Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1879-12-29
CELEBR ALTON AT THE CEN TRAL.

CELEBR ALTON AT THE CEN TRAL.
Anniversary Exercises Yesterday
Afternoon A Large Audience
and au Excellent Entertainment. I.
An audience which filled every avail
able seat in pew and aisle assem- bled in
the main auditorium of tbs Central
Presbyterian church yesterday after
noon to witness and take part in the
exercises incidental to the twenty
fourth anniversary of the Sabbath
school, connected with the church. The
church had been nicely decorated for
the occasion, wreaths Of evergreens, be-
Ing hung upon the walls in different
places and the altar itself being trans
posed into a regular garden in which
plants Of every description were
grouped. the whole making a very
pretty effect. Over the front of the
altar was large arch bearing the in
scription :-"Peace on Earth, Good will
to Men"
At three O'Clock the exercises were
opened by the entire school singing
II will sing Of My Rsdesmer," which
was followed by prayer by Mr.. W.
Crosby, Superintendent Of the school.
under whose charge the exercises were
conducted. A "Christnas Hymn"
was then supg by the Gilbert school,
after which Mr.. Crosby read the an
nual reports Of the school. The infant
class then sang very prettily, "Whom
have | Lord in Heaven but Thee"
The next feature was set down on the
programme as "Christmas Concert Ex-
ercises," and opened with thirteen lit
tie Misses, who appeared upon the stage,
each bearing letter upon her breast
the ensemble forming the words, "Sha-
dow of Death" The one on the left
quoted an appropriate sentiment, and
as she did so, reversed tho card she
bore, and instead Of IS" the letter sc"
appeared. This was followed out along
the entire line, each uttering a ssnti-
ment and reversing her card, and " hen
they had finished the words, "Christ
is born" appeared. When this was
completed, the little ones broke forth
into glad anthem which was ba&uti-
fully rendered. Several other quota
tions were made by each and several
anthems sung ere they left the stage,
they having acquitted themselves in a
manner that reflected credit upon them
selves and those having their training
in charge.
After this came sc.iptural selections
recited aloud, Mr.. Crosby reciting one
and his assistant Mr.. McNair and the
entire school responded. Master Ernest
McNair next recited a selection in q
very able manner and following him
four little misses took their places on
the stage and as each quoted a passage
from scripture two Of the larger schol-
ars in the audience would respond.
"We're marching to Canaan" was
sung, after which Rev. J. s. Estlin, of
the church of the Covenant, was in
troducsd and made short address. He
spoke Of the momentous event which
the school was now commemorating and
pictured eloquently th. change which
had been wrought iu the world by the
birth of the Savior. He dwelt partic-
ularly upon the inhueuce the Sunday
school wislds upon christendom and
earnestly urged teachers and scholars
to work faithfully for the upholding OF
Christ's kingdom. "Not half has ever
been told" was next sung the entire
audience joining in the chorus.
DR.. Nixon, the pastor, then delivered
a short address in which he alluded to
the wonderful growth of the Sunday
School. On the first anniversary of the
school there were II teachers and 81
scholars, while now there were 10 or 50
teachers and about 600 scholars. He
was also pleased to See that each year
namber of the scholars we're identify
ing themselves with the church and he
hoped that the number would increase
annually. There were three things
necessary to the successful conduct of a
Sunday school, these were Love, Work
and Faith, and he earnestly urged both
scholars and teachers TO practice these,
assuring them that success Would croWh
their efforts.
The pastor then presented number
of msTitorious scholars with books as re-
wards for their diligence. After this
the entire audience ross and sang
"Come, Oh Come to me-" and the exer-
cises were ended. The entire pro-
gralnme was gone through with with
out hitch Or break of any sort and Mr..
Crosby and the teachers who assisted
him deserve great credit for the per-
fection of their arrangements.
After the exercises were over the |
scholars received tickets admitting
them to festival to be held TO merrow
evening when each of the little ones
will receive present.
An Inconsistent Alderman.