AND YE SHALL KNOW
TRUTH, AND THE
VOL. XL VIII.
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE WORKERS’ CON
FERENCE, AND HOW IS IT MAINTAINED?
A Paper read by I. M. Martin, Sunday School Missionary of €fc
tawba Presbytery, at the Workers* Conference held in
Chester, South Carolina, February.2»5, 1926.
What is a Workers' Confer
ence? It is a ^meeting composed
of the officers and teachers of
• the Sunday school and the pas
tor of the church. This confer
ence meets to plan the work of
the Sunday school. The super
intendent presides at this meet
ing; After the devotions the
presiding officer enters into the
program at once, which ought
to . be thoughtfully gotten
out at least a month prior. This
program should endeavor to put
before the conference the needs
of the school and what it plans
to do, which is discussed by the
members of the conference,
frankly facing the issues, what
ever they are, and stating faets
whether they be successes or
failures. Let it be a failure or
mistake of an officer or teacher,
it is to be discussed from every
angle, to help the individual or
individuals. Sometimes the in
dividual becomes offended.
Then, what are you going to do?
Make an apology for all you
have said or try to take it back ?
No, no, though you must use
diplomacy in applying the rod
of rectification; you can not
afford to make an apology for
doing you full Christian duty.
Which is better—to make an
apology for all you have
said because of someone becom
ing offended, when you were ab
solutely right, or let the officer
a%d *£irls^by his or her bad ex
lple or satanic teaching? I
believe I hear you say, “Hew to
the line, let the chips fall where
they may.” But the mistake or
failure must be remedied and,
let us hope, cured.
Then we turn our minds to
plans for the future by working
out the program for the next
meeting of the Workers' Confer,
ence.
Now what kind of a pro
gram should you have for the
Workers’ Conference? It should
be a •program that is in keeping
with modern Sunday school
methods and nothing but things
that are needful and helpful
should be placed on the program
for discussion—things that
ought to be put over by the
Sunday school a month or two
hence. Where you will have
time to work out and work up
a good program, like planning
for special days, such as Lin
coln’s Birthday, Easter Exer-,
cises, Mothers’ Day, Children’s
Day, Rally Day, etc., and many
other things of vital importance
can be planned to help the Sun
day school, church and com
munity by the workers’ confer
ence. Mr. Marion Lawrence
said “The Workers’ Conference
is to the Sunday school what the
coaling stations and water tanks
are to the railroad train. And
we know the train can not run
unless it is supplied by these
stations.” Yes, the workers’
conference properly mixed with
the spirit of Jesus Christ will
do for the Sunday school what
gasoline properly mixed with air
applied to the automobile en
gine will do. Move it off.
When and how often should
the workers’ conference be held?
It should meet on week days or
nights and at an hour that is
most agreeable to local condi
tions. Sometimes it is held in
the Sunday school room and
sometimes in private homes;
this, too, is determined by lo
cal conditions. It is not a mat
ter pf where it is held, since it is
not at a questionable place. The
vital point is to have it and do
the work that is needful and
ought to be done to help the
Sunday school, church and
community. It should meet at
least once a month at a set time,
and should be announced in the
Sunday school room the Sunday
prior to the meeting as a ire
minder, so the members of the
conference may not be absent;
if so, they should be notified by
mail of thfe meeting, for some
times the failures or mistakes of
the individuals whowereabsent
that Sunday may be discussed
at the approaching meeting, and
we think it not wise to discuss
an indivdfial, he or she being ab
sent, unless they w£re informed
that certain things in which
they wede involved will be dis
cussed, then you can use your
discretion. •?
5f Opening -
Some conferences begin by
giving a supper so as to bring
about a more friendly feeling
or create an atmosphere of fel
lowship'; mini 'dose - with
supper so as to satisfy the ap
petite just as we are about to
depart that ah may sm away
feeling fine, having discussed
frankly and freely the needs of
the Sunday school. Theii, too,
the conference ought to be gen
eral, where all the teachers, of
ficers and workers can join in
the discussion and take up the
needy .problems of the Sunday
schoo), bear reports, make plans
for future policies, and hear re
commendations and suggestions
from the pastor, for many times
they are very ‘ helpful. All
Christians have agreed' (supple
menting the home) 8 that
school and the church consti
tute the most fertile field for
cultivation to secure a glowing
harvest for those best fitted for
the kingdom of God in this
world, and the world to come.
