The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-11


In the special services held yesterday in
most of the Presbyterian Churches of the
city flower decked and beribboned chill
dren, clad almost exclusively in garments
Of spotless white, were the principal par
Elephants. The occasion was the obscrv-
ance of Children's Day. and the morning
church services were devoted to the cele-
bration of this annual festival. At the
opening of the services children paraded
through the aisles to the music of organ
or orchestra, their sweet young voices
raised in choral song as they marched
TO the forward pews, where seats were
reserved for them. With earnest faces
their attention WIS given to the elaborate
exercises that had been arranged.
The feature of Children's Day observ-
ance in the Presbyterian churches was the
collection of the offering of the children to
be devoted to the purposes of the Prespy-
terrain Sabbath School Mission. Pro-
grammes of songs and recitations were
rendered, and in. many churches special
exercises were added to the usual order
of worship for Ghildren's Day.
A Double Celebration.
The Day was observed with appro-
pirate exercises in the Eastern Pres
byteran Church in Sixth Street and
Maryland Avenue northwest. The COM
mittee on decorations had adorned
the church handsomely. having erected
massive pillars covered with fern leaves
upon the pulpit platform connected at the
topeby bridge. One of the pillars bore
near the top the date 1871 and the other
1900 signifying that the Sunday school
was celebrating the twenty ninth year of
its existence. The bridge connecting the
pillars bore the legend, Golden SUM-
beams" Indicative of the exercises of the
day. The programme was as follows:
Singing. Doxology; prayer. by Rev. T. c.
Easton; singing. Forward Bc Our Watchword:"
responsive reading o: Scriptures; singing, 'ltaisc
the Song OF Triumph" the superintendent
greeting, r. L. Harvey; singing. looking Up
ward:" award of prizes To primary department:
greeting OF Rev. J. b. Worder. u. D.; Children's
Day Offering; recitation. Golden Sunbcams,'' By
six girls; duet, Just Golden Sunbeam"
Misses iiilda Boston and Leonore Lacy; song,
1.-The Little Sunbeams," six little girls in
tune: recitation, The Chlds Friend Ruth
Price; singing, 1--WE Sing Loving Jesus" reci-
taiion, Jesus and the Children.'' Mona Roberts;
recitation. Good DEEDS three little girls;
singing Put on the Armor OF Our Cod reci-
tation The Masters Keepers five little boys
and two little girls, the pastors words. Rev. I.
c. Easton; singing, "Ye Servants Of CO., Your
Master Proclaim" Benediction.
R. E. Harvey. the Superintendent, who
presided, in extending a greeting 20 the
Sunday school and friends present. said
that the exercises had double object.
First. they were holding the annual OBJ
servance of Children's Day in common
with the other Presbyterian churches of
the city and of the country, and in the
second place, they were keeping the ami
versary Of their school. which, he said,
was now twenty-nine years old.
In the spring of 1871 Mr. Harvey said
that the missionary spirit became very
active in the Fourth Presbyterian Church,
and several young men felt anxious TO
organize a Sunday school and mission in
some neglected part Of the city. After
looking over the field. Mr.. Harvey said,
the Sunday school was organized on June
II, 1871, with F. c. McCabe as Superin-
tendent. 1t met in the house of Mr..
Hughes. in G Street. until it outgrew the
accommodations and was moved into a
hall. Finally in June, 1872. chapel vas
built on the site of the present Lutheran
Church, and the Sunday school had hence
forth a permanent home. MIR. Harvey said
that there were about 600 pupils On the
school rolls and that the average atten-
dance was about 4s0.
Award of Prizes.
In connection with the award Of prizes
to the primary department, it was ex-
planned that prizes are given each six
months to those members of the infant and
at,l
golden texts and give the subjects OF the
lessons. Fifteen children were awarded
gifts yesterday for the performance of such
work during the last six months.
Rev. 7. C. Easton. in addressing the
school, stated that he had been present on
seven of the twenty-nine anniversaries of
the school. He thought this the best Of the
seven, and spoke words OF praise to the
superintendent, officers. and teachers for
their work in keeping UP the interest in
Bible study and in making such a day as
they were enjoying possible. Referring to
the pillars and the span which united
them, Mr.. Easton was reminded Of the
Memorial Bridge. and said that while the
structure might be removed tomorrow, it
was significant of a great work in North
east Washington.
DR.. Easton then said he wished to say
few words about beehives. One Of the
most interesting sights he thought, was
the beehive, with It's scores Of busy work.
ers going and coming, collecting the lus-
cious honey and storing it away in the cells
of the honeycomb. Like the beehive, he
thought, were the great cities. the
Churches, and the Sunday schools. If they
amounted to anything they were busy
places, building up and storing away good
ness and richness for the future.
There are seven bees" said DR.. Easton.
which | wish to mention TO you children
today | think I see them coming in at
the windows and flying toward the sane
tuary to deposit their precious burdens.
The first of these is Bee Lively. 1t is a sad
sight to see a stupid, droning boy or girl.
There is no room for drones In the beehive
of the Sunday school. You must be lively
if you are to accomplish anything there.
The second one which l now seem to
see coming toward me is Bee Industrious.
In real bee hives the bee that does not
work is stung to death and cast out dead |
If all bees were Industrious in the Church |
and Sunday school the results of Chris /
tian work would be vastly multiplied.
Here comes another one and / will call |
him Bee Straightforward. Do you chill !
dren know what it is to strike a bee line? |
will tell you what it is When a bee in |
his wanderings among the flowers gets |
lost he rises high in the air until, with |
telescope eye, he discovers some familiar |
object which guides him to his hive |
Christ is the landmark which guides his /,