Middletown transcript., 1886-03-05
missionary Anniversary at the Meth

4
odist Church.
The twenty-eighth anniversary Of the
Missionary Society OF the Methodist Epis,
conal church was celebrated on Monday
evening. A large audience was in attend
ance as the scholars filed IN from the room 2
below. and when the school was seated
the church was well filled.
The programme was divided into hVe
parts. and these parts were preceded oy
an opening chorus, prayer py the pas
tor and a sweet chorus by the little ones
the primary class. Following these in
troductory exercises came the hve parts
above mentioned with titles as follows :;
"sad Tidings-The Fall of Man J" Glad
Tidings-A Saviour Born;' heoeihp-
tive Tidings-Man's Redemption' oenu.
ING the Tidings-The Great Commission ~
and aTidings from the World-Bringlng
in the sheaves. This part OF the pro-
pramme consisted of singing and respon-
sive readings.
At the close of part " the messages
from the Classes we're given showing
how much money each class hao contrib
uted to the causes of home ana foreign
missions during the year. The total lor
home missions. S102.01; the total Tor Ior-
eign missions, S25S.O4; making total ior
both causes contributed by the school OF
ss6O.O5. TThe school and church combined
this year give S4OO to foreign missions'I
The singing was good throughout ana
the instrumental music was also eAcei-
lent: and the responsive readings ciear
and distinct. But the most interesting
and pretty part of the programme was IN
part v Bringing in the Sheaves." Inir-
teen little girls appropriately dressed anu
wearing blue sashes upon which were
placed i'm gilt letters the names OF the
several mission fields of the church' anu
each little girl bearing shear OF "neat
were ranged upon the platform IN .he
front of which was erected an arch ana
cross. AS her turn came each one stepped
to the front of the platform and recited
short paragraph in which was given tne
results of the work in the field she rep
re iented during the year. This done, sne
placed her sheaf at the foot of the cross
and returned to her place in the line; ana
so on until all the thirteen sheaves had
been placed at the foot of the cross. Tnen
another little girl stepped forth and re-
citing appropriate words bound the whole
aoouL with broad blue ribbon upon
which was printed the word :" Faith" II
was indeed an instructive and beautiful
picture when complete.
After more singing and collection,
Rev. J. Beers, of the Episcopal church
gave short characteristic talk, in which
he expressed surprise and qualification at
the large contribution of the school for
missions, and after some other pleasant
things, wished Rev. Mr.. Stengle, the re-
firing preacher from the charge, Godspeed
on his new mission and much reward for
his labors in his new field. This, with
singing and the benediction, closed the
exercises of the evening.
There was one other speech, not down
on the programme and consequently
nearly overlooked in this account of the
doings. This we would not have happen for
Master John Carroll, in few
well chosen words and with much ease of
man ner presented Mrs. Stengle with
copy of +" Household Encyclopedia of Poe
try as a mark of esteem on the part
of the little ones of the school and
as a souvenir of her work here and
the high regard her little scholars
have for her.
While the officers of the school say
there was no attempt on their part at an
elaborate entertainment, they nevertheless
most admirably in pleasing
every one presant. IF expressions of de-
light and satisfaction go for anything at
all, we do not think the exercises could
have been very much improved upon
had they made the attempt.