The Portland daily press., 1877-06-04
State Street Sabbath school Anniversary.

| State Street Sabbath School Anniversary
The twenty-fifth anniversary of the State
Street Sunday School was observed last evening
with very interesting exercises. The church
was filled with fine congregation. The vicin.
| lty OF the pulpit was rendered very attractive
by plants and flowers, which filled the church
Win sweet perfume The exercises opened
with voluntary and anthem. Prayer was
tnen offered by the pastor and the hymn, 'Pure
Gold,' was sung. The solo, "Only an Armor
Bearer" was rendered with fine effect
The reports of the officers showed the school
to be in very prosperous condition. They
have 297 scholars enrolled. The largest attend
ance has been 23S and the smallest 6S. The
average attendance is 206. There are at present
% teachers, and two classes have been formed
the past year. Thirty-four books have been
added, and the library is now in good condi-
tion. The school has raised 1925 the past year.
W. s. Dana, the first superintendent of the
school, gave very interesting history of the
school from its inception, quarter of century
ago. The first steps towards the formation of
the school were taken in ithe Grammar school
house on Park street, at meeting held June
seb, iOo-' iuCiC was dO CndpCi COuuCCUcu WItu
the church then. and all other than regular
preaching services were held in private houses,
or the schoolhouse, or the vestry of High street
church. At the business meeting above re-.
ferred to Mr.. Dana was chosen superintendent
and the school opened soon after the meeting,
although the exact date of it is not known.
The school rarely numbered as high as Is
members. At the close of the first year the
superintendent resigned, and DR.. J. T. Dana
was chosen to fill that position, which he did
for three years, or until May Goth, 1856. Dur
ing his administration the parish settled Hugh
Smith Carpenter as their pastor. Under his
ministrations the school increased and num-
bered as high as 229. The school continued to
hold meetings in the church until April, 1856,
when the present chapel was built
May Goth, 1856, DR.. Dana resigned and
Chas. A. Lord was chosen to fill the vacancy,
which he did for two years, when he resigned.
Judge Woodbury. Davis was then elected to the
position of superintendent, but owing to i'll
health he was obliged to resign at the end of
seven months, and Mr.. Dana, the first SUPER
intendent, was elected to the position in 1853.
During the years 1857 and 1858 about 30 united
with the church from the school. From 1858
to 1856 the largest attendance. was 226 from
'5S to SO it was ia, and from '59 to go it was
222. Thus it will be seen that the extremes for
eight years varied but four. In 1866 the first
attempt was made to procure a library.
The following are the names of the superin-
tendents from 1860 to 1867: Thomas r. Hayes,
w. III. Savage, Sylvester Mari, and Warren
Sparrow. Since 1867 the following superin-
tendents have been elected: Charles Payson,
Judge Davis, Prentiss Loring, w. S. Dana,
Clarence Hale, Prentss Loring (re-elected), and
Theodore G. Woodbury., the present superin-
tendent.
Since the formation of the school there have
been twelve superintendents. Three of them
have been elected again after retiring, only one
has died, one has moved to another state, and
ten now reside in this vicinity, and five are
acting as teachers. During the years 1886
and s. and 1862 and 1866, and 1S71-2-5, 277
joined the church.
The report closed with touching allusion to
the late Chief Justice Shepley, who was one of
the founders of the church, and an active
worker in the school
Mr.. Will Stockbridge sang a SOLO, 'What
Shall the Harvest be- with much expression.
Rev. Mr.. Hincks made brief but very appro-
pirate address, touching upon the work accom-
plished by the school, and closing with few
with it. America wasi then sung by the
congregation and tie bened!ctio was pro-
nounced by the pastor.