Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-08-05

and we think also, inaL some olner towns
in Orleans County had Sabbath Schools
almost if not quite as early as Hardwick.
At any rate, as TO the matter Of priority
in the organization Of Sabbath Schools,
Orleans County cannot yield the palm to
Caledonia, nor to any other county in the
State.
BY reference to the history of former
times we discover that in the spring of
1916, there was organised society called
the Moral Society Of Hardwick, Greens
60r0, Hzrdicick, and CraJfs5ury. Its
object was, to prevent the evils of intem-
p erance, profanity, gambling, sabbath
breaking, and other vices. Its first off,
GERS were,
ASAHELl HALE, Esq, Pres't.
ELNATHAN STRONG, Secretary.
BENJAMIN CLARK, Treasurer.
COMMUNICATIVE. N. Rawson and
Dea. Aaron Farnham, HardsOick; Royal |
Carban Esq, and VIM. Scott Esq. Crafts
bury Thomas Tolman and Willard Lin
coin, Greensboro.
In the spring of 1917 The attention of
this society at its annual meeting, was
drawn to the Biblical and Sabbath
Schools, some of which it seems were
then in a Furnishing condition in Hard
wick and Greensboro, and perhaps in
other towns. At the instigation of that
society, there was held in Greensboro on
the 25th day of June 1917, grand
Sabbath School Exhibition" probably
the first of the kind ever held in the
State. This was in large barn belong
ing to Asahel Hale Esq.,, which was fitted
up and made convenient for the occasion.
The day was fine, and the occasion one
of great interest still remembered and
talked of by many who were then pres
ent. Some 400 children and very many
adults assembled. The exercises con-
sisted of ga procession-singing-pray
ers-recitations of scriptures, Catechisms
and Hymns, religious dialogues,-dra-
mas,-a collation. or pic-nic,-addresses,
&c" The occasion was not only very
pleasant and exceedingly interesting, but
one of deep solemnity. Many it is be-
lieved were that day saVingly impressed.
A precious revival of religion immedi-
ately followed, during which 100 persons
professed hope in Christ of whom So
soon united with the Congregational
Church in Greensboro, and 20 or more
with the Baptist Church in Greensboro,
and 80 with the Congregational Church
in Hardwick. This was on the whole
perhaps the most remarkable meeting of
the kind ever held in all this section of
country; not only as being the first, but
the most intensely Interesting and deeply
solemn, and as being schat seemed the
commencement of most powerful work
of Divine Grace.
It would seem that from that time the
Moral Society was more than ever inter-
ested in these schools, for in September
1917, it was voted to assume sort of
responsibility and to take under its spe-
cial patronage the Sabbath Schools of
Hardwick, Greensboro, and Craftsbury,
and to take measures TO extend their in
fuence into every part of the three
towns. This it is believed was pretty
efectually done. A superintendent was
E appointed who had general supervision
of all the schools, and by him sub-super-
intendents or teachers, who met the chill
dren for Sabbath School exercises in most
if not all the different school districts
E and most zealously did the children and
youth for atime at least apply themselves
to the business of committing to memory
1hS ocSAC0 OIL Cos CdtCCuAStHS3 IL Hills.
&c. That venerable man the first presi-
dent Of the Moral Society, who still re-
sides in Greensboro, says that the aggre-
gate of verses of scripture committed to
memory by the Sabbath Scholars Of
Hardwick, Craftsbury, and Greensboro,
E in three years, was about 100000.
One year after the exhibition in Greens
boro, already noticed, another was held
at Hardwick street. A letter, published
in the Boston Recorder of July 18th,
1913, says, " The day was one of the
most fine of this most singularly pleasant
summer; shower at the dawn had laid
the dust and cooled the air, and the re-
freshing breezes through the day render
ed it particularly favorable for large
and crowded assembly. At 9 o'clock be.
tween 200 and 300 children, who were
afterwards Joined by others, assembled
at the house of Dea. Baily, and from
thence, after an address to the throne Of
Grace, moved in procession to Col. War,
ner's, attended by their teachers, prece.