South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-06

talk by -. A. Moran and a musical
program - the Masonic orchestra
assisted by several singers OF the
city. the annual SUNDAY schoo: con
tentiOn Of Penn twp. was held Sun
day afternoon at the First church
Of the Evangelical association. The
church was crowded for the occa.
sion.
W. r. Babcock president OF the
township association. presided al
the meeting as chairman. A pro
gram was rendered by the orchestra
from 2:15 until $40 O'Clock and
was followed by the singing by the
audience Of America" Rev. d. b
SpangIer pronounced the invocation
which was followed by a hymn. A
the Battle Front by the audience
and the scripture reading by Rev
A. j. Unthank Rev. DR.. J.. A. Bur.
Eett led in prayer.
Committees Report.
Following a duet by members Of
the Ladies' quartet of the First
Christian church. committee report,
were led and the officers of the as
sociation announced. The resigna-
ton of Mr. BabcOck was not accept
cd. and he was unanimously elected
10 nh the office for the ensuing
year. The remaining officers were
named as follows: Vice president
Clyde Rogers: adult Bible class. p
r. Claws0n; teacher training. W. r
Weldy, secondary work Mrs. g.
r. Burket. primary and cradle roll
Mrs George Richardson; mission
AIRY and temperance. Squire Lowry
home departing nt. Mrs. Ford Myers
Miss Ethel Fry. township secre-
tary. read her report which showed
that the sunday schools of the town
ship have made remarkable prog
ress during the past year. and have
increased from IS schools in 1912
with an enrolment of 1850 20 2
schools with an enrolment Of 3.1S6
The average attendance for the
year has been 2.027 against 1.947
in 1912 This is regarded excep-
tionally good, considering the fact
that many OF the young men have
been called to the colors and the
attendance has been necessarily re-
duced.
MIR. Ellis Talks.
Miss Fry's report was followed by
a selection by the male quartet OF
the First Baptist church. after
which Mr.. Ellis, one of the most
capable Sunday school workers OF
the state. addressed the gathering
on The Challenge of the Supreme
Opportunity" Mr. Ellis traced the
origin Of the present system of Bible
study and instruction back 10 the
book of Deuteronomy, where admon-
ishment is made that the young be
instructed in the divine laws Of
Sinai.
Showing the analogy between the
ancient synagogue schools of Jewry
tC the present day Sunday school
Mr.. Ellis described the moral and
spiritual decline which resulted
when the old evangeIistic forms OF
worship and teaching were super
coded by the forms and ceremonies
and the ritualistic phases which
were introduced into religious wor-
IL Supreme Opportunity.
The speaker went on to show that
each time the church has aban-
dOned her ancient form Of teaching,
consisting chiefly of interlOcutory
discourse. each time the persistent
teaching OF the gospel has been
abandoned. religious feeling and
spiritual consciousness have de-
Clined. In conclusion Mr.. Ellis de-
clared that the Sunday school is
the church's supreme opportunity
for its OWE upbuilding and the dis
semination Of Christianity through
out the world
Mr.. Moran's talk had to do with
the financial aspect OF the Sunday
school. whose benefits he pointed
out to be vast and far reaching. He
told OF the many needs OF the or
il the work Is 90 go on.
and asked that the fullest support
be given the Sunday School asso-
citation. Just as the war cannot
be conducted without men, food
and money. the work Of the church
cannot go on without means and
equipment.
The convention closed with the
HYMN. "Rlest BE the Tie That
Binds" bv the audience. and the
prayer by Rev. u. u.
Spangler. There were many out Of
town visitors. and the Sunday
schools OF the township were repre-
sented Ralph Bennett. eX-presi-
dent OF the association. who lives az
New Carlisle. was among the out OF
town visitors
SOCTAs. AND PERSON