The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-20
CENTRAL PARK

A marked impetus was given to the Sunday school work at the local Metho- dist Episcopal church by the address of Field Secretary Wolford last Sun day. The lecture was well advertised and an unusually large audience in spired the speaker for his stirring 1ec- ture. A new era for this live organiza- tion had it's beginning a year ago. when the officers set as their goal an at- tendance which should equal that of the great rally at that time. That goal has been reached and still the school grows in numbers and in it's good in fluences in the community
 The Epworth League subject for Sunday evening was the "Consecration of Influence" This organization, to- gether with the B. Y. P U., has brought into service and training more than 70 per cent of the young membership of the community Those who present. ed studies of the immediate topic were: Misses Mabel Ritchie, Laura Gallagher, Junie McClain and Clifton Brassfield.
 At the evening service the pastor, Rev. J. F. Sturdevant, preached from the subject, "The Greatness of Our Work" the text being found in Ne hemiah 63 The sermon. minute discourse, impressed the audience with the character, rather than the diff culty, of the Christians work.
 Last Sunday was foreign mission day among Baptist churches. Rev. Baird, the local pastor. preached a convince ing sermon upon the subject, basing his arguments upon the book of Jonah, which he declared to be the first and greatest foreign missionary scripture of the Bible. He discussed the two views of higher criticism upon the au- thenticity of the book the one theory being that it is historically true, the nth hat ic mo a fah1n and therefore the most artistic and force full presentation of the great truth. the universality of Gods love and grace, At the evening service the pastor preached from "The Power of the Cos pei" the text being taken from the letter to the Thessalonians. He referred interestingly to the tragic history of the ancient Tnerma. which was after ward Thessalonica, and finally Salon. ica, making the application very strilz- ing.
 The B. Y. P U service emphasized Bible study and the love of Christ. Mrs Alex Shaw, leader of the Bible reading course. has created much inter est in the Bible history of the Jewish nation and the immediate topic, Jo- seph's dealings with his brothers, com manded a large number of voluntary answers. The key word of the lesson was Faith" The general programme was led by MT. Tidmore, who was as- sisted by Misses Jessie Aldridge, Viola and Mary Chastain, Vera Aldridge and Messrs. Gerald Odell and R. B. West
 The report of the tea at Mrs. J. H. Batsons Monday afternoon was con- fused with the Mission Study club, which meets but once a month. Those present at the tea were Mesdames J.. H. Batson, IT. A. Lockart, B. F. Lam- hert. Mccall. Mitchell. Brassfield, J. w. Hamilton, T. w. Akin, DeShazo and Trohoff
 The first report of the school for the seccnd semester showed considerable increase in enrolment over that of the first term Better weather is bringing in several new pupils each week, and many have come from families which have located in the park. but recently Among the new pupils this week are Will lie Long. two Masters Massey. and Bes- sic Fulbright.
 Fertilizer has been promised for the