The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-06-09
CHILDREN! MS SUNDAY.
How 1t Was Observed in Portland and
Vicinity.

Vicinity.
The various Methodist Episcopal Sunday
Schools celebrated Childrens Sunday yester-
day. The churches were crowded with people
and in many cases late corners were turned
away.
| PINE STREET CHURCH.
This ever pleasant church was made doubly
so yesterday by the splendor of the decorations,
the sweet odor of the flowers and the spirited
| singing OF the canaries. The display was quite
profuse and very elegant. From the ceiling,
extending to- the farthermost parts of the church
on either side, were hung numerous streamers
OF red, white and blue. The platform had been
extended several feet in front and on both
sides OF the extension, attached to the main
one were the ''stars and stripes" The plat
form was very prettily decorated with plants
and flowers, chief among which were two
splendid bouquets, each four feet in length,
placed at either end of the extension. At the
right OF the pastors chair, on table, were a
couple of fine floral emblems in memory of the
two departed children of Mr. James E. Stur-
gls. The organ, at the rear of the platform,
"es2 PtOoeily uliiuuuOu WIFI evergreen GnuWlneu
with flowers. At its top was beautiful floral
cross some four feet long On the organ was
the motto Suffer little children to come unto
me" The gallery front was prettily trim med,
and dependent from it, as also from the several
gas fixtures along the sides of the church, were
hanging plants, and the handsome cages CON
tanning the sweet singing birds. Everything
was eXcellently arranged.
AT the afternoon service the church was fill
ed, the children of the Sabbath School occupy
'ln 7
with the singing of the hymn 81 will sing of
my Redeemer." After prayer and another hymn
five infants were baptised. Following this, the
pastor, Rev. John F. Hutchins, proceeded to
preach to the children very instructive dis
course founded upon the words of the Psalmist
as recorded in the 34th chapter and Sth verse,
~, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed
Is the man that trusteth in Him."
The evening was devoted to the children's
exercises. Some 1900 people were present. A
cnoruS CHOIR composed of girls occupied the
platform. The Superintendent of the School,
Mr.. d. NJ. Eastman presided. The Singing
was conducted by Mr.. James S. Staples. An
excellent programme of singing and recitations
dered.
CONGRESS STREET CHURCH.
The afternoon and evening services at this
church were devoted wholly to the little folks,
and were of most interesting and impressive
character. The auditorium was tastefully dec
GRATED with vases and boquets of choice flow
ers; evergreen was festooned gracefully about
the organ, in the rear of the reading-desk and
from the chandelier to the pillars. Directly
front of the pastors desk stood beautiful
pyramid of pansies while upon either side and
IN front We're large and choice plants and
shrubbery The wing pews, on both sides the
church, were covered by a large platform ex-
tending across the building, the front of which
was literally mass of flowers and Towering
plants. Upon this, also, weree placed the
tributes of love from thoughtful handsome
MORALS of those interested in the Sabbath
school who have lately died. We noticed a
lovely basket of fowers-in remembrance of
Mrs. e. M. Fickett former teacher in the
school and mother of several scholars now con-
nected with it, very handsome wreath and
star OF flowers, for Miss Lizzie j. Thorndike,
whose funeral the Sabbath school scholars at
tended III body yesterday forenoon; a beauti-
full harp and vase of flowers for Miss Hattie H.
Goody; basket of choice flowers, for Master
Howard Lemont; another for Eddie T. Libby:
and beautiful wreath for Harry S. Thorn
dixie. Boquets OF choice flowers also adorned
the organ and the front of the gallery, and up
on the walls at the rear, and on both sides of
the reading-desk were the following notices
wrought in evergreen: 'Scatter seeds of kind
ness God giveth us richly all things to en-
Joy, seek We the Lord while He may be
found, Sow We beside all waters, 'Sow in
the morning thy seed" Upon the front of the
organ could be seen "Childrens Day. wrought
also IN evergreen and in large letters. The
Sabbath School, under direction of Mr.. Ezra
Drew, Superintendent, and John M. Stevens.
ASSISTANT Superintendent, occupied seats upon
the platform and assisted in the exercises the
musical portion being in charge of Mr.. Stew
ems.
The services opened by singing Hymn 1882,
Joining. This was followed by reading selec1
tlens OF Scripture and prayer by Rev. A. S.
Ladd, pastor, and singing by the school. The
pastor preached short sermon, founded upon
John u 10, Feed my lambs'' Mr.. Ladd also
touchngly alluded to members of the school
who had been called to the fold above. The
school then sang "Jesus loves even me-" and
the exercises closed with the benediction bv
lhe pasl9f- s0or sersurouU0 wcro prosUnu Une
afternoon service, but it was no comparison to
that of the evening. Every available seat was
occupied and extra seats were put in the aisles,
still the people were not all seated. The ex-
ercises opened with an organ voluntary by
Mrs. Plummer.
The exercises, which were very interesting,
consisted of recitations, poems dialogues, ETC.,
by members of the school, and all were of
very high order. The musical prodigy of the
'HilP', Miss Mile Higgins, who was brought
before the public by the PRESS, delighted the
audience with several selections. The concert
closed with an able memorial valedictory,
written by Mrs. D. S. Jones and read by Miss
A. S. Stevens.
CHESTNUT ST. CHURCH.
Chestnut st. Church never looked prettier
than yesterday. The bright fans and dresses
of the children, and the beautiful decorations
were in striking contrast with the rich, dark
finish of the sacred edifice The organ which