The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-07

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The ANNIvERSARY MEETING OF THE
EPISCOPAL SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN AT
THE MONUMENTAL CHURCH.-lt had always
been customary for the Sunday School
children of the Episcopal churches of this
city to meet together annually, and the
dav of meeting was then commcmorated
by the delivery of addresses and approprl-
ate religious services. When the late war,
however, broke out, the practice was ne
cessariy suspended, and the meeting of
the Episcopal Sunday School children
which took place in the Monumental
Church at 5 O'Clock yesterday evening Is
the first that has been held since 1861.
The whole of the body of the church was
filed with children, the galleries were
bright with happy young faces; the choir,
with but one exception, was composed
entirely of children; and if there was sor-
row and sadness in that congregation, 1t
| lay in the hearts of father, or mother, or
| sister, and not in the minds Of those lnno-
cent ones who know no plcaSanter task
than that of singing hymns Of praise, adora-
ton, and thanksgiving to their Almighty
Father in Heaven.
! Five years had passed since the last an
| nivcrSary meeting, and how great the
/ change in the Sunday Schools of Rich
mond Those who were then children are
now teachers of others: many of those
who were then inStructing others in religion
I have fallen themselves i'll the hard light
with trial and temptation, while more have
met happier fate and, hOnorcd and loved,
have fallen on the field of battle. Some in
those five wears have earned the martyrs
crown. some have allowed their once white
garments to become Sulied and stained,
but in the mercy OF Providence thousands
have been taught by adversely to know and
love their God, feeling in their hearts that
the trucst soldier will ever bc the trucSt
and most earnest Christian.
The proceedings Of the evening COM
mcnccd with the usual evening service,
which was read by the Rev. DR.. Wood
bridge, and in its course the Gloria, the
d" Sunday School," and the one hundred
and thirteenth hymns, were Sweetly sung
10y the choir.
At the conclusion Of the regular service,
the Rev. DIR. Norwood, ofSt. Johns Church,
addressed the assembled children. lie re-
minded them briefly, but gracefully, Of the
necessity of being dutiiul and attentive,
, and then in earnest tones reminded the
Sunday School teachers of the grave re-
Sponsibilitv in the eyes of God which they
had taken upon themselves. concluding by
saving that piouS, humble Sunday School
teacher was more precious before the
throne of the Almighty than the greatest
/ earthly conQucror of kingdoms and nations.
The Rev. Mr.. Pctcrkin, of ST. James
! Church, then said that we must never
/ forget that God had granted lis three great
/ blessings: That we were created intelli-
( gent creatures that We lived i'll an en-
/ lightcncd land and that our Saviour and
teacher was the Lord Jesus Christ. He
alluded to woman's mission, and said that
her duties and powers were great and inn
portant; and that as children, young girls,
wives, and mothers, they must equally
strive TO honor God by leading truthful,
useful, and virtuonS lives.
The Sevcnty-frst hymn was then sung
by the choir.
Rev. Mr.. Dashiel, of ST. Marks
Church, said his remarks were intended
for the children, and he wished to impress
upon them the Importance Of houYM.
/ Want of thought was the cause of nearly
every evil in our lives, and if we always
HOuIht. we could not even break Gods
commandments and incur his displeasurc.
/ He urged upon every one the Importance
of doing all that he could, and recited
/ how the mightiest results might be ac-
c0mplShed by the continued efforts OF the
weakest and most powereSS.
The Rev. DR.. Woodbridge, of the Monu-
mental Church, then read the hymn "
want to be an angel" and explained to the
children how to guide their words and
actions so as to obtain the realization OF
their hopes and wishes.
At the conclusion of DR.. Woodbridge's $
remarks, the thirty-tirst hymn was sung.
( As soon as the last notes of this beautiful
hymn had died away, the organ pealed
forth the simple grand strain to which the
DQxology is sung. Every heart seemed to
be moved and touched, and with one I'M
pulse the whole congregation joined in the
great hymn of praise and Thanksgiving.
At that moment surely many silent
PRAYER was breathed to Heaven that the
dear children might ever retain in their
thoughts and feelings the purity and inno-
cence of childhood, and that all whom we
love may ever have in the eyes of God
the trusting, unquestioning faith and confi-
dence of the guileless, unselfish child.
| The sweet voices of the children echoed
through the church, and when the vene-
rable rector had earnestly pronounced the
solemn benediction Of the Church, the
congregation was dismissed, and the Sun
day School Anniversary of 1865 was one
of the things of the past.
The following table will show the condi-
ton of the Sunday schools attached to the
different Episcopal churches in this city:
st. Pams.-Superintendent, Major j. w.
Pegram. Number of teachers, 26; num-
Der of scholars, $50.
| tal.-Superintendent Mr.. Geo.
c. Fisher. Number of teachers, %; num-
Der of scholars, l25. .
st. Janes.-Superintendent, Mr.. b. J.
Christian. Number of teachers, 25; num-
Der of scholars, $50.
Grace Observation-Disclosures, Mr.. W
D. Gibson. Number of teachers, l9; mum.
Der of scholars, l40.
st. Observation-Disclosures, Mr.. W. j
Bromwen. Number of teachers, Il; mum.
Der of scholars, log.
st. JOhn's.-Superintende Mr.. A. 7
Stokes. Number of teachers, IL; number
of scholars, Us.
Total number Of teachers, l27.
~ Il. a L. gle..n