National Republican., 1875-06-14
SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Anniversary at the MstrOpOlitan-EI'rcis
of tha Cnoaaion.


The Metropolitan Church celebrated the usual
anniversary Of its Sunday school yesterday morn
Ing comprising an assemblage Of between three
and four hundred children. Of various ages The
customary religious services were superseded,
accordingly. That the occasion was peculiarly
interesting to all lovers OF moral and religious
progress, and q matter of pride to the relatives
and friends, was apparent by the attendance
which filled all available space.
The school was seated upon the stage tempora-
rIly arranged in front Of The pulpit. Suspended
over their heads in floral arch were these signid
cant words: Feed my lsm6sn The altar oloOmed
WreathiDg the tablets containing the Decalogue
and the Lord Prayer were verdant leaves and
crimson fuchsias, from the conservatory Of the
Executive Mansion. Upon the sides Of the arch
in rear of the pastors desk hung, at the right,
cross Of crimson and green, about three or four
white flowers and green leaves, symboliIing the
rewards OF holiness to the Lord, as well as the
emblem Of the atonement and suferings OF Oal-
were seen in appropriate devices upon the tables
and font in crosses and boquets. But above and
beyond ali this display of fnanimate beauty was
the far greater attraction Of human blossoms of
innocence gathered there, to which all eyes and
hearts turned with delight. Even the birds sang
pended their giIded cages for the nonce, giving
pleasant wood-notes TO
THE GENERAL HARMONY,
m the lovely choruses Of song burst forth from the
little throats Of three hundred children stimuli
taneously, and the cOuntenances Of the vast crowd
became mobile with gladsome feeling. The su-
perintendent, Mr.. Andrew Duvall, assisted by
Miss Pursell and the preceptor, Mr.. BurleH, with
the school committee, had arranged complete
and quite novel programme for the performance
of recitAtions and songs, illustrative Of the Pill
grim's progress, commencing with his first start
upon hfs earthly pilgrimage, and continuing to
the close, when, having won his crown, he passes
away into the regions Of the blessed. After the
prayer, by the Rev. DR.. Newman, in which he
of his congregation had entered during the past
week, through the inspiring influences of the
great awkeping, the choir sang the benedictus,
by Mozart, with their Wonted expression and
ferVor.
Succeeding this and the reading Of the notices
for the week, including those bearing upon the
ent arose and announced the commencement of
the exercises as follows: "The pilgrim alarmed"
Upon this a young lad Of about fourteen, named
Fred MacKeeney, entered upon recitation of
the pilgrims experience in loud, clear resonant
voice, in the words Of Bunyan: g dreamed, and
in q certain place with his face from his own
house, a book in his hand, and grest
BURDEN UPON HIS BACK;
and as be read he wept and trembled. And 1
saw again when he was walking in the field that
he was reading in his book and greatly distressed
in his mind; as he read he burst out as he had
done before, crying, What shall do to be saVed2'
Another voice continues: The Lord looked down
from Heaven upon the children of men to see IL
there were any who did understand and seek
God.' Second voice exclaims: They are all gone
aside; they are together become filthy; there is
none that doeth g0od-no not one.' Third voice:
Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and
birthstone and horrible tempest; this shall be
WIeIched man that am! Who shall deliver me
from the body Of this death?'"
Here follows the chorus by the children Of
"Whither are you going ?"
The volume of song swelled ioyously through
the aisles Of the temple, sending thrill Of emo
tion to every soul; for if there is one thing more
than another traDECeQda0tly touching in QualitV
OF sound It is the iusing Of childish voices into
one harmonious whole Of praise and prayer. The
here read in his same bell-like tones from the
Pilgrim: "Then saw in my dreams that per-
son named Evangelist came TO him, and gave.him
o parchment roll, and there was written within,
Flee from the wrath to comer And the man satd,
WHITTIER must fiy?' And the Evangelist said,
DO you see yonder wicket gate!' The man said
Mo- Then said the other, DO you see yonder
shining light?' He said, Il think 1 do Then
Evangelist said, Keep that light in your eye and
go up directly theretOi so shalt thou
SEE THE GATE
at which, when thou knockest, It shall be told
thee what thou shalt do Fifth voice then says,
Sixth voice answers. By taking heed thereto ac-
my ways were directed to keep thy stltutes.i
Eighth voice, Enter ye in at the straight gate,
for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be that
go in lthereat.'" Song, "At the Door," This
brought out some Of the best tones of the children
s9Q was great success.
The refrain, KNOCK, knock again, " etc., ETC.,
had arhythemIc ring, which produced inVolun-
tary beating Of time all about the church. The
eh6rister himself sang with so much unctIon and
zeal that it would have been impossible for the
initiative children to not have followed his lead
with equal spirit. The Pilgrims departure was
again recIted as distinctly as before these words:
'1 saw in my dream th at the man began to run;
now, he had not run far from his own door when
his wife and children and neighbors perceiving 1t
began to cry after him to return, but the man
put his fingers In his ears and ran on, crying,
Lis! IL LIE Eternal tsi LIFE 9th yClcS-Jssu:
than me is not worthy ofme; and he that lOVeth
son or daughter more than me is not worthy Of
be of wy you Ut that fOrsaEet6 not ''t ali that at
he hath he cannot be my disciple
1lth voiee-'FOr what shall 1t profit man Il he
or, what shall . man give for his soul?'" The next
song sung
"wHo'LL BE THE NExTf'
was pronounced by a musical critic present, who
has enjoyed the advantage OF listening to the
Choral associations OF first standing in this coun-
try and in Europe, lone of the best rendered CON-
positions in all Of the selections executed evincIng
careful instruction on the part OF the preceptOr,
which does him infinite credit as O trainer OF
musical ability" II would be impossible to
enumerate all the consecutive recItstions, we'll
delivered by both girls aud boys TO the entire ap-
SUI fidelity to the text furnished by the teachers
in this proof Of their untring effort to promote the
improvement VI InelE pupus,
would fill many columns.
Suffice It that the Pilgrim tempted, the Pilgrim
under difficulties, and the Pilgrim amidst his enc
mics, were all Indicated BY appropriate passages
Of Scripture and song to the end. The infant
class distinguished itself by as much eaRerness
melody in singing its little solo, and the first
hymn, beautiful River" by the nearly four hun
drOd voices, was q song to be ever remembe bered,
elicitlng silent plaudIts from q unanimous audi
epee The choir having during the offertory exc
cuted in their most effective style the exquisite
Qusrtette from Elijah, yet surpassed themselves in
the last and moSC perfect piece Of all the gems
given, "Come unto Me all ye who are Weary aud
Heavy Laden" by Gounod. The blending OF the
four voices Of Mrs. Jones, Mrs. CAulfield, Mr..
WitherOw and Mr.. Widney, was q treat worthy
with the fsultless rendering OF the orgsnist could
cCmmsnd but one opinion as to its perfection.
Professor Caulfeld, the organist. finished by
voluntary composed by his talented brother. F.
n. Caulheld, composition Of great originality
and genius.
EunnTTNR ARERAv