The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-05-07

Throughout the states Of Mime.
sofa, North Dakota and Montana the
American Sunday School Union has
a corps Of Sunday school mission
aries working exclusively in the
rural districts, promoting the Sum
day school work in an interdenom-
national manner. During the last
year lis Sunday Schools were es-
tablished, and the Rev. John o. Fer
ris of. Minneapolis, district SUPER
intendent, reports that he expects
to have . larger report to make Of
the efforts of the missionaries this
present season. These men seek out
the isolated communities in the
north woods, mining camps, on the
prairies, homesteaders, and where
ever there are people untouched by
the regular churches, and Sunday
Schools are established on q union
basis. The missionary lives among
the people, visits with them, fur
nishes them with good reading mat
ter. Many homes are found where
no minister has crossed the thresh-
old for many years; children have
grown to teen age without ever hav-
ing been in q Sunday school, the
Rev. Ferris says.
More than 1900 Sunday school
papers are being sent out weekly
to isolated homes; home depart
ments are being established, and
home study departments for individ-
uals and homes out Of touch with
the church.
Daily Vacation Bible schools are
organized for tho summer months
Last year 1876 teachers were en-.
gagged in this new line of Christian
education. Thousands Of Bible
verses were learned by pupils il
these rural schools. Circulating
libraries were purchased for them
The missionary is looked upon q:
the source Of inspiration and in
formation and finds very man,
places where he can be Of servict
to these good people.
Some Of Years Results
The northern district, which com
prises the states Of Minnesota
North Dakota and Montana, is I
part of the great national movement
with headquarters in Philadelphia
which has been in operation fol
over 10 years. The national an
nual report has just been published
which shows that for the year end
ing February 20, 1928, the Amer
lean Sunday School Union has com
missioned POI missionaries. Twenty
six Of these, however, have serves
but part Of the year. As result
of their efforts, 781 new Sunda,
Schools have been organized ant
694 reorganixed. Into these schools
have been gathered 1926 teachers
and 42,474 scholars.
| Nor have the missionaries failet
in helpfulness to the general Sun
day school cause. In addition II
their pioneer work, they have Wis
tied 12,878 schools in which 64,66l
teachers and 670,9O7 scholars wer'
being influenced; 20,685 Sermon
and addresses were delivered, ant
while exploring new territory ant
working in the districts covered be
fore. 2O3,OO7 families were visitet
in their homes.
Two comparatively new features
this year have been emphasized-th'
Daily Vacation Bible school and tn
group gathering work. OF the for
mer. 6O7 schools have been hel'
with an enrolment Of 1928. II
organizing this work 9,206 homes
were visited by the missionary
2,616 Bibles and Testaments wer'
distributed; and in order to brinl
the message to the older people II
the communities where the Dali.
Vacation Bible schools were in prog
ress. 281 Bible classes were organ
lied. with 6,537 members In attend
ance. The Daily Vacation Bibl
schools and the Bible classes, plu
visits to the homes OF the people
have aroused an interest. Eight hun
dred five evangelistic meetings wer
held in the evenings in which Their
were present 1926 people. and i
which 1852 public decisions TO
Christ were made.
| Four hundred eighty-two grou
gatherings of union Sunday school
were held, with an attendance Q
76,0O4 persons.
Many Bibles Distributed
Opportunity has come to the m's ]
sionaries to distribute . total Q
l4.533 Bibles, 6,956 copies Of the Me-
Testament, and $3.50 copies Of tn
Gospel Of John.
The total number OF DOCKS oooS