THE MINUTES OF THE FOURTH GENERAL

CONVENTION

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY THIRD TO SEVENTH, 1907

OPENING SERVICE

On Sunday, February 3d, at 7:30 P. M., on the invitation of the Central Church, addresses were given by Professor George A. Coe, of Northwestern University and Mr. Henry F. Cope, Secretary of the Association.

RECEPTIONS

On Monday, February 4th, in the morning, the Chapel at the University of Rochester was visited and an address made by Rev. William H. P. Faunce, President of the Association and words of greeting were spoken by President Rush Rhees of the University. A visit was also paid to the Ministers' Meeting and to the Rochester Theological Seminary. Luncheon was served at the East High School and the buildings here were inspected.

On Tuesday, delegates were taken in special cars to visit the Eastman Kodak Co.'s plant and to Kodak Park. At 1:30 P. M., luncheon was served at the Mechanics' Institute and the delegates were conducted through the institution.

On Wednesday at 1 P. M. luncheon was served in the Brick Church Institute to the Executive Board and the Departmental Officers meeting in conference.

THE LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS

An efficient Local Committee, under the direction of the Rev. Henry H. Stebbins, D. D., made full and complete arrangements for the comfort of the delegates and the conduct of the many sessions. sonnel of this committee is given in full on page 300.

PREPARATION SERVICE

The per

This service was held in the "Smaller Auditorium" of the Central

Church. About 600 persons were present. The meeting was presided over by the Rev. James T. Dickinson, D. D., pastor of the First Baptist Church.

THE FIRST GENERAL SESSION

Was held in the main auditorium of the Central Church, nearly two thousand persons being present. The Mayor of Rochester, James G.

Cutler, being confined to his home by illness, sent the welcome greeting of the city by letter. This was read by the Rev. Charles C. Albertson, pastor of the Central Church, who also addressed words of welcome to the Association. The Chairman of the Executive Board, President Henry Churchill King, responded to the address of welcome.

The President's Annual Address, by William H. P. Faunce, D. D., LL. D., followed.

The Convention then turned to its general theme, "The Materials of Religious Education," considering this under the special topic of "Biblical Materials in Education." Rush Rhees, D. D., LL. D., President of the University of Rochester, delivered an address on "The Application of New Testament Ethics to Modern Life." The severe storm having detained one speaker, short addresses were delivered by Prof. Charles Foster Kent, Pres. Graham Taylor, Prof. Ernest DeWitt Burton, Pres. Arthur E. Main and Pres. William D. Mackenzie. The music for the evening was furnished by the Students' Club of the Rochester Theological Seminary.

THE SECOND GENERAL SESSION

Of the Convention was called to order at 10 o'clock by President William H. P. Faunce, after the devotional service conducted by Dr. A. H. Strong.

The following Secretaries were elected and Committees appointed: Recording Secretary. pro tem., Rev. William H. Boocock.

Recording Secretary pro tem., Mr. Herbert W. Gates.

Committees:

Enrollment. Messrs. Elmer, Affleck, Chamberlin.

Assistant

Nominations. Messrs. Messer, Coe, Hammond, Murlin, Sanders, Stewart, Kent.

Resolutions. Messrs. King, Doggett, Cunninggim, Hartshorn, Hervey, Stuart, Hughes.

On motion, these nominations were approved and the Committees appointed.

The program appointed for the day was then taken up.

The special topic for this session was "Non-Religious Aids in Religious Education." The program as printed was somewhat disarranged by the delay in trains resulting in the non-arrival of speakers; this was due to the blizzard raging through the state of New York. Dr. George J. Fisher delivered an address on "The Ethical Value of Physical Training." Following this short addresses were given by Mr. Edgar M. Robinson, International Secretary for Boys' Work in the Y. M. C. A., by Harry N. Holmes, General Secretary, the Y. M. C. A., of Wellington,

New Zealand, and by Dr. Everett D. Burr, of Newton Center, Mass. Pres. Flavel S. Luther, then spoke on "The Education of the Street." The United States Commissioner of Education, Dr. Elmer E. Brown, spoke on "The Relation of the Home to Moral and Religious Education," and Prof. George A. Coe discussed the general themes of the session.

