The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-26
the Home Fires Burning Is Motto of Our Sunday
Schools In United States During Great World War
NH w. C. FIELD SUPERINTENDENT
by DOLLY DALRYMPLE
RR q BIBLE Glass for Every serv-
IN ice Flag Star to Keep the

4 HR q BIBLE Class for Every sery-
~ ice Flag Star to Keep the
q - Home Fires Burning is the
motto of our Sunday schools in the
United States during this great world
war AS our President has said, we
must make the world safe for democ-
racy, but what tragedy it would DO IL
those of US who are left at home were
to allow the fires of religion to burn
low and let the worlds level drop ac-
cordingly, and thus fail to make democ-
racy safe for the world"
Mr.. w. C. Pearce of Chicago, one OF
the most noted Sunday school workers
in the country, and man of eminent
character and high ideals, with his soul
fired TO the heights of patriotism both
for our Toys who are lover there" in
this great war as well as for those of us
over here,'' made this ringing state
ment in behalf of religious endeavor dur
ing the war yesterday, as he talked with
me about conditions which have been
brougt about in Sunday school work
since America went into war against
Germany a little over a year ago.
Mr.. Pearce styles himself a 'layman."
He is in reality a lawyer by profession
but so closely has he been allied with
Sunday school and church work for the
past 2S years that he is usually looked
| upon as preacher
| II often tell the story of the man on
the platform with me at Sunday school
| convention" Mr.. Pearce said, "wnom
/ had never met before and who was to
introduce me. He turned and asked
| Are you called DOCTOR No., said l..
| Then is it reverend he asked. NO.
I, said I. Then what is iii? he asked, GU
! riously. Just plain mister L replied.
which tells the story"
Mr.. Pierce has acted in the capacity
of president of the Illinois Sunday School
| association for nine years. He has been
general secretary for the Chicago Sun
day School association for many years;
for the past four years he has filled with
credit and honor to himself the position
Of field superintendent, adult division
of the international Sunday School asso-
| ciation, in which capacity he is now serv-
| Ing.
I'm speaking of the Sunday school
| work of our nation" MIR. Pearce said,
let me say just here that one of the
best adult Bible classes in all this coun-
try is the mems class in Selma. One of
tiC Aii5e StdleS III the south TO n0iu
separate Bibles class convention was
Alabama. Alabama is the best organ
lied state in the south and absolutely
one of the best in the country in Sunday
school work.
| War-which came to me first as we
started this story Mr.. Pearce continued
and its effect upon our mems Bible
classes is the dominant subject now in
my mind, because there has been a ire
mendous drain upon our mems classes
This was to be expected, of course, as
the men who belong to Bible classes
throughout the country are clean, whole.
some. fine men, who have led respectable
lives and thus are fit physically as wei
as mentally to serve as our soldiers anC
sailors who must protect our country il
these perilous times. I was told that il
one Bible class alone in New York city
% members had gone; one class of L
sent every member Il of whom are nov
dead. We are only beginning to fee
the effect Of depletion in our mems classes