9:15 Group Conferences.
10:00 Address, "In Training," John L.
Alexander, Chicago, Ill.
10:45 Report of Group Conference Committees.
11:15 Address, "The Challenge of the New
Year," Charles W. Bishop, Canadian
National Secretary, Young Men's
Christian Association.
12:15 Adjournment.
B. Saturday and Sunday Conferences (One and a Half Days).
PROGRAM
WICHITA OLDER BOYS' CONFERENCE
MEN AND RELIGION FORWARD MOVEMENT
=Saturday, February= 10
9:30 A.M. Song Service.
9:35 A.M. Election of Officers.
10:00 A.M. Address, "Second Brand Cartridges,"
by Dr. David Russell, of South Africa.
10:30 A.M. Papers, read by boys, followed by
discussion, led by John L. Alexander.
"How Can We Help Increase the Number
of Boys Attending Sunday
School?"
"Why Don't the Older Boys Attend
Church Services? Should They Be
There?"
"Should an Older Boy Teach a Younger
Boys' Sunday School Class?"
11:45 A.M. Address, "Motive," Dr. C. Barbour,
Rochester, N.Y.
1:30 P.M. Recreation.
6:30 P.M. Address--Chairman Committee of 100.
Address--Local Chairman Boys' Work
Committee.
Report of Committees on Conference
Papers.
6:30 P.M. Address, "The Set of a Life," William
A. Brown, of Chicago.
Address, "Go to It," John L. Alexander,
Chicago, Ill.
=Sunday=
3:00 P.M. Mass Meeting for Older Boys, Addressed
by John L. Alexander, Chicago,
Ill.
C. Three Day (Part) Conference.
PROGRAM
_Conference Theme, "Training and Service."_
=Friday, December 13=
Beginning at 8:30 A.M. Addresses in seven High
Schools, by John L. Alexander.
6:15 P.M. Supper for Delegates.
7:00 P.M. Address by Hans Feldmann, Chairman
of Conference.
Address by Rev. R.S. Donaldson.
Remarks by Rev. F.H. Brigham and
John L. Alexander.
Close at 8:30 P.M.
=Saturday=
9:00 A.M. Songs and Devotional, led by W.H.
Wones.
9:30 A.M. Organization, to be led by John L.
Alexander.
9:45 A.M. Papers by Delegates. Discussion led by
John L. Alexander.
11:30 A.M. Address by Rev. F.H. Brigham.
12:00 to 2:00 P.M. Delegates home to lunch.
2:00 P.M. Concert by the Y.M.C.A. Boys' Glee
Club.
2:15 P.M. Discussion by subjects in groups, led
by John L. Alexander, F.H. Brigham,
W.H. Wones, and F.C. Coggeshall.
4:00 P.M. Recreation period in Y.M.C.A. Building.
6:15 P.M. Banquet for delegates and men leaders
at boys' invitation.
Music by the Boys' Busy Life Club
Boys' Orchestra.
Toasts by three delegates.
Report of the Committee on Inter-Church
Program.
Addresses by John L. Alexander and
F.H. Brigham.
=Sunday=
3:00 P.M. Gospel Meeting for Older Boys, at
Grand Avenue M.E. Church. Speaker,
John L. Alexander.
The following announcements were on the backs of these programs:
#ANNOUNCEMENTS#
CONFERENCE HEADQUARTERS--The Session of St. James' Square Presbyterian
Church has kindly granted the Conference the use of the church and
school rooms. With the exception of the Banquet and Addresses which
follow, all sessions of the Main and Group Conferences will be held in
this Church.
REGISTRATION--Admission to the sessions of the Conference will be
granted only to those wearing the Souvenir Conference Badge, which will
be given to each delegate presenting a credential signed by the
Conference Secretary at the Conference Office, in St. James' Square
Church, any time after 1:30 P.M., Tuesday, December 31.
DISCUSSION--Come prepared to take part in the discussion, and to ask
questions regarding the particular needs of your school. An opportunity
will be afforded in the Group Conferences for this phase of the work.
NOTES--Take careful notes. They will help you make a good report to your
Sunday school after the Conference.
REMEMBER--You are responsible to those you represent for getting the
most out of every session. Be on hand promptly at the hour mentioned; it
will help.
