The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-22
Demonstration Today Sur
passed All Others in the
History of the Schools of
Wayne County.
THOUSANDS JOINED IN
MAKING EVENT EP0CHAL.
Nothing Similar Ever Had
Been Attempted or Consum-
mated Before - Outside
townships in Celebration.

"Suffer the little ones to come unto
me, for of such is the kingdom of
heaven
Never in the history of Wayne coun-
ty has there been such an exhibition
of the spirit inspired by Jesus Christ,
as the parade of the Sunday schools
held this morning. Their counte-
nances radiating the love and inno-
cence possessed only by children, thou
sands of representatives OF the Prot
estant denominations, joined in the
greatest rally ever held in this section
of the United States. The parade was
an exhibition Of the teachings of Chris
tianity. Caste, creed, denomination
and belief were laid aside and all unit
ed In the exemplification of the prin-
ciples of Christianity. To the thous-
ands of citizens of Richmond. the pa
rade of Sunday school children was a
revelation. The force of the teach
ings of such institutions is well known
but that such a display could be the re-
suit of an organized effort never had
entered the mind of the conservative
man, unacquainted with the strength
of the church.
"Onward Christian soldiers, march
ing as to war;" played the bands. Bu-
gle and drum corps added to the mar
tial tone and "a Sunbeam, sunbeam,
I'll be sunbeam" sang the children
as they passed by. Who was there
who saw those cherub faces, that did
not pronounce the words they sang as
the truth? Little tots with voices not
strong enough to be heard above the
roll of the wagons on which they rode,
could be seen moving their lips in uni
son with those of their stronger voiced
companions. Childish glee and
laughter were added and the shrill
voices of the rejoicing 'Iambkins" rose
above all else. The merrier the pa
raiders the louders their receptions by
the thousands of persons who banked
the sidewalks and crowded out into
the streets to obtain a better view.
Hard handed sons of toll at work in re-
pairing the street car tracks stopped
their work. The sweat and CRIME
twas mopped from their brows and
many removed their hats in reverence
to the children, as they passed before
them.
Military pageants arouse feeling of
patriotism in those who see them, but
the effect of this exhibition and the
realization of what 1t typifies created
different sense. That 5000 persons
would leave their homes and their
prly 10 tot IN, CT ,y>Ix- ~
show they believe in the tenets of the
Sunday school is explained only by the
understanding Of the brotherhood Of
man.
Floats and vehicles of more magnifi-
cence and accompanied by larger dele
cations were given prominent places
In the parade, but none could create a
deeper feeling than the exhibit of the
Union Mission Life Saving Stations.
On one wagon was constructed an i'm
itation of rock bound light house
and on the second wagon was a group
of children in a boat. Throw out
the life line" sang the children and
hundreds of persons were moved to
tears as they heard the words. Their
spirit was the Sunday school lesson
idealized.
E. j. Humpe, president of the
Wayne County Sunday School associa-
tion, wore an expansive smile as he
marched at the head of the parade.
He had good reason to be in a happy
frame of mind for back of his afoot,
on horseback, on bicycles and in car
riages, floats and wagons, were, it is
estimated 5000 Sunday school child
rem. teachers, workers and ministers.
The parade began to move from the
corner of Third and Main streets
about 9:45 O'Clock, headed by the
Ministerial association and city Off
Cials. When President Humpe, his es-
corts and the Richmond City band
were filing through the Main entrance
of the chautauQua grounds the middle
of the immense parade was Just pass
ing Eighth and Main streets.
The biggest thing of its kind l ev-
er witnessed" remarked James NJ.
Shaw. manager of the Richmond chau-
tauqua. Truly it was one of the larg-
est parades ever held in Wayne coun.
ty. The police estimate that there
were fully ten or fifteen thousand out
OF town people in the city and the line
of march was lined by thousands of
people. who crowded out beyond the
curbing to witness the spectacle
OF the estimated 5000 people parti-
cipating in the parade it is probable
that one-third of this number repre-.
sented Sunday schools outside the
city. These Sunday schools were Civ.
en- the honor of heading the parade
The spectacle-this Christian army