THE SOUTH OUURCll. ■ \4f) 



This house was then just receiving its finishing touches, and a few 

 weeks later myself and family were welcomed to accommodations 

 which we had not builded, to worship with a church we had no part 

 in forming, and to work with a Sunday-school we had nothing to do in 

 organizing. 



When first introduced to the Sunday-school I thought the appoint- 

 ments admirable, the rooms adequate, and the organization of the 

 senior department in particular remarkable, inasmuch as it embraced 

 an unusually large proportion of the adult meiiibers of the church 

 and congregation arranged in Bible classes, and led by the men who, 

 in educational and business affairs, had made the town illustrious. 



The apartments were supposed to be ample for many years of 

 growth, and would have been, measured by ordinary estimates. But 

 the phenomenal -growth of the primary and senior departments soon 

 called for more room, and the call grew louder and longer until our 

 new building was planned, constructed, and occupied by the largest 

 primary and senior departments in the State, and one of the largest in 

 New England. The senior department — " The Church in the School " 

 — is divided into twenty Bible classes of young gentlemen and ladies, 

 occupying the main assembly room of the parish chapel, while the sev- 

 enteen side rooms opening into it are occupied by large spectacled 

 classes of aged men and women, large classes of business men and 

 women, large classes of working men and women, large classes of 

 young gentlemen and ladies, a large class of Normal school pupils, 

 and a large class of young Swedes, of both sexes ; in all nearly four hun- 

 dred adults, well officered and taught by devoted and skillful Bible- 

 class leaders. 



It is the main work of the primary department to find and gather in 

 the lambs, the junior department folds and keeps them, while the 

 legitimate and important work of this senior department is to feed and 

 lead out into green pastures and beside still waters those who in turn 

 shall leave the ninety and nine safe ones and go out into the mountains 

 for the lost, or to the highways and hedges for the wanderers. This 

 supplements the pastor's teaching, and the Church cannot do its best 

 work without this right arm of service. 



Auxiliary to this department, we have organized a large home 

 department (about two hundred and fifty), embracing adults and 

 others who, for various reasons, cannot come to us. Availing 

 themselves of the Sunday-school lesson-helps and Sunday-school 

 library, they form home and neighborhood classes, and through these 

 means of communication and inspiration they are changed from 

 passive members into active Christians engaged in the work of the 

 church. 



10 