BOOK EXHIBIT--Copies of all the latest books on Sunday school and Boys'
Work will be on exhibit in one of the Conference rooms. Teachers and
leaders should not miss this opportunity to look over some of the
splendid literature that has come recently from the press.
NOTE--Boys under 15 years of age will not be admitted.
=Basis Of Representation=
The delegates are to be boys between the ages of 15 and 20 years,
appointed by the officials of their Sunday school, on the basis of two
delegates for each boys' class (of the teen ages) and each boys' club,
and, additional to these, two delegates at large from each church. Men
leaders of clubs will also be registered as delegates.
=Registration Fee=
The Registration Fee is to be 50 cents, including the cost of the
banquet Saturday evening.
=Preliminary Arrangements For Older Boys' Conference=
I. Conference Committee:
1. Committee supervises, plans and is responsible for the conference.
2. Committee should consist of at least five adult members, and
profitably more, selected from the various Sunday schools.
3. Committee may appoint special sub-committees to take care of details
and close supervision.
II. Sub-Committees:
1. Publicity, Delegate and Registration.
2. Meeting Place and Decoration.
3. Program and Badge.
4. Entertainment and Recreation.
5. Banquet.
6. Sunday Meeting (if held).
III. Sub-Committee Duties:
1. Publicity Committee: This committee is responsible for press, pulpit
and Sunday school notices. It also has the duty of discovering the
leader of each Sunday school and of getting the delegates pledged and
registered. For this purpose three letters at least should be sent out
(see IV). A Registration Card also should be filled out by each delegate
and signed by Secretary of Publicity Committee before the conference.
[Illustration]
TORONTO
BOYS' WORK CONFERENCE
=December 31st, 1912=
This certifies that ____________________________________
Address ________________________________________________
has been accepted as a Delegate to the above Conference,
having made application and paid the Registration
Fee in due time. Upon presentation of this card
at the Conference Office, St. James' Square Presbyterian
Church, he is entitled to the Souvenir Conference
Badge, Program, and Banquet Ticket.
_______________________________________________
Registration Secretary.
The limit of accommodation for the main banquet on the floor of
Association Hall will be 600. Extra provision will be made elsewhere for
the balance if registration exceeds that number.
Provision has been made for { Main Banquet }
you at the {Auxiliary Supper}
This committee is also responsible for the Registration Table during the
conference.
2. Meeting Place and Decoration Committee: The duties of this committee
are obvious. Among them, however, are the following: Five chairs and two
small tables should be on the platform, and a blackboard with eraser and
abundant supply of chalk in _each_ meeting room.
3. Program and Badge Committee: This committee should be responsible for
the preparation, printing and distribution of programs. An ample supply
should be on hand during the conference sessions. A badge (delegate's)
is a good thing for the conference spirit.
4. Entertainment and Recreation Committee: Where delegates attend from
out-of-town, this committee arranges for their entertainment at the
homes of friends. At a local conference this committee is steadily on
the lookout for the purpose of making the conference and delegates
comfortable. Fresh air, telephone service, messages, etc., all of these
are highly important. This committee also should be responsible for
adequate plans for the conference recreation.
5. Banquet Committee: The details for the conference banquet, the
seating of the delegates and the serving of the food, all come under
this committee. If a special banquet menu and program are used, this
also is the duty of the committee. An orchestra to play through the
eating period is a splendid feature.
6. Sunday Meeting Committee: This committee should give careful
attention to the following details:
(a) _That any boy over fifteen years and under twenty-one years be
admitted to the meeting. One leader to each group of boys may attend,
but these must sit by themselves in the rear of the room_.
To secure these arrangements it will be necessary to put a force of
determined adult watchers at every door.
(b) Be sure to have a live organist, pianist or orchestra to lead the
music. A director to lead the singing, _with ginger_, will help.
(c) Have four ushers to each double or central aisle, and have two to
each single or side aisle.
(d) Everyone present at the meeting should have a song book or sheet.
(e) Be sure to have a plain white card, 3x5, and a small sharpened
pencil for each one present. This is absolutely necessary for the
Forward Step part of the meeting.
IV. Letters to be sent out (Publicity Committee):
1. _To Pastor_, _Superintendent_ or _Teacher_:
(a) Announcing the conference, its nature, purpose, etc.
