Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

the organization of the Union, and from its commencement it has been our constant friend. The publication in its columns of the catechisms on the Bible, Book of Mormon, Church History, etc., its musical pages, its editorial teachings, and many other of its features, have rendered it a necessity in our Sunday schools whose influence can scarcely be over-estimated. It is now the recognized official organ of the General Board of the Union. Its value lies distinctly in the fact that through its pages unity and harmony of action can be brought about throughout all our schools, and the instructions of the general officers can reach the remotest schools, where otherwise, through lack of personal visits, they would often be at a loss to keep step with the rest of the Union. It is true that some slight variations, arising from local peculiarities, must always exist, and with which it would be unwise to interfere, but the general rules suggested by the Union have been almost universally adopted in our schools throughout the length and breadth of our settlements, with most gratifying results. Among these suggestions are:

"That the school should always be promptly opened at the time appointed; which, wherever practicable, should be ten o'clock in the morning.

"That the singing should be done by the whole school, and not simply by a selected choir of a few voices.

"That teachers' meetings should be held at least once a month, for the regulation of school matters and the instruction of the teachers.

"That public reviews should be held at such stated intervals as are considered most convenient and profitable by the officers of the schools.

"That the Sunday school officers should always work in harmony with the local presiding Priesthood, and seek to carry out their counsel with diligence and in good faith.

"That continued efforts, through Sunday school visitors or otherwise, should be strenuously made to obtain the attendance at school of every child of sufficient age belonging to the ward.

"It would be ungenerous not to refer to the immense amount of labor performed by the brethren and sisters of the various committees connected with the getting up and carrying to successful conclusion of our mammoth celebrations in the Tabernacle; the decorations on more than one occasion of this vast building with evergreens, flowers, etc., the formation of the beautiful centerpieces that adorned it, and many other duties associated therewith, were all labors of love, but which at the same time required much toil, unwearied patience and a large amount of time to execute. Nor were these alone; the executive, finance, musical, reception and other committees all had their hands full of a pleasurable work, and they

"That the Sacrament should be ad- performed it in such a successful manministered every Sunday.

"That the readers used should be the Scriptures and other works of the Church and publications approved by the General Board.

"That primary and infant classes should be established, where the little ones can be taught orally by one or more of the most experienced teachers. Whenever possible this should be done in a room separate from the rest of the school.

"That every school should be fully organized with a complete set of officers, and that every male officer and teacher should hold some portion of the Priesthood.

"That when the school is dismissed the children should leave in order, class by class; and when consistent, to the music of a march on the organ.

ner as to meet, as it deserved, with universal commendation and approval from the Latter-day Saints.

In 1884 the general monthly meetings were given in charge of the Stake Sunday school authorities, and the general meetings of the Union were appointed to be held twice a year at the times of the General Conferences of the Church.

"Some of the principal events of recent years have been: the holding of an annual Sunday School Conference in each Stake, visited almost invariably by one or more members of the General Board; the organization of a Sunday School for the deaf mutes and one for the blind, the more thorough grading of the pupils into different departments; the establishment of Nickel Day, on which all members of the Sunday Schools are invited to contribute, at

