Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-15
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN.
Interesting Anniversary Exercises at
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THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN.
Interesting Anniversary Exercises at
Wesley Monumental Church Last
Night.
Wesley Monumental Church was
crowded last night upon the occasion Of
the anniversary exercises Of the Sunday
school. The seats, aisles, class
rooms and vesdbule were filed, and
many were unable to obtain admittance at
all, and listened TO the exercises while
standing outside the windows. The
auditorium was attractively decora-
ted. Above the pulpit platform was net
work scroll with the inscription IN letters
Of evergreen. ''Of such is the Kingdom OF
Heaven" Over the front Of the platform
suspended from the ceiling was a crown
of evergreens: upon the wall on one side
Of the platform were the figures 'llo4.
the date Of the founding Of Method
ism. and on the other side ''1SS4." the
year which will be made a memorable
one in the celebration Of the Centenary
Of Methodism. The chandeliers were
trimmed with moss and roses. and IN the
library room in the rear of the pulpit,
which was filed with elevated seats and
occupied BY the infant class, fes-
tOOns Of moss and flowers
made a beautiful canopy above the
bright and happy little faces. The
superintendent, Mr. C. H. Dorsett, KEY
W. VI. HAYES. pastor Of the church, r. b.
Reppard. ESQ. and the officers Of the
school were seated inside the altar rail.
The exercises were opened with the song
Wake. wake the song! our glad jubilee,
Once more We hail with sweet melody,
Bringing our hymns Of praise unto Thee,
o most holy Lord!
Praise for Thy care BY day and By night.
Praise for the homes BY love made 50 bright;
Thanks for the pure and the soul-cheering
BeamiBg from Thy word.
The scripture lesson was read by the
pastor, after which the song, "Ofer Unto
God Thanksgiving" was sung.
The pastor offered feryent prayer, In
voking the divine blessing upon the
school, its officers and members, and upon
their efforts.
The Superintendent, Mr.. G. H. Dorset,
then read his annual report, as follows:
The faithful and efficient Secretary of the
school. MIR. David c. Carson. furnishes me
with the following facts from his books:
Members Of the infant department .- O.
Members Of the Bible and intermediate
classes. -
Teachers. 81
Omcers
Total membership So
The total membership Of the church is. in
round numbers, 400. During the year we have
held sessions every Sabbath, with q large av
erage attendance, showing an increase in this
particular and IN the total membership over
any previous year.
We have lost one Of our number by death.
Matte Mickler died on the % Of the present
month. Though quite young, she had been a
member Of this school for years. She loved
the school, and was never absent from IL when
ii was possible for her to come. Her removal
at so tender an age has saddened our hearts.
but in the '.land that isfairer than this she
is making sweeter music than she ever heard
here. and she Is experiencing the fulnliment
OF the promise made by the Master that we
shall see Him as He is. and be Ike unto Him.
Judging By the standard Of members, dis
ciplIne, and the amount Of interest displayed
by its members. we have a successful school.
That seems to be its reputation IN sunday
school circles. Our people seemed to be
pleased with its successes. In comparison
with our church membership we probably
have the largest school in the city. The
younger portion Of our congregation appear
10 find the school q pleasant place in
which to spend their sunday afternoons.
The older members OF the church seem 50
well satisfied with its mlnistratlons that they
are not willing 10 help to make 1t any better.
notwithstanding all these signs OF apparent
approval. |, as the Oyerseer Of this nock, carry
about with me a consciousness that the stand
ard Of sunday school work, which WIll meet
the approval OF the Master. is not being at
taIned-the education Of scholars in that
Bible knowledge which viii lead them TO lives
Of holiness is the work we have undertaken 10
do. ANY attainment short OF this, any system
that does not have this as its aim and result.
is a failure and q sinful waste OF time and
energy. The fear is with me all the time that
the modern sunday school eXpends too much
OF its strength in appliances. l fear that the
results attained are not the possibilities OF the
work. The remedy can only be found in
gro 1Ha- HV - an al
officers and teaChers-a more constant impOr
tunate demand upon the treasury OF heaven
for larger drafts OF true knowledge and
Christian zeal.
The song The Praise Of Jesus Nance
was then sang. and was followed by a re-
citation by fourteen little children com.
posing the infant class. The school sang
at its conclusion the song "ZiOn Of Jul
dea,v after which was recitation entitled
The Centenary Hymn" by Josie Jones.
The infant class sang very sWeetly an ap-
prOpriate song, after which eleven little
girls recited a piece entitled ''String of
Gems and Pearls" This was followed
by another song by the infant class.
Mamie jackson very prettlly reclted
''The Sparrow" The school sang the
song ''No Passport" which was followed
by the recitation ''Consider the Lilies"
by nine girls. The poem "NOne Other
Name.v BY Rev. Timothy Harley, for
merly pastor of the Baptist Church, was
beautifully recited by Sallie Kline.
- Beautiful Heaven, My Home" was
was then sung, when three little girls re-
cited the piece, ''Try US, Lord, another
year." This was followed by the song,
''Shout Halleluiah" and the recitation,
"The Outcast," prettily reclted by Mittie
Courvoisie. After this Miss Susie Elkins
reeited, "a Scene from the Garden of
Gethsemane."
The concluding part OF the programme,
and one Of its most interesting features,
was an address by A. Pratt Adams, the
little Agar old son Of 5. B. Adams, Esq,
who stood by the side of his father, and
looking over the audience, began in a
wonderfully developed voice: "YOu would
scarce expect one of my age, only years
old, to address you tonight" etc. Master
Adams was followed by JOSIE Dorset, the
little Observation-Disclosures old daughter OF
Mr.. c. II. Dorsett, who delivered the vale
dictory in a very sweet little voice. Both
Of these features Of the exercises were a
surprise to the audience who read upon the
programme: Address by A. Pratt Adams
and Valedictory by J. F. DOrsett. The
DOXOlOgy was then sung, and the benedic-
ton was pronounced by the pastor
The exercises were in every way in
teresting, and the singing was admirable.
The excellence in this part Of the pro-
gramme was due greatly to the efforts of
the chOrister, Mr.. II. Fl. Sasnett, and the
Organist, Miss N. +. Wheeler.