Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-11-06
For the Advertiser. r.. /.
The Late Col. C. J. Elford.

The following correspondence is published by
request of the Edgcfold BaptistSanday schoof;,
EDcEr1ELD, S. c., juno 4th, 1885,:
To the G,eenriUc Baptist Sunday tStheof: S., >,
We have been appointed coaaniftsos by thss
Edgedcld Baptist Sunday SchoultO communicate
to YOU their dcop sense of yourFecent loss in the
death of your devoted Superintendent. They
offer you their sincerest sympathy. They claim
the privilege of minglng their tears with yours
at the grave of one, who during tho last twenty
wears, lahorcd most successfully in the cause of
Sunday Schools. Although the loss is directly
and peculiarly yours, it is not yours alono. The
Baptist Denomination (may we not say oil the
Denominations? of the South share it with you
IF tbore was one man to whom, more than to
my other, the many Sunday Schools of our land
owe their present prosperity, that man was c. j.
ELronD. Down to his day, some of these had
existed for twenty-five years, md some Of them
for even City years; but they had barely existed.
All their exercises had been conducted in dull,
monotoncus, unintercsting, and uninspirDg way.
The teachers, with few exceptions, felt no lively
concern, no warm zeal in their Sunday work ;
and the children manifested but little interest
sill loss anxiety, and not the least enthusiasm in
reference to their religious instruction. Now, all
il changed, and changed for the better. Every
Church feels the importance of gathering togclh-
ar the children on the Sabbath, to teach them
0the way of life and snlration;" tho members
are 81 ,alously affected towards this good work !"
and the children themselves are perfectly enthu-
siastic with regard to the Sunday School. Now
they soy to their follow-pupils: "C Como, let US
haste to the Sabbath School !" and to tho young
who have never Joined them:
"Will you come to our Sunday School?
really wish you would;
o come .n6 join our Bible class,
And learn how to be good" !"
And who is there that does not catch some in
spiration when he hears them sing, with all their
soul,
ayes, I'm glad I'm in this army,
And III battle for the School"
| This glorious change has been wrought in 4
agrent measure, by tho agency of single indi-
yidual, your lato Superintendent. He deter
mined, if possible, to make the Sabbath School
attractive to the young 1t was noblo detcrmi-
nation. That he might accomplish it, he gave no
rest to the powers of his vigorous and practical
mind. Success. at last, crowned his pe-sever-
auce and thousands of children now truly regard
that "school as blessed place." and really
glove to meet their teachers there" What great
or reward could he have wished!
In conclusion, we would say, that although
there was time when the servant of God could
Justly complain that when "the righteous died,
no man laid it to heart" yet this is not true in
our day. and In our land. When valiant Chris
tian soldier falls upon the field, sigh escapes
from the lips of all who arc fighting undor the
same conquering banner Of the cross. When we
SEQ skillful and Jealous laborer called from the
scene of his useful tolls, just when those tolls arc
most needed, we are sad We weep, and we pray
that the "Lord Of the Harvest would send forth
moro laborers of the same kind into his vineyard"
Yours, fraternaly,
NJ. W. SANS,
j. C. BRYAN,
W. A. SANDERS.