And this can better be planned
in the workers’ conference than
in any other place, for here we
have all Christian workers as
sembled. .
Then what is more important
is to have the workers who are
to the forefront in shaping hu
man lives to coine together
monthly at stated times and
take, first: a general survey of
the field. 2nd. Places of greatest
privileges and opportunity. 3rd.
To relate the task of infinite
possibilities. 4th. The training
and preparaton of the youth:
these are the tasks of workers
of the Sunday school and church.
Then every worker must feel
that he or she is a part of the
great whole and has his or her
part to do, all having an under
standing bow his or her work
fits into .that of tjhe other work
ers. No department, no. class,
not even one of the adults, is
sufficient unto himself, to tackle
the problems alone. They are
common to all departments and
all classes of the school need to
be carefully guarded by the
workers conference.
The attendance and the weed
ing out of the non attendants
are problems as to the individ
ual pupil that need to be settled.
These and similar problems need
the wisdom of the workers’ con
ference. But the .all-important
purpose, however, lies back1 of
all of these. It is to train and de
velop the entire force of officers
and teachers that the work may
improve from week to week and
year to year. It is the duty of
the officers and teachers to help
the boys and .girls find them
selves and assist l^iem'in devel
oping the finest, land of Chris
tian character and prepare them
for larger service. The teaching
of the pulpit and the Sunday
school in the individual church
should coincide and the work
ers’ conference is the place
where they .should be hahnon
ized- mto
Is a Sunday school too far in
the rural district or too small
to have a workers’ conference?
No; no Sunday school is.too far
away from town , or village to
ive a workers’ conference and
Sunday school is too small to
^ve a , Workers' conference, un
there is but one officer in
it sehool, and even then he
she epn have a conference
ith the Lord and the school
}11 be helped.
m Can the Workers’ Confer
ence Be Maintained?
The workers’ conference can
maintained (supported, up
d) by each officer being at
or her post of duty on time,
do whatever part may be as
signed to him or her to do.
Tjhen the workers’ conference
Sit begin on time and close on
e, have a definite program,
mentioned above, for each
meeting, and the presiding of
ficer sees that the program is
carried out, and has it thorough
ly! understood that all members
must respond when they are
called upon, as is being done
here . today. The presid
ing officer also should see to it
that the members discuss the
subject that is at issue and use
brevity, and see that all the
worker's have something to do
from time to time in the con
ference so that no one will have
reason for complaint.
lit is very helpful sometimes
to have someone who knows jthe
needs of the Sunday school
wbrk to address the workers’
nference: and let it be one
who knows,, and one who
somb training and e:
that the time will hot
wasted by |^^r her*.
Perhaps the "small schools
in jthe rural/districts are sa;.
this is not; for our school, but
is, for the great Presb;
Church, of which we are a
has someone almost in all
of; thefield to starry the ihf
school in the rural districts. But
ncl Sunday school or church
need sit back and wait for some
one to come and do for them
what they can do for them
selves or try. The late Mr.
Theodore Roosevelt once said:
*1110 the best you can where you
are with the resources at your
command.” Then do it with the
help of the pastor. Let us try
arid enlist the help of the pub
lic school teachers, men and
women of our community, if you
can use them. Sometimes you
don’t want to use some of them,
but the ones you can use to ad
vantage, let us lay hands on
them, let us use every legiti
mate means we can to carry the
work on to success. It must be
done, and we, the members of
the workers' conference, must
do it.
The workers conference is
not regarded any longer as a
teachers’ meeting, but the prin
cipal object is to put everybody
to work. Let officers, teachers,
one and all work to familiarize
themselves with the needs of the
Sunday school and all that is
going on in the Sunday school,
to create a Sunday school spirit
and increase Sunday school in
terest.
Have you ever heard the song,
‘"You in Your Corner and I In
Mine?” and then stay serenely
in your corner never sharing
any of your good ideas with
others or letting them share
with you? And thus
You have an idea,
I have an idea,
We swap:
Now you heva two ideas,
Both are richer;
What you have you gave,
What I got I did not lose.
This is co-operation.
THE YADKIN PRESBYTE
; RIAL.
The Woman's Presbyterial
Society of Yadkin Presbytery
will hold their meeting April
14th at St. James church,
Greensboro. All societies are
expected to be represented.
Please send in your contingent
fund, which is ten cents per
member. : .}
MRS. E. B. MEARES, Pres.
