The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-06-14
Children's Sunday.

Yefterday was observed as Children's Sum
day at the Methodist churches, and more beau
tiful weather could not have been desired for
the occasion.
AT Pine street church the observance OF the
day was postponed until next Sunday.
CONGRESS STREET METHODIST CHURCH
The floral decorations at Congress street
church were in excellent taste not overdone
and yet sufficiently elaborate. The platform
extended the whole length of the house and
was deep enough to cover the wing pews and
the altar, affording accommodation for nearly
the whole school. The entire front of the
platform was lined with plants, vines and
cut flowers. Festoons of evergreen were
wound about the pillars and hung gracefully
from the pillars to the organ. On the front of
the organ there was suspended an
arch having in large letters printed thereon
"Children's day." and just beneath this arch
hung life-size portrait, in crayon, of the pas
tors wife, executed by Mr.. L. L. Curtis ofetLis
city. Hanging baskets were suspended from
the gas jets, and beautiful bouquets were
placed in various places ON the organ, on the
front of the galleries and in other conspicuous
places, and several cages of canary birds added
to the attractions.
The memorial offerings presented were for
Capt. John Hutchinson, Capt. Geo. w. Davis
and Capt. Chas. E. Bunker, all of whom have
died during the last year, consisting of beauti-
full anchors, contributed by their friends In
memory of Mrs. d. S. Jones there was beau
tiful basket of flowers presented by her Sab
bath School class, and also a delicate cross and
crown and beautiful bouquet by her family
friends In memory OF Mrs Ladd, the pastors
wife, the society furnished large and beauti-
full bouquet, and Mrs j. j. Thompson and
Mrs. w. HI. Browrxof Deering presented an
elegant pyramid of flowers. In memory of
Mrs E. NJ. Pickett there was very fine bou-
quet In memory of Lizzie j. Thorndike.
who was buried on Children's Day year ago,
there was beautiful basket of flowers. Hattie
Goody's friends brought basket of
flowers and bouquet Howard Lemont was
remembered by his friends ina basket oflaowers
Maggie Graham's name was attached to a
large and beautiful bouquet, and Eddie Lib.
by's to a very pretty willow, furnished, in the
absence of the family, by thoughtful friends.
One of the most beautiful offerings was star
made of choice and delicate flowers. in mem
DRY OF that little musical prodigy and beautiful
At 1870 the preacher preached to good
congregation sermon upon the religious
training of children, taking for his text Matt.
xix, "A: "Suffer little children to come unto
me-" &c. At noon the pastor christened four
children. At 3 o'clock the house was just
comfortably filled, and the exercises consisted
of singing and recitations by the smaller mem
bers of the school, under the direction of the
superintendent, Mr.. Ezra Drew. Touching
allusion was made, both by the superinteud-
large number who have died within the last
year. Mention was also made by the pastorIof
the fact that many friends outside of the So
ciety had generously contributed, in various
ways, to the success of the OCCASION.
At 7.3O, notwithstanding the Storm the
maj oh1s 10
stand. The singing was under the direction
of the chorister, Mr.. John M. Stevens; Miss
Eva Plummer presided at the piano, and
prayer was offered by the pastor. Miss Avilda
Stevens delivered the opening address: 1t was
and character of the departed were briefly and
beautifully portrayed, and valuable lessons
suggested for our future. This was followed
by recitations and songs by the children and
young people.
CHESTNUT STREET CHURCH.
At Chestnut street church the organ, in the
rear of the pulpit recess, was prettily draped
with the national eolors and wreathed with
garlands. On the centre of the organ was
placed magnificent Tyre, while just above it
wss the legend "Children's Sunday On
either side of the organ was a magnificent
anchor and cross composed of rare flowers.
About the front of the platform, and around
and about the stage, were grouped stands
bearing various floral emblems. The front of
the rear gallery was also adorned with basket
of elegant flowers, and the front of the gal
leries was wreathed with evergreen and cages
OF canary birds were suspended between the
arches. The school children, arrayed in their
beautiful costumes, gave grand effect to the
wealth of floral beauty on the platform. The
exercises were exceedingly interesting.
IN GENERAL.
AT the Abyssinian church there were pretty
floral emblems in honor of the day.
At all the churches the exercises, both reci-
tations and musical, were exceedingly well
rendered and delighted the immense audiences
that crowded the edifices to repletion.