Milford chronicle., 1929-12-06
II. The Sunday School
1S47 = 1861 . 1929
Read hY Mis-. Wilson M. Yinyar


Read by Mrs. Wilson NJ. Vinyard
at was in the golden glow of the
fall of 1S47 that Miss Hester Ange
lima McColley strolled one Sunday
afternoon from her home (now East
Second stret) westward towards
Curry's Mill. BY the roadside she
saw children playing. Inquiry dis
closed that they were without re-
ligious culture. She visualizeC
others in the same condition. I'm.
pulse with her meant results. She
called at homes where there were
children and there opened unto hel
vista of usefulness.
"Her father, Rev. Trusten P. Nc
.Colley, local Methodist Episcopal
minister, gave his cooperation
These two became the officers and
teachers of a Bible School which
started with less than ten members
and was located in a little house al
the northeast corner of South Wal
nut and Front streets where Der
rickson's store now stands.
Gas far as can now be learned
Miss McColley Qater Mrs. DR.. Will
liam MarshalD was the first super
intendent and continued as such un-
til she removed to Georgetown in
the year 1858. Her plans prospered.
The school grew. Pupils increased
in number. Fred Owens, then a pub
lie school teacher, but later ply
sician; Miss Hettie Clark and Miss
Anna Evans became teachers in the
school. VIM. T. Vaules furnished
hymn books and Rev. McColley Sc
cured Testaments from the Ameri-
can Bible Society of which he was
an agent. While such friends as
DR.. Robert Y. Watson and others
gave the impetus of their assistance.
1.-THE spring of 1849 Rev. G. W.
Kennedy, a Presbyterian Home Mis-
sionary, began holding services in
Milford. He soon established a re-
lationship with the undenomination-
al school. The Presbyterian Church
was organized that year and the fol-
lowing year a building was erected
into which the school moved al
though it still retained an undenom-
national aspect. About this time
there was manifested the activities
of five brothers in the affairs of the
school and the church. Their names
were Robert c., Henry, Alexander,
Capt. Alfred X. and Cornelius Hall.
Immediately their influence was
felt. The first, Robert c.. Hall, sue
ceeded Miss McColley as superin-
tendent and was the first person for
mally elected to that office.
March Is, 1861, it was thought
best to reorganize the school, and
meeting was held on that date at
the home of Rev. J. G. Hammer, pas
tor of the church, for that purpose.
Regardless of the fact that there
were several denominations repre-
sented in the school motion to or
ganize that body as department of
the First Presbyterian Church pre-
vailed without the the least oppo-
sition. Nor did single teacher or
pupil retire because of the change.
The official life of our Sunday school
begins from that date. The first Of
ficers elected were Robert c. Hall,
superintendent; ]. Y. Foulk, assis-
tant superintendent; J. B. Smith, IL
brarian; MRS. Lucy Hammer, secre-
tary; and Miss Lizzie Satterfield,
Mr.. Hall served until Feb
ruary 10, 1868, when he asked to be
relieved on account of i'll health. ].
Y. Foulk was elected superintendent
and Mr.. Hall became the assistant
superi1i itendent. At that time the
school fhad ten officers and teachers
and fifty pupils. Also there was in
the plan of observing the
of the school upon the
of the birth of Wash
ington- The first celebration cost
the school $1e.75.
"NoTember 10, 1869, the teachers
means of interesting
church members in the school. 1t
was resolved to place the school
under the direct care of the church
With the teachers to be appointed
by the session and the superintend-
ent to be elected by the congrega-
ouL IL was lncb lnC
congregation preferred to have the
teachers elect the superintendent
and other officers, which was done.
To this work there came Rev. Rich
ard A. Mallery. Mr.. Foulk request
ed him to preach special sermon
upon the Importance of the school.
After the sermon and before the
service was closed members of an
Adult Bible Glass were solicited.
The response was enthusiastic. Pre-
vious to this time part Of the school
room was used as parsonage. AS
a result of Rev. Mallery's plea the
school grew to such proportions
that it became necessary to knock
out a partition separating the school
room from a room in the parsonage
ind use the increased space for the !
school.
"Under Mr.. Foulk the school pros
Dered until there were nine men |
md fourteen lady teachers July 8,
1875. Then he asked to be relieved |
If the responsibility of the superin-