Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-21
SUNDAY SCHOOL GROWTH
OF METHOD|STS IS HUGE
Cain OF More Than I,2OU,O0U Scl,ol-
mrs In Past Eight Years,
Reports Show.
Is STRIKING ACHIEVEMENT
AL Records Of Every Church Brok-
en- by Unique Method. Which
Came About Through, Efficiency in
Organization.
ispcclai 20 The Tlmes.D,spatch.l

Especial 20 The Tiines-DispatCh.l
SARATOGA SPRINGS. *. y. May 20.
What il acknowledged as one Of the
most striking achievements in the
history Of Mcthodism has just been
revealed at the general conference of
the church mere In reports showing an
actual incrcaS" of the membership Of
Sunday schools of more than Loo. 900
during the past eight years, breaking
all records Of every church and due
10 Il unique plan Of efficient SUNDAY
school organization.
Ii was during the quadrcnnium SEES
sion Of 1905 that the Mctltodists de-
cided to employ efficiency in the con-
duct of the general sunday school
work. the fact that great neglect OBJ
taincd having struck home 10 the dele
gates. From that date the uninterest-
ing. the merely formal and decidedly
futile sabbath Day educational oxcr-
cises were doomed, giving way TO Il
system which, both from results and
character. is one of the most interest
ing exhibits of the value OF modern
efficient methods 70 be seen either In
church work or lay enterprises.
a committee OF expert SUNDAY school
workers was appointed as the board
of Sunday schools of the Methodist
Church. and the international work
has been under these aus
pices. Their triumphant report shows
an enrollnerr Of more thar $500, 900,
" llcI pTtiifI b,'DV,phU Oh 3CllSt
SUNDAY school scholars in the Mctho-
dist Episcopal Churcl. by the close OF
the year 1871. The slogan is: "Wha:
the Sunday school plants in the heart
of the child. the church will reap in
the lie of the man"
NEW EFFICIENCY CALLS
FOR NATURAL HAPPINESS
ln tho mrs: instance. according 70
Edgar Blaze, Of Chicago. the CORES
pnndipf yegrat,rN nf tho h6ayi rcrnr.
milton WAS taken OF the fact that the
nineteenth century had brough, TO the
children of this nation the birthriSht
Of natural childhood" Where. before.
!ou;hful ardor had been suppressed
and children had been stcrnIy COM
mandc'i b. their elders TO "he seen. not
heard and the love of PLAY and the
delights Of inviting study had been
stern!y disapprovcd Of by rigorous dis
ciplinarians, who woUld make children
dcveiop by "a cold moral code. tho
new efficiency calls for sunlight and
service. tro!!c and fancy free. love Of
right for rights sake. n~aturalness
God in butterflies wings. joy in self
sacrifice. character IN work we'll done.
and religion because IL Is desirable,
not merely commanded
bishop John ". Hamilton. az Boston,
declares that almost 81 per cent Of
:hc persons who do not accept Christ
in thc;. youth never accent Him." Civ
ing ar adequate idea Of Tho enormous
mower OF ;hc sunday school in tho de-
velopr"nt OF tho church.
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUCTION.
GIVEN ny ENPEIRTS
Methodist sunday school. draw from
the experts OF the official board a COM
piotc plan of organization and ser
vice, from actual equipment 10 scientific
plans for instruction and service. Inc
hoard tells the sunday school super
%intendent OF the little town in Non
tana or Of tho distant ciiy OF ia pan
or Africa, that children arc not COM
Portable in chairs which do not permit
the feet to touch the floor, that pic
lures hung abovc The level of their
eyes are not seen or enjoyed. that a
HinRy hascmen: does not invite "a large
class thai little children learn best
Of life from tn. study Of such as shells
and flowers and birds u butterflies,
that practice in doing for others in
good w:ll and of desire the
highest Christian tendencies. that there
must hc time for play As well As study,
that the teacher must first tc a good
rtory teller. and also must know that
children is to first guide them into the
path OF right and service. and then give
them full opportunity 20 move forward
of their oWn initiative. These and a
wonderful series OF practical methods
have. for eight years. hcco lowing
from the headquarters Of tic board
10 the sunday school workers in every
town and hamlet aud city in rho civi-
liked world where Mcthodists gather
together for worship. with results as
certain as mathematics computation