The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-06-19
The Raikes Centennial and Children's Day
at Port Deposit.

The Centennial and chldren's day were
celebrated by the Methodist Episcopal Sun
day school of Tome Memorial Church, in
Port Deposit, last Sunday. The school for
several weeks had been making preparations
for this occasion. The plan as arranged by
Dr. Vincent and approved by the bishops
| embodied the general outline of the ser
vices. The school assembled ut 1917 O'Clock
in the church, and after Il brief opening
service by the pastor, Mr.. j. NJ. McClena-
| han. superintendent, led the school in re-
citing the creed, interSperscd with singing
| by the choir. After which a short sermon
was preached to the children, founded upon
Prov 3:l5-"My son, ii thine heart be wise
my heart shall rejoice" A statement was
then made of u plan by which three hun
dred dollars could he raised to repeniSh the
school library One gentleman had very
generously offered to contribute one hum
dretl dollars, provided the other two hun
dred could be secured. Another friend of
the school would give fifty dollars: SO that
the prospect of success in that matter is
very fiattering. The collection for the
school was announced for the afternoon.
The congregation, school and choir joined in
singing "All Hail the Power of Jesus
Name" to the tune of Coronation" and
the first service closed.
At . o'clock, the second service of the day
began with responsive Scripture reading
by the Pastor and school. Though the eX
hon
looked into the faces of hundreds of hap
pier children than these, and when they
We're asked for their contributions we can
scarcely think it possible that Il more cheer
full offering was ever made than the contri-
buttons from these classes of scholars,
which amounted to fifty dollars. DIR. Mat
lack delivered an address. which for appro-
priateneSS and as 4 brief, concise review,
showing the wonderful progress Of the Sun
day school work during the past hundred
years, could scarcely be exceled. He
held the attention of all from the begin
ming until the close of his remarks. In
closing he gave some statistics of this school
since the formation of the Wilmington Con-
ference, in 1860. There We're then 292 schol-
arS and - officers and Teachers total, '2f.
In 1879, there We're 1888 scholars and 81 Off
GERS and teachers: total, 424, an increase of
100. The largest average attendance at any
time during the period was last year. The
numher of conversions Of members of the
school, 100. The total amount raised for
the support of the school since 1869 is s.,
%lJ29. The numerical increase, the tinan-
cial prosperity, and the present interest in
this department of church work was mat
ter upon which the church might congratu-
late itself, and pastor, superintendent, Off
GERS and teachers might feel a pious pride.
As we listened to these services and saw
the interest beaming from the countenances
of all, we asked ourselves the question, why
the Sunday school did not occupy a more
prominent place in the regular services Of
the church" Mr.. Gerry, choriSter, and
Mrs. Abrahams, who presided ut the organ,
together with the choir, contributed largely
to the interest of the services.