East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-05-21
SUNDAY SCHOOL
CONVENTION IS
THE BEST EVER
UAEATILIuA COUNTY RECEIVES
"BLUE RIBBON" FOR HIGH
EST AWARDS.
William I.andrum of In Grandc
Elected Vice President of Eastern
oregon; Not Mediocre Number on
Program

(By Kew. X. h. GoTnah.l
What is said to have been thus far
the best eastern Oregon sunday
convention closed last night with en-
thusiastic interest.
Umatilla county received blue
ribbon" indicative of highest awards.
Saturday afternoon the election of
the state officers occurred with the
following results; Vice president OF
eastern oregon, William Landrum OF
La Grande, ore; Executive commit
tee members. NJ. Fl. Rice, Milton, Mrs.
f. b. Farmer, vale, Mrs. c. +. Wood
son, Heppner
Not a single mediocre number ap'
peared upon the extensive program
Every vocalist and speaker hit the
home plate in a cloud OF dust,
while the observers cheered.
No one in Pendleton who attended
The convention will doubt the bigness
of the sunday school business. II
every speaker were given his or her
due it would crowd out every vestige
of advertisement in this issue.
Sunday came in bright and ambi-
tious and portended good things. The
church schools were well attended.
The local pulpits were occupied by
visitors Harold F. Humbert of Eu-
gene, preached at the Christian
church: Dr. J. ID. Springston at the
Baptist; Marion Lawrence at the
Presbyterian; and NJ. B. Paraouna-
gian at the Methodist. Not being
omnipresent the writer only heard the
latter pulpiteer, but he gave an un-
usually interesting and penetratins
utIrrfNiGa that in
keeping with the spirit OF the times
yesterday pulpit product values
went up"
Two Stars in Convention.
The ..stars" of the convention were
Marion Lawrence and NJ. b. Parou-
nagain. The burr on the tongue of
the latter. with the quaint humor
captivated the listener so that one
forgot notes until the address was
over Then the uniqueness of the
material enhanced by the attractive
personality made IT impossible to in
any degree reproduce the address. II
gripped the soul and all that was LEFT
to live it out. That we think indicates
true eloquence.
Marion Lawrence of course is rec
ognized the world over as teacher
of teachers. we wish everyone not
privileged to hear this remarkable
man might read his messages but
here we can only touch the barest
outline.
His address on THE Teacher at
His Best was one of entire practical
utility. There was no surplus Ver-
boze for padding. He made an an
aIogy using Chist as the model teach
er. The shepherd qualities were em-
phasized in this fashion: He must
know his sheep" HE must know
their names, peculiarities and needs"
They must know his voice and he
must lead" with telling illustration
Mr.. Lawrence showed how the les
sons could be made interesting ana
helpful How can you stop a boy
from eating green apples?" Give him
ripe ones" Such were the many ep-
igrammatic illustrations with which
his lectures were illuminated.
world F,ager TO Know.
SUNDAY School Efficiency" was
another theme of Mr. Lawrence. The
world is eager for anyone who knows
how. why do multitudes go to
Rochester, Mimi? Because the Mayo
Bros. have a reputation for knowing
how.
The teacher is more important
than the material taught. When GOD
| wants to assist a soul he puts another
soul near it which is vibrating with
spiritual vitality. Radiating manhood
and woman is efficient teaching. Boys
and girls first get acquainted with
Christian people then with Christ.
Mr. Lawrence made a stirring plea
for the observance OF the first Sunday
in July as patriotic day" He said
that the Sunday school is the best
good citizenship factory in the world
The smile upon the face of our
general secretary, Charles A. Phipps,
to whom great credit is due. showed
com placent satisfaction that the con-