Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-11-09
VESTS QUARTO-CENTENNIAL
The Sunday-school's Twenty
fifth Anniversary.
ITS DELIGHTFUL CELEBRATION
The Church Thronged and
Most Beautifully Decorated.
A silver Jubilee Celebrated i'm n Fitting
Misunderstanding Facts About the
Organizations. superintendent Charles
Baird Presented with u Bible.

Baird Presented with a Bible.
Seldom has West Church contained
larger audience or presented prettier
scene than itd did last night week. The oc.
casion was the 25th anniversary Of the
Sunday-school and the event was cele-
brated in delightful manner The
spacious auditorium was thronged and
richly adorned. The older scholars oc.
cupied the front pews and the primary
department filled large platform in
the northwest corner of the room. The
decorations were magnificent. The pull
pit was skirted with palms and chrysan-
themums and the alcove banked with
similar plants. The arch was draped
with blue, pink and white bunting,
plated and resembling drawn curtains.
Across the drapery was white streamer
inscribed, "There remaineth yet very
much land to be possessed" The side
of the platform was decorated with
autumn leaves and the organ was
adorned with chrysanthemums. On the
west wall were two large American flags.
Smaller flags and autumn leaves orna-
mented the gas fixtures. The pulpit
seats were occupied by Charles Baird,
who has been superintendent of the
school % years, E, 7. Taylor and the
Revs. William p Swartz, Lafayette
Marks, d. D., and A. N. Keigwin. Mr..
Baird presided and ]. T. Clymer led the
singing. l.. T. Wilson was organist and
Frank Sheppard cornetist
The exercises began with the hymn
'Happy Voices" Next the school said
the Lords prayer, after which it recited
the 23d Psalm. "Sweetly Sing the Love
of Jesus" was next sung, and a selection
by the primary department, Jesus is
Keeping Me" followed.
Superintendent Baird's annual report
was decidedly interesting He said in
part;
When this church was organized 1t was
thought by those Interested that it was
| needed Time has proved this to be true.
| Churches like individuals have history
peculiar to themselves and the circum-
stance surrounding the commencement of
church enterprises differ. So the history
of this church has peculiar interest TO US
and is in some degree interesting to others.
During the % years the school has raised
and disbursed about $4,000. We have dur
ing these years maintained good library
and at present it is in good condition,
numbering about $50 volumes A large
number of the accessions to the church
membership have come from the school.
Our roll of membership Is as follows;
Five officers, 46 teachers, 1856 scholars, a
total of 1877. The average attendance dur
ing the year was 1888. The largest number
present at one time was March 18th, when
we numbered 5l5. The smallest attendance
was August 10Th, when 70 were present.
We have collected during the year S49I.09.
OF this amount S2l6 was paid to the mis-
sionary cause and the balance to the cur
rent expenses Of the school. =
He referred feelingly to the death of
George X. Crozier, Viola Leach and
Florence j. Strayhorn, who died during
the year, and in conclusion urged dill
gence in the effort to do good.
, The next hymn was ITO the High
, ways" Miss Mollie Bonner read o
poem which was written for the occa.
sion by Miss Matte Bonner In memory
: of the scholars who died during the
! year quartet and chorus, "Waiting at
! the Door," was sung. The quartet
: was composed of Miss Meggitt, Mrs. w.
A. White, Mr.. Clymer and H. c. Taylor
and the chorus consisted of West
! Church choir. Next the quartet sang
. "He Shall Feed His Flock" after which
the school sang "The Harvest"
. Mr. Swartz, who is pastor of Central
, Church, was introduced as the repre-.
sentative of the mother of the school.
He directed his remarks to the children
: and impressed upon them the impor.
, lance of hiding Gods word in theiI
D hearts. He advocated the memorizing
of scripture and said one fault of the
lesson leaves is they shove the Bible Out
of the children's hands. Following the
hymn "Mondrous Grace" collection
Q was taken.
DR.. Marks, who is pastor of Hanover
Church, was introduced as the represen
tative of the grandmother Of the school
He likened the Bible unto a lamp and
. said we are living in world of mora
: darkness and need the light of Gods
7 word.
/, The next speaker, r. S. Shultz, spoke
! of Mr.. Baird's fidelity to the school
Y and, on behalf of the officers ant
!, teachers, presented him with an elegan
Bible. The recipient made appropriat,
: response to the presentation speech.
7 Mr.. keigwin said the great aim OF thu
! school is to teach the Bible, and recon-
7. mended the memorlzing of scripture
6 lie commended the fidelity of tn,
teachers and the work of the scholars
T Speaking of his visit to Chicago b,
u stated that he never had pleasante
o time, and thaS he had returned yester
a day morning. In conclusion, he urgeC
g that steps be taken to increase the mem
d bership of the school.
g The closing hymn, "Will you NEE
d meY" was followed by the benediction
/ which was pronounced by Mr.. Swartz.
u ....-..