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TTT\T W O TX7 E 1 DI7T TT D A DJ7 • Sunday School Organization —Superinten-
\J UJ!IN IN Jk3 lU V V iN J (7 JL/ JL TjIJI /v • dents Who Are Willing to Pay the Price.
(Paper read by Robert Jefferson Guinn before
the Atlanta Sunday School Union, and published
in The Golden Age by request of that body.)
The beneficial results from organization and sys
tem in Sunday school work have been so numerous
and pronounced, that a rehearsal of the well known
arguments in its advocacy would be manifestly out
of place before a body of progressive Sunday school
workers. It is enough to observe that as no great
enterprise ever reaches perfect or abiding success
without systematic organization; so none but the
foolish would hope for the highest results with
out system in the Sunday school, which, if what
we profess is true, is beyond doubt the greatest
of all businesses.
Admitting the importance and positive value of
organization in Sunday school work, possibly the
most profitable use I can make of the twenty min
utes allotted to me on this subject, will be a few
thoughts as to what organization is, followed by
some suggestions as to how it may be made ef
fective in 'the individual school.
Organization a Science.
First of all, effective Sunday school organization
is a science, and to begin to master it requires
much of thought, work and prayer. But it is well
worth all and more than it costs.
Organization is made irresistibly powerful, only
when many able and capable individuals agree to
the expression of their combined efforts and wis
dom through one authorized channel. And to this
end there must be one individual head of final
authority. Unwillingness to fully and loyally sub
scribe to this latter principle is a defect which will
ultimately and completely defeat Sunday school or
organization. Whenever such a defect exists, how
ever, it is more often the fault of the head than
the subordinates. Human nature is pretty much
the same the world over—in the Sunday school and
out of it. Men and women who think, and who are
worthy of a place in the work of a Sunday school,
are entitled to a full understanding of the plan they
are supposed to be working to. In no other way
can they do their best work. Just as a great field
marshal would not think of bringing on an en
gagement without consulting his lieutenants as to
his plan of battle, so no superintendent need expect
intelligent and hearty co-operation, or proper def
erence to his authority, who does not confer with
his officers and teachers.
You may govern arbitrarily, but you organize
only by agreement between persons desiring to
accomplish a given end.
Herein lies the great argument for stated meet
ings of teachers and officers in council—where the
development of the school is planned for and talk
ed about—and without which there can be no such
thing as potential Sunday school organization.
But be it remembered, there can be such a thing
as over-organization; though few, if any, in this
section, have earned organization to this fault
Our cause has suffered most from under-organiza
tion—or more accurately speaking, from no organ
ization at all. But let us keep before us the fact
that organization is a machine and that any ma
chine can be made too ponderous and too intricate
to be profitably operated. It is nevertheless true
that in mechanics and in business, in schools and
in churches, in professions and in labor organiza
tions, it has been demonstrated over and over
again that a proper machine, kept in order, does
from ten to one hundred times as much work, and
better work, in every undertaking than was ever
accomplished without it.
Sunday school organization reduced to its last
analysis, means simply that consecrated men and
The GEORGIA STATE FAIR in Atlanta is attracting great crowds.
The exhibits are acknowledged to be superior, and the Air Ship each day,
and the Fall of Pompeii every night are wonderful attractions. Pick up
your grip and come before it closes Saturday night, October 20th.
The Golden Age for October 18, 1906.
women are thinking together, working together,
planning together, and praying together, to the end
that all the people, young and old, may become reg
ular attendants upon the Sunday school and
church, and that they may be earnest students of
God’s word, and, above and beyond all, true fol
lowers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Was there ever
higher incentive to self-effacing effort?
How can We Make Sunday School Organization
Effective?
Practically speaking, just what is necessary for
a minimum organization in a Sunday school? I
mention:
1. A pastor who really believes the Sun
day school work his chief business, and who
knows how to make a bright, short talk, and to
lead a simple, short prayer.
2. A superintendent who is willing to make his
Sunday school work his chief business, and who
studies that business; who, with an open mind, con
fers freely with his officers and teachers, and will
accept their ideas in preference to his own when
they are better; who will not talk for more than
five minutes during any one session of the school,
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nor allow any one else to do so; who will care
fully plan the entire service before the school
opens and not leave the selection of the songs to
a chorister; who has the courage and the tact to
depose teachers or officers who hinder the develop
ment of the school, and to assign or transfer pupils
to such classes as they properly belong; who will
not visit classes during lesson time, nor permit any
one else to do so.
3. An assistant superintendent who is willing to
do the same things; who is willing to cheerfully
obey orders, and who understands how to play “ sec
ond fiddle” gracefully and happily.
4. A secretary and treasurer who is genius
enough to keep the necessary records interestingly
before the school without consuming too much time
of the school; who, without burdening the superin
tendent, will keep the proper supply of literature
always on hand; and who realizes that he can do
no more harmful thing than to distribute literature
or class books during the lesson half hour.
5. Teachers who work and pray. Who prepare
the lesson carefully and who attend the scnool and
teachers’ meetings regularly and promptly; who al-
ROBERT J. GUINN.
ways teach from the Bible; who never take Quar
terlies to the school, and by precept and example
get all their pupils to do the same thing; who visit
their pupils in their homes at least once a quarter;
who gracefully comply with the requests of su
perior officers; who sing at singing time; who read
at reading time; who preserve order all the time.
And above all things, who go to their classes each
Sunday with a message of life—and a prayed-out
plan to carry it to the hearts of their pupils.
6. A teachers’ meeting for the study of the les
son once each week; and a council meeting once a
month to consider the needs of the school, and to
devise plans to meet them. It is by no means diffi
cult to get good work in the Sunday school if the
superintendent intelligently plans and tactfully
seeks the co-operation of his fellow workers. In
deed, with the rarest exceptions, following is cer
tain and cheerful when the leadership is wise and
worthy.
7. The best obtainable equipment. If possible,
a separate room for every class, which may be
decorated and made attractive by the pupils
themselves. Pride and interest in the school are
thus secured. And besides, the very best work is
never possible without the individual class room
in which the devout teacher can pray with the
class in the sacred quiet of their own circle.
These constitute the essentials of Sunday school
organization.
You no doubt wonder why I make no mention of
so necessary an element as pupils. They are nec
essary, to be sure. But with the conditions be
fore named to attract, they will come as a matter
of course. Old and young alike will find the Sun
day school a bright and profitable place to go, and
will be there.
The standard I have briefly set before you is not
ideal—it is entirely practical—and is in the reach
of every superintendent who is willing to pay the
price. Ours is the greatest work in the world. Too
long have we minimized its importance by our in
different and unbusinesslike way of handling it.
If our cause is anything at all, it is everything, and
is worthy the highest effort of which the very best
of us are capable.
A Free Book Worth Having.
RANGE
COMPARISON
B 11 !
numerous cuts that take up one feature at a time
in such away that any one can see exactly why the
Majestic uses such a small amount of fuel and lasts
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is exceedingly interesting. Every one of our read
ers is anxious to get the best range they can for
the money. To get such a range you should have
a copy of “Range Comparison.” You will find
in it just the information that you should have
when buying a range. Send your name and ad
dress to the Majestic Mfg. Co., 2011 Morgan St.,
St. Louis, and they will gladly send you a copy of
this book.
One of the most interesting
books that have ever come to
this office was received yester
day. It was published by the
Majestic Mfg. Co., of St. Louis,
and is entitled 1 ‘Range Com
parison.’’ Unlike the average
steel range catalogue, it not on
ly thoroughly describes the
Great Majestic Range, but tells
just why it is different from all
others.
To make the reading matter
perfectly clear they have used
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