1900-09-15—Juvenile Instructor—Eastern States Mission Sunday School Report
Eastern States Mission Sunday School Report
- Juvenile Instructor, 1900-09-15, pp. 629-630
The presidents of missions within the confines of the United States were requested to furnish us a statement of the Sunday School work in their several fields of labor. In response President William H. Smart, of the Eastern States Mission, forwards the following interesting report:
- Latter-day Saints' Eastern States Mission,
- 50 Concord St., Brooklyn,
- August 29, 1900.
- Horace S Ensign,
- General Secretary, S. S. Union Board, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Dear Brother: — Your communication of August 13th, with reference to historical data connected with the Sunday School cause in the Eastern States Mi.=sion, was duly received and given immediate attention. Reports upon the subject coming in from the various conferences, enable us to furnish you the following information:
The general plan of work is very similar to that followed at home in the various stakes of Zion. The schools while not accurately graded, generally are divided into two specific departments viz., theological and primary; and in many instances the Elders, under whose direction and management the schools were organized, act as officers and teachers. This fact makes it apparent that when such Elders are released, or removed to other localities, the schools would be greatly crippled or disorganized entirely. The fact is the Eastern States Mission is of recent formation, and the fields of operations are practically new. Permanent Sunday School work on an extensive scale is not yet an accomplished fact. Temporary organizations have flourished for a time in different localities; and then, owing to release or transference of Elders, emigration of Saints, etc., have been disbanded.
In some cases the chief purpose of these temporary organizations has been the formation of a theological class in which the Elders in the immediate vicinity could take up a systematic course of Gospel study; and at the same time teach the principles of life and salvation to others who might be willing to ally themselves with the movement. In this way great good was accomplished.
In some cases in the theological department Talmage's "Articles of Faith" has been the text-book used, and in others, Sunday School Leaflets have been followed, while in others one of the Manuals published by the y. M. M. I. Board has furnished the basis for study.
At present there are two flourishing Sunday Schools in the Brooklyn conference, located at Ocean Side, Long Island, and Brooklyn, respectively. The one at Ocean Side is a self-sustaining organization oflicered and controlled by local members there. It bids fair to become a permanent institution of great importance. The Brooklyn school is under the direct management of the Elders, but is attended and supported by Saints and friends living here, and we hope this too will be a permanent establishment.
Prominently identified with the organization and perpetuation of the Ocean Side school are Elders Marcus Farr and E. D. Whiting and Henry J. Soper the present superinlendency.
In East Pennsylvania conference several Sunday Schools of the character first named have flourished and died. An organization effected in May of this year at Peckville, by Elders David Spillsbury and Joseph T. Finlinson is alive and flourishing at present. Robert Parsons, the superintendent, is an energetic worker, and a good work is being done.
There are also two live flourishing schools in West Virginia and one in Maryland. In nearly all the conferences in the mission temporary organizations have existed and work of this character may be resumed as circumstances will justify.
We recognize in this Sunday School work a very important factor in the spiritual enlightenment of the Saints, and trust it will soon reach out into the various missions of the world and become a permanent means of disseminating the truths of the Gospel.
As you have our annual statistics of Sunday School work done during the past year we do not think it necessary to repeat them here. If, however, you desire a specific account of each Sunday School that has existed or does now exist in the mission, let us know and we will embody the complete statistics in our next general report.
Hoping this will answer the purpose of your investigations at the present, we remain, Your brother in the truth,
- Wm. H. Smart.
