Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-01
SUNDAY SCHOOL oELEBRATToN.
twentieth Anniversary of the AfrA-
can Baptist sunday SehOOl-Amtef-
estIng Exercises.

The First African Baptist Church, corner
OF Bryan and Montgomery streets, was
last evening crowded to its utmost capacity
the occasion being the celebration OF the
twentieth anniversary Of the Sunday school,
The arrangements for the event were COM
plete. and every detail was smoothly and
satisfactorily carried out, rejecting credit
upon the teachers as well as the scholars.
The exercises were quite interest
ing, consisting of singing and recl-
tations, and the reading Of the
annual address, or report, of the Superin-
tendent. The Rotations were very credita-
BILE, and were given by the younger mem
bers of the school, and consisted of pas
sages from the Acts of the Apostles, varied
with the singing of hymns and appropriate
Sunday school songs. The girls evinced
more aptness and study than the boys,
though the latter did very well.
The superintendent, G.. L. DeLamotta,
read his annual report OF the operations OF
the school, as follows:
The period of time has come for me to
submit the annual report of the Sunday
school of which l am Superintendent.
Standing, as it were, upon an eminence that
overlooks the lapse Of twenty years, can
mark the steady progress OF the Sunday
school. l behold the stateliness of the Sun
day school procession as it moves through
years of rapid flight, growing in strength,
augmenting in numbers and conquering
amid adversities To-day It stands in beauty
and in strength as an institution that bears
the seal Of the Almighty. No institution
has been crowned with greater achieve
ments. No institution has had an humber
infancy and none will have more exalted
maturity. Twenty years ago the First
African Baptist Church Sunday School had
its origin. Only few hailed its inception,
for the good contemplated in its origin was
indeed prospective, ga thing of the future" I,
as an humble advocate for its establishment,
believed that it would be the means OF much
good to the children then unborn. The
happy realization of this fact cheers me in
my declining years. How inspiring is the
thought. 345 children are gathered, as the
Sabbaths come and go, in regular success
sion, to learn of Jesus, 'the Mighty to
save" The Sunday school to-day presents
an imposing scene, which does not fail to
impress the hearts of those who desire to
see the children walk in wisdom's way, the
way in which the ancient worthless walked
to glory and to God. The Sunday school
is an instructive medium for the young.
Impressions are made upon their minds that
are lasting, and as they advance in years
they bear with them the proper knowl-
edge of God and His law. 1t is aux
Hilary to the church. for from it go forth
teachers that are distinguished for piety
and Christian zeal. The Bible is made a
speciality In the Sunday school, for Chris
tian character depends much upon the
knowledge that we have of the Bible. Such
vagaries that render obscure the true import
OF the Scriptures and strip them of their
original purity, obtain only when instruc-
tion is imperfectly given, and when the
Imagination forms the guide and precept.
Religious culture is the great demand OF
the age Society feels the need of it, and
our proud republic would witness a happy
era of prosperity and peace II upon her
escutcheon was delineated Religious
Culture. 1t remains for me to
speak of my worthy assistant, Bro. j. H.
Brown, whose efforts have ever been for the
prosperity of the Sunday school. A Spar
tan IN valor, yea more than a Spartan In
Christian zeal, his deeds Will bespeak
for him a becoming tribute. A life so re-
plete with usefulness can but gain for him
eternal and unmingled JOY in the Paradise
of heavenly bliss. We have continued the
use of the International Series, for they are
adapted to the young both in their formula
ton and in the representation of Bible
truths. The parents of the children should
lend their cooperation in the Sunday school
work. l appeal to you, parents, in be-
half Of your children. Would you save
your children from vice and immortality?
Would you have them honor you and be
useful members Of society," Would you
have them reverence that God that gave eX
istence to creation and made salvation posi-
BILE through the gift of His Son? II you do,
lead them gently to the blessed Sabbath
school. Let us maintain the Sabbath
school and labor for its growth. Let the
iridescent banner of the Sunday school be
hoisted to the public gaze, with the hal
lowed inscription, "Jesus is the Captain, +"
while the silken fold of the Sunday school
flag will flaunt in the breeze as an emblem
of security for the children of our State.
During the year l visited the Sunday
schools In the country, and found them
fourishing under the management Of com
petent teachers. Sabine Field and the
school at Thunderbolt have received my at
tention. These schools are connected
with this church. l deplOre the sad con-
dition of the Wheat Hill Sunday School,
caused by the want of interest on the part
of the leader, and hope that the church
will take immediate steps to better the con-
dition Of the said Sunday school. | have
also organized, with the assistance Of j. II.
Brown, a school in Lovers Lane. There
are at present forty-ive scholars and five
teachers. Signs are cheering, and ere long
we trust that it will equal in numbers the
Sunday schools Of our city.
We have lost by death five scholars
They heard the summons from the skies,
And passed into Paradise