The Cecil Whig., 1878-06-15
CHILDREN'S DAY
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

| The third anniversary of "Children's S
| Day." celebrated at the NJ. E. Church, in
| this town, on Sunday last, was an occasion
of unusual interest as well to children of
older growth as to its joyous participants.
| The authorities of the church have shown
sensible appreciation of the admirable
| fitness of things in the period chosen for
the anniversary. For what month is so
| redolent with the fragrance of flowers
those "alphabets of angels, with which
they write ON hills and fields mysterious
truths las June? 1t is the carnival sea-
son of the regal rose, and when Nature
wears her festal robes. There is, indeed, a
touching appropriateness in selecting these
| bright tributes of Gods affection towards
fallen man, wherewith to adorn the tenn
pies dedicated to His worship. For He
has bade the earth,
Bring forth these flowers to comfort man :;
To whisper hope whene'er his faith is
dim;
+ or whose careth for the flowers
Will much more care for him.
AS you entered the church on Sunday
morning two senses alike were especially
gratified. The odor OF freshly cut flowers
was scarcely less agreeable, than to the eye
were the pleasing forms in which the deft
fingers of the ladies of the church had
woven and entwned the floral wreaths and
garlands about the altar and chancel. In
= tbar nf = ho ly>it
rich in its floral wealth. stood, the promi
nent feature in the background, while over
it hung an exquisite wreath, donated by an
aged sister of the church, as her tribute of
affection to those whose joyous devotions
it is not her religious privilege to share,
but the echo of whose tuneful voices, borne
to her window on the evening air, family
foreshadows the heavenly choir, to which,
ere many seasons of birds and flowers, her
eager ear may listen with joy ecstatic.
Pendant over the pulpit arch a beautiful
floral star, supported on either side by fes-
toons of evergreens, upheld by columns of
variegated leaves and flowers, made up the
foreground which massive pyramid, flank
ed by rich baskets of choicest roses upon
graceful stands, helped to complete. The
effect of the whole was very pleasing, no
artificial ornamentation being anywhere
visible, and natural flowers alone being
called into requisition.
Attractive, however, as was the church,
in its floral decorations, the fresh young
,r, H. II,
niversary choruses and anthems, consti.
tuted Ito us, at least) the feature of the
day. Not only were the musical selections
particularly good, but the children evinced
care and training in their rendition. They
sang in most admirable time, while the
semi -choruses were we'll sustained, and dis.
tnctly sung. We compliment Mr.. Vim
singer upon his efficiency as chorus master,
and the marked improvement the children
evince over their singing Of last year. The
beautiful chorus, L" Hail, All Hail." was
particularly enjoyable, while the sweet,
pure voices of Fanny Jones, Lizzie Merritt
and Mary Cantwell, in the semi-chorus,
contrasted most pleasantly with the volume
of the grand chorus. "Ring the Glad
Bells" was another noticeably pretty num-
Der, in which Oracle Wells, Clara Scott,
Asher Scott and others sang. "Pass Along
the Watchword " was a beautiful compost
ton, with its semi-chorus prettily sung by
Fanny Jones and Freddy Eder. To us
these three numbers were particularly en-
joyable. The little "movement song
must not be overlooked, which was sung in
the afternoon, by part of the infant class,
Clara Scott, Lille Rambo, Carrie Ash,
Josie NIahan and Edith Hall. They all
acquitted themselves cIeditably and graft
fled the audience. OF the chidren's per-
formance, the readings of Asher Scott,
Mary Peacock and Martha Realey varied
the programme pleasantly. This much,
however, of general notice.
The morning service, consisting of sing
ing by the children, and a sermon to them
on the "story of Daniel" by the pastor,
Rev. D. c. Ridgway, opened the day. The
faculty of addressing children successfully
is one of Mr.. Rdgway's special gifts. He
an admirable "children's =" sermon.
In the afternoon, the services, excepting
impromptu addresses by the pastor and by
Mr.. William Torbert, who, for forty years,
has faithfully served the Sunday school of
this church as its Superintendent, were
rendered exclusively by the children.
In the evening, a platform meeting was
held, over which the F. A. Ellis, Esq pre-
sided. The audience room was crowded to
suffocation-the unusual audience present
Indicating the interest awakened in this
community by the children's anniversary.
After chorus by the children and prayer
by Mr.. Ridgway, Mr.. Ellis made an in
structve opening address, explanatory of
the anniversary and its objects:
"There is, presume" he said "no fact
in science better established, or more uni
versally accepted, than the fact that the
earth moves. 1t is true that philosopher
of African descent has recently undertaken
to demonstrate from the Scriptures that
the sun do move and the earth do stand
STILL But as he has not been able to pre-
vail upon his scientific brethren to accept
his theory, we must continue to believe that
this world of ours does move. Indeed we
are surrounded with the most positive evil
dences that confront US every where that
the world moves.
This is said to be an age of progress, and
truly it is such The time was. when chill
dren were required to take back seats-to
sit in the corner and behave themselves
to speak when they were spoken to and
come when they were called-when they
were every where told that children should
be seen and not heard But that day has
gone by, and whether we like it or not, we
need not think to recall it. Childhood has
become factor in all the activities of life
The part of wisdom would seem to be to
accept the situation and make the best use
of it.
The General Conference of our church.
seeing this rrepressible disposition of young
America to come to the front has deter
mined to utilize this new power for good
to organize and direct its energies so that
they shall be made to contribute to the
work and success of the Gospel, and espe-
ciallv to the great cauSe of Christian edu-