The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-01-07
DIR. DARLING
State Secretary Of the Ohio S. 8. As
ISOLATION Gives Splendid Address
At the M. p. Church
(Reported by Rev. G. r.. DyeJ

The city Sunday School association
met on Wednesday evening at the M
p. church to hear the reports of the
survey committee and the education
al committee.
Rev. o. e. Ford opened the meeting
by announcing a hymn, after which
Rev. J. A. Long led in prayer
Rev. G. r. Dye, county president,
introduced Superintendent p. G. Zem-
er to preside as chairman of the
meeting.
Professor Zemer gave an earnest
Introductory address and then intro
duced Rev. j. d. Darling, ID. D., sec
retary of the Ohio Sunday School as
sociation, for the address of the even
ing.
DR.. Darling, at the beginning of his
address, spent some time in discuss
ing the recently adopted Knox county
plan as whole, giving 1t his unquali-
fed and hearty endorsement and
stating that it would be published
this month in the Ohio Sunday School
Worker as good example of prac-
tical and workable plan for county as
sociations.
He specially urged that the Sunday
schools and churches should come to
their own in the social life of the
community. He said that the social
life of the city ought not to be left
to worldly organizations but that of
right the Sunday schools should pre-
dominate therein. The Sunday school
is the best department of the church
through which Christians may get to-
gether for community service.
He paid a very high compliment to
Superintendent Zemer, who had been
announced as the teacher secured by
the committee for large union
teachers training class, urging that
the training Of teachers was perhaps
the most neglected and at the same
time the most important of all Sun
day school activities. He urged that
advantage be taken of the unusual op-
portunity to secure this training un-
der Professor zemer, WHO is an edu-
cational specialist.
The city-wide survey of Mt. Vernon,
which the Sunday schools propose to
make on Sunday afternoon of Janu-
ary 8, he declared to be no fad, but
the most practical and valuable thing
ever undertaken in the city. He men,
toned that such surveys had been
made in Detroit, Toledo, Youngstown,
Dayton and other cities with astonish-
ingly satisfactory results. He affirm
ed that the value to each school and
church would be absolutely proper
| tionate to the extent of interest and
cooperation put into it.
Amongst the helpful agencies to
Sunday school work in Ohio, he men,
toned the newspapers and praised
them in the very highest terms for
the amount Of free space they are CIV
ing for religious work. He urged that
space be sought in the Mt. Vernon
papers for this survey and teacher
training work.
After the address, Mr.. A. P. Taylor
reported for the educational commit
tee, and Superintendent Zemer as
class teacher, announced that after
the survey is over the class will be
opened for teacher training.
For the survey committee, Mr.. D.
B. Grubb, as chairman, presented the
report. The survey is to be made
next Sunday to begin at 1870. Head
quarters for the survey will be at the
M. e. church. All canvassers are to
report at the M. e. church for final
instructions before starting out. The
city has been divided into about
ninety blocks which will be visit by
two visitors each. The object of the
visit is purely for the purpose of in
formation. No embarrassing ques
| tions will be asked. The visitors will
simply seek to learn where each per
son attends Sunday school or if they
do not attend, which school they pre-
fer.
DR.. Darling advised that it would
be well for each superintendent ant
each visitor to lay special stress up
on this survey at the morning service
next Sunday.
The whole purpose of the city Sun
day school association is not simpl.
to "do something" nor to vainglori
: ously bring somebody into promi
l nence, but to serve the people ant
: honor the Master.
--Sf.--