Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-08
WAVERLY.
District MeetInE-Sunday school CeIe
cslt brattOn. i

1 DE6tEOAs
To the Editors of the Union and American:
As the Secretary Of the District meet
ing will doubtless furnish his report t.
the Advocate, propose to let you heal
from the best feature of the meeting
viz: the Sundy School celebration.
On Saturday morning at s O'Clock, the
procession was formed in the grove in
front of Col. Trotter's house, half mile
from the encampment. The EdenezeI
school with its large banner, on which
was an evergreen cross above the words
"Cross Bearers" and the twelve class
flags with golden letters, headed the pro-
cession, with one hundred and sixty
pupils and their officers and teachers.
| Next came one hundred from Pisgah, and
then the Liberty school from Buffalo,
with near one hundred, bearing banners
inscribed "Truth Gatherers," Earnest
Workers." "Little Learners" etc.
This procession was the largest we
have ever had in this county, and when
we consider it as being made up Of coun-
try children, and without aid from city,
town or village, we feel proud of that
christian energy which assembled them.
As they approached the arbor, singing
"Joy to the world" two thousand people
stood looking with delighted surprise as
the classes filed into their reserved seats.
Order prevailed. All, and the ministers
especially, seemed willing to suffer the
little children to- be happy.
| The senior Superintendent then pre-
scented Miss Bette V Moore to greet the
audience in his stead, which she did with
amiabIe modesty, yet with such force
and elegance as cannot soon be forgotten.
THE sALUTAToRY AT THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
| CELEBRATION, BY MISS BETTE V.
| MOORE.
KIND FRIENDs-It has been made my
duty to greet you to>day as Christians
and friends, and to welcome you to this,
our District Sunday School Celebration.
Female timidity, or rather our true
Southern female modesty, counsels my
| feelings to shrink from such task; yet
having been appointed by my beloved
Senior Superintendent, and that appoint
ment having been confirmed by our earn
est Presiding Elder, and approved by the
smiles of these mates and children, both
reason and duty alike bid me not TO
falter.
Then permit me say, without disre-
garding modesty, that feel truly proud
Of such an honor, and most cheerfully do
| bid you welcome welcome thrice
welcome to this, our Sunday school cele-
bration.
If any apology is needed for the press
ence of this battalion of Sunday School
people" as the new feature at our Camp
Meeting, then we claim, that in it, there
is beauty as well as profit; especially
when you contrast their presence with
the useless display of glittering carriages
and costly equipage, the periodical gall
lantry and purse-proud fashion Of former
times, without mentioning the other
hindrances to profitable worship, which
''the enemy of souls" has not ye: mar
shalled to disturb us in this consecrated
grove, and for which we should be truly
thankful.
This, then, is one improvement for
good, upon the old system of camp
meetings. This band of orderly, loving
children is in most delightful contrast
with the clusters of rude boys and idly
Cabling girls, that thronged the outskirts
and infested the avenues of our camp
grounds thirty years ago. But, fathers
and mothers, we would not recount the
evils of by-gone days-thOse days, the
thought of which is followed by tears of
Joy; but rather do we beg you to accept
heartfelt thanks for your aid and your
presence, enabling these children when
they shall take your places, to revert to
this as one of the most pleasant among
their youths happiest days.
am not here to tell you Of the ec>
clesiastical history of the New Tesla
ment, or Of the Church founded by the
ministry and death of Christ, nor the
external history Of the Church, but of
its internal history, to point you to
the smiling faces and happy voices of
these Sunday School scholars-here to-
day as the perfume of incense upon this,
our Altar, dedicated to the Sabbath
| School cause.
Honored as | am to-day, it might be
expected of me to bring for your atten-
tive ears rich gems of thought dug from
out the stores of ancient literature, or to
| scan classical verses, with musical
rhythm, that were written in matchless
elegance; or in the modern style to seize
some new>fangled hobby, and in pompous
diclion endeavor to lead you as he of
olden times with his charming strains
sled the listening oaks" yet such IS not
my aim, my pride, nor my ambition; but
being now most prominently one of these
"Cross Bearers" my hope is sincere that
that banner, bedecked with its symbolic
cross, may serve as a flag. of>truce to
shield me from the harm of the darts Of
criticism.
To the members of these Sabbath
schools it is expected that wise heads
and christian hearts will speak with tru-
ly eloquent tongues; yet | must con-
graduate you of Ebenezer school, because
you have so many sources of JOY and sc
few causes of sorrow. Since your re-
| organization, little more than veal
ago, your number, which was then fifty
has been increased to over a hundred anC
fifty.
Death has visited you but seldom
Two months ago your little mate from
male class No. 3, with scarcely a mo
ments warning, departed; and it viii
soon be year since she who was, 70
ten wears, our faithful teacher, was callet
to Law down her Bible that she nigh
take up her crown; but her many pupil
may all go to join her in songs wher
Sabbaths shall never end.
, Fondly hoping that you, Little Learn
ers," Earnest Workers." "Trut
) Gatherers," peace Makers" and tn
"Cross Bearers" together with a
l who hear what is to be said an
r sung, will be pleased aud profted,
must, in conclusion, to you, revere'
i ministers, who have this mornin
= vacated this pulpit for the benefit
t the Sunday school interest, row gret
, YOU with thanks-yes, many thanks, NJ
: from our Superintendent alone, but frol
Y each and all of that phalanx now risin
: to greet you in song.
!, Her saIutatory was followed by son
by the schools after which the Eide
y introduced the Rev. A P McFerrin {
the speaker. His address was plai
. practical talk" for nearly an hour, 10
5 lowed by another celebration song.
|; was indeed appropriate that so mar
u children should listen to his words
: full of earnest pathos and christian low
u His sermon was fully equal to the occ
n sion. The attendance this day was Il
Is largest of any during the meeting.
In the afternoon the Rev. Jords
n Moore preached the funeral sermon
- Theodore Dickson, the little Sund
I School pupil who was drowned t'
" months ago.
N 1t was the day which will not soon