The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-06-16
CIIILDREN'S DAY.
A FEAST OF POETRY, MUSIC AND
FLOWERS.
The Services at the Elkton M. E. Church
A Gala Day for the Little Ones
of the Sunday School.

Sabbath last, would be difficult to conceive
of. The bright sunshine glstened and
sparkled upon the dew drops upon flower
and leaf, and the balmy atmosphere, gave
added life to all animated creation. All ma
ture seemed to be in n perfect thrill of de-
light. 1t was one of those mornings when
one feels it joyous thing to live. The
birds caroled even more sweetly than usual,
and the quiet hush of the Sabbath falling
over all, made 1t IA time for perfect enjoy
ment.
AS the sun mounted towards the zenith,
crowds Of persons, young and old, could be
seen tending in the direction of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, on East Main street,
and the most careless observer could not
fail to note that something out of the usual
| course of events was about to transpire
there. At the hour appointed for the be-
ginning of the cnildren's day service, the
house was filled with admiring and expect
ant spectators; and we'll they might admire
for more beautiful sight than there pre-
| Sented is rarely seen. The front portion of
! the church was one mass OF most beautiful
| ii'"piS VI CNCi PUN, ldllSti III
tistic designs.
The first feeling upon looking upon the
scene, was one of wonder at the immense
quantity of flowers, and secondly of admira-
| ton of their beauty and harmonious ar
rangement. The pulpit recess was COM
pletely banked in by Il wall of fragrant
beauties, two or three feet deep, and within
this circle, upon seats arranged in tiers, sat
scores of bright and happy little girls, mem
bers of the infant class, connected with the
Sabbath School. Upon each side of the re-
cess immense floral columns arose touching
the gas jets above, each surmounted with
large wreath. In the centre of the base
wall stood large floral harp supporting
wreath, in whose centre was fixed a large
star all of flowers, and from numerous
points were snSpened pretty designs in
basket fashion. The main body of Sunday
School scholars occupied the six front and
side seats.
At the hour named service was opened
by the pastor of the church, Rev. Mr.. Shep-
pard, reading the one hundred and twenty
second psalm, followed by the hymn "We-
come to All, with organ and piano accom-
paniment, and prayer Mr. Sheppard then
read the third chapter of Proverbs, ut the
close OF which the members of the Sabbath
School joined the minister in reading, re-
>ponsively, the twelfth chapter of Romans
This was followed by the hymn, Thanks
be to God,' when that-to Il Methodist con-
gregation-well-know little implement,
the collection plate, was passed around.
while this was being done Il uIartette, con-
Sisting of Miss Fannie Jones, soprano; Miss
BERTHE Sheppard, alto; Mr.. Asher Scott,
tenor and Mr.. John +. Davis, baSso, very
prettily rendered . Lead me gently home,
Father, IA fine piece of music, well executed,
and greatly enjoyed by the large audience.
Rev. Mr.. Sheppard then delivered the ser
mon of the occasion, taking for his text
Luke ri: II" Good will to men,
After speaking of the benevolence AMI
good will of God towards men, and illus
trating by numerous appropriate references,
the speaker said:
Children's Day. with its pleasant
accomplishments is now observed generally
throughout the church, even in such remote
places as Idaho, California, Missions of
Mexico, European countries, and in India
and China. The fund commenced during
the centennial year 2 lS66, now amounts
to SllJ, 00a, and there has been paid away
nearly as much in behalf of its object
With regard to its history it is one of the |
results OF the centennial year lsG6,-that is |
the centennial year OF tue church'S history |
IN America, Capt. Webb and others having |
formed class and built ii church in New |
York in l166. y fund for the Board of !
Education was created in 1866. The organ
ization was completed in the General Con- |
ference of 1868 i'll Chicago, and it was urged |
that collections should be taken in behalf of |
the Board OF Education, yearly, on the
second Sunday of June, which day should |
be known ;,s 'Children, Day"
But what is its object" | answer: The
helping of Christian students, struggling
with poverty, most of whom have the work |
OF the ministry before them as their cher
ished purpose-though Christian Young
men and young women from our Sabbath |
schools desiring to be thoroughly fitted by
advanced education for the work of life it
proposes to help. The board says to worthy
young men hungering and thrsting for
knowledge, "Goto school and we will help
you" And it only proposes to help. 1t
does not propose To do all the work for them.
r.
\ minister now eminently successful and
useful was helped by the board at one of the
schools. Saturday mornings he might have
been seen selling oysters by the quart or
gallon through the town to the citizens, or
saving and splitting wood and throwing il
into the celtars-thuS suppleInenting what
the board allowed him. \ year ago he
carried away one of the fiirest daughters of
that beautiful town as his wife, and h. de-
served her, for he had made Il man of him
self
The Board Of Education has expended
nearly 500, 600 since its organization, and
has bel ped over eighteen hundred students,
most OF whom are now preaching the Cos
pei.
In conclusion ii was urged that the Mt
most attention should be given to the de-
Ntlopment and culture of the moral nature.
y brilliant Intellect Splendidly cultured,
with depraved and neglected soul, NAV
prove II curse and not 4 blessing. And by
illustrations it was shown that children at
an early age may he brought to Jesus and
hopefully converted
AT the close of Mr. Sheppard's remarks,
the infant class, made up of the youngest
members of the school, under the direction
of their teacher, Miss Hattie Lort enter
tanned the audience with song, enter
ing itIo Ii Will most unDOunutl energy.
The collection of the day, collection No. >,
for the Board of Education was then taken
up, and while the plates were passing
around Rev. Mr.. Sheppard announced the
evening service, with Messrs. w. j. Jones
and George a. Blake As speakers, and nomi-
mated +. a. Ellis, Esq, as chairman of the
occasion. After the collection was con-
cluded the service closed with hymn and
the benediction.
EVENING SERVICE
Began at eight o'clock, with a much larger
congregation present than in the morning. |
In fact the church was crowded from pull |
pit to gallery, and many persons were forced |
to remain without. The services opened |
with a hymn by the school, led by Miss
Terrell, and prayer by Daniel Harvey, Esq. |
BY request the quartette of the morning
was repeated, and greatly enjoyed by the |
large audience. Miss Eva Perkins sang in |
her usual effective manner, a very pretty |
solo, to her own accompaniment. The |
school, led by Messrs. NJ. Terrell, Fannie |
Jones, Berthe Sheppard, Mary Harvey and |
Messrs. VIM. Terrell, John r. Davis and |
Asher Scott, sang another piece, when the |
chairman, +. \. Ellis, ESD, introduced q. |
y. Blake, Esq. Unfortunately, at about |
the time Mr. Blake arose to speak, IA thun- |
der storm that had been threatening all the |
naI nj IN