The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-09-19
A "REMINISCENCES.
How 1 Went 10 sunday school i'm the
Early FifiIes

where was organized the first Sunday
school in Madison township, and
situated about a mile southwest of
where Madison church now lifts her
steeple. And, though rude and wild
as were the surroundings, it gives to
my mind restful turn, when in
memory go back to that delightful
Sunday school, and the many happy
hours have spent in the noon time
of the week day school, where the
birds twittering in the trees, were no
happier than we,who built our play
houses beneath.
1t was in the early fifties that the
Rev. James Chew, father of Mrs.
Adelaide Bass and Mrs. Elizabeth Nc
Cready, of Oskaloosa, and Mrs.
Cochran, of Montezuma, organized
and superintendent and made inter.
esting that first Sunday school in all
the region roundabout. The hour
/. was three O'Clock, and always was
our superintendent on time, though
having to walk six miles to reach the
scene of self immolation, for without
money and without price did this good
man like Robert Raikes, of London,
seek to induce whomsoever would
come unto the fold. The little school
house was set down where space
had been cleared of underbrush amid
the trees, and the road approaching
from the east was one cut through
thick hazel, moved off, and full of
stubs as it could we'll be. The door
faced the east, and ranged on either
side were long puncheon benches, the
legs of lettering round sticks set in
anger holes, two at either end. One
small window on each side, splint
bottom chair as the seat of honor for
teacher, preacher or superintendent,
as the case might be, completed the
outfit and adornment of the place,
where / believe, was held the first
country Sunday school organized in
Mahaska county.
Nearly everybody attended, and
walked" too, most of US did, some
few riding horseback, Occasionally
an OK team would serve as means
to an end, nor do remember of ever
seeing there but one team of horses.
That one was driven by one, a faith
full, Jealous woman, who, with her
three daughters we're never behind
the appointed hour by 80 much as a
minute, She would secure her team
fast to a handy sappling and i'm
mediately after reaching her &C.
customed seat on the "woman's side"
would improve the time while the
congregation was assembling in sing
ing There is a Fountain Filled With
Blood" and she always sang it alone.
She was a sweet singer and as the
lone voice waited and softly broke the
stiffness of the holy calm that seemed
to hover round about us, the melody
had in it something impressively
wierd. We had no leaflets then as
nov, but each was equipped with a
CODY of the New Testament from
which the older persons would read
as directed by the leader. Each class
had a teacher, but there were no
questions asked nor answered and
none were expected. We just simply
read. The exercises were opened and
closed with prayer with several
hymns interpreted.
Brother Chew was an excellent
singer and needed no chorister TO
to lead this part of the service
How wildly rises that scene, when
he sang first the hymn beginning:
GWEN not give up the Bible,
Gods holy book of truth,
The blessed staff of hoary age,
The guide to early youth"
The first and only one l have ever
heard sing it. Nor did he ever give it
up as the staff of his hoary age, and
for nearly a decade has this good
man been singing with the redeemed
in the mansions of the just, has
heard the "Well done thou faithful
servant" and feel assured he is
resting now in the joys of the Lord.
Books were difficult to get hold of
in those days, but by dint of much
good management and self sacrifice
we had a small library for distribu-
ton and read every book in it,
some more than one time. The sub
ieets of several of those books were
of little "good" children who died
early. And, child as was wondered,
why it was that only good children
died, finally concluding that it was
because they were too good to live
and that none were left, as all
happened to know were wilful and
often very naughty little mortals like
myself. Committing verses OF the
testament was a diversion given US
by the superintendent, offering as
prize two different books, as first
and second prize. Myself and an
other girl, Miss Maggie Letter, now
Mrs. Butler, of Missouri, competed.
Twas harvest time and my only OPP
portunity to learn them was by
carrying my books under my arms
handy to glance at between times.
But at the end of the given time l
had committed to memory fifty-two
verses and received the second prize