The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-24
a MODEL SUNDAY SCHOOL.
How John wanamaker Carries on
Sunday School Of Over Two rhous-
and Members.

tive of the REPUBLICAN falling to find |
a cool spot In the city, jumped on TIN |
1924 p. m. express, 3. 4 O. Railroad
from Delaware Avenue station. and at |
p. m. he was ut Twenty-fourth and |
Chestnut streets. The thought struck |
him that he would pay visit to John |
Wanamaker's big Sunday school at
though the school could not be expect |
cd to be very large such q sweltering
hot day as yesterday was.
A street car at Twenty-flrst and
Chestnut and transfer at Pine, soon
brought us within q square Of the
place. Before us we saw large gray,
square building with numerous offsets
and doors all around it. Over one of
the doors was Sign of free medi-
cal dispensary, and over another door
was the sign of boys club room
from to g. and from 7 to 8, every
Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday even
lngs. 1t was now 1.30 p. IN, and doors
and gates were all tightly closed and
locked. A straggler was seen here and
there standing against tree box as II
waiting for the place to open. Beside
this building stood large church
built of the same kind OF stone?
We naturally thought that the doors
OF Sunday school room, where over
1000 persons attended school, would
| be opened an hour ahead of time, and
we could go in and take cosy seat
incog and watch all that transplred.
The great number of doors around the
building made us think that this must
be.the place, and yet We were not cer-
tain. policeman standing with one
the difficulty. To him we went and
said:
please sir, can you tell us where
Wanamakers big Sunday school is2
Oh yes" he politely said, "this is the
building; school will open Mt $50 and
the doors will be thrown open at 2.l5."
We ventured TO say that we thought
there would be more people around
waiting TO get in.
He said In reply that they did not
want them In before near the time
aud everybody knew exactly when to
Gomez
We then went around to the front
and leaned against shade tree, when
a man came up and finding we were
a stranger. told us allabout Wanamak-
or, what a great man ha WAS, and how
mich he had done for the people of
that section of the city; how that
BainbridRe street, formerly Shlppen
A ouce noted for Vice and disorder, was
now as much noted for good order
and morality,
While talking an elderly and a
younger gentleman came up. Said
the elderly gentleman: This will all
be in the REL UBLICAN tomorrow, |
reckon"
We were surprised, and said: WHAT
do you know about me-
| "Dont you know Williamson OF
Newark" said he, land this is my son,
Introducing the young man.
"Oh yes, | know you, glad to sec
you we replied.
Still no doors were opened. We were
informed that Mr.. Wanamaker had not
been presenter the last three Sundays
but he would certainly be here to day,
as his carriage Just passed along TWEEN
ty-third street.
2.l5 O'Clock came and the doors al
around the building llew open as If by
magic. We were pointed up u flight oil
stairs and an usher seated us in tho
y visitors gallery.
We now had chance to take view
of the surroundings. Right down be-
fore me was n raised floor back to the
| rear, with steps every ten feet; on this
floor were eight rows of semi-circulal
class benches. very plain. In each seat
were three chairs. Each class circle
would hold ten persons. There were
ten class circles in each row. making
50 in all, or seating for 500 scholars
Away lack TO the rear of tile class
circles were Bible class rooms that
! held 300 more, To tho right from the
Suprrintendent's desk under the al.
covos was an infant boys department
that held 200. To the left under the
alcoyes was an infant girls depart
ment that held 200 more.
. | Il .. - -
sat his orchestra of eight pieces to thu
rear sat the organist, and 10 his lief
sat his choir. Back farther to the rea
were chairs for 200 more bible elias
scholur5. 70 the right and to the let
! on second corridor, was room for 30
moro bible class scholars, and up In TN
third corridor room lor30O more, NiiiI
> right In front but back of the visitor
was room for 800 mere. Besides Ties,
class rooms We're numbered commit
, tee rooms in the offsets,
= In the centre Of the room was
= fountain sending up its sSeams Ii
l graceful curves to fail in IL large basI
= below. Everything was In the piaiHrs
kind at style and yet comfortable
: Such wRs the sight thnt greeted us
: There were very few in the buildin.
y when we entered, but persons comm,
In from numerous doors all arDunl
the place, soon began to buzz an
dazzle with lie.
4 40 O'Clock the place was about had
u fully which was considered GOO
= Attendance for such hot day. ia
= superintendent Assistant put Lis foo
U on Il treadlr md bell IN one of tn
balconies rang silence.
II Here stopped in John Nanamakei
q the superintendent OF the school
. tramp on the treaile and another rim.
The school was becoming silent
mameut5 wait ami Mr.. NHnamakt
Clapped his hands three tiraes. I'll
school BECAME as silent rs the giavi
Thu 18th hymn, said the snpalintel
don't, AMI orchestra organ. choir an
school sSeiied the chorus Ci son!
The girls sing the verso next 20 Il
last and tho boys SIM; the last.
Whit has God iano fur lis durin
Z the wGelts' ASKED 5Ir. Wauama6e
Then followed hymn appropriate
the question.
~ hat ititgo you To shy In favor of
N Christian lille, asked Mir. AaHumake
! Tine answer was given In appropriti
song.
"Givr reason Why Christians al
- hhpny, said Mr.. NauHuARef. Ih5 a
swCr was given IN song.
''iIlc infant girls sang, For Cod
l.. everywhere" the ininnt bags sang.
'c; find il 10
he How Is with the happy Christina
asked Mr.. Nanm1aker The answ
came In the hymn. ''IruslIng jess
efeTy duT.a
Jhgu tane the feaGirg ofthe gold
to text OF the lesson; Lord cNerm0
~ ri "a ils tl!f,s IlAatl 5 phft ypol r.,,,,Fi