Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-05-11
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
Second Annual Celebration OF
the Sunday-SchOOI Union of
Memphis--An Immense
Gathering.
Four Thousand Beautiful Children
i'm Line--Memphis and All the
Country round about Fully
Represented.
Procession of the InnOcents---A
Parade, without Omp or Cir
cumstance, under the Ban
ner of Peace.
The Recruits of the Church,
Noble Army Of Young Chris
tian WarriOrS--Jubilee
Songs.
A Sight to Touch old Hearts---A
Beautiful but Simple Pageant
The Line and Order
of March.
Songs Sung in the Square--Open-
ing and Closing Prayers by
Rev. Mr.. Scruggs, Of the
Central Methodist
Church.

Memphis is altogether a place sld gen
eris. Whatever she does is done well
and in her own way-in a fashion that
bespeaks originality. Her people have
been gathered from the -four quarters of
the earth, and represent all the diversity
Of religion, politics and socially that
may therein be found. But diverse a.
they are in opinion on matters of so
vital moment, they are a unit in all that
concerns Memphis, her growth, her
prosperity, the Individual w~ell-being of
her citizens, and the progress of religion
of whatever name, since this not only
vitality concerns each individual, but
lies at the basis and is the handspring
Of all our institutions. Men will differ
on points of doctrine that are
nOn-essential, and Will contend for
hair-splitting t~echnicalities, for simple or
ornate O~bservances, and so ON, but they
cannot touch the pure and simple doc
trine that binds the creature to bis God,
that is the certain and holy hope Of all,
when the dread and final summons shall
come. OF this pure, simple, e~levating,
and,ennObling faith in Christ, the chill
dren of our Protestant Sunday-schools
yesterday sang as they marched in pro-
cessiOn through u streets, for the time
] anu TIC OItd-lbn given up -
COMMERCE AND TRADE,
which not alone on Main, but on Front,
Second, and other streets was entirely
suspended until after the beautiful,
heart-mOving pageant had been dis
missed and nothing was left of it but the
ever-perpetuated blessing, the everlasting
aroma OfinnOcence and good, the benedic-
ton of all-pervading peace and good
Will, which are its great results. "GOd
bless the Sunday-schOOls, the nurseries
of the churchri was the ejaculation of
many a heart as the little ones, of whom
Christ said, "Of such is the kingdom Of
heaven marched "shOutingthe tidings
Of salvation" God bless the Sunday
schools say we. Here at least a pure,
unselfish creed is taught, and children
are fitted for the varied and complex
spheres Of life. All business was sus-
pended. Banks, brokers, cotton men,
commission merchants, wholesalers and
retailers, all closed their stores and Of
fees and turning, for a few brief mo-
ments, their backs upon profit and loss,
upon the mammon of unrighteousness,
not a few of them joined mentally
if not morally in singing
Pilgrim, rejoice! for the mantle of sin,
That hung like a pail DER thy spirit within,
Is yielding at last 10 the smile Of the day;
gloom and the darkness are breaking
away.
The report of the Grand Jury was for
gotten for a time, and hushed were the
murmurs of rebellion against the fear
full expose which has startled the COM
mUnity almost out of its propriety. The
hearts of the mOney-changers-a genial
and gentlemanly set OffellOws, withal-l
were for the time sOftened into sympa-
thy with the blessed throng of little
children, who sang for them the ASST
rance which every n took home to
himself, that
Jesus loves me! cloves me still,
Though I'm very weak and i'll;
From his shining throne IN high,
Comes to watch me where I lie.
Nothing less than this
TRIUNTPHAL MARCH OF THE INNOCEN1s
could have so awakened the latent
religious ~sensibilities of all the people.
But not alone the men of trade gave
audience to this glorious thrOng. The
law was out in strength, and its high
est majesty, represented by the Honor
able, the Supreme Court of the State,
which occupied seats of honor i'm the
Square reserved for the children. The
mechanics and labOring people mustered
in strong force and were in thOroughsym
patty with the noble army who were
speaking the praises of the humble car
penter whose simple utterapces have
revolutionized the world. The blessed
hope which religion gives comes nearer
the toilers who labor every day, and
from morn till night, and see no light
for the future, save as it glimmers from
the eye of Faith. They appreciated the
song:
There's a lannd that is fairer than day,
And by Faith We may see it afar,
For the Father waits over the way,
To prepare us a d~welling-place there.
The streets were thronged by
ALL CLASSES.
The women, as usual in all good works,
were first and most prominent. They
lined the sidewalks, covered the avn
and filled the windows. There :
could not have been less than fifty thou !
sand people out as spectators of the love
" pageant, more glorious than any ever
10y poet or told by novelist.
Everything was Just as it should be. {
the,weather, which had threatened, {
held up the rain until hours after the {
procession had made its march. {
The arrangements by the police and
those having charge of the order of pro- I
were perfect, and the citizens {
observed the utmost decOrum, so that J
nothing occurred in the least degree :
calculated to mar or interfere with the l
harmony of the glorious religious festi-
val. The children were cared for with 8
the utmost eXactness, and were not J
to form the procession until all l
the arrangements for the march had 9
been completed. The schools from the ]
country were present in stronger force
han last year, and with their l
numerous banners a~ndbecoming dresses ]
not observable from the city chill Z
lren. Arrived in the square the brief {
ceremonies incident to the closing of 9
he celebration took place, and with be- I
dignity, were conducted by /
Rev. MI. Scruggs. And thus concluded, '
he children were permitted to rove at 9
will through the handsome and attract t
We little Square, to sport with the t
squirrels end enjoy in the shade the a
luncheon prepared for many of them by '
thoughtful and provident teachers. '
About three O'Clock all was over, and s
he last of the many beauties of the day d
lad faded away, leaving behind a bless c
Eeand benedictiOn-had faded away
uFrounded by an aureole of glory, the a
,fiulgence whereof has entered into b
many hearts, to quicken them to better +
And so may it ever be. I
TBE FIRST DIVISION "
vas the strongest in numbers, and the J
most hOurishing in the matter of senti- s.