Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-06-19
4 RED-LETTER DAY

IN THE BAPTIST SUNDAY sCHooL-How THE
45TH ANNIVERSARY WAS CELEBRATED LAST
SUNDAY.
The 45th anniversary Of the Baptist Sun.
day school was day long to be remembered
by the members of the school and all inter.
ested ones. Forty FIVE years ago, in hall in
building occupying the present site of A.
V. Cox Il CO.. store, few Baptists gathered
and formed a Sunday school in connection
with the then infant church. For htile
time Rev. Joseph Freeman, who still lives
and occasionally breaches in Vermont, ~ pas
tor Of the church had charge of the school
but was soon succeeded in both offices by the
Rev Moses Field, who in 1912 yielded tina
superintendency to Jacob Estey. Since tbst
time the school has had II different superin.
tendents, the last incumbent being Col. J. J.
Estey, who retired in April last after six years
Of service, and was succeeded by the present
superintendent, l.. W. Hawley, under whose
lead the anniversary exercises Of last Sunday
were planned and carried out. The whole
day was given up 10 its observance, and the
faces Of all who wendell their way to the
church in tho morning batokened lively in.
terest in the occasion. In both the morning
and evening services the primary department
numbering about 80, occupied raised seats ON
the platform behind the preacher and in front
OF the choir. The church wore a gala-day
look, and it was the universally ex pressed
opinion that never had il been az tastefnlly.
elegantly and deliberately trimmed AZ on this
occasion. There was no straining for display.
but quiet, refined tone to the whole The
gallery at the front end of the church was
edged with potted ferns of wondrous growth
and bouquets Of beautiful flowers, extending
the whole width of the church. Ia the hooks
and corners in the vestibule and at the ascent
OF the stairs we're seen ferns and rich spruces
while, az If TO make one feel at ease from the
very moment OF entrance, the word "Wel-
come, in green and white, was suspended in
the lower hall. Entering the main audience
room, the scene was enhancing large
fern with bouquet on either side adorned
each window; mammoth wreaths we're hung
in each panel between the windows a row
of horse-chestnut blossoms edged the entire
circular front of the platform enlarged for
the occasion); an arch Of 8 feet spread and
~ to 10 feet high, on either side and above
the pulpit, WAS boTdeFed with evergreen and
adorned with filling Of daisies, while ferns
and flowers were seen at intervals on the plat
form. Altogether the decorations reflected
great credit upon the very efficient committee
having them in charge.
The morning sermon by Rev. F. E. Tower
was from the text SHOW thyself a mani
Kings, H. ?. The main points brought out
we're:
LIST. Have a high ideal or aim
I'd. Have fixed principles.
Sd. Do not fear self denial.
4th. Maintain unconqueTRble fidelity
These points were illustrated and enforced
in such a way as to hold wonderfully the at
tention Of the whole school-who were seat
ed by classes each teacher with his or her
clasa-as we'll as Of the whole audience
The evening service consisted OF exercises
uNaAu A.. A.
with such constant variety, piquancy aud ev-
ident careful preparation that the time passed
all too quickly, although the session was an
hour and half long. feature of special
interest was the singing of hymn, the words
and music OF which were composed for this
anniversary by the associate superintendent,
j. Il. Hall, whose efforts have been unwea-
ried in infusing new life and energy into this
branch OF the work. Another member of the
school, Mrs. l. o. P. Smith, read an original
poem written for the occasion.
The audience was given TO understand by
the superintendent, Mr.. Hawley, that to Mrs
Tower the other associate superintendent
they were indebted for the central and chief
exercise OF the evening" which WAS so beau
ufully and impressively rendered by the score
or more of girls and boys-with fine recits-
tions by Misses Chase, Rose and Brasor
titled Rock of Ages"
The singing by the whole school Of the
special music, which was extremely bright
and inspiring, was supplemented by the beau
tiful singing of a little melody "Alvays
Cheerful, by two boys and two very small
girls, all from the family of Mr.. A. Booth.
Rarely are such sweet and harmonious voices
met with. Letters from former pastors. su.
perintendents and friends of tho school, now
far away, were read, and altogether it was
most enjoyable time 10 ALL
We understand the library fund is increas-
cd about $50 by the collection which was tax.
en- up. The school now numbers about 800.
with present average attendance of about
$50.