The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1919-07-10
Worldwide S. s. Work

ING and endeavors in religion and
education. The first of these is
the mutual approach of the two,
religion and education, in the
common field Of religious educa-
ton. More and more educators
are realizing that there is no true
and complete system of education
that does not include religious
and moral training. And more
and more religious workers are
recognizing that religion to be eff
fective must include education.
Religious education therefore is
coming to occupy the center and
focus of modern methods for hui
man betterment.
The second marked tendency of
the twentieth century is the
steadily increasing recognition of
the fact that no one denomination
alone is adequate for the task of
outstanding America. With full
recognition Of the necessity for
UNCONVENTIONAL loyalty the most
active and progressive leaders in
all denominations are insisting
upon a closer cooperation in COM
mon endeavors. 1t is recognized,
for example, that Sunday school
methods are common to all de-
nominations, while doctrines and
theology are peculiar to the diff
ferent denominations, therefore
the discussion and promotion of
Sunday school methods is being
accomplished more and more thru
inter-denominational conventions,
leaving the consideration of doc
trine to purely UNCONVENTIONAL
bodies.
This cooperation is popular
and democratic in character since
those who take part liz the Sunday
school conventions do so as indi-
viduals without regard to Demon
national lines. No local associa-
ton exerts any authority over any
Sunday school or individual and
no larger association exerts any
authority over a smaller unit.
This organized Sunday school
work throughout the world is
based on three fundamental prin-
ciples which should be. clearly un-'
derstood. Experiences has shown
that whatever any individual
Sunday school worker fails to
take an interest in this organized
work it is usually because he has
not clearly understood the prin-
ciples on which it is based.
The three principles are simple
and reasonable.
The first principle of the F'lori-
da Sunday School Association (of
which is the DeSoto County AS
sociation) is that it works by way
Of cooperation and not organized
union. 1t stands for intelligent
UNCONVENTIONAL loyalty. 1t is not
"Union" work but co-opera-
ton work. 1t simply means LET
us help one another"
The second principle of the or
ganized Sunday school work is
that in it's conventions and instl-
tutes we discuss methods of work
and not church doctrine. Demon
national doctrines can be discuss
ed in UNCONVENTIONAL meetings;
but Sunday school methods OF
work such as Home Department,
Organized Glass, Blackboard, etc.
etc, are common to all denomlna-
tons and therefore they can be
most helpfully discussed in Sun
day school conventions where all
denominations meet together. BY
thus meeting together and dis
cussing the methods used by each
school each one derives the bene-
fit of the wisdom and experience
Of all the others. They are as
helpful in one denomination as
another.
The third principle is that the
Florida Sunday School Associa-
ton works by suggestion, not by
authority; therefore it helps many
and hinders none. There is no
authority in any district, county,
state or internationl convention to