Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-02
ANNrvERsARY CELEBRATIoN
sunday school of the Independent
Presbyterian Church-A Beautii"A
Exhibition

The anniversary of the Sabbath School OF
the Independent Presbyterian Church was
celebrated last evening. The spacious ana
beautiful ediAce was crowded to It's utmost
capacity, many being unable to get lhsioe
the doors. The decorations were very
tasteful and the pulpit and altar presenIeo
beautiful sight, there being great pro
fusion of flowers, and the arrangement VI
them exouisltely artistic. The lesson was
e.eaIro+ion - and was illustrated in the
most handsome manner.
Precisely at eight o'clock the cnlldren
entered singing the processiSonar os ny vary
sweetIy rendered, and occupied the seats IN
the front part of the church.
The senior pastor, Rev. DR.. Arson, made
a verv happy and beautiful welcome ad-
dress remarkable for its eloquence and feel
inc. which was followed by reading por-
tion of the scriptures, and prayer.
The anniversary hymn, entitled sour Glad
Jubilee" was sung with great fervor, after
which the Sunday School offering was made,
and a very handsome sum was realized.
Superintendent w. H. Baker then SUBJ
mitted his report, showing the condition of
the school and its prospects, as follows:
At the anniversary of a Sunday school
church of which 1t forms a constituent
part, perhaps little more is expected than a
brief presentation of statistical facts.
The chief object of our anniversaries is to
stimulate the interest of parents and church
members in the religious culture and educa-
ton of the children, who must soon take
the places Of those who are now bear
ing the heat and burden of the day.
If the songs and emblems which make
so important and interesting a feature in
this evenings exercises serve only to graft
fly an idle, even though innocent curiosity.
they will have fallen far short Of the hopes,
and, | may add, the prayers of a band of
faithful and earnest workers for Christ. He,
who pronounced the lilies of the field more
beautiful than all the pomp and glory of
King Solomon, will be pleased with the
floral offerings, through which we seek,
this evening, to illustrate his glorious work
and character.
We know that the King of Heaven,
when yelled in human nature, did not dis
dain to accept the praises of the multitude
| who went before him strewing their gar
ments In the way and crying BLESSED is ne
| that cometh In the name OF the Lord. -
| We read, too, with what approving smiles
he regarded the childrah in the Temple,
who caught up the glad acclaim, and sang
! their loud hosannas to the son OF David. And
well assured may we feel that though now
| seated on his respondent throne he will not
be displeased with the Inscriptions Of praise,
| the floral tributes and the sincere heart
offerings which we bring this night and
| humbly lay upon the altar of his love-
worshiping and adorlng him as our blessed
Redeemer and King, the author and finisher
OF our salvation-the Way, the Truth and
the Life.
The records of the school show that We
| have had an enrolment of 210, with an
average attendance of 157 scholars. Oul
| collections from the Sunday school proper
and from the voluntary societies connected
with it, amounted to $685. &c. After de-
| fraying the current expenses of the school
| and adding many volumes to our library, 8
considerable sum has been turned
| over to the session to be transmitted tc
the several committees who are charged
with the conduct of the benevolent opera
| lions in connection with the Southern Pres
bvterian Church. We miss the presence OF
| John Hopkins Olmstead and Frank Green
who were with us one year ago. We rejoice
In the assurance that our loss Is their eternal
gain. As a school we have cause for devout
| thanksgiving that five of our number have
been received into the communion OF the
church.
Thus briefly, as those entrusted with an
important work. do we render an account
| of our stewardship for the past year, and
with humble confession of many short.
| comings invoke the sympathies and prayers
of pastors and people on our work for the
| year to come.
This was followed by the Sabbath school,
exercise, and the anthem Salvation. 4" Then
came the interesting feature of explaining
the sentence, "Our Lord and Saviour Jesus
| Christ" with appropriate quotations from
the Scripture. This was exquisitely beau
| tiful, and the design and execution artistic
| We will present tomorrow n and accu.
rate description of this gn, CHI we un-
| derstand was chiefly the 3, Ork 1rs. NJ. E.
| Wilbur.
The hymn, "Your Life is Hid With Christ
| in God" was then sung, after which was
the Saviour, 81 am the Way and the Truth
| and the Life. No Man cometf
marrow Wav," the "Shining Way'' anC
the "Way OF Peace" at the conclusion O.
which the school chanted 'Lead Me in tn,
Way Everlasting" ''The Rock o
Ages" was then presented will
appropriate scriptural sentences
This was followed by singing the hymn
"Clinging to the Rock" after which thu
infant class gave representation OF "Th'
Truth" followed by the hymn "Hol!
Bible"
The exercises were closed with singing
scriptural recitation, and an address from
Rev. Mr.. Kerr, the junior pastor, and tn
pronouncing of the benediction by DR.
Arson.
The marvellous beauty of the representa-
ton, and the significance of the lesson
which was so artisticslly displayed, excitet
general admiration, and it was acknow
| lodged by all that nothing equalling it hat
been attempted before on similar occasions
After the exercises many remained to get
nearer and better view of it. We under
stand that the various designs were arrang
ed on the frame which completely conceal
ed the large pulpit after the morning sci
vice, and it almost seems incredible that S
r much work could have been accomplish
by the ladies In that short time.
The church will be open to-day and thos
who had not the pleasure of being presen
last night can call and see the decorations
They will be well repaid.
A photograph of the altar will also be ia
ken to- day.
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