Morning journal and courier., 1882-09-16
A Notable Gathering.

Fifty Years of Sunday School work-A semi-CentenniaI-Aem Of the Past The schuol of the Past, Present and Future.
 The Sunday School Union of the Wethers field, Newington, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Ken other schools celebrated their fiftieth ami versary at New Britain this week, R. A. Robins of Wethersfeld. president, John A. Wizard of New Britain, secretary. The day was spent in recalling the Sunday school memories of the past, discussing the present and comparing it with the past and the pros poets of the future. Among those present at the meetings in 1882 aud 1882 were Levi Deming Isaac Burritt Titus Penfeld, John G. North (of this clty), N. Lee and wife, Mrs, Alfred Andrews, Mrs. Norman Hart, mother of Rev. Burdett Hart (of Fair Haven). The morning session devoted to the hearing of statistics from the schools of the union and comparing notes of the passing years. Addresses by John G. North of New
 Haven, Rev. E N Andrews of Chicago, Rev. W. s. Hatch or West Hartford and Rev. Mir. Jones were made in the afternoon. M r. North was assigned to speak of the Sunday schools of the past. Among the many facts and incidents given by him quote some ] which will be interesting to the public at large, viz.
 The first record of Sunday school in thi s country was in Roxbury, Mass, Nov 6, 1874. The Plymouth church, in Plymouth, Mass, organized their Sunday school in 1880. Several schools were formed in 1GSS.
 The Hfrst school where authentic, definite and detailed accounts were given extending over long period was that of Mir Hackus in Lancaster. Penn, early as 1747. The place where the school was held for about thirty years was that taken for soldiers hospital during the revolutionary war. Rob- ert Rake, we all know, was the first to or ganize Sunday sch ools, where several teach ar,orl thnr 0Io oap1, 1 fined to individuals and one place. After Rakes founded his first school among the 1 poor and outcast, with the endorsement of | such men as Wilberforce. John Wesley and l George Whitefield, in less than four years l over 25O ,OOO children were gathered and | taught in Sunday schools in England. Then | only the poor and the children of the poor were subjects for Sunday schools. The first 1 Sunday school where teachers were paid was | formed in London in 1795, but the London | Sunday School Union was formed in 1903 on | the union plan, including all denominations, l when the voluntary system of unpaid teach CTS was adopted. The first day school or | Sunday school union in Philadelphia was or l ganized in 179l with Bishop White as presi
 dent. The first sch~&@ formed in New York 1 were by Mir and Mrs Divie Bethune and Mrs.
 Isabella Graham in 1903, one at the house of | Mrs. Leech in Mott street and one in the | almshouse and one for adult scholars. It Is ! stated that Mrs. Graham opened the first 1 Sunday school ill Greenwich, Ct. in 1Sl4. A
 school was opened in Pawtucket, R. l., in | 1797. boy then in attendance is now liv- | ing and is still connected with the school
 Mrs. Amos Tappan started Sunday school l in Portsmouth, N. H., in 1903. The Broad
 way Baptist school in Baltimore was
 organized in 1904 and is said
 to be in operation now. School.
 were formed in many parts of this country
 from 1907 to 1909 by enterprising churches,
 but were not fully appreciated until 1874, 1 '15 and '16, when great numbers were added
 to the churches from the Sunday schools anC
 it was then well understood that the school
 was the "nursery of the church." In 1S1t
 the first and oldest union in the State of New
 York was formed in New York city
 The union still exists, though Brook
 lyn has now one of its own
 and at it's last anniversary on May day hac
 over 50, 900 scholars in the procession. IT | Willington, Ct., June 9, 1915, Sunday
 school was started by the labors of Rev. H
 Loomis, father of Prof. Loomis, of Yal
 College. No question books or lesson papers
 were used in those days. The scholars wer
 catechism, ten commandments and in tn recitation of scripture and hymns Ther
 were no library books at that time.
 In 1919 Rev. Dr. Tyng, with two youn
 ladies for teachers, decided to invite childrer
 of all classes to Sunday school to b 1 formed in Quincy, Mass, and to his surpris
 about fifty came. Two young mon were ad 8 ded as teachers and the school was com
 menced. The first boy whose name was ts 8 ken at the opening of that school became
 distinguished minister of the gospel On
 of the male teachers gave his life to foreig
 ] missionary work. Another school organize