The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-05-22
TOWNSHEND.
Bible School Centennial.


The centennial of the Congregational
Bible school was observed Thursday eve
ming, May 10, good number being
present.
several hymns were sung at the open,
ing, followed by prayer offered bv
Rev. W. Bissell of West Townshend
then the superintendent attempted in u
rev words to prove that this Bible
school was created by God. Reminis-
eences of the early times were given nv
L. II. Rutter and Miss Jennie Hoi
brook, the latter speaking for her ia
ther, ne not being able to be present. 1t
appeared that the building of a meeting
mousse was delayed by a difference of
opinion as to where it should be locat-
ed; that salt made from wood ashes
was cash product used to pay bills in
those days, as was also lumber and
farm products. The minister IS SALARY.
which was very small was paid in what
ever the farmers raised or made. One
man brought the minister some, maple
sugar, saying that was to pay his min
ister's tax. He said it was miserable
stuff but it was as good as his preach
ing.
Rev. r. II. Bosworth in his remarks
told of his experience as a boy in the
Sunday school, how he won the prize
offered by repeating from memory the
most Bible verses of anyone during a
year.
Rev. Mr.. Clapp of Brattleboro spoke
of the contrast between the past and
present
Not SO long ago there was not rail
road up the West River valley. There
were no automobiles then There was
not SO much to read then as now. The
people had different views of the Bible
With many other things there has
come now the great struggle for moral
and spiritual life. The kaiser stands
FOR the highest type of might and
frightfulness. The sturdy arm of might
IS the Germans religion. Against this
sentiment we are at war. His remarks
were followed by the singing of the
hymn "Stand up, stand up for Jesus. -
Mr.. Boyd of Burlington then spoke
of the humble beginnings of the Sunday
school and its rapid growth.
The first Sunday school in Vermont
was organized in 1914 in the town of
Greensboro. In 1917 there were five
schools. Each succeeding year added to
the number until the present number
was reached
At the centennial held in Greensboro
June %, last, at which there were not
ca Bible school workers and an au-
dience of 1900 the thing that held the
closest attention was the repetition of
scripture verses from memory bv the
children. This was the early method Of
teaching in the Sunday schools and the
verses to be learned were given out by
the teacher from the book he or she
ilked best without any system. Later
came the uniform lessons, then the grad
Ell lessons and now the improved graded
lessons.
At first and for some time the Sun
day school was for the children only.
but as time passed there was the growth
OF the idea that the school was for the
oft> as well as the young, forlaA need
better knowledge of the Bible. The
boys who have gone into the fight
across the seas think now that the sun
day school means great deal more TO
them than they thought it did when
they were at home. The Bible is more
to them, too.
The speaker urged us in our Bible
school work not only to forget the fail
ings of the past but also the success
OF the past and TO press on to further
achievements in loyalty, purity, and
sacrifice.
The singing of a hymn and the pro-
nouneing of the benediction closed this
Tooth anniversary meeting. Thanks are
due to the male quartet for aiding in
the music.