New Britain herald., 1930-09-22
RALLY DAY TALKS l AT SUNDAY SCHOOL
Rev. A. D. Heinginger Relates
 History Of Robert Raikes

Rally Day at the First Church Sunday Church school on Sunday morning took the form of a celebra- tion of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the modern Sunday school movement by Robert Raikes. A monument to Robert Raikes was unveiled in June of this year, sit uated in a beautiful setting near the Parliament building in Toronto, Canada, and was presented to the city of Toronto in commemoration of the sesqufcentennial of the Sum- day School movement, Speaking of the monument unveiled in Toronto and of the Sunday School move ment now spread throughout the world. Rev. Alfred D. Heininger stated that it is fitting monument, not to a hero of military service, but to one who gave himself to help the childhood of the world. Robert Raikes was a successful printer and publisher in Gloucester, England, was for many years in- terested in the problem of relieving the terrible condition in England's prisons, especially in helping the large number of poor debtors who were thrown into prison," he said. He finally came to the conclusion that the only way to help improve the conditions of society was to be- gin with the children. His first Sun day school was started in Scot AL ley Gloucester, in 17S0. For three years he eXperimented to prove conclusively that rudimentary edu- cation given to these under privi- legged children would actually pro- duce change in their lives. With no education, no decent homes, no chance to learn anything good, the children were a tough lot" but three years of experimentation con- vinced Robert Raikes that much could be done in improving the morals and condition of life of these children by instruction in Sunday schools. Robert Raikes published article in his Glouces- ter Journal relating his experiences and some of the results achieved. This attracted the attention of John Wesley and others and the time was ripe for a general movement of this character so that within four years of the publications of the the first article there were 2500O0 chil- dren enrolled in Sunday schools III the British Isles.
 There was plenty of opposition at the beginning of the, movement. Robert Raikes was referred to as Bobby Wild oGose' by some of his townspeople and he and his rag regiment were sometimes pelt- ed with filth or had water poured on them as they made their way down the street. Even among the clergy there was strong opposition. fearing tbat the, Sunday school movement was striking a blow at the church. The archbishop of Canturbury called the bishops to- gether to consider whether some thing should not be done to stop this great enterprise. Even here in Connecticut, as late as 1920, when a young girl gathered small Sun day school in the gallery of the church she was forbidden by the church authorities to continue on the ground that she was desecrating Gods day and Gods house.
 But events proved that the time was ripe for such a movement on behalf of the childhood of the world and Sunday schools have spread throughout all lands so that now there are many millions of children, young people and adults enrolled in Sunday Church schools. Robert Raikes rediscovered the child, his value and possibilities. He exper- mented for three years until he- proved the value of Sunday school work and then he used his news paper to publish to the educated people of England the results that had been achieved"
 The Rally Day program was pre- ceded by the assembly of all de- partments in their departmental rooms for enrolment and a process sional to the chapel which was fill- ed to overflowing with a large num- Der present in all departments. MT. Oscar A. Marsh, general superin- tendent, gave welcome to pupils, teachers and officers and Rev. Theodore A. Greene gave greeting from pastor. An urgent call for the help of Christian people from Santo Domingo was given by Miss Betty Holstein who told of the devesta- tion and suffering following in the wake of the recent hurricane. It was voted to give the entire offering to be sent for relief work in Santo Domingo.
 Enrolment will be completed in all departments of the Church school and regular class sessions will begin on Sunday, September 18th.