Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-09
Reynolds Prizes Distributed at Meet
ing Of Congregational Sunday School.

Professor Pearson of Oberlin, for
merly of Carleton college. spoke in
Ledyard at the morning service Sun
day and gave his illustrated lecture
TO a good sized audience in the eve
ming. At the morning communion serv-
ice four new members were received.
In the newly decorated auditorium
and vGstry there was Al pleasant gath
ering Monday evening at the awarding
OF annual prizes to those members of
the Sunday school most faithful in
attendance. For several years Edwin
Reynolds of Providence who retains
bis ancestral home in Ledyard for a
summer residence. has given 500 in
prizes to the Sunday school. and will
continue to do so another year. The
exercises of the evening We're in.
charge of Supt. John Gray. The first
address was by the pastor Rev. w.
F. White, who gave brief history OF
religious instruction and Bible study
from earliest times, dwelling upon cat
achetical schools and the rise of the
modern Sunday school. and the oppo-
sition it met even here in Connecti-
cut. He dwelt upon the great prog
ress made in Sunday school and the.
present character of lesson helps and
aids to Bible study, indicating that the
best thouPht of man is centered
around the Bible and its central teach
ings. He congratulated the Sunday
school on having such good friend
as Mr.. Revnolds. who gave of his mon
ey and presence whenever in Ledyard,4
attributing much he owed to the in
fluence of a cody mother and what he
learned in the Sabbath school when
a boy He made plain to the school
that the giver of the prizes cared lit
tie to just reward mere attendance.
His purpose in giving was to stimu-
late the pupils to come where they
would become interested and dig out
for themselves those great. truths that
have ever made strong, sterling char
acters. and without which they would
easily go astray He closed by saying
that pastor and giver would expect ev-
cry winner to be loyal to- church and
Sunday school. and to make success
of living this splendid life In the best
country in the world and in the best
age Of the world.
MIR. Reynolds Speaks.
Mr.. Reynolds followed with most
helpful address in his usual happy
way. He emphasized the reasons that
led him to offer these prizes: The
necessity Of all haying thorough moral
and religious instruction to- meet the
Increasing demands for men of char
aeter and education. 1--WE look to YOU
to fill our places with credit and honor.
No one ever heard of an ignorant per-
SON occupying a high place of trust.
The Influences that surround you here
are Of the highest order and your as
sociations are with the best people of
our town Where do you spend your
sundays is a question men are more
and more asking. Who will win nine
ty-nine times out of q hundred? 1t
will be the Sunday school boy"
He went on to show the opportuni-
ties of the well trained young men and
women in this country today. where
wealth has increased from s7000000,-
900 in 1850 to approximately $120000,-
100000 today and where have originat-
ed some of the great modern inyen-
tions that are calling for more expert
young people vigorous enough to live
long enough to do the greater work
He was very optimistic as to the flu
ture opportunities for just such young
people as Ledyard is raising and can
raise. He closed with these words. Il
have said enoug hto convince these
boys and girls that they are fortunate
to be horn into this glorious country
and we of the present generation will
watch with deep interest your future
movements. Your success in life in
great measure will depend upon your
own efforts
The prizes were awarded as follows:
First EmmonS White, Leslie Gray,
Philip Brown. Amos Avery.
Second. Enos Gray. Fred Gray,
Charles Gray Harold White. Irving
Wipslow.
Third. Edward Sheldon. Archie Hol-
bridge Lewis Kizer
Fourth. Helen White.
Fifth. Raw Holdridge. Grace Brown.
The aggregate attendance for the
year was s.7S3, with general average
of Is, double that of the. previous