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general superintendency of the Sunday School Union board feel that it would be good policy to hold another convention next fall similar to the one held last November, a year ago. The reason we mention it tonight is because there is considerable detail work connected with it, and if we hold a convention we must get to work immediately. We desire to ascertain the feelings of this meeting with regard to holding such a convention next fall. All in favor of holding another Sunday school convention some time next fall similar to the one last held will please make it manifest by raising their right hand.

The vote was unanimous.

We wish to announce to the Stake and ward superintendents that we are still lacking the histories of some of the Stake Sunday school organizations, as well as those of some of the wards. If you remember, at the close of our fifty years last December it was proposed that we get up a history of our Sunday school movement, to cover that period. We have been working on this book, and it is now being delayed, waiting the histories of the Stake and ward organizations that have not yet been sent in. We trust the lacking information will be forwarded immediately, that the work may not be delayed.

ELDER THOMAS C. GRIGGS. Since coming to this meeting I have been requested to draw the attention of this conference to an item that pertains to our growth and interests.

It must be realized that, in the existence, approximately, of the Sunday School Union of twenty-five years, from an enrollment of 30,000 it has increased to the number of 120,000, over a fourfold increase in twenty-five years. Our labors have been wonderfully blessed, and I trust that this growth will continue, so that at the end of the next twenty-five years we may be able to show another four-fold growth, bringing it up to nearly half a million.

The attention of the Union is drawn to the desirability of establishing branch Sunday schools. The rule of the Union Board is embodied in the following: "Urge the desirability of establishing branch Sunday schools in wards where there is need of it; where,

for instance, the children have to come long distances, or the school is overcrowded. The Union Board favors, where the distance is great between the different parts of the ward, where two or more Sunday schools are established in the ward, that each be fully organized with a separate superintendency." I will say but a few words with regard to this matter; many might be said. There are conditions existing in places, we find, where, through growth, the buildings have become so crowded that there is not room for more. Where these conditions exist it would be well for the superintendency to look abroad to provide means for establishing branch Sunday schools. This, of course, should be done with the consent and approval of the Bishop of the ward. Where children have to come a long distance also branch Sunday schools could be established with profit, in order to give them the advantages of our Sunday school teaching and training. It is not necessary in all cases that public halls or buildings should be provided. My experience has been that many profitable branch schools have been established, at the beginning, in private houses, where one or two rooms had been opened by some good brother or sister and the children of the vicinity have been gathered in, and in such instances, so far as I have experienced, those branch Sunday schools have grown wonderfully. There is this pleasing feature also connected with the branch Sunday school, as it has been established, and that is that it is largely a missionary factor; for not only do those that are active in the Church become members of these schools, but the facilities being placed within the reach of those that have become somewhat indifferent and who have not attended fully to their meetings and duties, their feelings and interests become aroused and they will send their children to this new school, and in this manner a good work is accomplished. Nor should we rest with this. There are the children of our friends, all brothers and sisters in the human family, to whom we should extend the advantages and privileges of the Gospel, for these principles are as valuable to them as they are to us. The

Gospel word has been increased in the mission field by establishing Sunday schools; why should this be done only abroad when we have many opportunities at home? It may, perhaps, become necessary, where deemed advisable, in the establishment of these branch schools, that the main school render them their support and aid. This assistance should be freely given by sending brethren and sisters, experienced if possible, to assist in the teaching and also by sending music books, class registers, hymn books, etc., that they may have material to work with. We trust that the superintendents will be broadminded in this matter and not become circumscribed in their feelings and efforts or think that their work should be confined to their own schools only.

This, brethren and sisters, Stake and ward superintendents, is but the skeleton of the idea in regard to this matter. I am satisfied that if we were to enter into the field in the Spirit of the Gospel as we should do, the skeleton army, mentioned by the Prophet Ezekiel, will stand upon its feet and be clothed with sinew and flesh and have a body pleasing to look upon.

May the Lord bless us in these labors and in our efforts is my prayer in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

ELDER GEORGE REYNOLDS.

Brother Mills, a few minutes ago, read to you the program of the forthcoming annual Stake Sunday school conference. I now wish to read to you the dates on which these conferences will be held.

April 28th and 29th-St George.
May 6th and 7th-Parowan.
May 12th and 13th-Malad.

