
showed Il tremendous increase in the
enrolment OF the sunday schools dur
ing the past year. The report WAS pre-
scented covering only thirty dcnominn-
tions, which showed an Increase OF
100000 pupils in the schools. and with
the gains made by the four denOmina-
lions Yet t. he made, This figure will
be increased To more than | 100000 for
the year
y large par, Of the afternoon was
taken un considering reports from
committees that have been working
during the past year to secure an ad-
vance in the methods OF organization
and in the instruction that are being
prepared for the pupils. These mat
tcrs arc first discussed by committees.
whose recommendations are submitted
to the council Tor consideration.
COMMITTEE REPORTS ON
LESSON STUDY COURSE
Tho special committee made a most
Interesting report OH the Lesson
study Course" The Council adopted
series OF lessons that will be used
for tho -four year period from 1915 TO
1929
Tho organization is probably the
larges, and most influential hody of
its kind on the American continent.
embracing. as il does, thirty four diff
fcrent denominations. among which are
five divisions OF the Baptist Church.
five subdivisions of the Mcthodists,
four branches OF the prcsbyterians and
among tho smaller denominations the
Friends. The membership consists of
the publishers and editors OF Sunday
school periodicals and secretaries OF
young peoples church organizations.
THIS body is the education force which
gives direction To the religious life Of
more than $4,000 600 people
The most important report to DO
made 1t the session to-day will be on
the advanced steps planned 70 secure
a close cooperation between the sun
day schools and the public schools Of
IN" country. Tho committee, which
has been considering the subject for
more than year, will sugGes, that the
council secure from tho state boards OF
education and educational authorities
the risht for credits to pupils in their
standing in the public schools for OK
ceiient work accomplished in the SUN
day schools.
RECEPTION Tonight At
rRESHNrEHIAN BUILDING
second report to he made at the
session to-day on Teacher Troiri,,r
Courses" promises to be Of unusual
interest. Tonight, from 6 To S o'clock.
VIII be held the social reception and
hanqnet Of the convention at the Pres
hytcrtan Committee Of Publication. on
North Sixth Street. Rev. James Power
smith, ID. d.. chairman of the commit
tee. Will extend greetings on behalf Of
the city
Or. Edgar Blake, of the Methods,
church OF Chicago, is president of the
council. and presided at the meeting
Yesterday. DR.. George 7. Webb. OF
Philadelphia, is secretary.
Among those attending the convcn-
ton are representatives from four
churches in Canada. and. besides :,
large number of well-known church
educational men, nearly twenty women
VINO are editorial writer's and experts
IN sunday school work from the lend
ing cities of the country. One of the
most noted of these is Miss Margarc,
Slattcry. of Boston. an author OF in
fcrnational reputation. whose book on
the Icch age Girf' Is standard
authority
Another member OF the association
is DR. c. II. Blacknll. of the Baptist
BOARD of Philadelphia, who Is eighty
six years old. DR.. Blackall Is known
as the ncstor OF the writer's on re-
lieious matters in the council. and has
been an active church worker for sixty
years.
The association will be in session
through Thursday.