French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1918-05-09
COUNTRY SUNDAY SCHOOLS;
SOME OF THEIR PROBLEMS
AND HOW TO HANDLE THEM

In these times OF stress anu uh|eA
taintv we must not neglect those
agencies that deal with the greatest
things. Our Sunday schools are such
AGENCIES. We are largely a rural
people. More than two-thirds or our
people live in access to country ana
village Sunday schools. These schools
ought to be made just as large ana
efficient as possible.
This is not entirely a rural prob
lem. Go to any city IN North caro-
lima and you will find 80 per cent of
the leadership in business and in the
churches m from the country.
Imagine conditions a quarter OF a
century from now in cities, towns
and the country if our country
churches fail in this great hour.
Some Facts.
There are about 100000 white
people in North Carolina living in the
country. Not over 100000 are in any
Sunday school. There are 100000
babies too small to go to Sunday
school. This leaves 100000 people
old enough and in no school. Many
of these cannot go but could be en-
listed through a home department. IF
our Sunday schools are helpful to
those who go they would help the
others who do not go.
One reason why so many stay away
is because of the inefficiency of u
schools. 1 am convinced that of all
public agencies u country Sunday
schools are the most inefficient in or
~ganization, management and equip
ment. / do not say this in a spirit of
pessimism, but try to get our people
to face a stern fact. In spite of this
fact our Sunday schools are render
ing untold good to our churches and
as factors in our social and civic life.
Some Helpful Signs.
Our Sunday schools are growing.
They have increased in membership
at least 100000 in ten years. This
is a gain of 65 per cent. This in
cludes both races and all schools.
North Carolina has a larger per cent
of it's people in Sunday school than
any State in the Union except two.
Growth in teacher training, grading
the schools, new buildings and i'm
proved equipment and general uplift
has been marvellous.
Our schools are in a stage of tran
sition. They r passing from the
mass meeting stage to real educa-
tional institutions. It behooves all
Christian men and women to realize
their obligations to this great enter
prise. In our religious life these mat
tiers of readjustments in our Sunday
schools are as vital as the proper
rearing of our children is to our home
life. To neglect now is to suffer ir-
.retrievably later.
Some Problems.
All the work we can do resolves
itself to three things
1. Enlistment, or reaching the peo-
pie for the Sunday school and then
keeping them there.
2. Organization involving suitable
buildings and equipment, necessary
officers to run the schools and the
proper grading or classification of the
the pupils.
8. Teaching these pupils efficiently.
This involves adequate preparation
for such a high and holy task.
By the kindness of the editor I
shall try to deal with these matters
in a series of monthly articles. 1t is
my earnest desire t ohelp my people,
and in such a time as this l know
no better way than to do something
to make u country Sunday schools
larger and better. I have carefully
studied these problems, giving all my
time for ten years to Sunday school
work in every section of our State.
I shall use such subjects as Build
ing up the Sunday schools" "Oficers
and Their Duties" can Adequate
Organization" "The Country Pastor
and His Sunday School," GLOW to
Get Trained Teachers" especial
Days in the Sunday School," 1 shall
not in any way deal with the teaching
material. You will find this in the
periodicals of your UNCONVENTIONAL
publishing house.
REGISTRARS AND JUDGES