THIRD GENERAL SESSION

After Devotional Services, led by the Rev. Lester Bradner, Jr., Ph. D., of Providence, R. I., the Third Session, which was a Joint Session with the Department of Churches and Pastors, was given over to the following program: "The Ethical Significance of Play," Dr. Luther H. Gulick; "The Education of Religious Personality," President Samuel A. Eliot; "The Pastor as a Teacher," Dr. Philip S. Moxom; "Philanthropy and Theology," Dean George Hodges; "The Influence of Missions on Christian Consciousness," Dr. J. Hermann Randall; "The Press in Modern Religious Life," Mr. J. A. Macdonald.

the evening was furnished by pupils of the public schools.

The music for

The Annual Business Meeting of the Association was called to order by the President, William H. P. Faunce, in the Central Presbyterian Church, on Thursday morning, Feb. 7th, at 10 o'clock. Prayer was offered by Professor William Adams Brown, of Union Theological Seminary.

The Recording Secretary presented the Minutes of the Cleveland Conference as they were printed in the April number (1906) of the Religious Education Association Journal.

On motion the minutes were received and ordered filed.

The report of the General Secretary, Mr. Henry F. Cope was then read, and the report of the Treasurer presented in printed form. On motion these reports were received and ordered filed.

The report of the General Secretary was printed in full in RELIGIOUS EDUCATION for April, 1907

474.60

Pledges (including "Guarantee Fund," $685).. 1,412.98

Pledges outstanding....

Pledges due on "Guarantee Fund".

Proceedings on hand, figured at one-third retail

163.00

815.00

The report of the Committee on Enrollment was presented by its Chairman, the Rev. Franklin D. Elmer, as follows: Number of registered delegates 528, from 25 states of the Union, and from five foreign

countries: from New York State, 421; Massachusetts, 13; Pennsylvania, 12; Illinois, 12; Indiana, 7; Connecticut, 10; Ohio, 8; Rhode Island, 5; Michigan, 2; New Jersey, 9; Texas, 1; Missouri, 2; Vermont, 2; Tennessee, 5; Maryland, 1; Kansas, 2; District of Columbia, 1; North Carolina, 1; Georgia, 1; Wisconsin, 1; Minnesota, 3; Maine, 1; Iowa, 1; North Dakota, 2; New Zealand, 1; Ontario, 5; Japan, 1; Great Britain, 1; China, 1.

On motion the report of the Committee was received and filed.

The report of the Committee on Resolutions was presented by its Chairman, President Henry Churchill King.

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

"Resolved, That the Association wishes to express its warmest gratitude to the local committee of arrangements, under the chairmanship of Dr. H. H. Stebbins, and the various committees associated with them, for the marked thoughtfulness, the unstinted devotion, and the extraordinary efficiency with which their work has been done; to the different churches and institutions of the city that have so heartily co-operated in providing for the pleasure of the delegates, and in meeting the needs of the Association and its departments in their multiplied gatherings; to the students' club of the Rochester Theological Seminary, to the pupils of the public schools and to the glee club of the University of Rochester, and those associated with them for the inspiring service of song rendered; to the press of Rochester for the intelligently appreciative and the satisfactory reports of the sessions of the convention; to the railroads, for courtesies extended; and to the large number of distinguished speakers who have testified to their interest in the great cause for which the association stands, by coming at large expenditure of time and money to share in its deliberations.

"That the Association reaffirms its original policy that it does not exist to rival or supplant existing educational or religious organizations and agencies, but rather to furnish to all these a common ground on which they may meet and a clearing house for educational and religious ideas and ideals; thus giving to these institutions opportunities to supplement one another's work and to make the peculiar contribution of each most surely affect all; and in general to secure such co-operation, unification, and federation as shall indefinitely strengthen the influence of all.

"The Association gratefully recognizes the cordial co-operation increasingly given in its work by these various organizations and agencies; and registers its purpose, in loyal regard for their separate tasks, and with their permission, steadily to utilize for the great common ends