The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-11-19

4 Forty years of faithful service as
superintendent of the First Methodist
Sunday school will have been com
pleted by John r. Pepper Sunday.
In honor of this anniversary, the
congregation of First church will de-
vote its entire morning service Sun
day to properly celebrating the oc-
casion. Representatives of the other
Protestant churches of the city. of the
Jewish congregations the Chamber of
Commerce and other organizations
will join with First church in honor
ing Mr.. Pepper.
Mr.. Peppers reputation as Sun
day school worker is by no means
local, he being thee author Of a num-
Der of books on Sunday school work
that have made his name familiar to
leaders Of Bible study throughout the
country Among his volumes are
"Fhe Sunday School as 9. Teaching
Agency Tried Plans Of Sunday
school Work The Modern Super
intendent and His Work." CULVER
TIPS for S. S. Workers and Thirty
Years at the superintendent Desk"
He has also edited the Memphis Con-
ference Sunday School Year Book for
nearly 30 years. His books have had
a large gale and are considered stand
u lS[NLS Oil lIlc SUI letlS lIGS cover.
For many years Mr. Pepper was
member of the international lesson
committee which prepared the stand
ard Sunday school lessons / used
throughout the Sunday school world.
He has made four trips to Europe
in connection with his church activ-
ity, three of which were made in the
interest of Sunday schools. In 1888
he was delegate to the worlds Sun
day school convention at London; in
901 he attended the Ecumenical
Methodist conference in London; in
1907 he went to London as a mem
Der of the international lesson COM
mittee, and last year he visited Eu-
rope as a member of the Methodist
centenary commission on relief.
On one of his trips he visited the
Holy Lands, riding on horseback for
three weeks and visiting nearly all
y the points Of historical interest He
spent about two months in the Holy
Lands.
When first elected superintendent
of First church Sunday school, in
1880, there were but ITO members
enrolled. including officers and teach
ers. The present enrolment is over
1,400, and last year the school con-
tributed $500 to religious work as
compared with $159.24 in 1880. .. ..
1 Mr.. Peppers Sunday school was
one of the pioneers in adopting the
modern departmental method of
teaching the Bible, and in establish
ing teachers training classes along
present day lines Of practice. This
work was inaugurated at First church
many years before it was taken up by
the churches at large; For 81 years,
without a break, the teachers train
ing classes have pursued systematic
course of Bible study, meeting on
Wednesday nights to prepare to each
the lesson for the following Sunday.
-Four teachers classes now meet reg
ular!y each Wednesday.
AS now organized, the First Meth
odist school has IA distinct courses
Of study for the various departments
and classes.
Several will take part in the pro
gram honoring Mr.. Pepper SUNDAY:
Alfred D. Mason will speak on behatr
of the Protestants Joseph NeWbur
ger will take as his subject, Israel
ties" Leslie M. Stratton will repre-
sent the Chamber of Commerce; u
T. Fftzhugh, Bishop William b. Muir
rah and other distinguished cltlzehs
will speak. A splendid musical pro-
gram will also be rendered.