(b) That it is confined to older boys--15 to 20 years--and one adult
leader from each school.
(c) From three to five delegates (Christian boys).
(d) Ask for name of adult leader.
(e) Enclose Postal Card.
2. _To Sunday School Adult Leader_:
(a) Send plan of conference and details.
(b) Enclose Tentative Program.
(c) Ask for names of boy (Christian) delegates, setting time limit and
enclosing credentials.
(d) Suggest that leader have a meeting of the delegates before the
conference to consider what the conference may mean to their own local
Sunday school.
3. _To Each Delegate_:
(a) Send a brief letter with program.
(b) Emphasize the Christian nature of the conference; that it is for
training and leadership, and that he has been chosen from his school for
this purpose.
(c) Suggest daily prayer as preparation.
V. Leaders' Meeting:
If possible, arrange for a luncheon or dinner conference for the Sunday
school adult leaders who are at the conference. Talk over the plans,
programs and hopes of the conference.
VI. Follow-Up After Conference:
1. A Second Leaders' Meeting. (Details at Conference)
2. Local Delegates' Meeting. (Details at Conference)
BIBLIOGRAPHY ON OLDER BOYS' CONFERENCE
Dunn.--What the State Boys' Conference Means to the Churches (_American
Youth_, April, 1911) (.20).
Hinckley.--The Unique Value of Conferences of Older Boys (_American
Youth_, April, 1912) (.20).
Scott.--Boys' Conference in Community and County (_American Youth_,
April, 1911) (.20).
Smith.--The Maine Boys' Conference (_American Youth_, April, 1911)
(.20).
XIV
THE SECONDARY DIVISION OR TEEN AGE BOYS' CRUSADE[9]
The Older Boys' City-wide Conference is outlined in the previous
chapter. It is a good, but intermittent, form of Inter-Sunday school
activity for boys. The Secondary Division or Teen Age Boys' Crusade is a
permanent form for such activity, and may be launched at the Older Boys'
Conference.
The idea of the Crusade germinated in the minds of the members of the
Toronto Secondary Division Committee in connection with a Sunday school
Older Boys' Conference in December, 1912. The objectives around which
the idea grew were a campaign for Organized Classes in every school, an
effort to reach Toronto's 10,000 non-Sunday school, teen age boys and a
training class for adolescent leadership. At the evening banquet, at
which the Crusade was presented, 55 Sunday schools registered for the
campaign and 187 older boys signed up for training and the effort to
reach the boys not in Sunday school. At a later meeting a plan of action
was decided upon.
_The Objective_
The aims to be kept in mind are fourfold: (1) To magnify the Christian
life and the preeminence of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord; (2) to
organize the teen Christian boys of the Sunday school for organized
service; (3) to reach the teen non-Sunday school boys for Sunday school
attendance; (4) to train the teen boy for Christian leadership.
=The Crusade Outlined=
_Campaign of Bible Class Organization_
1. It is proposed that every class in the teen age or Secondary division
of every Sunday school be organized according to the International
Standard, and that the boys of the schools be given the task. (See
International Secondary Division Leaflet No. 2.)
_Campaign of Enlistment_
2. Coincident with the campaign of organization there should be a
systematic effort to reach every boy of the teen age for membership in
the Sunday school. This may be accomplished through two methods:
(a) Census and Survey. The city should be divided into districts and
mapped out by squares. Then the teen age campaigners should go two and
two for the purpose of a census-taking. The two-by-two system will
result in more thorough work, and it gives the opportunity of helping
the more timid boys by linking them with the bolder ones. An entire
square should be worked by the partners, both making the same call, and
every teen age boy in the town, whether a Sunday school attendant or
not, can be located this way. For this purpose an ordinary filing card
may be used, printed as follows:
Date ______________________
Name ______________________
Address ______________________
Religion (Catholic, Jew, Protestant)?
Attend Sunday school (yes or no)?
If yes, where? ______________________
Information gathered by
________________________
________________________
NOTE.--Once this information is gathered it can be kept up-to-date by
arrangement with the moving companies and the water, gas and electric
light companies. A monthly report from these companies, or a stock of
post-cards kept with them, will do the work. Another method is an annual
checking up with the city directory.
