The Russellville Democrat., 1889-08-01
HISTORICAL ESSAY.

HISTORICAL ESSAY. On, or about the 18th of July 1889, Caleb Davis, John Davis, H Bennefield, J. B. s. Ewing, Thomas Wade and others, according to previ ous appointment, met near the end o Caleb Davis lane at the only schoo house in Gum Log Valley, for the purpose of organizing Sunday school.
 The main object at that time was to break up Sabbath breaking. The settlers had come from various states and they were under no restraint footloose, as it were. There being no trade, except in peltry and snake root, the men spent Sunday as they did other days, hunting deer, and the women in digging snake-root for a livelihood.
 The Sunday school was organized by electing Caleb Davis superintend ent and J. c. Copeland secretary. We had large field of usefulness open to us and but little to work it with. Our literature consisted of three Bibles, five New Testaments, three hymn books and Webster's s blue back spelling book, for thirty five scholars,
 Sunday school was new and quite novel thing; hence the whole neighborhood came out. The little school house was brought to it's ut most capacity at once. Those out side were eager to see what was do ing in the school. They wanted to know how Sunday school looked when it was organized.
 Classes were formed and teachers were appointed. The Bible and New Testament classes would recite as follows: One would read verse and hand the book to his nearest neigh bor for him or her to read verse and so on until chapter had been read. The teachers were required to explain portions of what they had read. Sometimes they would disa- gree, but that did not amount to much.
 It was then like it was in the days of Job, Satan went along and was very officlous. He has never grown weary of working against the Sunday school in these fifty years, nor has he been ashamed of himself in the least. I think Satan desired to do with this School as he wished in the case of Peter, that is, "To sift it as wheat" But, God be praised, He has had His hand over the school the whole time, Satan bucked all the while.
 Right here let me tell little incl dent: Our secretary, J. c. Copeland was one of the main Sunday hunters. About the third Sunday after he be- came secretary we held class meet ing, he professed religion and shout ed praises to God. From that day on we heard but few reports from the rifles resoundlng in the mount ans of Gum Log on the Sabbath day.
 We had poor show for the want of literature. Until 1854 we had to manage according to circumstanc- es, sometimes up and sometimes down. Sometimes we took vacation to meet other circumstances. But our school kept up all the officers, electing them annually. When our publishing house was established, our school began to rise and prosper, both in numbers and interest, until it hoisted It's banner for victory. Sa- tan still was bucking.
 Our presiding elders and preach CTS in charge, with few exceptions, have been a source of great help and blessing to the school. Oh, how 1t would cheer us to have them all present on this occasion!
 As we could not run the school very we'll without music books, we sent to New York h l849 for sup ply of "Carmina Sacra." Then in 1854 we obtained quite number of Sun day School Hymn Books, which was quite refreshing to our school. In 1865 we procured the "Amaranth, " the Gem" in 1870, next, "New Life, "Grace and Glory" the Gospel Hymns" and last, but not least, we have the "New Life No. g." These are the music books that have been used in the school these fifty years, a copy of each of which we have on Ale. AS for other school books we have not been spsring-new testa ments, question books and catechisms too numerous to mention.
 Be it rememb bered that our school has not taken winter quarters in near twenty years, before we had nc house suitable for winters use.
 The New Testament has been read through or times in school, and the Old Testament nearly through before the International Lessons were issued; since their appearance we have used them, and we regard them as a great advantage, and ust them to profit.
 We have gwen brief statemeni of the workings of our school for if ty years; now, we wish to give some of the results. There are two points to make:
 First, The religious training o the pupils and the results. w have so trained them as to see then profess religion and join some churci at from ten to fourteeen years of age with but very few exceptions. Very few ever gave back, in fact, non' while they remained in the school At this time I know not whethe