RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Sunday-Schools
The Protestant Episcopal Church formed a Sundayschool Union in 1827, and was warmly supported by many. Others, while conceding that Sunday-schools were useful for non-churchgoers, and those who were poor and destitute, held that the church should teach its children by its clergy, under their direction, in families, and in parish schools. Yet Sunday-schools have prospered under the fostering care of diocesan authority, and through an efficient Sunday-school commission. Courses of study and text-books are provided that are suited to the worship and articles of confession in that church. The Presbyterians (North and South) have Sunday-school boards and the Baptists (North and South) have similar boards and Sunday-school departments. Each of these employ colporteurs or agents, and provide an extensive literature for the use of their respective schools. The Reformed churches also maintain similar publishing-houses, and secretaries for promoting the efficiency of their schools in instructing the young. Besides these, there are upward of twenty-five publishing-houses of more or less prominence devoting their chief attention and energy to providing publications and requisites for Sunday-schools in every variety of form and character, so that if Sundayschools in America do not steadily improve and attain increasing efficiency, they can not plead lack of machinery and material.
8. Conventions of Sunday-school Workers: Conventions are used to awaken public interest, to discuss methods, to gather and disseminate information, and to promote Sunday-schools. 1. Conven- jj0Cai conferences and conventions for 18(^2 *^S PurPose were held before 1820. The first delegated convention, general or national in its scope in America and representing societies from all parts of the land, was held in Philadelphia in 1824, to consider the formation of a national society, and led to the organization of the American Sunday-school Union. In 1828 another convention was held in the same city, when delegates from fourteen states considered various measures for enlarging the operations of the " National," or American Sunday-school Union. Among other measures commended were extension of Sundayschools in communities using the German language, among seamen, the offer of premiums for suitable publications, and plans for increased contributions to sustain the cause. In 1830 conventions and meetings were held in every important city of America, in furtherance of the " Mississippi Valley " mission proposed by the American Sunday-school Union. In 1832 the American Sunday-school Union proposed a national convention for " considering the principles of the institution (Sunday-school), and improved plans for organizing, instructing, and managing Sunday-schools." At the call of the union ninety delegates from thirteen states and one territory and the District of Columbia met, and decided to call a national convention of Sunday-school workers in New York, to be composed of delegates appointed by the local unions, associations, and by schools not connected with any union. This preliminary meeting also appointed committees, and authorized the sending out of a series of seventyeight " interrogatories " grouped under thirteen
heads, embracing organization, mode of instruction, system of lessons, libraries, infant schools, adult Bible classes, visiting, and all measures tending to improve the institution. Delegates from fourteen states and territories met, discussed the questions for two days, referred the answers to the interrogatories to a committee to collate and report later, and proposed a second convention to be held in Philadelphia in 1833. The second convention approved of the effort proposed by the American Sundayschool Union personally to invite every person on July 4, 1833, to attend some Sunday-school the following Sabbath, July 7; urged that religious instruction be given to inmates of jails, prisons, and alms-houses, favored private Sunday-schools in homes with irreligious parents, recommended that sermons be preached for teachers and members of Sunday-schools, and the training of the young in mission-work. The special report on modes of instruction, prepared by James W- Weir and published by the American Sunday-school Union, was based upon the information given in response to the seventy-eight interrogatories. The replies made a quarto volume of about 1,200 pages. A third national Sunday-school convention was held in Philadelphia in 1859. A general convention was held in London, England, in 1862, attended by about 450 delegated workers from Great Britain, Ireland, the continent, America, and Australia, and considered the history, objects, and methods, with a view to the improvement and extension of Sunday-schools at home and abroad.
A fourth national convention in America was held, 1869, in Newark, N. J., attended by 526 enrolled members from 28 states and 1 territory, besides some from Canada and abroad. The purpose of this convention was twofold, inspiration and instruction. The fifth convention was held in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1872, attended by 338 delegates, from 22 states, 1 territory, and Canada. Meanwhile a conference of publishers had arranged a series of " uniform lessons " as a " trial scheme " as hereafter noticed. This plan was adopted at the convention with great enthusiasm, and prepared the way for the next and first " international " convention at Baltimore in 1875, and the lesson committee through Dr. Warren Randolph made its first report. Since 1875, the international conventions have been held triennially. The second was in Atlanta, Ga., 1878, with over 400 delegates, and promoted kindly feeling between the northern and the southern states; the third in Toronto, 1881; the fourth in Louisville, Ky., 1884, when a third lesson committee was appointed and four persons added to it from Great Britain, and one from France. The fifth met in Chicago, 111., 1887; the sixth in Pittsburg, Pa., 1890, where a quarterly temperance lesson was adopted; the seventh in St. Louis, Mo., 1893; the eighth in Boston, 1896, over 1,000 delegates present, marked by the leadership of D. L. Moody; the ninth in Atlanta, Ga., marked by the election of Marion Lawrance as general secretary; the tenth in Denver, Colo., 1902, with 1,168 delegates, when special lessons for beginners were approved; the eleventh in Toronto, 1905, with 1,988 delegates, when " advanced les-
2. 1869- 1910.
Sunday-Schools