Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-11-08
SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.
Eighth Anniversary of the Plymouth
Church Sunday SehOOI-Addresses,
Singing, superintendent Report,
Brilliant Festival, &e., DE.

Singing, superintendent Report,
Brilliant Festival, &C., DE.
The eighth anniversary of this school
was. the occasion of a festival, of more than
ordinary interest to the officers, teachers,
scholars and friends, held at Plymouth
Church last evening The spacious church
was crowded, the children, of course, being
there in troops, and a happy set of little
folks they were. The exercises in the
church-room, very properly of short dura-
ton, were of an entertaining character,
consisting of brief speeches, and inter
spersed with Sunday school songs by the
scholars. The annual report of the school
was read by one Of the superintendent,
Mr.. Higbee, which will be found below.
Loren Prentiss, Esq, of this city, then
make some excellent remarks, and was fol-
lowed by Rev. Mr.. Ingersoll, pastor of the
Congregational Church, in ~Sandusky, who
made a happy address, directed particularly
to the young folks. Rev. Mr.. McKinstry,
of Richfield, Ohio, and DIR. Wolcott also had
something entertaining to say to the meet
ing. After singing Marching Oh" in fine
style, the school were marched to the base
ment where's festival Widespread. Refresh
ments were provided in abundance, for old
and young, and the anniversary closed very
pleasantly, as well as ereditably to the ladies,
and Superimtendents E. c.. Higbee and L.
F. MeIlen, who managed the affair. !
The following report was read by Super
intendent Higbee:
Another year has rolled round bringing
US TO the eighth anniversary of Plymouth
Sabbath School.
Since the last occasion of this kind how
many, many changes have taken place.
How many homes have been made desolate
by the sad ravage of war. How many a
hero has laid himself upon the country's
altar a sacrifice for the perpetuity of our
homes and our liberties.
But praise be to our Heavenly Father, no
more does the sad news Of defeat, or that a
son, a brother, a husband or father, has
fallen in the struggle, come to stir up the
depths of the heart.
The list Of mortality is not as large as last
year, as then several had fallen while in
the service of their country.
The school is not as large as it
has been in years past; but during the lat
ter part of the present fiscal year has in
creased about 20 per cent, numbering now
over 800.
The amount of money raised by the Sun
day school, as reported by the Treasurer, is
$6l9.OO, and this increase is, in a great de-
gree, due to Mr.. Holland, a friend of our
pastor, who has very generously donated to
the school as many copies of these pictures,
which are here suspended, as the officers of
the school, affixing their W premiums,
shall see fit TO dispose of.
About the usual corps of teachers is con
tinued. The changes among them have
been as many, probably, as in any previous
year, and have been brought about by the
usual train of circumstances.
Uniform lessons haye been adopted in the
intermediate department, and in a few of
the Bible classes.
In connection with this uniformity a
teachers meeting has been organized, which
alternates with the regular church social
gathering" and is regarded as a very excel
lent preparatory exercise, fitting the teacher
for more effective labor.
Early in the summer a plan was adopted
by suspending the usual exercises the second
Sabbath in each alternate month, and as
sembling the different departments in con-
cert, to sing and listen to short addresses.
These exercises have been engaged in with
much interest and, we trust, profit.
As will be seen from the Secretary's re-
port a pleasant library room, and a well
selected library of about 500 volumes has
been added, at a moderate cost, making a
valuable collection of about 900 volumes
These are now being arranged ma catalogue,
and will be soon ready for delivery.
There has been no signal outward mani
f~estation of the Holy Spirit during the year,
nor yet has GOODNESS or indifference thrown a
chilling influence upon the labors of those
connected with the school.
What a responsibility rests upon the
Christian Churches of the land to see that
the youth are brought under religious in
structiOn-trained for spheres of usefulness,
which are widening every day.
Are we, as teachers and friends of the
Sabbath School, aware of this responsible
ty? And are we OF the alert to gather
them in, that Satan shall not lure them into
his service to the destruction of their souls ?
Can society foster a more benignant enter
prise than this Sabbath labor? Is it not
made better, ever setting aside the proba-
bility-yea, certainty-that many will be
brought to the great Teacher?
Let the united prayer of Gods people as
cend to Him, b~eseeching Him that the Sab
b tn schools of the land may becon g CEN
tiers of dispersion, from which will flow
streams of religious influence, which shall
sweep away every false doctrine, every con-
Eliminating influence, and every haunt of
vice. Let them be centres from which
shall be scattered broadcast over the land
seeds of righteousness, which shall be nour-
ished by the dews of divine grace and
spring up to bear much fruit.