Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-01-15
Bethany Sabbath School.

CARTONS report.
The number Of classes at present connected
with the school is twenty.four. From our cir.
clio Of teachers we have lost four very excellent
ones They were among our bost workers. always
at their post never allowing the interest Of
their classes to flag in the least. For long
time we have been best with their efficient
labor' and although their places, as teachers
Of these individual classes, have been fully sup
piled, trust, yet | can but feel that, MS a
school, We have met with great loss, not only
in The very important matter Of service render.
ed, but 10 numbers for the absence Of these
teachers, with the whole family Of one Of them,
makes a difference Of five or six, At least in the
average attendance. But We are consolcd
thnt, however much we may miss them, the
cause Of Christ has suffered no loss. have no
doubt they have each found another sphere Of
usefulness, and are doing their Masters work;
so that really we have no cause to mourn,
when taking into account the fact Of the spr-
itual oneness Of Christs people, wherever
found
To those teachers who are still laboring in
the School, wish tocxpress my sincere thanks
for their corporation in Sunday School work
Some of them have worked with a zeal only |
limited by lime and strength. A, an instance
of the deep interest felt by same Of the teachers,
wish 70 mention an incident that occurred
in the summer. Having friends with me who
wished to see the church, | came here one af-
terno1n, and after walking around the body Of
The church, looking at the desk, table, organ,
Sc., we passed into the chapel. There met a
sight that chccrcd and strengthened mo. |
found O. teacher, with a class kneelng around
earnestly engaged in prayer for the salvation Of
those immortal souls. had felt discouraged
had itlt myself wholly unequal to the work
bad undertaken had felt that there was
grea; lack Of interest and praycrful, earnest
work emoug the teachers. In short, | was
weighed down ly burden Of care that seemed
like a torture to me had repeatedly prayed
for divine wisdom, and strength from on high
/ No answer The heavens seemed like brass
over my head" But here where least ex-
/ pccted it, came the knowledge that the Holy
Spirit was striving with both teacher and pupil.
| closed the door and went my way rejoicing
do not suppose there is Christian parent
or teacher in the School but prays for the spir-
/ tual well being of those committed to their
charge but we should not only prayfor them,
but icih them. Then, | think, we may expect
immediate results from the prayers. In the
report Of meeting Of the Superintendents Of
London. are these words The success Of
Rev. Mr.. Hammond's labors among the chill
dren is attributable to the fact that be works
heartily, erpeciing the blessing Of God" A
letter was then iead from Mr.. Hammond, in
which be expressed the belief that if the means
We're used and earnest, believing prayer offered
to God, tens Of thousands Of children would be
/. converted We all know their hearts are cas-
lily touched By the story Of Christ's suiTerings
and death, bat theya shy in expressing their
feelings and purposes. They need encourage
ment and assistance. With it, feeble purposes
are strengthened, till they become the abiding
governing principle Of action
Some sheayes have been gathered into the
storehouse of she Church since our last annual
meeting. Eight Of the youthful members of
our Sabbath School have publicly protested
their faith in jesus as their Saviour. We are
grateful to our Heavenly Father that he has
put it into the hearts of even 50 many to con-
secrate themselves to him. but, children, we
are not satisfied. There is not one Of you but
should resolve to be Christ's little one. Many
Of the most precious promises of Gods word
. are especially directed to children and young
, people, and there is no reason why you should
! wait.
The attendance has been somewhat affected
10y the inelemency of the weather. The great
est number present at any one session was o9i
the smallest ll3.
% copies Of the Wei Spring have been ia.
ken by the school A little missionary, or be-
neyoent work, perhaps | should call it, has
been done, beside the regular weekly contribu.
lions Papers, sIter being read, have beer
given to the various mission Sunday School,
= in this vicinity, which have been under the
4 special direction Of members of the Young
G Mems Christian Association. The children
have, also from their abundance furnished {
. box Of toys as New Years gift to the orphans
70 at Burlington. One class Of boys, Mrs. Scott s
r has given S25 90 towards public library o.
reading room for the Young Men Of the town
u We have had two Sunday School festivals
r picnic at the camp ground in Mortified, ant
Is Christmas festival just past.
Tie saddest duty We have had to perform
. during the year has been the consignment 0
y three of our number to the silent tomb. Tn
v first was Mr. Newhall--a member Of the Bib
~ class. lie was cut down in tie prime Of life
- We said Of him, bis work is finished. Iii
voice, which we often heard in the songs Q
- Zion, was hushed. had very little acqunin
4 lance with him personally, but judged him t
be a man who was very firm in his conviction
Of religious truth, and fearless in the EXPIRE:
" sion of them. In his death we felt that GU
ranks were weakened-that good man ha
fallen. During this time of bereavement on
- hearts were heavy with foreboding fears thu
we were about to lose one Of the fathers !
y Israeli Dea Storrs. His health had bee
falling for some time, but we could not brin
/, ourselves to realize that one who had retaine
-, his youthful vigor to so remarkable a degre,
y, would readily succumb to the power Of diseas,
;, About his last work among us was during tn
/, week of prayer As his supplications aseende
"a to heaven, night after night, for the welfare
this church and community, we were impress
he ed, as we always were, by his devoted, yearnin
love for the church, and his prayerful anxiei
for theprosperity of Zion. Much Of bis time W,
spent in the study OF the Scriptures. 1t BEGAN
le like household words to him. A retentive men
" DRY enabled him to repeat large portions Of Il
d, sacred word unhesitatingly and with accurac.
VI lie was seldom absent from Church, Sable
W School or social meeting. For many years
70 had been teacher, and | presume there a
'' but few Of our young people but at one tin
or another have enjoyed the benefit Of his coul
" sells The influence Of his prayers and Chri
tian example will long be blessed inheritan
"o to us who must take up the burden he has la
down. Ii is ours to see to it that no part
" his work remains undone, now that he has e.
0n tered into his rest. The third was Mrs. Lad
20 with whom had a larger general acquaintan
'' perhaps than any other member Of the scboC
ny having known her from my childhood. In Il
'"' Church of which she first became a memb
ny she was always active and very efficient. ii