Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-11-09
PHILANTHROPY.
The largest Sunday school in she
World.

World.
Editors 7eLegrqph:-I had not in-
tended writing you until | reached
New Orleans, as l considered l
would then have sufficient material
to make an interesting letter; but
resting few days in Cincinnati l
had an opportunity of witnessing
sight, the like of which one beholds
bat once in lifetime, and one calcu-
lated to inspire the most sceptical
into the acknowledgment # the
good Christianity accomplishes in
her various guises. By invitation
visited, with my friends, the Gin
cinnati Union Bethel, and more par
ticularly, its Sunday school, on the
afternoon of Sunday last, the 28th
inst. | had, like many others, new
er heard of its existence, and my
visit not only satisfied my curiosity,
but gave me an idea of the worth of
the efforts of the good i'll alleYiating
the Sufferings of humanity, and pro-
viding a means for the spiritual,
temporal and social welfare of the
poor and neglected of the world.
Thisyinstitution is situated on the
Public Landing of Cincinnati, front
ing The river, and comprises splen-
did stone and brick building, four
stories in height, running back some
200 feet, and is divided up into vari-
GUS rooms and departments necessary
to carry out its important work.
1t is governed by board of di-
rectors, and its executive functions
are required in the management OF
the following:
1. The Bethel Church.
2. The Bethel Sabbath School.
8. Young mems reading, dining
and lodging rooms.
4. Newsboys' Home.
5. Relief department.
The Church is undenominational
and is always well filled.
Of the Sunday school I have
much to say, but will be as brief as
possible.
Imagine an interior of building
8Ox1OO feet, the area of the floor
covered by benches and forms as full
as could be crowded together; and
with this spacious gallery on three
sides, of seven seats in depth. This
gives an idea of the Sunday school
seating capacity.
Into these seats weekly gather an
average of over 2,4OO souls, and all
scholars to the Sabbath school.
On the day of my visit / was as
tOnished at tie inpouring crowd
from the street, but more so on get
ting inside to find a greater thrOng
already there. The scholars com.
prise old men and women, mothers
and fathers, young men and women,
girls and boys, and mere infants.
The oldest scholar is 80 years of age;
the youngest is three weeks old.
This vast school requires a numer.
Gus and effective, intelligent man
agement, and l assure you it has it.
1t comprises the Superintendent,
Rev. Thomas Lee; four assistant Su-
perintendents; five order keepers;
four secretaries; FIVE teachers for
the adults; eighty-two teachers for
the intermediate department.; five
teachers for the primary department
and twelve assistant teachers, where
required. There are also an organ
ist aud eornet player, This gives a
grand total of one hundred and nine
teen. A noticeable feature in the
school is the mothers classes, who
attend with their babes; and the |
average attendance is 20 ort of a
registered 200 names. The audult
men number $50, and average 80 in
attendance. The greatest number
OF scholars in attendance has been,
in one day, afternoon only, 3,2ls;
and the average attendance is 2,4G2.
The school services commence
precisely at 2:3O, and on our visit
the rule obtained. The Superinten-
dent, standing on raised platform,
calls them to order by bell, and with
his powerful voice announces a
hymn, copies of which we noticed ey-
cry scholar, who could read held in
his hands. The organist plays the
tune over, and then the cornet play
er, taking the lead, pilots the 2,40O
voices in melodious strains. Melo-
dious | said, but not always; the
hymn "Hold the Fort" was an.
nounced, and when some 1000 boys
and girls with high soprano voices,
got fairly in to it, melody gave way
to rampant harmony of powerful
nature. Every individual of these
1000 seemed, to my eye, to vie with
each other in producing the loudest
strains, and the contracted broWs. the