Other denominations followed suit, and by 1922 there were 5,000 such schools. The Presbyterian Church’s Home Mission Board adopted the VBS concept in 1910, with the Northern Baptists doing likewise five years later. The program soon spread to Philadelphia and Chicago, and Boville established a national committee in 1907. In its second year, with Boville’s program of “unsectarian” Bible lessons doubled in size, the New-York Tribune reported in cringeworthy detail on the ethnic diversity of the 1,500 students:Īmong the pupils have been almond eyed youngsters from the Chinese quarter, dusky skinned girls and boys from the Abyssinian Church, in Waverly Place, and little Italians from the lower part of the city. That Progressive Era concern for the effects of urbanization and immigration was central to the early history of VBS. Still, he remembered working “ hard that summer, dealing as best I could with the boys and girls off the streets.” Likewise, Hawes had aimed her Bible school at immigrant children on New York’s East Side. The experience probably taught me more than it did the children I am sure that it did not do them the harm it did me.” Newly engaged to his future wife and preparing to start his studies at Union Theological Seminary, Fosdick remembered himself being “over-stimulated, keyed-up, kindled by the marvel of a successful love, the excitement of the city, and the almost unbelievable fruition of my hopes for a chance at a great university.” But he “ was thankful that no one could visualize what went on that first summer. (I’m trying to imagine the man who preached “ Shall the Fundamentalists Win?” wearing a bright green shirt and leading a bunch of eight-year olds in a Yancy singalong…) In his 1956 autobiography, Fosdick recalled being honored as a “pioneer” of VBS. The most famous of these first VBS volunteers was Harry Emerson Fosdick, who got the job via a college frat brother. When he started his experiment in 1901, Boville staffed five summer schools with idle university students. Harry Emerson Fosdick – New York Public Library/public domain Reed and Ronnie Prevost, “similar to that of Raikes in Gloucester, that children of New York be given religious instruction during their idle summers to keep them out of trouble and develop patterns for productive and upright adult living.” Or as Eavey put it: “The vacation church school was started to gather idle children into unused churches where unoccupied teachers might keep them busy in a wholesome way in a wholesome environment.” Boville, executive secretary of the New York City Baptist Board of Missions. The program moved back near the beer hall the following year, Hawes’ last at the church, when she ran seven separate schools.īut it was another Baptist from the same city who is most frequently credited with founding the “vacation church school” as we would recognize it: Robert G. Eavey traced the idea back to Boston just after the Civil War, but it’s generally agreed that the first VBS antecedent to be held as a summer church-run activity took place starting in 1877 in Montreal, Canada. Then in 1898 Eliza Hawes, the children’s ministry director at New York City’s Baptist Church of the Epiphany, organized an “Everyday Bible School.” Originally held at a rented beer hall, attendance plummeted in 1900 when Epiphany’s pastor insisted on relocating to the church itself. In his 1964 history of Christian education, Wheaton education professor C.B. VBS programs were 6-7 weeks long… and I suddenly felt so very weary. Researching an post, I learned that early 20th c. Lakeland Mom is not responsible for any injuries or problems that may arise from partaking in any of these events and activities users/readers/visitors to agree to hold Lakeland Mom harmless in any such claims.In 2015 Michael Altman noted the lack of a good history of VBS. Now, I’m not the historian to write that book, but I did have some time last week to dig a bit. Participants assume all risks from any activities they engage in. The intent of Lakeland Mom is to provide ideas for family-friendly activities, events, and resources. We encourage you to do your own research before participating in an event or engaging with a local business or organization. is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement. Any reference made here to local businesses, products, organizations, services, classes, etc. Our website contains both paid and non-paid mentions of local businesses and organizations in Lakeland, Polk County, and Central Florida. Lakeland Mom is a for-profit website that provides free content through paid advertising and sponsorships.
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