Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 151, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1916 — Report of the Indiana State Sunday School Convocation. [ARTICLE]

Report of the Indiana State Sunday School Convocation.

The Indiana State Sunday School convention held in Muncie during the ■past week was a record breaker both in attendance and inspiration. Over 2,000 delegates registered from all parte of the state, and miany who did not register were in attendance at every session of the gipat gathering. The. high school building, recently completed, was Headquarters for the convention. Its auditorium, with a seating capacity of 1,500, could not accommodate the audiences, so a simultaneous program was held each afternoon and evening in the M. E. church across the street. The program was one of information and inspiration from Start to finish with experts present at every session to discuss the problems and ideals of Sunday school work. Prof. E. O. Exeell led the song service in his own inimitable style. Everybody sang because under his direction, as usual, singing became epidemic. Prof. Alvin Raper, that majician of the pianto, thrilled and delighted the audiences again and again with his improvisations of well known hymns and his unique accompaniments to the hhorures. Prof. W. E. Hackleman ably led the music in the overflow meetings. The opening session was a memorial of the life and work of the late W. C. Hall) 'who for nearly 20 years was president of the state association. The tributes to his memory from the State officers, who had worked with him during these years, and from his friends in business and social life, were beautiful testimonials of his fidelity and efficiency in l the Master’s service.

Prof. E. B. von Klein Smid, president of the University of Arizona, and noted amOng Sunday school workers for 'his research work, was a popular speaker throughout the convention, as was ’Dr. Wilbur F. Crafts, of Washington, D. C., Supt. of the International Reform Bureau, who pleaded for protection in legislation for ooys and girls, especially in our cities.

Dr. W. C. Pearce, international superintendent of Adult and Training departments, gave a wonderful picture of the work being done by organ- > ized Sunday School classes for the betterment of community and national conditions.

On Wednesday Dr. Pearce came before the two 1 great joint session!? and secured peldges for $5,000 sor 1 the state Sunday school work. SI,OOO of this amount was given by Joseph P. Goddard, of Muncie, and SI,OOO by Morgan county for a life membership for their county secretary, Mrs. Laura Burch. The remainder was raised by contributions ranging from $1 to SSO, from counties and individuals. Each morning wais given to three departmental conferences which met simultaneously to discuss the problems and the methods of the three great departments of the Sunday school. A specialist was present at each of these conferences, Which proved one of the motSt helpful features of the convention. Mrs. Mjary Foster Bryner, international superintendent of elementary work, gave a most covnincing argument concerning the value of the perfect organization of this department and its separation even in small Hrhonta, into its four distinct divisions. The importance of the use of graded lessons was also discused. The Bible hour each day in charge of Prof. C. E. Underwood, of Butler college, was instructive and devotionaL

It is impossible to put into this report; the names of all who contributed to the helpfulness of this convention. Only the briefest resume can be given of its messages, which came from experts in every line of work represented in the perfect organization of the Sunday school of today. These speakers powerfully impressed their hearers with the obligation and the opportunity that confronts our Sunday school. Its scope i® not the narrow circle of its voluntary attendants, but the whole community. Its purpose is: To furnish a recruiting station for the church; to be a constant evangelizing force; to furnish relgiious instruction; to powerfully support and advance every moral and religious movement of its day.

Mrs. A. Eib, of Barkley township, is attending the annual meeting of the Primitive Baptist church at Mt. Ayr. She reports that her daughters, Jennie and Alice, have returned frbm their respective schools, the former at CalidOnia, N. Dak., and the latter at Elwood, Ind., for the summer vacation. t