The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-06-14
CHILDREN'S DAY.
ANNIVERSARY AT THE ELKTON
M. E. CHURCH.
Beautiful Flowers Addresses.
Interesting Services.


celebrated at the Elkton NJ. L. Church. TIL,
church was beautifully decorated by il rich
profuSion of wreaths, feStoons and flowers,
that were taStefully arranged, and added
: much to its beauty, and also enhanced the
pleasure of the large audience that crowded
the sacred edifice. The north wall of the
chancel was ornamental with 4 large Tyre,
made of flowers, which waS surmounted
with the motto, praise the Lord" The
Tyre was the gift Of the infant class, and
manufactured by their teacher, Miss
Annie Purnel. Two beautiful columns of
roses stood on each side of the platform,
while a floral cross occupied position d-
rectly between them. The Gothic arch above
the chancel and also the windows adjacent
were teStooned with the green leaves of the
laurel intermingled with its blossoms, while
Il beautiful star of white flowers, typical of
the star of Bethlehem, hung pendent below
the apex of the arch. The effect of all this
was beautiful: and it was hard to believe,
while listening to the sweet strains of mel
ody that fell from int:lntilc lips, that the
trail of the serpent was over it all: for I'M
consciously the mind would wander back
to Eden'S bowers, of which not only the
flowers, but much of the ceremonies and
surroundings, served to remind he Thought
full auditor. The audience was large, the
other denominations of the town having, for
4; time, laid aside their distinctive tenetS,
and came out to swell the number that
Strove to do honor to the childrens day,
and thereby to honor Him who said, Sut-
fer little children to come unto me, for
of such is the kingdom of heaven And
when the stern truth would ohtrude itself
upon the auditors mind, that E,len'S bow
crs no longer bloomed, and that the fall and
the attendant curse and its effects We're felt
throughout the world, he was forcibly re-
minded by the audience before him. of the
time predicted by the ancient prophet,
when the lion and the lamb will lie
down together, and Il little child will lead
them. The great object of the observance
of Children's Day is 10 incuicate Il mission
AIRY spirit anon, Sunday School children,
and to encourage them to contribute to the
support and education of pious young men
whointe to devote themselves to the work
OF the ministry.
At lOi2 O'Clock a. NJ, the pastor, Rev.
Vaughan Smith, announced the hymn COM
mencing, "-tll Hail the Power of Jesus
Name" which was sung by the school and
congregation, led by the choir. This was
followed by the recitation of the first Psalm
by the whole school in concert. The school
and Shine in Youth Immortal" They were
led by Mr.. Henry Ninsin.er and the beau
iitul hymn was rendered in Il charming
manner.
This was followed by IA sermon by the
pastor from Proverbs -: Il, :" Train up a
child in the way he should 90, and when he
is old he will not depart from it, Mr.. s.
remarked that it had been APPLY said that
the child is the father of the man." and
that the early training of the inflntile mind
deserved and had received the attention of
the wiSeSt and best people of all ages; that
Abraham. Moses, Joshua, st. Paul, and
Solomo:: in all his glory, had not considered
it beneath their notice and attention. He
then proceeded toconsidcr to what the train
ing should be directed The child should be
toincd This was made necessary by the
fact that the natural proclivitieS of the
childs mind We're based to lead hui
manity to pursue 4 wrong course. He then
remarked that they We're to he trained up
and not alarm, there being many circun-
stances surrounding children that tended to
give them a downward impetus, and that
proper training would elevate and lead them
in the way they should so-and that way
was pointed out by the moral law and Cos
pei; that they should be trained to obedi-
ence to their elders and SmperiorS, and in the
faith of those to whom their training is COM
mitted, it not being supposed that a person
is capable of teaching what he does not be-
ieve himself Mr.. Smith proceeded at some
length to state that they should be trained
by precept and example, and by being re-
strained from improper associations, and
that the divine blessing should he invoked
upon these means by prayer. The motive
for all these efforts is to be found in the fact
that when he grows old he will not depart
from the right way. From this it is i'm
piled that long life will be the result of ODE
dience to this training and this is sustained
by the command and PROMISE Honor thy
father and thy mother, that thy days may
be long upon the land which the Lord thy
God giveth thee" and that vice always I'M
dermines the physical system; that the force
of habit would keep them in the way they
should go, and that the reward of all this
l,l,,, 18th
the child in heaven. Mr.. Smiths sermon
was replete with good advice to both schol-
ars and teachers, from which they could not
fail to profit +. \. Ellis, Esq, made an ap-
propriate prayer at the conclusion of the ser
vice; and the service of the morning was
concluded by singing the hymn on page "A
of the hymnal and the pastor pronouncins
the bencdiction.
The services in the evening were largely
attended, the house, though filled to its ut
most capacity, being too small to hold all
who desired to attend. The services com
mcnced by singing the hymn entitled praise
We the Lord, which was sung in Il spirited
manner by the large audience, and was fol-
lowed by Il beautiful and appropriate PRAYER
by John Perkins, Esq. DIR. Il. G. Mackall
then read an able address to teachers and
parents upon Goods love as Il motive for
the proper training of children" The read
ing of this address was followed by the sing
ing of the hymn, Good is Love" The Rev.
Mr.. Laytield, OF Bethel VI. T.. Church, then
delivered an able and eloquent address. In
the course of his remarks, Mr.. Laytield said
that mankind were too apt to have extreme
view of the attributes of Deity; that some
thought the All-wise so mercitul that He
would not intiict punishment, while others
eNtolled his justice, and lost sight of his
mercy altogether. The fact was that he
tempered justice with mercy, and would in
no wise, let sin go UNPUBLISHED. Mr.. Lay
fields address was followed by the singing
of the hymn called 8 Ring the Bells"
This was followed by an address hy the
Rev James MrIntire, who made some very
happy illusions to the delight he felt in his
association with the children of the school,
and bid the teachers God-speed in their Ia
Dor of love.
He was followed by +. \. Ellis, who was
President of the meeting, and who then
called attention to the next item on the pro-
sramme, which called for Il short speech by
to say that the committee had already sup