Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-30
Celebration of the Fifty-Sixth Anniver-
sary of Its OrganizatiOn-The Ex-
ercises Last Evening.

Z
of the altar was mass of flowers. Above
this the body was covered with moss and
evergreen. and at the top was a large
floral wreath, with the letter So in the
centre. Above all was a large crown.
The entire memorial was built Of flowers,
and was a beautiful tribute to the memory
! of an earnest and sincere labOrer in Chris
tian work.
The chancel was covered with bouquets
and emblems, and the church, brilliantly
illuminated, presented very attrac-
! tive appearance. The Sunday school
| scholars occupied the front pews opening
! from the main aisles and carried tthht.
school ban2e{ Fs al the front.
IH5 exercises were opened by singing
I Bringing in the Sheaves.' The hymn
/ s1GlOry be to Jesus Name was sung by
I the school and congregation. An apprO-
/ pirate Scripture lesson was read by the
pastor and was followed with chorus
/ from the infant class.
| The hymn. Gathering Home" was
| then sang and afterwards repeated by
| request. Prayer was offered and the
school and congregation joined in singing
| 81 left 1t all with Jesus"
The Superintendent, Mr.. c. W. West,
| then presented his annual report, showing
| the condition of the school, its membership,
\ and its accessiOns during the past year,
and its opportunities on the occasion OF
| its tifty-SiXth anniversary:
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
Another year brings with it the joyful
| occasion which we have so often met to
| celebrate. Fifty-siX years ago to-day our
! Sunday school was organized. 1t is SUBJ
! ject for mutual cOngratulatiOn that our
sessions have been uninterrupted, and
| that perfect harmony and unity prevails
all engaged i'm the good work feeling their
fInaff 1aN md "a 70
are multiplied.
1t is not our privilege to report large ac-
| cessiOns to the church from members dur
| ing the year, vet we feel that as these
| sheaves show the result of seed carefully
sOwn, so the truth impressed on youthful
hearts will likewise bring forth the
precious fruit, to reward those who go
/ forth bearing the seed. AS the Psalm
| beautifully expresses it: ''IIe who gOeth
forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed,
shall doubtless come again with rejOic-
ing, bringing his sheaYes with him."
We have enrolled 80 officers and teach
ers, 234 scholars; of the latter, 81 cOnsti-
tute the primary department. The aver
age notwithstanding the year through
has been 20 officers and teachers, 119
scholars and visitors.
The penny collections amount to 1882
| IS. OF this amount $50 was sent Brother
| James Evans, now studying for the minis
| try at Mercer University, SIG 30 to State
missions. Small amounts also have been
donated other benevolent objects.
Last fall we purchased a new library of
321 volumes, at cost of $3.50. The books
are larger and of better class than are
generally found in libraries of this kind.
1t is no easy matter from the large list IS
sued by the various publishing houses to
select Just those which are suitable for
this purpose. We feel under especial OBJ
| legations to our pastor and Brother ID. b.
Morgan for the time and pains devoted by
them to accomplish this object.
Our old library was divided into num-
Der of smaller ones, and given to sunday
schools in the country, principally those
in the bounds OF the New Sunbury AssO-
citation.
Reference to this subject brings wildly
to our loving remembrance he who for
so many years so faithfully performed the
duties of librarian, Brother W. ii.
Smith, who died last September. Few,
if any, equalled, and none eXcelled him
in punctuality and faithful attention to
the duties of his Otfice--wheneyer the
school was open he was in his place, al
ways cheerful. Jealous. persevering. We
miss him from his accustomed place, we
mourn his loss, we cherish his memory.
In behalf Of the school he loved so well,
let us place a fitting tribute from these
beautiful flowers on his silent resting
place.
The primary department of our school
is III a tlOurishing condition, ably con-
Quoted by Mrs. COtteT, assisted by Mrs.
Baker and Mrs. Wray, who take great
interest intheir work. The happy faces of
these children, as they follow their new
banner this evening, show their apprecia-
tiOn of these Sunday school privileges.
1t is a subject of regret that we cannot,
on the other hand. report a large and pros
porous adult department, surely Of
equal Importance as either prima-
ry or intermediate. Can our church
Sunday afternoons than in the study of
the Bible? Would that all felt the i'm
pOrtance of this privilege-fOr such it is,
to say nothing Of duty. If our whole
membership could be formed into Bible
classes on Sunday afternoons, then could
old and young clasp hands and say this is
indeed jubilee. Our adult class has
been reorganIzed, after being suspended
for several months. Most cordially do
we invite additions TO its membership.
Our school has been self-sustaining
financially. the ordinary expenses for peri
Odicals, books, etc., being about 500 a
year, which has been paid from the week.
iy contributions. This should not be the
case, for to encourage and stimulate the
spirit of beneYolence the collections
should all be devoted to charitable objects
the church really should support the
school.
The lesson selections for the past year,
have been from the books of Mark and the
Acts. On several occasions our pastor in
connection with them, has delivered APP
prOpriate addresses. selected from notes
taken when travelling through the Holy
Land, and which all have been highly APP
-,
Mount of Olives, then Bethlehem, Jerusa-
lem and other places, made sacred by the
SaviOur'S preSence-alsO picturing to us
Eastern customs, which do not change-as
frequently as those of this country.
In speaking of the sessions of our school
being without interruption during the
past year. exception should be made to
Sunday-that gloomy one, the last in JAN
uarv-When our pastor was on the sad
mission which carried him to his native
State. AS a school we sympathiZed deeply
with him, and shared feelings of sorrow
which words can feebly express.
As we complete another year and enter
upon new one, let us take courage. by
the success of the past, to undertake
greater things for the future, to enlarge
our field corporations, and to perfect our
plans for a more systematic and thorough
working of ground already possessed.
II
cordial cooperation of both officers and
teachers with the scholars, as all cheer
fully and with perfect accord endeavOr to
advance and build up the cause.
We thank the friends present this even
ing for the kind expression which so large
an audience gives, and will be still more
thankful if we can welcome you at our
regular sessions. Our motto is: place
for every one in the Sunday school.
At tn e conclusion of the Superintend-
ent's report the hymn 'AIeet Me at the
Fountain was sung. The pastor, Rev. j.
+. L. Holmes, then delivered the anniver-
sarv address, during his discourse allud-
ing to the history of the school and refer
ring to the great field for Sunday school
work and Christian labor. The address
was deeply interesting, and was listened
to with close attention by both young and
old.
At its close the school and con-
gregation again joined in singing the
hvmn 1--WE Shall VIM" and were dis
missed with the benedictiOn.
The exercises throughout were inter-
esting. and showed the great good that
is being developed in that wide field of
Christian labOr-the Sunday school.
The Nashville Drill.
The Nashville drill is looked forward to
with a great deal of interest by the mill
in, bn