The American Missionary — Volume 42, No. 07, July, 1888Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 42, No. 07, July, 1888
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
Its forty departments of organized work give each a place where she
can do her best, and its opportunities for visiting the lowly are
excellent. To give our money is generous, but to give ourselves is
Christly. House-to-house visitation and personal contact of the
ignorant and unfortunate with those who are only a _little_ wiser and
better, even, is a mighty elevator. A W.C.T.U. visiting committee with
short terms of office, and so including a large number of women during
the year, can, in an _official_ capacity, call on a poor or wayward
sister without antagonizing her or wounding her self-respect.
* * * * *
OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
CHILDREN'S DAY AT TALLADEGA.
MRS. H.S. DEFOREST.
A glorious sun ushered in the 29th of April, when for the first time
Children's Day was observed by the College Church. Deft fingers had
adorned the white walls, the chandeliers and the rostrum, with living
green, and from pulpit and organ glowed and burned the roses which
blossomed in rare profusion for this happy day. Early, from every
quarter, flocked the children, many with faces "black, but comely,"
and all in attire neat and clean. Seats reserved for their use were
speedily filled, and as their voices rose in songs of praise, canary
and mocking bird from swinging cages swelled the glad sound. An
ascription of praise to God by the choir opened the exercises, the
pastor following with appropriate Scripture and prayer, and a word as
to the object of the decorations and special service--not for a picnic
or celebration, but that the children might ever remember this day
with solemn and peculiar interest as their very own.
After the chanting by the choir, soft and slow, of "Suffer the little
children to come unto me," twenty children were presented by their
parents for baptism, two of the youngest belonging to officers of
the College. Parents brought two, and even three, little ones, that
the man of God might place upon their foreheads the seal of their
consecration, and in solemn and tender words they were reminded of the
meaning and obligation of the rite.
A second exercise of unusual interest was the presentation of a Bible
to each of the baptized children of the church between the ages of
seven and twelve. To sixteen children, the day was thus made
memorable, the giving being prefaced with fitting remarks, and the
hope being expressed that during the year the new Bible might be read
entirely through. One recipient on reaching home immediately fell to
work, and on being remonstrated with for using his eyes too steadily,
said, "This is too good a {pg 219} Bible to stop reading." Doubtless
all were appreciated in like manner, and will be sacredly treasured.
Short and pertinent addresses, suitable to childhood, were made by
chosen speakers, hymns familiar and appropriate were sung, and the
benediction, pronounced by a Baptist brother, closed a service unique
and unusual.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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