Part 4 (2/2)

The naiven correctly and fully (for example, not ”F Jones,” but ”Frederick Jones”) The secretary should see that the record of attendance for each Sunday is accurately kept He will need to give special attention to classes where substitutes take the place of absent teachers, and to see that the record for the day is not neglected As often as the arrange of the names of the scholars, he should transcribe the list, alriting every nah the class lists he should note the names of those who have been absent for a series of sessions, and should report theation of every habitual absentee If these scholars can be visited, many of them may be retained in the school

(4) _Records of Scholars_ In addition to the record in the class books, another record should be kept of everyevery officer, teacher, and scholar; a card catalogue, each name upon a separate card, and all the cards filed in alphabetical order The card for each scholar should give besides his name the date of his entrance to the school, either the date of his birth or his age at entering--approxihteen years; his residence, with street and nuned; his relation to the church or congregation, and any other important facts The card should contain the record of every proes in residence, and other details, so that it becomes a reliable and complete history of each individual in the school In many schools the birthday of eacha birthday card If a scholar or teacher leaves the school the fact is recorded, and the card is then taken froue and filed permanently in the list of ”former members”

(5) _Literature of the School_ The secretary should be in charge of the literature used by the school, its text-books, lesson-quarterlies, and other periodicals He should see that the literature is ordered in full time, should receive it, keep it in his care, and attend to its distribution The particular text-book for each grade is fixed by the superintendent; and the secretary should receive frorade

(6) _Correspondence_ The secretary should conduct all correspondence in behalf of the school or of the teachers as a body, unless for a special purpose the chair to his work

The secretary ith the aid of his staff undertakes to do all the work that rises before hiht one But his departreatly promote the success of the Sunday school

X

THE TREASURY AND THE TREASURER

1 =In the Early Sunday School= A study of origins has shown that in the earliest Sunday schools in Aland, provision was made for the payment of officers and teachers In the first schools established in and near Philadelphia, each paid teacher had charge of ould now be considered a departiven under his direction by scholars, ere called monitors But in a new country, where the settlements were small and the people mostly poor, the system of paid teachers soon passed away, and the schools were carried on by voluntary and unpaid workers It was fortunate for the As it required but littleany chapel or schoolhouse or settler's cabin would serve The literature was exceedingly enerally these were brought by the teachers and scholars When the earliest lesson books were published, they were not quarterlies, nor annuals, to be throay after one using, but were studied year after year The largest item of expense was the library; and as this was an institution for the entire neighborhood, the faly contributed toward it Not until the Sunday school had becohly founded did the question of its financial support arise as a problem

2 =In the Modern Sunday School= As the Sunday school advanced in position, in influence, and in better methods of work, its expenses naturally increased Now, in the opening of its second century, its financial requireo It asks for special and suitable buildings, with roos adapted to the educational needs of its several departments; for a periodical literature suited to teachers and scholars of every grade, and requiring to be renewed every year; for an organ or piano--often for several, with an orchestra added; for an equip books different froifts at Christ for all in the su popular books for the scholars and helpful works for the teachers in their work The de Sunday school, in city or country, are great, but in nearly all congregations the funds for the support of the Sunday school are obtained with less effort than those for any other department of church activity, and in this liberality the Christian people show their wisdoht

3 =Practical Ways and Means= The methods of financial support for the Sunday school are exceedingly varied The siular weekly contribution in the classes Where attention is given to the collection, and an appeal is occasionally enerally obtain the funds needed for its own support When the special need arises for the purchase of a piano or a library, some entertainment may be held which will by its profits swell the receipts

The objection to these methods, which are almost universal, is that they appeal to self-interest, and fail to educate the members of the school in true liberality It is for _our_ school, _our_ piano, _our_ library, that the appeal is ht to give to the cause of Christ and his gospel, and not merely to interests from which they themselves are to receive a reward

4 =The Ideal Way of Giving= The more excellent way is for the church in its annual estimate of expenses to include a fair, even liberal, allowance for the Sunday school, and at intervals through the year pass over to the treasury of the Sunday school the funds appropriated, to be expended according to principles and regulations provided Then let every officer, teacher, and pupil in the school, froinners,to the church Most church schools contribute to the cause of foreign ive to all the general benevolent objects for which the church receives an annual collection This plan would unite the church and the schoolobjects for which funds are raised, and, best of all, would train every child in the Sunday school to systeospel principle, which is ”not to be ministered unto, but to minister”

5 =The Sunday-School Treasurer= The work of the treasurer is very different from that of the secretary; yet the two offices are often held by one person In that case they should be regarded as distinct positions; the election to the two offices should be separate, and not at the same time for one person as secretary and treasurer At every businessa separate report should be presented for the two departarded as a branch of the secretary's work If the plan outlined in the last paragraph be adopted as thefor the financial needs of the Sunday school, it ht be well to choose the treasurer of the church as treasurer of the Sunday school, thus giving unity to the financial adanization

6 =The Treasurer's Work= This will require a person who is known as careful in accounts, as well as honorable in all his dealings

(1) _His Charge_ All the funds of the Sunday school should pass through his hands Ifentertaine of the receipts and pay the bills For this purpose he should be ex officio a member of all committees required to receive and disburse funds

(2) _Bank Account_ Except in small and remote places, the treasurer will find it desirable to keep an account with a bank in behalf of the school, and deposit therein all moneys received Under no circumstances should he deposit Sunday-school funds as a part of his own private account, but should keep separate accounts as an individual and as treasurer

(3) _Reports and Vouchers_ At eachboard of the school he should present a statement of the condition of the treasury, with exact ; and for every payment he should show a receipt or voucher, and on it the ”O K” or approval of some qualified person who knows that it is correct

(4) _Bills_ He should receive all bills against the school, and should infor them, in order to be able to answer any questions raised bya statement of all the unpaid bills on hand, with a forecast of bills expected, and obtain a vote of the board upon each bill that is to be paid

(5) _Checks_ It is desirable to pay bills as far as possible with checks, as the check will often serve as a receipt; and the receipted bills should be filed together for reference

(6) _Audits_ An Auditing Committee should be appointed, to examine the accounts of the school from time to time, and alhen the treasurer coives place to a successor This con their names to the treasurer's report, with the indorsement, ”Audited and found correct”

Most of the above recommendations, perhaps all of theent, businesslike treasurer But in the continent-wide area of the Sunday school, of necessity, not all treasurers are intelligent or experienced in business methods; and there are doubtless estions

(7) _Study of Benevolent Interests_ One of the most important duties of a treasurer in a modern Sunday school is to study the different charitable objects that present themselves to the school, decide upon their ly to thetheir interest and training the This important task raises the treasurershi+p out of mereforces in the school

XI