Mrs. J. H. CLEMENT, Sec.
occasions which have been &
tpart by our Church to «n- <
ize and to commemotftite ]
im important occasions or c
ciples. Of 'course, in ertii i
b all Sabbaths are special* (
i and yet it is upon those
feular days that Certain <
are brought i
of the
^eminence that the lives
eals of certain illustrious
e reviewed and that some
great occasions touching
itian Church are coin
subject in asking the
m, What Special Days
lach
Be Observed?”, might
imply that some days
net be observed, but this
intended. Since it is true
day has its own point
is, the ideal Would be
day be observed, and
proper time, but for a
of reasonsitis not prae-|:
to do this J In the last
jrears the number of spe
days have been greatly mid
id, and some one has said,
4f a church or school should
to observe every special
upon by the calendar
a year, it would take consid
more than fifty-two Sab
to complete them all, con
it i* high impossible
all the special days,
second place, it would be
It to fit all the special days
the program <nf the school;
uently* with so many
the 'calendar, a
t>ly
Observe
i the
days
•basis of their importance to the
general Church and their adapt
ability to the program of the
local church. There are, how
ever, some special days which
should never be omitted from
the calendar of a church, large
or small. The first of these is
Children’s Day, then the cele
bration of Christmas and Easter
should form a part of the pro
gram of the school. Promotion
Day might well be grouped,-with
Eklly Day, as is successfully
done in many cases; while. Vo
cation Day might suitably, he
joined wth Decision Day. The
celebration of Lincoln’s Birth
day, on the Sabbath nearest
February 12th, should also be
observed.
We suggest the observance of
these days as essential to the
program of every progressive
school, because they are an es
sential part of the program of
oilr great Church and because
they contribute definitely to a
wfell rounded program of . inspi
ration, information and service.
There are many other special
days. For example, Americani
zation, Thanksgiving and Moth
ers’ Days. Whenever practica
ble some emphasis should be giv
en to these days also. Usually,
however, the observance of
these days is given in some
department of the Church othe¥
than the Sabbath school. '
The second phase of our sub
ject deals with the manner or
method of observing these spe
cifdays. A few general prin
cipies, - However, precede tneir
detailed consideration. First of
all, the message of every special
diy should be thoroughly
btought out. This can best be
ddne only by the full use of the
program prepared for the ob
servance of that day. Far too
oiten we do find our schools ut
terly ignoring the programs
gotten out by the Boards of'our
Church and substituting- recita
tions, songs and other material
that have no significance upon
the day observed. It can- . be
clfeariy seen that much of the
educational vidue is thereby pt
tefcly lost. Then, again, when it
cdn be done, these programs
might well be rendered by va
rious groups of the school as
classes or departments. This
would give not only variety tp
the program, but would serve, to
interest & larger number of
3chodlr I am acquainted
me school which makes
practice to give the diff<
classes the responsibility
presenting the program for
of the specif days.
Thje third principle is
eoncernliig the Offering,
la a very definite and a most
pit feature of the
ervance Of a special day,
as much emphasis should:
yen that as to any othel
of the program.
very poor practice, though a
comihon one, to wait until the
Sabbajth before a special day or
thje diy itself, before speaking
of the,offering. A, very good
practice would be to emphasize
the purpose and importance of
the offering at the be)
preparation ‘for the
The* matter; should be explained
to the efcre school and the bar
rels and the b6xes or other col
lection devices distributed. The
awarding of'Bonie small prize or
token to the person bringing in
the largest bfferinir is often
with g<
done
good effect.
This, above all: the observance
of a special day should not be
considered completed until the
offering gathered on that day is
sent tb' its proper Board.
Coming to a discussion of the
special days outlined as essential
it;.Will be noticed that we gave
first place to Children’s Day. It
is'clearly-one of the most im
portant special days of the year,
and to- be clearly observed,
months of preparation-^ re
quired. Even before the pro
grams are received, work should
bb well under way in the school.
Ail of the departments of the
Children’s division should be
prepared for this observance. A
very effective feature on Chil
dren’s Day is had by bringing
in the members of the Cradle
R611 Department with their par
ents for ,a part on the program.
The entire Sabbath school hour
or a more convenient period dur
ing the day should be given over
to the Children’s Day program.
