The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-06-12
TlI0B1niB
SERVICES
MANY ATE No The LAST MEET
ING FOR DIVINE WORSHIP IN
TfIE5 OLD I'll F1ST, M. e. CHURCH.

appropriate. and touching were the
services held yesterday in the "old
side Methodist Episcopal church on
Main street. Beginning with the Sun
day school at nine O'clock in the audi
4orflm and closing with appropriate
services in the evening.
a general invitation was given all
WHO had ever been members of this
} Sunday school to come to the nine
oclock session and many were the re.
spohses
The services in the auditorium Of
tie church were principally Semlnis
cences Of the early days when the
church was young. Among those who
were then in the school are E. G. Kerr,
u w, Boydstop, Mr.. and Mrs. Eli Mus
crave Mrs Carrie Carpenter and o.
Elenfng, all Of whom were present
Yesterday and took part in the exer
cises. Some, of these persons were
members In 1870; some preceding and
some immediat ely following that year,
but only a few of.hem have been in
regular attendance from Chat time to
the present,
4 The school at; this timeihad an at
tendance ranging from soto So which
was considered good for that time
The penny collections" as they were
then called were sometimes less thar
2be on Sunday. Mr.. U.lA., Clayton,
who was superintendent in 1889,
spoke at yesterdays meeting and gave
cry interesting tax. He stated that
the ambition OF the officers then was
J to have an attendance ofS16O. While
the collections were about $1.O0 per
Sunday. Since that time This Sunday
school has been steadily growing and
has been recognized as the, largest
school In Marion coui:y, and one OF
the tgest in the State. The average
attendance for the past three years
has been about 900. While so far TINS
year the average Attendance has been
about $40. The enrolment of the
school Is now 5S2 While the regis
tered attendance yesterday was COS,
and the 0ffelting over $1,000.
Rev. %. III. Meredith and Mr.. Ed.
shuftleft both gave interesting talks
on the Sunday school of 30 years ago.
Mr. Meredith was superintendent in
i 1856
The exercises in the other depart
ineiIts OF the school consisted princi-
pally of songs and Rotations suitable
4 10 observance Of Children's Day. The
sInembers Of the orchestra Of the I'd
ward school were present and render
lea some appropriate selections. 1t
was indeed "a day long to be remem-
ebeFed by 3every one present, 1t was
d goodbye to the dear old church and
\ d look forward to the new one soon to
occupied. 1t is believed that with
4 the same spirit which has 4pervaded
i tie entire school in the past from off,
GERS and teachers to the younger chill
tlTenf the spirit Of loyalty and faith
fil1ess its growth and influence for
good will far exceed our fondest
hopes,
\ Following Immediately after the
& Sunday school session was the last
1l0rning service to be held In the old
church, and It was a most impressive
service. Nine children representing
\ eight families Of tho church were Uap.
i tised by the pastor, Rev. II. G. Howard.
During the service the pastor spoke OF
the great Importance Of early train
\ Ing for the chlidrenin church service.
He would have the parents teach the
children that they belong in the
church and need never so astray from
\ Its teachings.
The Epworth League service was
largely attended and was participated