Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-28
GREATFEAST OF LOVE
OLD-TIME MEETING HELD AT
BROAD-sTREET LAST NIGHT.
ThRONG CAUSED OVERFLOW MEETING
sunday-school Matters Discussed I'm
the Morning and Afternoon by Rev.
DIR. Atkins, Hon. John Lamb, ana
Observation-Disclosures Celebrations.

The Methodist people have been blessed
with ideal weather all during their joyous
centennial celebration, and It is sincerely
hoped that the genial rays Of the sun
that have so abundantly smiled on the
| century's summit may be typical OF the
| Audience in their hearts OF the priceless
| comforts OF the great Sun OF Righteous
ness
The fifth day OF the fitting festival wit
messed no abatement Of the Interest and
enthusiasm Which has so signally charac-
terized the occasion. Yesterday was de-
nominated Sunday School Day." and the
exercises were confined TO matters per-
tanning to the important auxiliary Of the
Church. All the services yesterday were
at Broad-Street church, and the congre-
| cations were large and most attentive.
| Hon. John Lamb, member of Congress
| from this district, who is member of the
Methodist church and for many years an
| earnest worker in the Sunday school
cause, made very interesting address in
the morning on Sunday School Work.
| stressing it's great importance and the
| solemn duty Of all Christian people TO
give this great work their loyal, active,
and cordial support.
The next speaker was Rev. James At
! kins, ID. D., Of Nashville, Tenn. the Sun
| day school editor Of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church. South. His subject was
"The Sunday School as an Educator"
and it was handled in manner which
was at once delightfully."- entertaining and
Very instructive, eyincing great familiarity
with the Sunday school work in all
its lines and bearings, ana clear per-
ception Of the great influences welded
by IT. not only In leading the pupils di-
rectly into the Church fold. but also in
/ the sphere Of aiding education and con-
serving the highest interests OF society.
Dr. Atkins's fOrcble address was very
much enjoyed by his hearers, and particu-
lariy so by those who are actively
identified with the Sunday school work,
many Of such being present.
Hon. Addison Maupin. president of the
Methodist Sunday School Society Of Rich
inond and Manchester. also made a plea
sing address. in which he stressed the
spiritual side Of the question, and insisted
that only piOus, earnest, consecrated
Christians should be teachers in the sun
day schools, and that the earnest efforts
and prayers OF such would always abound
under Gods grace into richest fruitage
AFTERNOON SERVICES.
At the afternoon service Mr.. Gilbert J.
Hunt of Richmond. delivered most
admirable address upon the subject MY
Experience as a Superintendent" which
engaged the earnest attention Of the con-
Gregaton. Mr.. Hunts experience had
been most gracious and his appeal for
greater conservation on the part Of the
people TO this great cause was tender
and earnest. The school is. indeed, the
nursery of the Church. and should be
tended with loving care and earnest
watchfuness.
Rev. DR.. Atkins again spoke, his theme
being THE Old Sunday School and the
New in which he gave a very interesting
rehearsal of the characteristics Of the old
schools and contrasted them with those
OF the schools of to-day, showing wherein
time and experience had developed
many valuable notifications and additions
to the older methods. He presented sta
tistics, which show the number of sun
day schools teachers, and pupils in every
nation Of the world. lie emphasized the
duty Of getting the masses into the
schools, going into the highways and
hedges and saving the poor and the out
cast. Only the Gospel, he declared. can
save them. and We must get hold Of these
people. He criticised a recent editorial Of
Mr.. Box. in the Ladies' Home Journal.
which. he declared. was a most excellent
and influential magazine, but whose bril-
liant editor had missed the mark in writ
ing on THE Decay of the Sunday
School" The speaker said Mr.. Box
had investigated a few hundred schools
in and around Boston, which occasioned
his conclusion that the Sunday school is
In state of decay, but he had failed to !
investigate the other one hundred, and |
forty-four thousand schools. which if he |
had done, would have changed his con- /
victiOns. DR.. Atknss address was very
much enjoyed.
Rev. c. L. Bane, Of Union-Station, then |
led very interesting part Of the service, !
denominated 'SundaySchOol Expert /
ences." and there were interesting talks /
from ministers and laymen and laywo- |
men. all breathing a spirit Of devotion to /
the cause. Or. Tudor caused a great !
laugh when he referred 10 his earliest I
recollection of the Sunday school. He al /
luded TO himself as a little tot jammed ]
in a crowded pew between two large !
girls, whose company he did not relish. .
He was subsequently given a seat in the /
boys department. and well remembered /
his conversion in a Sunday school.
\ PRETTY INCIDENT.
a pretty incident occurred during n talk
by an earnest lady. The shutters on the
west side of the church had been closed 4
to keep the suns rays from the speakers
eyes, but just as this lady referred TO the
fact that she obtained more help in her
Sunday school lessons from the Blessed
Book of Books itself than frcm the pre-.
pared helps" "aids" &c. "A section OF
one Of the shutters was blown open, and
the picture OF the open Bible and dove
which ornaments the pulpit recess was
flooded with a CLEAN of sunlight, and
stood out in bod relief as If i'm frame
Of golden light. The lady used the pic
ture to emphasize her reverence for the
Bible, and as typical OF the picture i'm her
heart. Ii was very pretty incident.
LOVE FEAST AT NIGHT.
The main floor and the galleries of the
auditorium Of BroadStreet church were
literally packed at night with an eager
throng OF people in attendance upon the
great Love Feast" which Is an old
time Methodist Institution.
Rev. A. -. Bergman led the opening
devotional exercises, and the great crowd
sang with spirit and enthusiasm the
grand old hymn, How Firm a Founda-
ton" Rev. DR. Garland said that Rev
Mr. Mastin's efforts, more than those OF
any other man, had made the centennial
such success. and he wish
ed TO see some expression of appreciation,
and he proposed that all who had been
blessed by and enjoyed the great occa-
sion should express their thanks 10 Mr.
Mastin by rising, and the whole throng
arose Mr.. Mastin said he didn't deserve
lll the credit, nor the chief credit. either,
and ii was due the efficient committee