Preparations for Christmas
observance are generally extend
ed over a number of weeks and
its observance in oitr schools,
in most instances, is a great
stimulus, for the children look
forward with pleasure to the
visit of Santa Claus. The Christ
mas program, followed by the
tree, adds new interest and en
genders the spirit of good will
that the Christ Child brought
over two thousand years ago.
In more fortunate schools, pu
pils delight in giving cheer to
those about them that are with
out the necessities for happiness
at this season of the year.
Easter observance in our
schools brings to our minds the
story of the risen Saviour and
it! is of vital importance that we
should observe this day, in order
that the story might be revealed
to the Sabbath school, and by
using the program sent out by
our Boards, we are able to reveal
the story effectively upon the
minds of the youths.
Lincoln’s Day is observed as
one of the important anniversa
ries of the Church. The entire
time of the Sabbath school hour
should be given for its obser
vance. In addition to the pro
gram sent out by our Board, a
short treatise of his life should
be given. A photo . of Lincoln
draped with the American flag
would be appropriate on this oc
casion.
Promotion - and Rally Days
hove- been grouped. These arc
important in every progressive
school, yet the entire school pe
riod need not be given for theii
observance. Programs for theii
observance are furnished by oui
Board.
{Vocation and Decision Days
hove been suitably joined. Theii
i observance comes after man?
months and sometimes years oi
. ■ ,, * ..il'vJ tiOk . )<
jareful
>f concentrated effort made at
;his time many members of the
Sabbath School make plans for
'heir life’s work and enter into
jermanent relationship with the
ihurch. Fruitful Vocation and
Decision Days’ observance, how
ever, will not come of them
selves. It requires much in the
way of preparation on the part
[>f teachers and officers. Special
sermons or sermonettes, special
talks given during the opening
or closing exercises of the Sab
bath school, special mid-week
prayer meeting are all effective
features.
In the observance of
canization, Thanksgiving,
era’ and the other special
too numerous to mention, ten or
fifteen minutes may be given in
order to fully explain their im
portance to the pupils, if they
are not properly observed by
some other agency of the
church.
^Moth
ial days
UNITED STATES CIVIL SER
VICE EXAMINATION.
The United States CiviL Ser
vice Commission announces the
followng open competitive ex-'
animation:
Head Nurse
Receipt of applications for
head nurse will close May 11.
The examination is to fill a va
cancy at Freedmen’s Hospital,
Washington, D. C., at $1,140 a
year, plus room, board and laun
dry, and vacancies occurring in
positions requiring similar qual
ifications. fjp
Applicants must have < been K
graduated from a standard i
four years’ high school course,
and from a recognized school of
nursing requiring a residence '
in
patients or more, giving a thor
ough practical and theoretical
training; also they must show
evidence of State registration,
and must have had one year’s
experience as a graduate nurse.
Freedmen’s Hospital is an in
stitution for the care of colored
patients. Under supervision,
the appointee will be responsible
for the patients and personnel in
a ward.
Competitors will not be re
quired to report for examina
tion at any place, but will be
rated on their education, train
ing, and experience.
NORTH CAROLINA HOLDS
SECOND ANNUAL COL
ORED BOYS’ CONFER
ENCE.
For the second time the State ■
organization of the Y. M. G. A.
is fostering Colored Older Boys’
Conferences in North Carolina.
Last year the first Colored
Older Boys’ Conference was
held at the A. & T. College at
Greensboro and was unusually
successful having more different
places represented than any
similar conference ever held in
the State 1^ was successful al
so in the fine spirit that pervad
ed and followed the boys back
to their homes.
The demand from the cities
has been so insistent for larger
representation that the com
mittee decided to hold two con
ferences instead of one as last
year, one in the West at Win
ston Salem, April 9, 10, 11, and .
one in the Eastern part of the
State at Raleigh, April 23, 24,
and 25
J. T. Fesperman, State Boys’
Work Secretary, 350 Tryon St.,
Charlotte, is in charge of the • M-‘/
[ conferences and W. A. Robin
son, State Supervisor of Colored <■!
‘ High Schools, is chairman of the
• Promotion Committee.
i CAPE FEAR PRESBYTERY
s Cape Fear Presbytery will
* meet in the Ebenezer Presbyte
* rian church, New Bern, N. C.,
* Wednesday, April 14-16, 1926.
' < All persons desiring to attend
please notify Rev. O. E. San
i ders, 139 Bum Street, New
r Bern, N. C.
' J. A. SAVAGE, S. C. ! »
t S. H. VICK, P. C.