The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-08
Reported for The Globe.l
The Spring Grove Sabbath School
Picnic.

The attendance was not as
arge as was expected. The severe rain of
The morning undoubtedly prevented many
from coming. The morning train from
Rutland brought about $50 passengers. The
mail train from Burlington brought few.
The morning passed without incident, save
That the Middlebury cornet band rendered |
several selections of excellent music, much |
to the pleasure OF the people. In the |
teams loaded with people arrived
from the surrounding country.
AT II o'clock Mr.. o. p. Mead, of Middle
bury, announced that the public exercises
would begin in about an hour. The null
ttude then betook themselves to their re-
freshmen, and about 12 o'clock the exer-
cises were announced
PUBLIC EXERCISES.
Rev. Sanford Washburn, pastor of the
Methodist church in Middlebury, was in
PRODUCED as the first speaker, who gave a
somewhat lengthy address, of which the
following is brief abstract:
REV. Mr.. wAsImURN's ADDRESS.
The speaker, after stating the objects of
the gathering, said his main object would
be to present the grand magnificent struc-
ture which has risen up in the form of the
Methodist Sunday school,
1t seemed wonderful when we considered
the varied progress through which the
Sabbath school has advanced to its present
perfection, and We are led to exclaim,
"What hath God wrought He referred
to the growth of the Sabbath school from
its commencement, tracing its progress to
the present time. AS early as the year
1863, a young lady in England gathered
together a company of children and taught
them the Scriptures, and led them to the
church of God. This was the first Sab
bath school ever collected. Here We see
the Sabbath school in the present form.
The first Sabbath school instituted on this
continent was ten years younger than the
nation, two years after the organization of
the Methodist church. This was 80 years
ago. He then proceeded to the considera-
ton of the difference between
THEN AND NOW.
AT that time the great object was to
teach the children the alphabet and get
them to church. An entire change has
taken place nov. The aim is to teach
christianity, not the alphabet. They were
paid for their services then, now they are
free. 1t was as late as 1909 before the sys-
TEN was introduced into this country
The Methodist church, he regretted to say,
did but little for many years in PROMOTING
this work. The Other denominations took
the lead. The Methodist Sunday School
Union was organized in 1927. Little, how
ever, was done until 1910, when the gen.
eral conference agitated the subject anew.
The speaker gave a brief comparison be-
tween the Methodist and other evangelical
churches.
The Methodist church has to-day 19,62S
Sabbath schools with 20,492 officers and
teachers and l,3G3,S7G scholars. Add to
| this the other auxillaries of the church and
we have total of nearly 100000, and
adding the number OF scholars of other
evangelical churches and we have grand
total of over six millions. When we con-
template this great institution, we are as
tonished and exclaim, "Truly, what hath
God wrought"
| There is not school in this land not I'M
der religious instruction. Where there are
churches and where there are nOne-where
they have settled preaching and where
they do not-you will find Sabbath schools.
| He referred to the Sabbath school and
church literature as being very extensive,
almost large enough to supply the whole
population.
The speaker did not wish to boast of the
Methodist church. The other churches
had and were doing much, if not as much
as the Methodist Episcopal church.
doubt if it has parallel in the annals OF
history, and think no careful observer will
fail to see in the advancement the school
has made, il not miracle, at least nothing
less than extraordinary progress. The Sun
day school is doing great thing for tho
morals of the whole nation. lie wout
have it purely orthodox in its teaching:
and If it should fail the morals of the ma
ton would drop to zero and below zero.
At the close of the address Mr.. Wash.
burne was greeted with applause. Tht
band then played several selections after
which Rev. G. w. S. Porter was intro
duced and spoke briefly.
He declined to make speech as they
had had speech enough. The address Of
Mr.. Washburne was full of thought. The
first thoughts put in the young minds wert
sure to remain and the mind when it go
full run over, and so it was with children
They should be taught christianity first
The christian life was like river travers
ing an exceedingly crooked course will
many obstacles and showed how hard i
was to convert child from any other faitl
to the Protestant religion. We regret ou
space forbids moro extended report O.
this truly excellent address.
Mr.. Gordon followed in an address tt
the children. He is pleasant speaker ant
the children We're evidently pleased will
his talk. This address closed the publ,
exercises.
The Bristol cornct band arrived on tn,
ground about four o'clock, having been dc
layed by the storm, and furnished most ex
cellent music. Both bands received til,
warm applause of the audience. Th,
Middlebury band has but just organized
but bid fair to become fine musicians. Til,
Bristol band made fine appearance ant
deserve the merited position they hole
among the bands of the state. Severa
other bands were expected but were pre-
vented by the Storm
1t was estimated that there were aoou
1900 people on the ground in the afternoon
although this is generous estimate. Tn,
picnic would have been decided success
but for the rain.
Most of the party left on the 4.15 trail
for Middlebury and the south. The con
solidated bands played "Yankee Doodle
while waiting for the train, and greatly en-
livened the assembly. Unfortunately tn,
heaviest storm of the season commenced
about the time the trains were due, and TO
about an hour 1t rained in perfect torrents
and all were more or less drenchcd be
! fore leaving. o.n.F.