2. The International Sunday-School Association is related to the various Auxiliary Associations as above enumerated in an advisory way only. It exercises no authority over those Auxiliary Associations, and assumes no responsibility for their actions, and seeks only to serve them in such ways and at such times as the help of the International Association is desired. So long as members of the International staff are at work within the field of an Auxiliary Association they are under the direction of that Auxiliary to serve only as agreed between the Auxiliary and the International. 3. The International Association is related to the Denominations as an ally only. Its business is to help the Denomination where it needs it and asks for such help, and to serve the Denomination only along the lines indicated by the denominations and when invited to render such service. The International Association, in short, disclaims the role of either master or servant to the Denominations, or as having in itself any authority whatever over the Denominations. Whenever the door of SundaySchool service is open to the International Association or its Auxiliaries, these Associations will gladly enter and serve as the Denominations severally or collectively may desire, and in turn will gratefully receive from the Denominations like service and support, but it will thus cooperate and serve the Denominations only as ally and friend, not as master or mere servant. The best service the International Association can render to the denominations is when it helps the Denomination to do its own work effectively through its own agencies, and as such steadfast and serviceable ally the International Association may confidently claim and receive the cordial support of the Denominations. 4. Towards all other Sunday-School bodies having part in the extension and improvement of Sunday School work throughout the International or the foreign field, the International Association has shown a sincere desire for hearty cooperation. To the American Sunday-School Union, the first and greatest pioneer in the planting of American Sunday-Schools, the International Association acknowledges its great indebtedness, and while the Union has been planting its thousands of schools in needy fields the International Association has sought to follow closely and helpfully with its Auxiliary Associations and educational Conventions. With the National Educational Association, and more especially with the Religious Education Association, the International Association desires the closest reciprocal relationships, knowing the great benefit that has come to itself from the trained and scholarly leadership of the college and university. To the youngest of these related Sunday School organizations, the Sunday-School Council of the Evangelical Denominations, the International Association takes this first opportunity since the formation of that body to offer its hearty greetings and its pledge of earnest cooperation and service in all ways that shall minister to the success of the plans of the Denominations so far as represented by the Council. III. METHODS OF WORK 1. The headquarters of the International Sunday School Association are located in Chicago, which practically is the geographic and SundaySchool center of the International field. Besides the present corps of twelve office helpers and stenographers, the general International staff of salaried workers consists of ten Sunday-School specialists, two of whom are assigned to Mexico and the West Indies. Of this staff there are six Departmental Superintendents, viz.: Elementary, Teacher Training, Adult, Visitation, Missionary and Temperance. Other departments of the work have committees and chairmen unsalaried in charge, until such time as the means at hand shall allow the employment of specialists. In the pay and exclusive service of the Auxiliary State and Provincial Associations are nearly 200 General Secretaries, Department Superintendents, etc., most of whom are Sunday-School specialists. In addition to these salaried workers there are more than 150,000 pastors, superintendents and teachers who, as officers of Auxiliary Associations and as volunteer workers, are doing a great work which if compensated would cost the Associations millions of dollars annually. The salaried workers of the International staff, under assignment of a General Secretary and an Assistant General Secretary, as far as practicable, cover the field annually by heavy travel and labor, rendering a varied and difficult and delicate service through all kinds of meetings, but with special emphasis upon State and Provincial Conventions. 2. The income of the International Association for the past triennium has been about $50,000 per annum, and has come from the following Sources: (1) The annual gifts of money as pledged at their Conventions by Auxiliary State and Provincial Associations, these pledges being reported to the International Convention; (2) the gifts of individual Sunday Schools, classes, etc., usually pledged at the International Convention; (3) the gifts of money from individuals as friends of the organized work either by pledge at the Convention or ad interim; (4) special Life Memberships at $1,000 each, as a more recent source of support. It will be noted that as yet there are no bequests as with other religious organizations doing far less work in much smaller fields. This may in part be due to the fact that until the present triennium the Association was unincorporated, and therefore not legally responsible for such bequests. 