May 19th and 20th-Juab-Utah.

May 26th and 27th-Jordan.
June 2nd and 3rd-Wasatch-Granite.
June 9th and 10th-Cache.

June 16th and 17th-Oneida-Millard. June 23rd and 24th -Bear Lake-Sanpete.

June 30th and July 1st-Star Valley. July 7th and 8th-Panguitch and Woodruff.

July 14th and 15th-Kanab-Wayne. July 21st and 22nd-Morgan-Sevier. July 28th and 29th-Boxelder-Cassia. August 4th and 5th-Beaver.

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September 1st and 2nd-Tooele. September 8th and 9th-Summit. September 15th and 16th-Weber. September 22nd and 23rd-Bannock. September 29th and 30th-Pocatello. Elder Reynolds, continuing, said: There are one or two items to which I desire to call your attention. One is with regard to the Leaflets. Some of the superintendents think that, because there is a date upon each, they should only be used on that date. This is a mistake. They can be used at any and at all times when desirable. We think that the length of the Leaflets now being published,. as well as their great importance, is such that it will take at least two Sundays to consider each one properly, that no teacher should attempt to go over all the matter contained in any one of these Leaflets in one single Sunday. We have already published twelve numbers this year, but no more will be published this month, to give those that We are behind a chance to catch up. shall again begin distributing them to the schools for the first of May.

The general board of the Deseret Sunday School Union issued, some time ago, another Bible chart, connected with the life of our Redeemer, known to us as number five, the superintendents and teachers have apparently not understood this, as our sales have been very small. A copy of this chart hangs on either side of the stand, giving a sample of the pictures contained therein. wish to call the attention of the superintendents to the fact that we have a large number on hand at the Sunday School Union office.

We

The Sunday School Union has also just published a chronological chart of Nephite and Lamanite history, which they propose to give free to every Sunday school which has an enrollment of more than seventy-five members. We have restricted it to this number for the reason that we thought a small Sunday school with less than seventyfive members would probably not have

a Book of Mormon class large enough to use this chart profitably. This chart comprises the history of the Book of Mormon from the time that Lehi and his colony left Jerusalem, 600 years before Christ, to the end of Moroni's record. It likewise contains a tabular statement of contemporaneous events that took place on the eastern continent; also the time during which each Nephite historian held the records and wrote that people's history. It also contains a statement of the years of the reigns of the Judges, as well as other information which will aid our students in the understanding of Book of Mormon history and chronology. We shall also send a copy to each Stake superintendent, and they can now be obtained at the office of the Deseret Sunday School Union. Any persons wishing to purchase a copy can do so. The price, mounted like the one have in my hand, backed with linen and mounted on rollers, is one dollar. We expect soon to have a large number of copies on hand in paper, which can be folded up and placed between the leaves of a book, the price of which will be only twenty-five cents.

ELDER GEORGE D. PYPER. About a year ago a commit' ee was appointed to secure the photographs of the Stake spuerintendents of Sunday schools of all the Stakes of Zion, as well as those of the members of the Union Board and the general officers of the Union. These photographs were to be grouped together and a picture made containing all of these. A commit.tee was appointed, as I stated, and

they have now, after considerable time, completed their labors. The picture is ready and we will be pleased to present a copy of the same to the Stake superintendents, if they will call at the office of the Union, No. 408 Templeton building, tomorrow, or any time after.

GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT GEO. Q. CANNON.

Our time has expired. We have been here now nearly two hours. I am down for some closing remarks. I will not trespass upon your time but a minute, but I want to draw your attention to the remarks made by Dr. J. M. Tanner. I think there should be more attention paid to the character of the instruction given in our Sunday schools, and every effort should be made to give the children and the youth a knowledge of our principles. I think we cannot devote our time and attention in any better direction than in taking this subject to heart and carrying it out as well as we can in our schools. We feel proud, I think, of our progress, but I can see a large field stretching out before us yet to be occupied. The children and young people are not receiving, with all our efforts, the thorough training that they require. I pray God to bless us in our labors and to give every one the spirit of this mission and labor.

The choir then sang, "God be merciful unto us and bless us." Benediction by Elder Reed Smoot. HORACE S. ENSIGN,

General Secretary.

LEO HUNSAKER,

Reporter.

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