Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-02
SUNDAY SCHOOL REVIEW.
"Reminiscences and History Of Young
Peoples Work.

The noon service, commencing at
about 1850. was in the nature of IL re-
view of the work of the Sunday school
and the young peoples societies, the diff
fcrent branches being taken up in most
excellent papers prepared by Miss Mary
C.. Torrcy, T.. =. Shaw and Miss julia
w. Smith
Superintendent w. Il. Howe presided
and the service was opened by the salu-
tation. the Gloria and the Lords prayer
Miss TorroYs papc" concerned the his
tory of the Sunday school. 1t was val
liable and interesting one and was rec
ord of this organization from its very
beginning up the present time. 1t WIS
read by Miss jennie Stacy.
Miss Totrcy states that the Sunday
school is probably about twenty years
Younger than the church. 1t was started
in l>aj by Miss Laura Ann Plat, after
wards Mrs. William Hickok, for many
years president of the Home for Destitute
Children. She was assisted by Miss Maria
Corning. afterwards Mrs. Henry f. Stacy.
The first meeting place was in the basc-
ment of a cottage on the corner of Church
and Pearl streets. where the Masonic
Temple now stands. the cottage being tho
home of Miss Platts parents. Another
time at Winooski Falls. After T, few
wears the meeting place of the Burlington
school was changed TO the chapel. which
stood near the church.
In 1891 the Burlington Sunday School
association was formed, consisting of 80
members. and defining its object as the
promotion of tho moral and religious
training of tho rising generation by ostab-
fishing and sustaining Sunday schools in
this village and vicinity" The last re-
port of this organization is dated 1915
During the II years OF its existence the
affairs OF the Sunday school and. to some
extent. tic church, seem to have been
conducted under its direction.
In the early history Of the school the
Bible and to some extent the cate
cnism were the only text books used.
In 1881 the Sunday School Union aues-
| tons were introduced and for more
than Is years after 1912 the questions
published by the Massachusetts Sunday
! School society were used Later the In
| ternational questions were introduced
and finally the Blakesby system, now in
| use.
| Deacon Mitchell, the pioneer superin-
tendent, was followed by Charles p.
Hart; then came NJ. H. Buckham, Prof.
n. G. Clark, ]. n. Camp. Professor
Goodrich. Micah II. Stone. +. G. Coggin.
who was assisted by Miss Jennie Stacy.
j.. =. Shaw. assisted by G. S. Halsey.
Miss Florence Lyman and ]. d. BARLEY,
N. X. Brown. w. II. Wood and W. d.
Howe. The free and worthy service
rendered by the men named in an Of
fee whose importance and difficulties
the hearty gratitude OF the church.
| OF the hundreds of teachers who have
gono in and out of the school the vast
majority have entered into their rest.
1t Is a goodly company with which one
may well he glad to have been asso.
ciated.
| T.. f. Shaw's paper was read by j. d.
| BARLEY. 1t consisted of "reminiscences
of former supcrlntendents.
| Mr. Shaw came to BURLINGTON in 1871
At that time i. C. Coggin was superin-
tendent of the srhool-a man character
crgetic in his work. Mr.. Shaw was
elected as his successor in 1875. Mr..
Shaw spoke in glowing terms Of tho
valuable assistance rendered him by Mr.
Eartlcy. When Mr.. BARLEY lett Eur
lington. n *. Brown was chosen TO III
his position as assistant Superintendent
and eventually elected TO the supern-
tendency in 1857. lie IN turn was fol.
lowed by Mr.. Wood, who was succeeded
by AIR. Howe, the present superintendent
The payer gave the average attendance
al the school ut the time of the author Il
superntendency as about 800. 1t also
told of the manner in which contrbtl-
lions were sliSu1Sl1 Of SlUU heinz do.