Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-01-15

us. In spiritual things we have seen better
wears; in other things-I think, in all other
thincs-less Important, to be sure, but yet
essential to well ordered school, the past
wear has seldom, if ever. been excelled.
There has been in the school, since May last,
one more class than it ever had before. The
attendance of children has been very graft
fvinp. while that of ENTHUSIASTICALLY in
the classes of Mr.. Lord and Mr.. Walton
has been larger than at any other time. We
have been highly favored, think, in having
the constant presence, as teacher, of the pas
tor of the church Not many Sabbath Schools
are thus favored. There are in the school at
present, ten male and sixteen female teach
ers. Among the former, | am happy, L am
proud, to say that there are men of wide ac-
nuaintance and influence. If the school were
mine. and these gentlemen were thus labor
ing in my interest, l should feel that owed
them debts of gratitude which l could not
paw. As it is, l cannot do less than make
this mention of their services and counte-
nance, expressing the opinion that their in
fuepce and labor have gone far toward main.
tanning the life and interest of the school
In this connection, permit me also to refer to
the more than usual constancy of the lady
teachers | have more and more felt-but
whether correctly or not cannot tell-that
they have not in any case been kept from
their Sabbath work by trifling causes. 1t
has appeared to me that they have manifest
ed an increasing love for their work, and
that those having charge of the younger
classes have manifested an increasing attach
ment for their little focks. If in this l have
Judged correctly, | need inquire no further
for the cause of the considerable increase in
numbers which has within the year taken
place in this department of the school.
have not been accustomed to specify instances
of individual fidelity and success, but |
would venture here to allude to the classes
of Mrs. Bailey, Miss Marsh and Miss Lewis,
which, though made up of the youngest
members of the school, are always full and
running over. One teacher, if | mistake
not, and he the oldest in the school, has been
present every Sabbath during the year. |
refer to Father Carlton. The changes in
teachers nave been less than formerly. Miss
Clark, a few months since, resumed her class,
which, during her absence in quest of health
was taught by Mrs. Willard. \ class of misses
had at the beginning of the year Miss Lizzie
Lord for teacher. She was succeeded by Miss
Effie Brooks-an excellent and faithful teach
er-who in juno left the place, and the class
has since been in the care of Mrs. Barker.
Another class of misses, who commenced the
year with Mrs. Pease as teacher, are now
enjoying the instruction of Mrs. Kemp.
We have on our rolls at the present time,
exclusive of the classes of Mr.. Lord. Mr..
Walton, Mr.. Storrs and Mr.. W lizard, over two
hundred pupils, about the same number as
one year ago The largest attendance during
the year was on the Odd of June, and was
244. The smallest was on the second Sabbath
of February, when it only 125. The
average attendance for the first half of the
year was l9l for the last half, lSS. Last
year it was 1873 for the first half of the year,
i 4 - l,.-t I.11t
The average of teachers has been very graft
flying; still, | think it might be improved.
Ii varies but a fraction from %, during the
year.
A good friend of the school has kindly put
into my hands recently some of the records
of the school of ten years ago and upward.
Now, for one, | have been accustomed to look
back to those days palmy days in our his
tory. 1t has always seemed TO me as though
the superintendent and officers of that peri
cd were the truest and best men in the gen
Grafton. Nevertheless, it must be admitted
that in some things, at least, we have made
considerable progress since then. For IN
stance, in 1857, ten years ago, there were in
the school. six male teachers and twelve fe-
male The whole roll of scholars for the
wear amounted to Isl. The largest attend
ance during the year, exclusive of teachers.
was 50. and the average for the year. 20. |
do not give these figures that YOU may make
comparisons between now and then to slim
ulate your pride but rather that you may be
clothed with humility at the remembrance of
Gods favor. and encouraged to far greater
effort when YOU see the results which have
followed what You have done.
The monthly concerts have, as always, re-
manned a pleasant feature in our school dur
ing the wear, and, if | mistake not, have in
creased in interest considerably The attend
ance upon them during the last few months
has been the largest | ever saw ii It has
been the aim in selecting topics for discussion
to choose those which were practical, and
make them instructive as possible. For
one, have never sought to amuse the chill
dren with funny stories, but rather 10 reach
their hearts by earnest words, and awaken
in them, if possible. some desires for better
: life And in this have been we'll supported
by Mr.. Lord. Mr.. Page, Mr.. Walton. Mr..
Poland and Mr.. Gorham. | count it fortu-
nate for the school that we have comical
or sportive speakers in it, for it has ever
seemed to me that neither the purpose OF
the Sabbath nor the end of gospel truth We're
10 he served by any resorts to mcrry-maklng
The course of study during the year has
been very much as heretofore few of the
classes. so far as | know, adopting the lessons
given out from week to week Some of the
Younger classes use catcchisms and other
question books. Some are accustomed t.
commit portions of scripture to memory. and
others proceeding as bible classes, are study
ing different parts of the bible.
In August and September a new and ju.
diciously selected library of 215 Volumes
mostly English publicatons-was purchased
for the use of the school.
Three times during the year has the school
been convened for other purposes than those
which engage us here. Once at the laying
of the cornerstone of the new church, OF
the 4th of June, once at picnic held on Mr.
Langdon' ground on the 18th of July, anC
once at the festival held here on New Year
eve. On the first of these occasions The
school assembled in this hall, and, preceded
by the Montpelier Band, marched by classe.
to the grounds of Bethany Church to witnes,
the interesting ceremonies there held. The
second occasion was one of rare pleasure tC
old and young. With full baskets of pro-
visions, plenty of refreshing drinks of ice
water and lemonade: with swings, croque
boards the free use of Mr.. I.angdon's boat
and day generally given up to mirth anC
festiyity, the occasion proved a very pleasan
one, and was well worthy a happy and har
monious Sabbath School. All were smilin:
and happy, and | remember thinking that i
seemed to me that Mr.. Langdon's fountain
never played so gaily as then. Our last gath
ering New Years evening in THU
hall. Tho occasion is still so fresh in YOU
minds that | need not make any detailed
reference to it, | will state, however, tina
in my Judgment it was well and judiciously
planned and executed for the pleasure ant
enjoyment of the children.
Our singing, both in the Sunday Schoo
and in the monthly concerts, has generally
been good, and l think is improving. In M
I'll. aud o,,1 = l..