least one nickel to aid the Sunday School cause; the observance of Humane Day, on which special efforts are made to inculcate the principles and practice of kindness and mercy to animals; the holding of a Sunday School Convention in November, 1898, which was numerously attended by delegates from the different Schools and Stakes extending from Canada to Mexico, and which proved to be a grand success; the delivery of a series of lectures on Sunday School work by Dr. Karl G. Measer at the special request of the officers of the Union; these lectures were revised and published by the Union for the benefit of the Sunday school workers; the organization by permission of the warden, of a Bible class or Sunday school in the Utah Penitentiary, by President George Q. Cannon while he and other brethren were imprisoned there for conscience sake; the special request each year for Sunday school statistics from the different missions abroad, the rapid increase of Sunday schools in those missions; and the many calls for gratuitous aid to them and other special Sunday schools responded to by the Union; the publication of the Latterday Saints Sunday School Treatise, upon which considerable care, time and labor were bestowed, and of which, afte careful revision, a second large edition has recently been issued; the publication of the first and second Book of Mormon Charts, each containing 12 original illustrations, also small cards on which are the same pictures and short scripture lessons, and with each chart a guide to its use; the preparation of lessons on the Bible, the Book of Mormon and History of the Church in leaflet form. The first 31 numbers contain the life of the Savior. The vast amount of literary and other work done by members of the board, much of which we have not time to even mention, has been done without pecuniary compensation. It has been a labor of love and duty. Last, but not least, interruption to the regular sessions of the Sunday schools had become so numerous through funerals and various conferences being held on Sunday mornings, and the effects of these interruptions had proved to be so injuri

ous to this work that the First Presidency published a circular letter over their own signatures to correct this evil. This was also in harmony with the action of President Young, in dis continuing the Sunday morning services in the Tabernacle, so that they might not interfere with the Sunday schools.

OFFICERS OF THE UNION.

"First organization, November 11, 1867. George Q. Cannon, President; Edward L. Sloan, secretary: George Goddard and Robert L. Campbell, corresponding secretaries; Brigham Young, Jr., Albert Carrington and George A. Smith, committee on books suitable for Sunday schools.

"1872, George Q. Cannon, general superintendent; George Goddard, assistant general superintendent; John B. Maiben, general secretary; William McLachlan, general treasurer.

"In August, 1875, Elder Maiben having been called to be Bishop at Manti, resigned the office of general secretary, and Elder McLachlan was appointed his successor. He acted as secretary and treasurer for a few months, when he was called on a mission to New Zealand.

"The vacancies thus caused were filled by the appointment of Levi W. Richards (Dec., 1875) to be the general secretar and George Keynolds (Fen.. 1876) the general treasurer of the Union. Elder Reynolds had been acting as auditor and treasurer, pro tem, of the Union. At the same time (Dec. 1875), Thomas Champneys was appointed assistant secretary; and after his removal to Ogden, John C. Cutler was appointed to that office and also to be assistant treasurer.

"In 1878,Samuel L. Evans and William Willis were appointed Sunday school missionaries at large. In June, 1883, the organization of the general board of officers was made complete by the appointment of John Morgan to be the second assistant general superintendent of the Union.

"After the death of Elder Morgan, on July 14th, 1894, Karl G. Maeser was appointed his successor in the superintendency.

"At the close of 1890 Elder Richards resigned the office of general secretary

and John M. Whitaker was appointed to that position. On his departure on a mission he was succeeded, in 1897, by George D. Pyper, the present general secretary. The resignation of Elder Cutler made a vacancy in the office of assistant general secretary which has been filled by the appointment of Leo Hunsaker.

"The decease of Elder George Goddard in January, 1899, left the position of first assistant general superintendent of the Union vacant.

"We cannot specify all the changes in the general board, but the following have been or are now members of it: George Reynolds, Thomas C. Griggs, Levi W. Richards, George C. Lambert, Louisa Lula Greene Richards, John C. Cutler, Samuel L. Evans, George H. Taylor, Abraham H. Cannon, Thomas E. Taylor, Karl G. Maeser, Joseph W. Summerhays, Charles F. Wilcox, Francis M. Lyman, Heber J. Grant, Joseph M. Tanner, Hugh J. Cannon, George Teasdale, Andrew Kimball, Joseph F. Smith, and John W. Taylor.

AIDS TO THE BOARD:

"L. John Nuttall, James W. Ure, John F. Bennett, John M. Mills, William B. Dougall, William D. Owen, Seymour B. Young and Christian D. Fjeldsted.

"The Deseret Sunday School Musical Union was organized in 1875; director, Charles J. Thomas.

