As strange as this question might seem to us today, at the mm of the last century it was
a very volatile issue. As a matter of fact, we can still see just how volatile it was by the fact that
some churches of Christ still do not have separate classes. As we look at the issue and the
objections that some people raised about Sunday schools, it should cause us to have a deeper
appreciation for what we have today.

    In the Gospel Advocate dated May 19, 1904, Paul Hayes wrote, 'We do not favor the
Sunday School and belidve that songbooks and notes are a hindrance to spiritual worship in the
church." As you can see from this quote not only were Sunday schools a point of contention but
also songbooks with notes. Sunday school was objected to as a denominational innovation along
with Sunday school literature. As a matter of fact there were many formal debates throughout
the brotherhood on this subject.

    Among those who championed the cause of Sunday school were men like Austin McGary who
wrote in the Firm Foundation dated April 18, 1899, "Is it a transgression of the will of God to teach
our children and our neighbors' children the Scriptures on the day commonly called Sunday? Is it
a transgression of that will to appoint a certain time of the day and a certain place for them to come
together to be taught?

    These questions, along with others, caused many to finally come to an understanding that just
because denominations have something by the same name does not make that something
wrong in and of itself. When N. L. Clark objected to the term, "Sunday School," because of its
denominational connotations and wrote that he did so in the Firm Foundation, he was answered
by R. L.. Whiteside. In an article entitled '°The Sunday School Question," Firm Foundation,
(Feb. 19, 1907) Mr. Whiteside answered Mr. Clark this way, "Mr. Clark still speaks of
'conversions,' 'the church,' 'prayer meeting,' 'protracted meetings,' etc. even though the
denominations had corrupted these terms. Even the word 'Bible' is not in the Bible, but Clark
used it otten, Whiteside added.

    Yes, there was quite a stir among the brethren over Sunday schools, but finally the questions
that Austin McGary and others put forth could not be answered in a logical and scriptural way
and slowly Sunday school was accepted by most congregations. Today the reason for having
Sunday school is still the same as it was at the tum of the last century. Our Sunday school should
be a tool used to teach God's will in a more direct way than just preaching from a pulpit. But, just
like a good Bible, it will only be useful if we use it! Hope to see you here every Sunday morning
for Sunday school!

© Copyright 2001. Paul D. Fisher.  All rights reserved.

Back to Bulletin Index