(b) Home Visitation for Enlistment. This is best accomplished by
personal invitation, letter, attractive advertising, etc. Assign to teen
age worker.
_Training Classes_
3. A training class or training classes, central or by districts, should
be arranged to specialize for teen age leadership.
(a) Adolescent Leadership Course (50 lessons) according to International
Standard.
(b) Demonstration Course in physical, social, mental and outdoor
activities.
_Service Programs_
4. Practical programs should be prepared and offered to schools and
organized classes to stimulate the membership of the Crusade.
"For none of us liveth to himself." "For unto every one which hath shall
be given, and from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be
taken away from him." "Service" is the magic word around which real life
swings. By giving, one gets. The investment of service, as individuals,
and as a class, will bring big dividends in the development of one's
personal life.
_Missions Program_
Promote (a) a course of study of "live" home and foreign mission
material; (b) systematic giving to missions; (c) the study of the
foreign population of your city, particularly of your own neighborhood;
(d) teaching non-English speaking men and boys to read and write; (e)
the investigation, and, when possible, the handling of needy cases in
your community. Anything going out from the class to the other fellow
comes under this head.
_Temperance Program_
Get information along the lines of: (a) bodily self-control; (b) the
injury of tobacco on the growing tissue; (c) the inroads of alcohol on
the growing and mature body; and (d) the economic, material and moral
waste of intemperance of every kind.
_Purity Program_
Hit hard for (a) clean speech, clean thoughts, clean sports; (b) for a
single sex standard; (c) chivalry and cleanliness among the sexes; and
(d) adequate education on sex matters.
Programs along these three lines will be furnished on application to the
State and Provincial Sunday School Association offices.
=Preliminary Plans For Crusade=
To get things in motion, two lines of action are suggested: First, plan
for a conference of older boys and workers with boys for the community
which you desire to cover. The program should aim to lay before the
conference the plan of the Organized Secondary Division Class; methods
of work should be discussed at group conferences; the Crusade Challenge
presented at the banquet; and the session should close with a rousing
inspirational address. Second, formation of an _Inter-Sunday School
Council_, the purpose of which is to plan and promote work for Secondary
Division Classes in the city.
_Promotion of Conference_
The Secondary Division Committee, headed by the Secondary Division
Superintendent of the city, township or county, in which the conference
is planned, should head the work, and representative men and older boys
should be chosen to form a Conference Committee.
First Steps. Call a meeting of the General Conference Committee. State
clearly the objective of the Conference and Crusade, then appoint the
following sub-committees: Program, Printing and Advertising, Banquet,
Registration, Recreation and Promotion.
=Duties Of Committees=
_Program_.--Plan program, secure speakers, organist and leader for
singing.
_Printing and Advertising_.--To have charge of all printing, such as
Advance Notices of Conference, Registration Cards, Banquet Tickets,
Tentative Program, Completed Program, Crusade Folder, Newspaper
Articles, Conference Badges or Buttons.
_Banquet_.--To arrange all the details of the banquet, the place where
it will be held, securing dishes and silverware, arrangement of tables,
decorations, etc.
_Registration_.--To arrange a simple system of registration, have charge
of distribution of programs and badges, tabulate record of registration
for report to convention, etc.
_Recreation_.--To plan for a period of organized recreation between the
afternoon and evening sessions.
_Promotion_ (perhaps the most important of all committees). The
responsibility of securing "picked" members of teen age classes and
workers to attend the Conference rests on the shoulders of this
committee. All members of the General Committee should share with them
this responsibility. The Committee should arrange for a meeting of
Sunday school Superintendents and every effort be made to have every
school represented, by either the Superintendent or a substitute
appointed by him. At this meeting outline carefully the plan of the
Conference and Crusade, enlist their cooperation, secure from each man
present a promise to see that delegates are sent from his school; supply
these men with literature and registration cards. Be sure to have a
record of the name and address of all in attendance at this meeting.
This is important. Make a special drive on this meeting, the object
being to line up a man in every last school who will make himself
responsible for that school being represented in the Conference. The
Superintendents not present at this meeting should be seen and written
to at once, urging upon them the importance of the work, apprising them
of the results of the Superintendents' Conference and showing them the
necessity of their schools being included in this city-wide campaign for
the adolescent boy. Other plans of promotion may be adopted by the
Committee, as warranted by local conditions.
