REPORT OF THE CONGREGATIONAL EDUCATION SOCIETY

The past two years have seen significant developments in the Education Society. Within that time complete adjustments between this Society and the C. S. S. E. S. and the development of co-operative relationships with the Publishing Society have been practically consummated. The division of work and workers gave to the Education Society the matter of initiating the entire religious education program and seeing that it is carried to the churches, while the Extension force is to act as lieutenants in the latter part of this project.

The Society is now organized under five departments, viz. : The Institutions and Student Life, Social Service, Missionary Education, Young People's and Field Work Departments. The Institutions and Student Life Department covers all the field formerly occupied by the Education Society. It has also added a number of training schools, taken on the entire religious program as it relates to work among college and university students, and the program for recruiting Christian leaders. Reports from the Social Service, Missionary Education, and Young People's Departments and plans for their work are incorporated as parts of this report.

The total receipts of the Society for regular appropriation purposes for the two years ending June 1, 1919, have been $198,488 as compared with $145,500 for the two years preceding. In the readjustment the apportionment was increased from 5 to 61⁄2 per cent. The results of this increased apportionment, as also some of the results from the Every Member Drive, are showing in the increased income which is especially apparent during the last six months.

Secretary Miles B. Fisher, D. D., began his work as Secretary of the Missionary Education Department immediately following the last meeting of the Council. He is well qualified for this important task, having a splendid general religious education background, a wide acquaintance and a warm inter

est in missionary work. Through his untiring efforts the Department is now a real and rapidly growing factor in missionary education.

Secretary Henry A. Atkinson, D. D., had charge of the work in the Social Service Department until this last year, when he was called to be Secretary of the Church Peace Union. The Society and the denomination are to be congratulated on securing Rev. Arthur E. Holt, Ph. D., to take that responsible position. He has a practical grasp of sound educational principles, is intimately acquainted with rural life problems, is a keen student of industrial affairs, and is possessed of deep insight and broad sympathies. By training and by experience he is well equipped to lead the denomination in its social service efforts.

The Young People's Department was created something over a year ago, and has been steadily gathering data and formulating plans which it is now ready to bring to the attention of our churches. The report which is printed in full in pamphlet form gives certain general conclusions drawn from the questionnaire, states the principles which should guide in young people's work, describes present organizations and efforts among young people with the larger possibilities of some of these, proposes a federation of these organizations or groups, with plans for unifying and expanding the work. Emphasis is placed upon the advisability of a strong Religious Education Committee in the local church and provision is made for a counselor, who shall advise with the young people regarding their entire program.

INSTITUTIONS AND STUDENT LIFE DEPARTMENT

STUDENT AID

The total number of students aided for the year ending June 1, 1918, was 143. These were distributed as follows:

Fourteen of these received the aid as a loan, the remainder as grants. The amount granted on regular scholarships was $50.00 for each student, and on the Ward Scholarships $40.00 each.

For the year ending June 1, 1919, the total number of scholarships was 98, distributed as follows:

The number who received the aid as a loan was six. The amount of aid granted to each student, both regular and Ward Scholarships, was $75.00.

The heavy decrease in the number of students aided during this last year reflects the inroad made upon our theological schools and even upon our colleges by the war. It is earnestly hoped that the present year will see a large increase in attendance upon these institutions.

WORK AMONG STUDENTS IN STATE UNIVERSITIES

The denomination through this Society is endeavoring to meet a growing sense of responsibility for its students who attend tax supported colleges and universities. Other denominations are increasing their efforts along this line and the developments in Congregational work have been considerable. The proportion of students at these institutions is on the increase, and the religious forces which have been working in them, both in the Christian Associations and those of the local church, need to be supplemented by special church workers. This movement is recognized and endorsed by the Christian Associations, and plans for co-operative effort, and even identity of organization in many of these centers, have been developed.

These great tax supported schools find it impossible, in many cases, to do anything in an official way for the students along religious lines. The possibility of Christian leadership to be obtained from these schools cannot be ignored by the churches, and there is no more strategic opportunity to

reach some of the finest young manhood and womanhood of the country than in these large school centers.

The Society is now helping to maintain work for Congregational students in California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, and North Dakota State Universities; in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, and New Hampshire State Colleges of Agriculture; and in Leland Stanford University. There are a number of other places where we ought to take up work in the immediate future and the amount being invested in centers already occupied should be increased as soon as possible, to the end that we may secure and hold the most effective workers.

THE COLLEGES AND ACADEMIES

During the two years, aid has been given, by direct appropriation, to five colleges, five academies, and four training schools, and to eight schools which have had all or part of the Society's apportionment for the state in which that institution is located.

Special two-day conferences were held in twelve MiddleWest colleges for the purpose of co-operating in the Christian work of the schools and particularly to present the claims of Christian leadership callings.

These institutions are a large source of our sorely needed Christian leaders. The increased cost of living has placed peculiar burdens upon the leaders of these schools, increasing the cost of operation from twenty-five to seventy-five per cent over pre-war expenses. Other denominations are rallying to the needs of their institutions and it is high time Congregationalists came to the help of the splendid group of schools affiliated with our churches.

MISSIONARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

1. The Department of Missionary Education found the Tercentenary chart left on its doorstep. It was taken in, nurtured, and has grown to twice its original size. About 1700 schools are now enrolled, and are carrying forward this miniature educational program involving instruction, interest and

giving. All boards co-operate freely in preparation of necessary literature.

2. For 1919, Twelve Missionary Topics for Young People's meetings have been prepared with suggestions for the conduct of the several meetings and with references to periodicals, leaflets and books. Similar topics have been chosen for 1920. From month to month fresh notes are provided in our Congregational periodicals.

3. Twelve monthly missionary topics for the midweek church meeting have been published and annotated in The Congregationalist and Advance. A similar series is planned for 1920.

4. The department has promoted the presentation of Missionary Education on programs of district associations and state conferences. As a help to speakers upon such topics, seven leaflets have been prepared giving grist for seven addresses on various phases of Missionary Education.

An elective course of thirteen lessons for young people's classes is nearly completed on "Our Congregational Mission Boards, Their History, Work, Great Names and Needs." A plain statement of facts vitally connected will lead students into acquaintance with all the boards, will satisfy their reasonable desire for knowledge and will thus cultivate a proprietary interest in the boards.

6. The department has outlined a week-day course of religious education for Primaries and Juniors with particular regard to social attitudes of obedience, sympathy, helpfulness, loyalty, friendship, and giving. With effective co-operation of the Religious Educational Publications Department the work is well under way.

7. The Church School of Missions has been commended to our people in many ways. When for eight consecutive weeks a church-the whole church-sets aside one evening a week for mission study, in classes grouped by subjects studied, and graded by ages-juniors, intermediates, young people, adults-it is preparing for a new era of intelligence, enthusiasm and power.

The department undertakes to pass to writers of Sunday School lesson notes material coming from the various boards.