"The Musical Union was an organization of short duration; but the willing and efficient public services of David O. Calder, Charles J. Thomas, Ebenezer Beesley, Adam C. Smyth, John S. Lewis, Thomas C. Griggs, George Careless, Thomas McIntyre, Joseph J. Daynes, Evan Stephens and others in promoting the musical interests of our Sunday schools generally, well deserve remembrance in this brief review.

ORGANIZATION.

"Each Sunday school when fully organized has a superintendent, first and second assistant superintendents, secretary, treasurer, librarian, chorister, and such assistant officers as may be needed. The school is graded into departments, namely: The theological, second intermediate, first intermediate, primary, and infant or kindergarten.

Each department has several teachers, one of whom is appointed the head teacher in the department.

"All the Sunday schools in a Stake are organized with a Stake Sunday school superintendent, first and second assistant superintendents, secretary and treasurer and assistant officers when needed. Also, in many of the Stakes, there are missionary aids, who visit the Sunday schools and labor under the direction of the Stake Sunday school superintendents to whom they report their labors.

"Besides these are mission superintendents of Sunday schools in the different missions.

"All these are included in a general organization entitled the Deseret Sunday School Union. The general supervision and management of the affairs of the Union are vested in a general board, composed of a general superintendent, first and second assistant general superintendents, general secretary, general treasurer, and assistant general secretary, an executive committee and a number of aids.

STATISTICS.

"There was no general attempt made to gather statistics of the Sunday schools until 1872; since then efforts have been made each year to secure full and correct reports, but with only partial success.

"We only attempt to give the figures of the two years, 1872 and 1898.

"In 1872 there were 190 schools, of which 41 did not report. In the 149 schools reported there were 1,408 officers and teachers and 13,373 pupils. Total, 14,781.

"In 1898 there were forty Stakes of Zion, containing 639 Sunday schools,11,384 officers and teachers and 93,388 pupils. Total 104,772. Besides these there were 16 missions that reported 378 Sunday Schools, 1,933 officers and teachers and 9,998 pupils. Total, 11,931. The grand total was 116,703 officers, teachers and pupils.

"In conclusion we cannot but point with gratitude and pride to the results which, under heaven's continued blessings, the Union has already brought about, and to the bright and cheering prospects that illumine our future and

bid us persevere in the good work. To say that it has been a potent instrument of religious culture, of social refinement, and moral worth, a factor in the development of God's purposes, a bond of union among his people, a source of strength to the Church, and an aid to the Priesthood would, we submit, not be claiming too much; and this position is all the more gratifying when we consider how vast has been the labor performed and how slight has been the cost in dollars and cents, to the community. The officers, committees, etc., have been veritable workers without purse and scrip. We believe, though perhaps in our zeal we may err, that seldom, if ever, have as great results been achieved with so small or so few contributions from the pockets of the people; and we trust in future reports to be able to state that our publication department has become self-sustaining, or, better still, a source of income to the institution. For we have an ardent desire to increase the value of our literary productions, and so continue until the works published by the Union shall have become a power in the land for righteousness, and for our children's salvation-a power for God and truth."

His

GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT GEO. Q. CANNON

next introduced the members of the first Sunday school, saying:

"On the left of the stand are the surviving members of the first Sunday school, of which we have heard a description by Elder Lyman, and the roll will be called. The original roll, if there ever was one, cannot be found, but, after years of inquiry, a number of those who were members of that school have been found, and their names are enrolled and will be read by the secretary, and, as they are read, we wish each member to arise and say, 'present.' If there are any who are absent, whose names are called, Brother Summerhays will explain the cause of their absence. Then badges will given to them."

SECRETARY GEORGE D. PYPER

roll of members
Sunday

be

called the the first response to

of school, the the names of those

[blocks in formation]

Sophronia Ellen Leonora Turnbow Carter, St. George, Utah.

Ann Longstroth Whitney, Mendon, Utah, wife of John Whitney.

