River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-10-11
Lutheran Sunday
School COnveR-
ton Held Here


stitute of River Falls and Ellsworth
was held at the River Falls armory
last Sunday, October Z, and no doubt
served to inspire the audience at
each Of the three sessions with the
Importance and value of the Sunday
school.
The Institute was particularly
fortunate in securing Rev. Fl. p.
Grimsby and Rev. O. S. Reigstad OF
Minneapolis as speakers for the con-
vention program as both of these men
have wide knowledge and experience
in Sunday school work.
Rev. Grimsby, President OF the Ma
tional Sunday School association OF
the Lutheran church and author of
the whole series of books used in the
Sunday school proper and In the
Bible classes, gave the morning adj
dress choosing his subject, THE
Sunday School as The Nursery of the
Christian Church" In his talk Rev.
Grimsby briefly discussed the history
of the Sunday school, empasizing the
fact that the Sunday school is SER
want Of the church and not an indie
pendent organizations.
The speaker elaborated on the six
following functions of the Sunday
school: To instruct in the Word of
God; 2. To lead the child to personal
salvation; 8. To develop Christian
character; A. To train for unselfish
service; 5. To make the Sunday
school an evangelistic force in the
community; 6. To make the Sunday
school recruiting agent for the
church.
Rev. Grimsby's power Of expression
together with his sincerity of purpose
gave his audience a splendid concep-
ton of the importance of Sunday
school work. Parents and teachers
were made conscious Of the great
privilege which is theirs in molding
character of the young, while at the
same time they were made to realize
the grave responsibility in this under
taking.
The Ellsworth congregation fur
nish the special music at the morning
service. The numbers consisted OF
vocal solos by Prof. E. B. johnson
and Mr.. Lawrence Olson and a selec-
ton by the choir.
The afternoon session was devoted
to talks and papers by some of the
Sunday school workers in the parish
The children of the River Falls Sun
day school provided the music, con-
sisting of orchestra selections,
violin solo, school and group songs.
The Ellsworth mixed quartette also
rendered selection.
Mr.. G.. M. Hanson of Ellsworth
spoke on the principle of the Graded
Sunday School System" He explain
ed how by the use of this system the
children in the Lutheran Sunday
schools are all studying the same
matter every Sunday. This fact was
a marvellous revelation when one con-
siders the benefits of such a system.
A child then, who may be transferred
from one Sunday school to another
has the opportunity of going right
on from where he left off, thus avoid
ing omissions and repetitions.
Mrs. L. E. Bragstad explained the
Importance of the Cradle Roll de-
partment in the Sunday school and
based her discussion on the words of
Christ; "Suffer the little Children to
come unto Me-"
Mr.. H. A. Hagestad, in his talk on
Sunday School After Confirmation"
emphasized the Importance of Bible
study and urged the young people TO
make use of the opportunity given
them.
In discussion, "The Value Of
Memorizing the Sunday school Les
sons" Miss Christine Peterson con-
WINGED her audience that memory
work should be insisted upon from
the very beginning. The child being
in the impressionable age, good
thoughts and Christian teachings,
which in later life will serve high
purpose, should be stored in the sub
oopccio,,S mind
In her paper in Cooperation of
Home and Sunday School," Miss
Alma Peterson of Ellsworth made it
very clear that the religious training
of the child falls upon the home and
the church, and that the Sunday
school affords the medium through
which the parents and teachers can
cooperate for the best welfare of the
child.
Rev. Grimsby was present at the
afternoon session and at the con-
clusion of the program volunteered
some remarks in which he heartily en-