Published: July 09, 2008 04:38 pm            

Yesterday in Newton: Sunday School History - Part IV

NEWTON — (A. J. Brown’s paper on the Sunday School Convention in 1902)

In the year 1900, Prof. J. L. Taylor was elected president of the association and served one year. In the year 1901, W. I. Munn was elected and served one year and then continued in office for the ensuing year. I pray that you may give your (now) presiding officer the cordial support you gave me.

Benefit Derived Therefrom:

The benefit to the meetings of this body are first, that all organizations use a yearly meeting of the representatives of the smaller orders to devise means by which the subordinate contingent may be enquired into and means suggested for the betterment of all who are engaged in the work. By this means we get better acquainted with the homework by composing what we are doing in comparison with others we come here to be instructed by what others may say and thereby improve our methods at home. The continuation today is not denomination, All churches and all members of the church favorable to Sunday School work are welcome and we all feel at home. The platform upon which we stand today is broad enough for us all. We come in the common cause of service to God and the teachings of the Holy Scripture.

It is not expected that we shall surrender or even compromise any of our tenets of faith or church dogma. We mingle freely here as God’s people and we go back to our respective home schools and churches and teach such doctrine as we believe in construing the scripture. We come to mingle freely together as neighbors and friends and Christians, representing the various denominations of our county, without involving us in controversy with regard to our respective belief. To mix freely with the best people of the country is a great civilization, a great educator and to think of twelve years ago when I presided over the Sunday School convention at this place, how many boys and girls that were there that are men and women today. They probably have attended most of the county conventions and what a benediction to them. How much they have learned and the good done to them may be incalculable.

As a social feature where all may engage in the pleasures of the occasion is a part that is very fascinating. How beautiful to see the old men and women of the county come to this place, to see their children and grandchildren and those of their neighbors, mingle freely in the enjoyment of the day; and again, the young mother and father with their little ones are here enjoying the blessings of this occasion. Last but not least are the young people and the children who are old enough to take part and appreciate the benefits of the occasion. Taking it all together, all the component parts of their harmonious gathering there are a few meetings that excel it.

I am pleased that you have selected a distinguished man to address us this day. We feel thankful for his kind words, his interesting address. We feel honored to have the chancellor of our district to speak on this occasion. Not only is he chancellor but it is our prospective representative in the Congress of the United States, a position among the most honored of any in the world. I do not doubt but our distinguished friend feels honored that you have selected him to speak today. And when the time comes that he shall take his seat in the Congress of the United States as our representative, whether he be battling for some great political problem which concerns the democratic party and the country at large as for his state or something for his consistency in his own immediate district, his mind will revert to the pleasures of this day and he will consider the meeting of the people of Newton County in Sunday School Convention at Chapel Hill a green spot in his memory.

May God’s blessing rest upon all who are here and may He bless the efforts of those connected with the County Convention and that we may meet many years to come is the wish of your humble servant.

        

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