The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-07-03 00:00:00

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SA.TURDAI, JULY 3.:d, 1880.

HE SUNDAY S.ll-10011 CENTENAitY.

7 nvOON has this wee; heen the scene of the
CH: :enary celebratiee of tbe Sunday Scheol
movement—a celebreti )n which ha lat tbe saele
ffene.extended to diffetent Darts of the country and
aesunied various forms. Of centenaries, In ce,n-
tenari,s, and even of one tercentenry, W 6 have
of late heard mnch. The
,llandelFesqval at the
Crystal Palace is the outcome of the centenary
celebration of liandel's death in 1850; ia 1862
the Nonconforwists held their bicentenary coin.
memos ion; and two years later the Shakspeare
tercentnary Attracted the attention of the ad-
mirers of the immortal dramatist in both hemi-
coheres. Yet it is doubtful if there was ever a
centenary celebration commanding more deep
widespreal interest than that of the foundation
of Sunday schools.
The first Sanday school under the auspices of
Rebert..ll.3tkes, by common consent assembled
in St. Catherine Street, Gloucester, in July,
1789, siuce which many things have indeed hap ,
pened. Five centuries previous to that time
would not represent the changes which have
taken place'during the past hundred years. In
statesteauship and in politics, in science and in
art, in literature and in enlightenment, in all
that is beautiful in design and costly in material,
astonishiug progress has been made. On both
e7les of the Atlantic the story is the same. In
1780 he veat Republic of the We 4 was only
font- vuir4 old, the declaration of independence
having been made hut four years previously.
Over Et•Ance lowered the shadow of the coming
Bevone.ion, which broke out in July 1789, on the
deetruetion of the Baetille ; and over England
-.eles the shedow.of the great wer which begin-
.nieg in 1792, was destined to last with slight
interrnissionA for three-and-twenty veers, until
it was eni-el by the victory at Wellington's
terewn-ir*, field of Waterloo. Yet amid all that
149 bappesed, and in the face of the political
eieessitudes which have convulsed nations, ex-
teneeished dynastie.?, and shaken contiumu,s, the
:.i...unday school enovernent his gone on and
preepered. Time hoe net breathed on its fade-
less biooD; and amid the hurrying competition
a.td ineriliseti turmoil of life, it is good to knew
a!ter the conferencs, concerts, eervicts,
hibie deeionstratiely, a Wettlea3 wid be no-
ien on the Tireees imhankeeent in honour
of ile rilantlAmpiF•r.
_ _

The origin of Shnday schools is a very s:mple 1, Order to "charge" was given. He was attended
Mr. 'bikes, wil..) appears to have been a,: by a doctor, and was unable to do duty for a week.
man of keen observation, seems to have lamented He did not use his staff. .
the fdeplorable stato of the.lower classes of man. i Police.const,ible Cartwright saw George Morton
kin . 114 touk particular netic,. cf the condition
.: throw umies at the police. He saw him throw five
V.:O IPIIII
1.. e pcorc ltil.dro.i. PCOCIIITiIig 'S stones, ;n1 took him into custody as soon as he
.•1, .r e. , , of
a- ow, Line!), ".i
• thi,i4e he ,t)iticed them no:)er the ' could got to him. 'There was a quantity of stones
t..are of four
‘persons for e.hout four hours on tee s i', prisoner's pc,cl“.ts. ,
imitay. The progress of the movement Cross-examined : He did not use his staff.
throw limit. the.kingdoin -Morton's bead was cut, and his wife tried 'to gtt
was mainly to be at-- him tway from the riot.
: -i:n:tcd -,.0 Cie ere advocacy-of Mr. Rakes Foli..e constable Gibbons saw the prisoner Walton
of the hen( fii.;.4 wi,ich
,:ura .
.1e
iifo
of
zialkepserscheohrwe_di.,llund. iraitiell; throw towards the crowd. Witness was stluck.
ihwa a
luau
ui
06024 . 4
aub4lll to nave He found nine stones in Walton's rockets when he
~
... , ezeoativo arrested him.