The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-14
TEACHER % YEARS
MRS. WRlGHT'S RECORD IN
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK.
Anniversary Celebrated in Burlington
with Greetings from vice-President
Fairbanks, Gov. Stokes and Others.

BURLINGTON, Oct. Accompanying six
ty years of active service as teacher OF o
Bible class in the Sunday school of the
First Baptist Church, Mrs. Mary A. Wright,
probably the oldest Sunday school teacher
In the world, was the central figure OF a
unique celebration yesterday. The school,
which she has watched grow from sixty
members to 600 turned out in force at serv-
ices covering the entire day. Sunday
schools of all denomination throughout the
city and county sent messages of regard
and congratulation.
Vice-President Fairbanks. Governor
Stokes, William Jennings Bryan, Congress-
man John J. Gardner and other statesmen
and many of the most prominent ciergymen
of the Baptist denomination, sent greet
ings. and these "aerograms," so called, were
read at the afternoon service by Superin-
tendent Walter e. Hall, who for twenty
seven years has been associated In the
sunday school work with Mrs. Wright. Al
this service also there was singing py
the congregation of a hymn, "Toiling TOT
Him. composed by the pastor. the Rev.
T. NJ. Eastwood, and dedicated to Mrs.
Wright, and an original poem upon her
life of usefulness by Associate Superintend-
ent George c. Whomsley. Among the
prominent speakers were District Attorney
Samuel A. Atkinson, of Mount Holly. ana
the Rev. DR.. Robert G. Seymore, of Phila-
delphia.
Vice-President Fairbanks sent this greet
ing:
s,This completion of sixty years of serv-
ice in the Sunday school as a teacher Is
an event of rare interest, and l only regret
l cannot share it's pleasures. l do not
know of any one who has rendered sucn
long and excellent service. The good sac
has lone will long survive her, and l
trust that she may remain long to con-
tinue her excellent work.
An "aerogram" from William Jennings
Bryan read as follows:
IT wish you would convey my congratu-
lations to Mrs. Mary A. Wright, the six
tieth anniversary of whose services as a
Sunday school teacher you are celebrating.
1t is an extraordinary record. What vast
good she has done! And while it has doubt
less cost her many sacrifices, she must find
abundant reward in the consciousness of
duty done and in the appreciation Of her
colaborers."
Mrs. Wright, in her address, said:
when 8 years of age l entered this
school as a scholar. In 1S47 l became a
teacher. When I was % years old I mar
ried the superintendent. He was faithful,
In labor, and laid a foundation on which
the present much larger school can safely
rest. / did not plan to teach all these
years, but Infinite Love knew better than
/. 1t is one of the ~grandest works that
can be given to any one. l just love the
Bible. and do not weary of ii. | have so
much interest in 1t that If 1t were possi-
BILE | could give another go years to its
study"
Mrs. Wright praised the advance that
has been made in Sunday school instruc-
ton. TIL old Observation-Disclosures"
plan, she declared, taught the commission
of Scripture to memory, but modern
methods, offering open discussion, give
place for thought. and many more adults
are being held In the schools. After briefly
sketching the lives of great men influenced
by the Bible, Mrs. Wright said: Some
people read the Bible like cows pasture,
trainpling the flowers under foot. Many
hold the Bible at arms length, instead OF
making 1t a book of closest fellowship"