3. The work of the Lesson Committee particularly deserves notice and commendation. Every six years, at alternate International Conventions, the sixteen men composing this distinguished Committee are appointed, as representing the biblical scholarship and Sunday-School leadership of American Protestantism. The Committee meets annually, plans its work of selecting Bible lessons, commits the details of its plan to subcommittees working ad interim, and gives forth its selections from the Bible' for lesson study, whether of uniform or graded course, two years or more in advance of their study for the convenience of the lesson writers. The Committee selects the texts, titles and golden texts of the uniform lessons and of the graded lessons as provided for by the International Convention of 1908, and without word or comment or exposition whatever submits these courses of lessons to the Denominational and other writers, who interpret and prepare the lessons as they and their Denominations may see fit to do. Let it be reaffirmed with emphasis that while the finest scholarship and practical Sunday-School experience of America are focalized by the Lesson Committee upon their selection of lessons from the Bible text, they have nothing whatever to do with the interpretation of these lessons, which belong alone to the Denominations using them. With like emphasis let it also be noted that these lessons go into the hands of 174,000 American Sunday-Schools and 15,000,000 American SundaySchool students, and to more than 25,000,000 Bible students around the world; and that this noble and arduous service by the gentlemen composing the Lesson Committee is wholly a service of love. ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION An Act to incorporate the International Sunday School Association of America. (Public-No. 42) CHARTER Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That William N. Harsthorn, of Boston, Massachusetts; Honorable J. J. Maclaren, of Toronto, Canada; Marion Lawrance, of Toledo, Ohio; George W. Bailey, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; A. B. McCrillis, of Providence, Rhode Island; H. J. Heinz, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; H. M. Hamill, of Nashville, Tennessee; E. R. Machum, of Saint John, New Brunswick; W. A. Eudaly, of Cincinnati, Ohio; F. A. Wells, of Chicago, Illinois; G. G. Wallace, of Omaha, Nebraska; G. W. Watts, of Durham, North Carolina; E. K. Warren, of Three Oaks, Michigan; John Stites, of Louisville, Kentucky; Honorable W. D. Wood, of Seattle, Washington, and Seth P. Leet, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, and their associates and successors, are created a body corporate in the District of Columbia under the name of The International Sunday School Association, and as such shall have power to contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued; to take and hold real estate not exceeding one million dollars in value in the aggregate or personal estate by purchase, gift, devise, or bequest, and to manage, sell or convey, or transfer same for the purposes of the association; to have perpetual succession; to have a common seal, and to break, alter, or change the same at will. Section 2. That the purpose of the association shall be to promote organized Sunday-School work, to encourage the study of the Bible, and to assist in the spread of Christian religion. Section 3. That the members of the executive committee of the International Sunday-School Association, as it may be constituted by said association, shall be the members of this association. Section 4. That the affairs of the association shall be managed by the members. It may by by-laws provide for a board of not less than fifteen trustees, who shall be elected annually, to act between meetings of the association, whose duties and powers shall be prescribed in said by-laws. Until the members of this association meet and elect trustees, the persons named as incorporators herein shall constitute the Board of Trustees: Provided, That a majority of said trustees shall at all times be citizens of the United States. Section 5. That the officers of the association shall be a chairman, one or more vice-chairmen, a secretary, and a treasurer, with such other officers, employes, and committees as the association shall choose, who shall hold their respective offices, appointments, or employments as may be provided in the by-laws of the association. Section 6. That the association may adopt and change at will such rules and by-laws as it deems proper for its government and control not in conflict with this charter, the Constitution of the United States of America, the Provinces and Territories of the Dominion of Canada, or any State, Territory, province, county, or district in which such rule or by-law is sought to be enforced, and shall provide the time of meetings and the number necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and how votes of members shall be cast. Section 7. That the association shall have no capital stock, and the private property of its members shall not be subject to its corporate debts. Section 8. That the association's principal place of business shall be at Washington, District of Columbia. Meetings of the association and its trustees may be held at any point that may be fixed by the by-laws or by order of the Board of Trustees or in any call for a meeting issued as may be authorized in the by-laws. Section 9. The right to alter, amend or repeal this Act is reserved. Approved, January 31, 1907. BY-LAWS DECLARATION It is the purpose and aim of these By-Laws to be in conformity with and subject to the Act of Congress of the United States of America, passed January 31st, A. D. 1907, legalizing by Charter the International Sunday School Association. See Section 1 of Act of Incorporation. ARTICLE II. NAME This organization shall be known as the International Sunday School Association and shall be interdenominational. ARTICLE III OBJECTS The objects of this Association shall be the same as are expressed in the Charter of Incorporation, these By-Laws and such amendments thereto as may hereafter be made when in conformity therewith. ARTICLE IV MEMBERS The membership of the International Sunday School Association shall be constituted as follows: OFFICERS Section 1. The Convention officers, consisting of the President, seven Vice-Presidents, Recording Secretary, Assistant Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer. |