_Meetings of General Committee._--The General Conference Committee
should arrange to meet at least once a week, for a month prior to the
Conference, and all plans of the sub-committees should be submitted to
this Committee for their approval before being put into operation.
=The Conference Program=
Conference Theme--Training and Service.
Temporary Chairman--President or Vice-President of Sunday School
Association, or acceptable substitute.
2:00 Registration of Delegates.
2:30 Devotional and Music.
3:00 Address, "The Biggest Thing in the World."
3:20 Secondary Division Organization--The Bible Class.
4:15 Group Conferences (City divided into districts).
5:45 Recreation.
7:00 Banquet to Delegates.
(a) Music--Orchestra.
(b) Toasts--Two Older Boys.
(1) Our Country.
(2) Our City.
(c) Address, "The Crusade."
8:45 Devotional
9:00 Question Box and Conference.
9:20 Address, "In Training" (Inspirational).
10:00 Adjournment.
=The Banquet Seating Plan=
The delegates from each Sunday school should sit together, and when
practicable be also grouped by denominations. At the close of the
address on the Crusade _the Inter-Sunday School Council should be
formed_.
This shall consist of two older boys and one man from each participating
Sunday school. The Council is subject to the call of the Chairman of the
Secondary Division Committee.
_Method of Enrollment_
1. After the presentation of the Crusade, pass a colored card to each
delegation, asking them to confer and to write on the card the names and
addresses of the two older boys they may choose to represent their
school, the name of school, also the names and addresses of the
teachers of the chosen delegates.
_The Adult representative from each school should be selected later by
the committee in charge of the Crusade Conference_.
2. Pass white cards, as soon as the colored ones have been properly
filled; or, better yet, place a white card in each banqueter's program
and challenge to service and training.
3. Write to each chosen representative before the first called meeting,
enclosing credential card to be signed by the superintendent of the
school, the pastor of the church, and write to each of these men
enclosing the plan of the Crusade.
=First Meeting of Council=
Do not allow more than two weeks to pass until the Council meets to lay
its plans. Strike, and keep on striking while the iron is hot.
_The Follow-Up_.--Call at once a meeting of the older-boy
representatives on the Inter-Sunday School Council. Do not call in the
men until later. This is an =Older Boy Movement=, and you are
going to get the Older Fellows in the Sunday school to go after the
Older Fellows out of the Sunday school. Impress upon the Council that
this is their job and whatever success is achieved will be due to their
efforts. Let a clean-cut spiritual atmosphere prevail at these meetings.
You will find that the boys are there for business.
It is suggested that the meetings be held Saturday evening, beginning at
5:30 with supper, to cost not more than fifteen cents per plate.
_First Meeting_.--Don't rush things. You will gain much by making the
fellows feel that you are all working this problem out together and that
the prayerful cooperation of every member is necessary. Don't stampede
the meeting with a lot of elaborate plans. If you have any plans, turn
them over to the Council by way of suggestion, and let that body use its
own judgment. Everything that is done by the Council should emanate from
its members. It is suggested that the purpose and program of this
meeting should be somewhat as follows:
(a) Statement of purpose of Council.
(b) Trace connection of Council to International work (i.e., Council,
City Secondary Division Committee, City Secondary Division
Superintendent, County Secondary Division Superintendent, State or
Provincial Secondary Division Committee, State or Provincial Secondary
Division Superintendent, International Secondary Division Committee,
International Secondary Division Superintendent, etc.--this to show them
that they are officially related to a world-wide movement).
(c) Fellowship and "Get Together."
Be sure to have Adult members at this meeting.
_Second Meeting_ (two weeks after first).--
At this meeting discuss:
(a) Importance of class organization--each member urged to get to work
at once in his local school.
(b) Age limit of classes now in the organization.
(c) Outline possibilities of Council for promotion and all-round
physical, mental, social and spiritual activities of teen age fellows of
the Sunday schools of the city.
(d) Discuss the idea of the census survey.
These two meetings will pave the way for the third and following
meetings. Don't meet simply for the sake of holding a meeting. Let your
fellows feel that when a call to meeting is received it is important.
_Third and Subsequent Meetings_
1. Lay your plans carefully for the census-taking, then complete the job
quickly.