Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-01
EiGHriETH ANNIpERsARY.
Extremely Interesting Exercises Las
Evening ut Hanover Church.

Evening ut Hanover Church..
Hanover Church was beautifully
decorated Tuesday night, the occasion
OF It's S0th anniversary. Over the pull.
pit was an arrangement Of electric lights
forming the number so, while over the
side alcoves appeared the years of
organization and the present time, 1874.
1894, in gold. On the pulpit platform
was arranged pure white screen, rep
resenting the gates Of life. Over the
gateway was the inscription in gold,
Eternal Life, Jesus Christ" Potted
palms, ferns, chrysanthemums and other
blooming plants were artistically banked
on the organ and lower platform. On
tho chandelier columns, also draped in
green, were scrolls OF stiff white paper
having the names of the mother church,
Hanover, and the three daughters
Olivet, Central and West.
Elegant booklets, with cover of rough
edged paper and containg the pro-
gramme of the evening were distributed
as souvenirs Of the occasion.
After the devotional exercises and
singing by the primary scholars, "I'm
Little Sunbeam" Rev. Dir. Lafayette
Marks made the address of welcome.
An exercise on "The Golden Year" by
three girls, was very pleasing.
Rev. w. W. Taylor spoke on "Recol-
lections of the Sunday-school." Rev.
Taylor said; am probably the oldest
Sunday-school scholar in Wilmington.
When school was organized / was three
years old. The old Second Presbyterian
Church was at Fifth and Walnut
streets. The Sunday.school was the
first in Wilmington and was held in the
morning before church as it is now.
MIR. Robert Porter, grandfather of the
present superintendent was the first
uperintendent. We had no lesson
papers but were compelled to memorize
Scriptures and hymns for learning
which, we received tickets. and when
We received dozen or two, they were
bound in volume with red and gold
letters. At the close of the interesting
"reminiscences Rev. Taylor wac pre-
sented with a framed photograph of DIR.
Gilbert, the first pastor of Hanover.
Rev. DIR. Hulburd of Grace M. L.
Church next made an address. 81 came
down to see great curiosity, a Sunday
school SO years old, the first of such an
age l ever saw. seem to see the long
professions passing through these aisles
and going out to do their great work. |
have seldom felt so stirred as during
Rev. Taylor's address, who is himself
the embodiment OF work done. There
is nothing like spiritual work which
grows well and makes age. young with
Jesus Christ in the heart. Good deeds
grow on and pass from temple to open
air. No development of science or art
has been more grand than growth of the
Sunday-school. Only in one thing have
the schools not advanced and that is in
memorizing scripture, instead of depend
ing altogether upon lesson leaves" Miss
Mabel Parker sang "Abide With Me-"
Edward Taylor, one of Hanover's old
members and Sunday-school superin-
tendent' for 10 years, read an original
poem, giving the history of the school
inrhyme. Miss Lottie q. Wells recited
a selection from Longfellow in pleas
ing manner.
The closing exercise, "Gates of Life"
was participated in by five young girls
and choir of hidden voices. After the
recitation each asking for admittance,
the gates were opened, and a large
white cross could be seen surrounded
by kneeling children, who remained
there while the congregation united
with the school in singing, GAN Hail the
Power of Jesus Name" Before the
benediction DIR. Marks was presented
with basket of flowers.