Augusta Braddock Clayton, Salt Lake City, wife of the late Wm. Clayton. George A. Peart, Randolph, Utah. Lydia Phelps Thorp, Salt Lake City. R. Frank Turnbow, Farmers ward. Samuel H. B. Smith, Salt Lake City. Those who responded as present were: Angus M. Cannon, Jacob Peart, Emily Hoagland Cannon, Adelia West Hoagland, George J. Taylor, David H. Cannon, Martha Van Cott Price, Margaret Oakley Best. Joseph S. Horne, Elizabeth Pugmire Taylor, Augusta Braddock Clayton, Lydia Phelps Thorp, and Samuel H. B. Smith.

Special badges had been prepared for these brethren and sisters, and they were pinned upon them by a committee composed of the daughters of the members of this first school.

ELDER ANGUS M. CANNON.

a member of the first school, spoke as follows:

constructed by our industry, and possessing sufficient comfort to promote our health and give us strength, that we might cultivate these then barren wastes, procure the necessaries of life, carry the Gospel to a dark and benighted world, proclaiming that God has spoken from heaven for the regeneration of mankind, and to teach us that He was our Heavenly Father, and that our destiny was to become His children and enter into His celestial presence.

"How faithfully Brother Ballantyne's testimony has been observed in the increase of Sunday schools, is evidenced

"The impression made upon my mind this evening, compared with my attendance at the first Sabbath school, is very great. There may have been fifty scholars in the original Sabbath school during the time that it was held in Brother Ballantyne's house, but if there were a dozen persons present when the class was formed, I fail to remember it. The Fourteenth ward was fenced with poles around the entire ward, bars being placed at the entrance of each tonight in the number that are here asstreet. Brother Ballantyne's house was new, and was made very comfortable with benches constructed hastily for our accommodation. Brother Ballantyne's soul was swallowed up in the good effects that this school would have upon the youth of this people; and I will say the impressions that were created upon my mind regarding the object that God has in calling us from the world unto Zion was marked and has helped to shape my character up to the present time.

of

"We were familiar with poverty. The meeting house that was occupied in this city stood on the southeast corner this block, known as the mud-covered bowery, constructed of Spanish adobies, one foot by eighteen inches in size. The meeting place we occupied in the Fourteenth ward was in the house of Dr. Richardson, a little log hut. The meeting house we occupied in the Seventh ward was Samuel Pitchforth's residence, where testimony meetings were held, and faith in God was promoted in our hearts. We rejoiced in the testimony that God gave us of His truth, having been informed by Brother Ballantyne that God had indeed restored the Gospel, established His Priesthood among men, called us from darkness unto light, from the world unto Zion, and that we were not to be of the world, but that we were to be the children of God, under the everlasting covenant; being taught that Joseph the Prophet, and Hyrum, his brother, had been martyred for the testimony of Jesus, and that we should be devoted to His cause, deny ourselves luxuries, be content with the necessaries of life, living in houses

sembled. And when I remember that
God has promised us this increase and
prosperity, and still greater increase
and prosperity, provided we are loyal to
Him, every fibre of my being seems to
enter in with my whole soul to
pledge God loyalty, to observe
faithfully, to pay
my tithes
offerings unto Him, in hope
He will give my children faith and
make them firm supporters of His work
in the establishment of His Gospel as
He has revealed it and restored His
Priesthood in these the last days.

and

that

[blocks in formation]

"Zion's Sunday School Jubilee Hymn," (words and music written for this occasion) was sung by the Tabernacle choir.

Then followed the presentation of the gold medal awarded to Emily H. Woodmansee for the best hymn; also gold medal to the Rev. W. Daunt Scott, for the best musical composition. The presentation was made by

ELDER HEBER J. GRANT, of the Deseret Sunday School Union board, who spoke as follows:

"A committee consisting of John Nicholson, Joshua H. Paul and George H. Brimhall was selected by the Sunday School Union board to examine all hymns that were submitted in this competition and to decide upon the best composition. The committee were unan

« AnteriorContinua »