The Portland daily press., 1895-01-21

pational Sunday schoo1-Special Exer-
c;sas In Memory of the Late I'll. H, Nevens
for MANY Years Superintendent.
In the yestry of the Woodfords Congrega.
tional church. Sunday evening, was OBJ
served the 23d anniversary of the Sunday
school. The important annual event was
made more than usually interesting and
| impressive by special exercises in memory
of the late Hubbard II. Nevens. the beloved
superintendent of the school for many
YEAR. and one of the leaders in Sunday
| school work in this state.
After the opening exercises the annual
report of the secretary, Mrs. Hepry Rack
| 1eff showed a membership of 4I9, the
highest attendance during the year being
314 The sum of $3l0 has been raised during
| the wear. which has paid all expenses and
| left balance Of $84 expended for benevo-
| lent purposes.
The report of the librarian followed.
| Rev. E. P. Wilson, pastor of the church.
| opened the memorial exercises with affect
| ing reference to the beloved leader who has
| gone to his reward. He was followed by Mr..
| ". B. johnson, the present superintendent
Then an excellent crayon portrait of Mr..
Neyens was hung in place behind the
superintendent's desk by Mr.. johnson. and
Mr.. Carl Coffin, president of the Christian
| Endeayor. The effort to secure this portrait
started in the christian Endeavor society
and the Sunday school co-operated.
Miss Charlotte Montgomery read a very
touch hing and appropriate original poem of
which we insert the following verses:
CAN 1T BE.
And can it be, we said.
That lie, our dear one, husband. father.
Has passed the graves dim portal dark ana
dread.
And know the mystery of all life's end?
All, can it be?
And can it be. we cried,
That we no more in al our path shall feel
The firm warm touch of him whose strength
And found SO true. in hours of woe or veal?
All, can it be?
Vain questionings! The truth returns to
sIt isl Beyond each earthly sight and
sound,
Across the faint but ever firm fixed bound.
1t may not be.
But this now is. Tonight
Before thy pictured face. oh. friend, we
With God thou art. clothed all in radiant
light;
And yet his work we do, as Joined hand TO
hand.
So it shall be.
And this shall be. Thy face
Shall look on us from out the picture here,
And help us all to trust his grace
Go forward with the faith tnat knows no
fear,
Even this shall be.
The reading of the poem was followed by
the singing of an original hymn by Miss
Harriet johnson. 1t was sung to the tune
of .Rutherford.n by quartette composed
of Misses Elizabeth Kinds and Susie Coffin
and Messrs Carl and Herbert Coffin.
Following is the hymn;
Earth's shadows lie behind thee
For heaven is entered in;
No vague unrest can fEd thee,
No sOrrowjng, no sin.
Another soul triumphant,
From death to life is born;
Thou'rt in the fad deless glory
Whore thy Lord is gone.
Thy years of toll are ended,
Thy crown of gladness won:
Thy praise and prayer are blended,
In holy unison.
And in the Masters presence,
Where all His saints abide.
Awakened IN MS likeness
Thou art satisfied.
But still in darkness dreary
The flock Thy love has blest,
Is wand'ring sad and weary
Afar from home and rest;
But, like a beaC on guiding
Through shades of deepest night,
Thy mem'ry leads us onward
To the land of light.
And whel in light eternal.
We bow before the throne.
When in the pastures vernal.
We know as We are known.
Forever reunited
With loud acclaim we'll sing,
Through heavens eternal ages.
Glory to our king.
The hanging of Mr. Nevens's portrait be-
fore the entire school proved to be a very
happy idea.
There was very large attendance, not
only of the school, but of the entire church
community.
NOTES,
VIM. H, Scott, Esq, is confined to his