The Portland daily press., 1878-06-10
ChiIdren's Sunday.


Yesterday was observed as Chldren's Sunday
| at the Methodist churches in this city, and IN
fact throughout the United States. The day
was not proDitious for such services, but
| despite the lowering clouds no rain fell and the
| churches were largely attended. The finest
| floral display was made at Chestnut street
church. In the centre of the pulpit platform
was large CROSS covered with flowers, upon
which were the letters forming the words,
"Consider the Lilies On either side of the
cross were memorial offerings for J. M. Heath,
Harry Palmer, Addie Blake, Rsbecca Fitz,
George A. Gard, Charles 81. Godding and Mary
| Phillips. In front of the cross was a small
| cross presented by Mr.. Heath's Sabbath school
! class. The organ and gallery were festooned
| with evergreen, while number of fine canary
| birds filled the air with music A large num-
| Der of children occupied seats on the platform
| and sang in chorus. The singing was very
| fine. Among the pieces rendered were "Beau-
tiful Valley" by Mrs. Baker and Miss Hobart;
"Leaf by Leaf the Roses FALL" Misses Dun
ming ana Hassltine; "Why do the Lovely
Flowers Bloom" Nellie Merrill; "Consider the
Lilies" Mrs. Files; "The Land of the Swal-
lows Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Cole. Select
readings vera given by Maggie Luce.
At Pine street there was a profusion of
plants and flowers on the pulpit platform. The
ceiling was hung with bunting, and around the
sides of the church were hung bird-cages, from
which came the sweet notes of some twenty
canaries. The exercises were of a very inter-
esting nature and were conducted by the super
intendent, B. N. Eastman. After reading of
Scripture the pastor offered prayer. There
were several recitations by the children, after
which the pastor baptized number of infants
The pastor preached a very interesting sermon,
taking his text from James .3:4-"Behold the
ship" His theme was character building, and
he compared the forming of ones character to
the building of ship. He drew a very inter-
esting and instructive lesson from the COM
parison. The exercises were intersperssd with
singing by the children of the school
Congress street church was beautifully decor
ated with choice flowers and festoons of ever
green. The platform in front of the pulpit
contained profuson of rare plants and
flowers, also memorial baskets in memory of
Howard L. Lemont, Eddie F. Libby and N. B.
Mitchell, who had died since last ChAdren's
day. Attached to the gas chandeliers were
hanging baskets of wandering Jew, and at
various points were cages of canaries, whose
warbliugs enlivened the scene. Rev. A. S.
Ladd addressed the children, who were seated
together at the front. Mr.. Ladd took for
text the 18th verse of the 34th Psalm-"Come
ye children, hearken unto me; will teach you
the fear of the Lord" The speaker held the
closest attention of the audience in an address
especially adapted to the children in its. sim
plcity and beauty, and to the adult in its gen.
eral application, combining iue social qualities
with marked ability.
In the evening there was another crowded
house. After dialogues and singing by the
children, remarks were made by thu pastor,
Ezra Drew and W. Leighton. A vote of thanks
was extended to j. f. Liscomb for fayors ex-
tended the school. The singing by the chill
dren. under the direction of Mr.. John M.
Stevens, was an agreeable feature of the
oncasiOn