Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-05-16
LOCAL AFFAIRs,
Sabbath School Anniversary.

The Second Baptist Sabbath School
their twenty-sixth anniversary
IN Sunday afternoon last, in the church,
,orner OF Fourth and French Streets !
The services, which were of q very inter
nsting character, opened by the singing
Of a beautiful hymn by the School, after
which feryent prayer was offered by the
Pastor of the Church. After another
hymn by the scholars. the Report of the
Superintendent, Washington Jones, Esq.
was read giving an interesting history Of
the progress of the School from its organi
2ation to the present time showing that
the labors of the teachers had resulted
under the blessing of God, in The con
version of large number of the scholars
This was followed by very impressive
part of the exercises n little girl brought
to the table boquet Of white flowers, al
tached TO which was piece of BLACK
Grape, in memoriam of her teacher who
who had died during the week This
touching incident was followed by simi.
lar Offering, from little boy, To the
memory Of Il classmOte, who had also
died during the week Then came two
of the little infant scholars, each bringing
one Of the same kind as tokens of love to
the memory of two of their schoolmatcs
whom death had taken from them during
the year Then came a beautiful hymn
hy the infant school alone.
This was succeeded by very interest
ing address to the school by the Rev.
William Aikman, After another HYMN
was sung by the school, the Rev. JAS S.
Dickerson, pastor of the church, delivered
very entertaining and appropriate ad
dress, at the close of which he presented
some six or more beautiful books to thosc
scholars who had brought the largest
number of new scholars to the school
during the year. Another hymn was then
sung and the audience dismissed with the
Benediction by the Rev Mr.. Aikman. all
seeming pleased with the services The
following is the
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
In making my report of the progress oI
the school, | have encountered two dillicul
ties The first, that we have not been ac
customed to holding public services on each
anniversary, (having so far as have beet
able to ascertain) held but two, the la,l
one having been held in the year 1850
but no report from the Superintendent, o
statistics Of the school being found on til,
minutes, it seems to involve the necesst,
of giving brief history of the school, from
its organization. In doing this | iint
myself met with the second difficulty, II
not being able to find any minutes of til,
history of the school, prior to the year ISL
and have therefore been compelled to cath
er from the older members of the church
such facts of its early history as the mem
ory has retained.
The school was organized in August
1886, and is therefore in its twenty -sixtl
year The month of August being uncul.
tortably warm, and many of the teacher
and scholars being usually ont Of the city
it was thought best to change the time, an,
the month of May was selected as helm
the anniversary of our removal to this house
The school was started in the old Firs
Presbyterian meeting house, on the corne
of Market and Tenth streets. Its bcriu
ming was small and weak male teacher
being so difficult TO procure, that one per
son, Mr.. Heritage believe, filed the olli
ces of Superintendent, Secretary and rlea
surer, for the first year. He was succccdc
by William T. Wheeler. have not bee
able to learn how long he filled the office
but was followed by NJ S. Cooper, VIII
continued 10 be its Superintendent unit
he left the city, August IL, lS49. He wa
followed BY John II. Zebley, lwho had bee
assistant under the tormerJ for one year, /
August II, 1880 He left the city an
was followed by VIM H. Sharp, who hel
the Office from August II, 1880, to Ser
tember s, lS5d; and was succeeded Ii
Jacob NJ. @haliant, who held the office on
year, he having then removed to St. Pau
Minnesota, On the 9th of Septcmbe
1897, the present Superintendent was S,
lected, and has been continued in said ofic
until the present time.
Although the beginning was small an
weak, yet it was commenced in the nam
Of our God, and with prayer that he woul
bless the lahors put forth for his glory, an
the conversion and training up OF the chi
lren placed Undef our care. And we ha,
f reason to say with one of old, "hithcrt
} hath the Lord helped US" he has hlessa
us abundantly more than We had any re-
son TO expect, OF our uutaithlulness h.
| merited
Many Of the present teachers were fo
! merly scholars, converted to God in til
,, Sabbath School. Through the prayers AN
labors Of their teachers, quite a number
the present scholars are rejoicing in a s
, yior's love nine having been received frol
the school into ;he church during lit
i over Il year just past Many, both
t teachers and scholars have left us, who "
believe are still faithful to their vows,
!, followers Of the Savior. One formerly
i scholar and teacher, is now preaching ii
r Gospel in and around Chicago, whose healt
:, will not permit him to preach constantly
therefore is engaged in secular businc
during the week and breaches as his heali
: permits on the Sabbath, wherever in ii
! providence of God the door is open for hin
= | refer to John H. Rhees, the son of Il io
mer beloved pastor Of this church.
=. Of the Superintendent three have gol
" from their labors to their reward. Broth
VIM. T. Wheeler died happy and triun
;. phant death tsome years ago, in the city
e New York. away from his family al
!, friends but the presence of the Lord mo
3 3 than made up for family and earthly friend
d Brother NJ. S. Cooper settled in Ricl
y mond, Va, Where some two years ago, Ii
died happy and peaceful death. Broth
" j. NJ, Chalfant, after laboring year or "
e faithfully IN the church and Sabbath schol
it in st. Paul, death closed his work ,