144 A HALF CENTURY. 



in our school the story has not outlived its usefulness as an educative 

 power in Sunday-school work. It has been found that the girls who, 

 eight years ago, when the library was last made over, were reading its 

 simpler stories, are now drawing the historical stories, Christian En- 

 deavor literature, and helpful biographies. 



The committee has also seriously considered whether our school has 

 not a direct commission to place in the hands of the young other books, 

 which have been a delight and help in our own homes, although they 

 may lack direct religious teaching. On the new catalogue will be 

 found the titles of books by Mrs. Whitney, Miss Alcott, and Thomas 

 Knox, which it is expected will prove suggestive and helpful, as well 

 as entertaining. 



But there are many stronger books upon the shelves which are 

 especially recommended to be read on Sunday, for Sunday should stand 

 apart from the rest of the week in its reading, as in its work. These 

 are books of a higher order, such as " Culture and Religion," " The 

 Evidence of Christian Experience," and the " Incarnation of the Son 

 of God." In most cases these books will go unread if not drawn for 

 Sunday reading, as time is seldom taken for them in the midst of 

 the busy week. 



The appeal is for aid in bringing the right book to the right scholar. 

 We need co-operation, the helpful interest of teachers, parents, schol- 

 ars and officers. The work is not too small for which to ask so much. 

 There are infinite possibilities before a Sunday-school library wisely 

 used. Ours has been selected with great painstaking. It is large and 

 varied. The services of wise and good men and women have been 

 freely given to it for many years. We owe a special debt of gratitude 

 to our senior deacon, who has been chairman of the committee for 

 more than twenty years, and to those who were associated with him. 



While we point with pride to the record of this unusually rich Sun- 

 day-school library, we of to-day may claim for ourselves very little of 

 its honor. For we are only trying to keep up the high standard and 

 follow on the broad basis of the library as planned and begun by the 

 thoughtful men and women of fifty years ago. Can we not unite in 

 making our Sunday-school library in the future of even greater ser- 

 vice than in the past ? 



THE CHURCH IN THE SCHOOL. 



Edwin B. Lyon, M.D. 



Much as I would like to be mentioned among the ancient worthies 

 of this church and Sunday-school in these semi-centennial commeriior- 

 ations, I am debarred by limitations of time, it being only a quarter of a 

 century this month since I accepted an invitation to make this city my 

 home. 



