Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-05
Bethany in a Blaze.

During the Centennial year there was a
steady rush to Philadelphia to see the mar.
vels of the International Exposition.
journeyed over to the city of Penn yester.
day. to visit what was more attractive TO
the Christian eve than any Corliss engine.
or case of costly fabrics. 1t was the ami,
versary festival of the Bethany Sabbath.
school which enticed me thither, and | wish
that every pastor in the land could have
gone along.
Twentyone years ago last night, Mr..
John Wanamaker (who in his own bovhood
had been an apprentice to brick-maker)
started a mission-school in tent. The dis
trict in which the tent was pitched was neg
lected one, Astounding in poor day-laborers.
with more children than dollars or Bibles.
In that tent was Graded the finest SUNDAY.
school on the globe.
The other night Bethany "came of age"
The motto-text on the programme of the
entertainment was |. Corinthians xiii: IL,
When was child, | spake as child
| understood as child, thought as child I;
but when became man, | put away child.
ish things" There is one childish thing
which Bethany did not put away last even
Ing, and that was genuine outburst of
childish mirth, as hearty as it was innocent.
For fifty-two Sabbaths the cardinal princi.
pie OF the school is to teach Gods Word
thoroughly to the children, and to direct
their young hearts to the Saviour. Out of
this school has grown Presbyterian church
which numbers twelve hundred communi
cants.
But once year Bethany relaxes into iol-
lity. Every boy is allowed to laugh his very
londest; every girl may clap her hands
until they burn. Teachers and scholars had
a right to "make merry and be glad " last
night and they did it, Tickets of adnis
sion were at premium. The vast build
ing was packed with the two thousand
scholars aud their frieuds. Ar. wanamaker
presided, with as smiling face as the old
man lu the parable must have worn, when
the fatted calf" was smoking on the table,
aud the sounds of the music filled the ban,
quet-hall. Ex-Governor Pollock read the
eighth chapter of Deuteronomy as descrip
ton of the career of Bethany school, aud of
the way i'll which the Lord their God had
led them for one and twenty years. The
Governor is good specimen of an honest
civilian brought up on the Westminster
Catechism (Somehow the men who were
nursed with that kind of milk do not often
turn out to be brilliant rogues, or notorious
tricksters) After the Governor, came ex-
Mayor Fox, who was full of sly fun, and
Kept the children shouting. Our friend
Professor Edward Clark gave them a series
OF comic views from his stereopticon. A
gentleman exhibited one of Edison's phono-
graphs, which was as novel and amusing to
some OF us older boys as to the wee lads in
the galleries.
Then came report of the children's
contributions to fund for paying off the
ground-rent; for while the building is out
OF debt, there is still a rental on the ground
beneath. One poor girl contributed 800
from her hard earnings and close savings
Another class of boys-some of whom had
"shined up" shoes Tor their living--brought
IN over 500 And so on the roll of honor
was called until, amid great excitement, the
full sum OF s., 400 was announced
This noble sum given by a company of
children, most of whom live in back street
and rarely see piece of roast beef on their
tables When heard that list read off, |
realized-as seldom have before-what a
wretched and beggarly stipginess many of
our rich churches are afflicted with on the
days of collections for Home and Foreign
Missions. If our churches gave in the pro-
portion which Bethany Sunday-school have
given this year, the income of our Boards
would be counted by millions instead of
thousands. Zone evidence of the Millen-
mum will be that the word "mile" (thou-
sand) will take the place of the stingy word
"unum.O
After long aud lively programme of
songs by gleecub, recitations by children,
ETC., etc., came the distribution of cakes aud
bonbons. Then arose such a din of merri-
ment and explosion OF popping crackers as
would do credit TO an Italian carnival. A
thousand heads were covered with paper
caps, and more than two thousand tongues
were in full chorus. 1t was "a sight worthy
OF an hundred miles journey in mid-winter
A single touch OF the bell brought the young
jewellers to order, and in ten minutes they
were singing their closing hymn with de.
yout gladness of heart. Next Sunday those
merry youngsters will be quietly at work
over their Bibles. All that magnificent
school is monument OF what one man can
do who has faith in God, and a heart to
work.-New York Evangelist.