Children's Day

Sunilay smiled upon the peoplc of A mi Arbor in a most bewltchinj: uiinner. It was ono of God's glorious days, and MU&od sent as a sanctlon of tlie services set apart by the M. E. society, tor it was Cliildren's Day, a day in whioh especial services were held in cvery Methodist church in this natiou for the childrcn of lier Sunday schools. The little ones marched in at the usual hour for service, aiul their Diunbers fillcd the muidle aisles nearly full. The other seats were occupicd by tbo older ones. The services were varied and interesting, and consisted of siiiging, recitations, responsivo readings, prayer, baptism, reception into the church, etc. The recitations were mostly by mernbers of the infant class, who acquitted themselves handsoniely. Among other thingsthere were reports of the Sunday school offleers for tbc ensulng year, and from the treasurer's, Wil] Worden, we glean the following figures : QKNKRAJ. FÜND. Rtcelved- Cash on hand Í r.9.85 General collections 1 il ¦¦; Kec'd for one book, 15 Uec'd from mlssionary mud,. . 18.61 1212.93 Ditbwted- P'd Phillips Hunt. Detroit.. $171.20 " Mlsslonary fund 48 06 " KxpreNS 25 $219.71 Kal. to credit Gen. rund,.. S 33.22 MISSIOXARY PUNI). RecelveJ- Cash on hand $ 59.43 Mlsstonary collections 711.04 Frum Geueral fuud 48.06 $177.53 DitbursedFor issionary purposes $l'2- (V) Paid Oeneral fund 18.81 $143.61 Bal. to credit of Mlssionary fund ... S 33.92 Total cash on hand 57 14 The arge8t collecllon ras Oct. 5th, $9.75; theH allest Dec. 28, $2. '9: average coliectlon $4.07. The largest coliectlon fur one munth was for Nov.. $.'6.01 ; the snnilli-st for July, $.3.B8 ; aveiage monthly collectlon, 818.61. The secietary, John Ferdon, followed, gmiig many facts tliat will be of interest to our rende ra: At Chlldren's Dnv IBM, thore were enrolled as mem hers of the school 3"ü, divld-d among the different departmenUas follows: Main school, 2-26 Iutant class 80 Teacher, 84 Ofüce rs 6 Today we have enrolled In the chool 318 members, dlvlded umong the different deparimeuu as fullows : Malnschuol, 841 Inlaiitdepartmeut, 84 Teachers 87 Offlcere 6 New HCholars during year, &i Iefl school " ' 39 Dled ' " a Average attendance of Mr Pope's blble clans during p Kt year has heen 58. Largest attendance Hec. 14, '84, 19B Sinaili'.-t " June 7, '85 29 Average attendance of maiu school during past year has been 130. Largest attendance May 10, '85 189 Smallest '¦ Aug. 3, '84, 88 Average attendance of prinary department for past year has been 22. Largest attendance July 13 32 Smal lest Dec. 28, 10 Average attendance of all departments of )f school for pasi year. lncludlng Mr. Pope's jiiili' class i ;is been 268 liiirgest altendance Dec. 14. '84 430 Smallest ' Dec. 28, '84, Kil Durligthe year 8 tendiera liae reíigned, and 14 have beeo elected. Win. A Tolcbard, the librarían, made a verbal report, statinr that there weie 817 books in the library. These books ïad done seivice for a long time, and a iew libniry wns a necessily in the near üture He advised its selcction upon different plan, and instead of so many rivial works of fiction, thought cliildren's ' looks of historv. travel, etc. would l)t ¦ ni nitric ocrirnuiBt. nts ffutvs ntic cacellent, and if thesuggestions are carried out, a new interest will be awakened in the school. Superintendent Geo. A. Donglass read a brief sketch of the early Iiistoiy of the Methodist Sunday School, which he traced back about 55 years, bilt of those early days there were no records, and ihe memory of the old pioneers had to be relied upon for the meager Information obtainable of the first Christiun soldiers here. Washtenaw county, bowever, had the honor of furnlshlng the rirst Methodist misslonary to China, in the person of Judson B. Collins, nnd a feeling tribute was paid to bis tnemory. A short sermón, but a most excellent one, was preached by the pastor, Rev. R. B. Pope, in which the children were urged to rcmain true to the church, under whose influence naught but good could come to them. The decorations consisted of a large rch of flowers erected in front of the ulpit platform, to the rear of which vere mnssed llowers and foliajre in such mmense quantities and great profusión as o form a complete background of lossoms and living green for the fair ttle human flowers that came In front of them, under the arch, to sing or lisp thelr songs of praise. AT THB CONQREGATIONAL CUüRCH. For the rirst time the Congregationalists In general observed the day as one set apart for the little ones. The services at tbeir church on State street consisled in singing, and a sermón appropriate to the occasion by the pastor, Rev. W. H. Ryder. One very enthtut aslic, but very sensible member of the churcb remarkeii to the reporter, that"if all of Dr. Rder's serrnons could be as excelk'i.t as the one preached Sunday, he should like to have a Clnldren's Day cvery month, for there was much in it of great value to the older ones as well." AT THE FRESBÏTERIAN CHURCH Special services were also held at this church for the little ones of the Sunday school. Aside froni the rendering of several songs prepared for the occasion, the time was mostly taken up with remarks by several of the ex-superintendents ot' the Sabbatli School, and jfenerally speaking, tbey were very hapj.y reniarks, too, and were made by üonald Mclntyre, Dr. V. II. Jackson, Dr. W. J. Hurdman, Alex. W. Hamilton, and the present Superintendent, Kendall Kittridge. The pastor, Rev. Dr. Steele, delivered an address in the evening to the young people, which was ful] of good thoughts. AT THE BAPTIST CHDRCn. At this house of worship the floral decorations though modest were very pretty. The program carried out was one prlnted and given general distiibution by the Baptist publication society, of Philadelphia, and the collection taken up at the close, consistin? of $22.59, will be devoted to the bible work of that society. The exercises consisted of recitation, responsive readlngs, music, etc, the siugIng and recitations being wholly by the children. One recitation, particnlarly pleasing, was by five little glrls, representing five flowers of the season, tlie lily, the violet, the rose, the pansy, and the tulip. The pastor, Dr. Haskell gave the children an appropriate sermón, which was i followed by u talk by Prof. Raymond C. Davis, wlio gave those present au lllustrrtion of the bible as It was In vogue at the time of tho Apostles - ia ro'.la of parcliuient. All of the exercisoa wcro bappily consumniutcd, and the little ones and the older ones went from the cliurch foeling that it was well for thern that they had been there.