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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, 9k 'a‘ - '.yV K < 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 so long. To anyone needing a new stove this book 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 11