reward for our toil, shall all be welcomed to the great Sunday School Jubilee of the skies.

At the close of Mr. SHEPARD'S Address, the Hymn "Who are these in Bright array," was sung:

Judge BACON here announced that the reading of the letters from old members and friends of the School was next in order, and assigned, first, Mr. ROBERT S. WILLIAMS, and second, Mr. JOHN F. SEYMOUR to this duty. Only a part of these letters were read at this time. Many of them were read at the exercises in church the next afternoon; but they are all inserted in this place as properly constituting a most important part of Saturday evening's proceedings.

LETTERS.

From Rev. Samuel C. Aiken, D. D.

CLEVELAND, October 1, 1866.

REV. P. H. FOWLER, D. D. :

MY DEAR SIR,

It would give me great pleasure to be present on that interesting occasion, and to revive the memory of old scenes; but the state of my health will not allow me the pleasure. For several weeks I have been more unwell than usual, and find it necessary to avoid fatigue and excitement.

As to "reminiscences" of which you speak, I know not as I have any in addition to what was published in a circular a year or two ago, which you, or some other friend was kind enough to send me.

On the 3d of February, 1818, I was ordained and installed Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and Society in Utica. So far as I recollect, the Sunday School had then been in existence about a year. At the head of it, and chief movers in the enterprise, were three young ladies— Miss MARY E. WALKER, subsequently the wife of JOHN H. OSTROM, Miss ALIDA VAN RENSSELAER, subsequently the wife of Judge CHARLES H. CARROLL, of Livingston county, and Miss SARAH MALCOLM, now Mrs. SARAH A. BALL. They were choice spirits, and well calculated to carry out what they had undertaken. Being young and inexperienced myself, I remember my first interview with them, and the kind of despondency I felt on learning the work they very modestly, yet earnestly assigned to me as their co-laborer. There were other ladies and gentlemen. very soon enlisted, and who, for many years, did good service. The Sunday School of the First Church, amidst

all the troubles and revolutions through which the Society has passed, has always been a living, prosperous and useful institution. Connected with it was the Bible Class, large and flourishing under the superintendence of WALTER KING, Esq.,-a Christian teacher of rare gifts, and eminently successful. In these two institutions, many dear children and youth have been trained for usefulness and heaven. Not a few have lived and died as Foreign Missionaries.

That the rich blessings of heaven for generations yet to come, may rest upon the Sabbath School of the First Church in Utica, is the prayer of its old Pastor, and your brother in the ministry. S. C. AIKEN.

MY DEAR SIR:

From Elizabeth Bloodgood.

ITHACA, September 18, 1866.

I find I have little to say, perhaps nothing of which you are not already cognizant. What good may have been done, belongs to others more than myself. In that little band, I remember with much affection those with whom I was so pleasantly associated, dear names, sweet memories, long since passed away, precious to us all. I think that the school was a strictly union school at its first commencement, but as the churches and place increased, each church and communion formed their separate schools, and I with my little class went as a teacher to Trinity Church, of which my family were members. I have nothing to add to what is already known to you, the discouragement of the first struggles, the ultimate success that crowned the small beginning. I would gladly avail myself of the invitation were it possible. Think of me at the throne of grace, and may God bless and prosper you in all good, is the prayer of yours very sincerely and truly.

ELIZABETH BLOODGOOD.

From Helen L. Bell.

CLIFTON, STATEN ISLAND, October 10, 1866.

MY DEAR SIR:

Your letter has recalled many fond memories connected with my early home, and the Sabbath School, so dear to my late husband, and in which he delighted to take part. My recollections of dates is not clear enough for me to state as fully as I could wish, such facts as in reply to your request I should desire.

My husband, the late TRUMAN PARMELE, (of whom you so tenderly speak,) almost grew up in that Sunday School at Utica. He was a veteran in the service long before I was acquainted with him. He was superintendent at the age of seventeen, continuing as such for several-say (ten or twelve) years, when a change of residence from Utica to New York dissolved the connection with that school. only, however, to form other relations in the same noble cause. While at Utica he prepared and caused to be published a question book, the first used in schools in this country. After a short stay in New York, he went to New Orleans, in 1831, where an inviting field awaited all earnest Christians. Of his labors in that city, I send a sketch contained in an obituary published in that city. From New Orleans he returned to New York, in 1836, where he remained until his death in 1845. Here he founded a flourishing Mission School, in which he continued until his death. Mr. PARMELE often reverted to the school in Utica, and to his associations there, with peculiar fondness; in all these privileges he took delight, and esteemed it no burden.

And now, sir, please accept my cordial sympathy with you and all associated with you on this occasion. As a native of Oneida, I am proud of her having been a pioneer in the Sunday School cause.

I remain, yours very truly,

HELEN L. BELL,

MY DEAR SIR:

From William Walker, Esq.

NEW YORK, October 15, 1866.

I have distinct recollections of the first introduction of Sabbath Schools in Utica. A lady, the daughter of a clergyman in Troy, on a visit to her friends in Utica, proposed the establishment of a Sabbath School. This lady is still living as the wife of Mr. JAMES BROWN, of this city, who is the senior member of the well known banking house of BROWN Brothers & Co. Miss VAN RENSSELAER, Miss BREESE, Miss MALCOLM, and my sister, afterwards Mrs. OSTROM, entered upon the work. The only survivor is Miss BREESE, (now Mrs. GRISWOLD,) who is at present in Europe with Professor S. F. B. MORSE, who married her daughter. The school was opened in a room of Miss OLIVE WHITE, an excellent member of the First Church, who lived in Hotel street. Pupils of all ages were admitted, and without distinction of color. The plan of instruction at first was of course very crude. There probably were others engaged in the work, but I cannot remember their

names.

It was at least two years after the establishment of this school before I took any part in the work, being then but sixteen years of age. In the year 1820 I removed to this city, and of course can give no information of the Sabbath School work in Utica since that time. I have the impression that my sister prepared a history of her connection with the school up to a period not long before her death.

If my memory serves me, the first "question book" ever published, was prepared by Mr. TRUMAN PARMELE, and published at Utica. This plan, as you know, was adopted by the American Sunday School Union, and almost universally introduced into the schools under its care.

Allow me to say, that after a residence in this city of forty-six years, during which time I have been familiar with the anxiety of Christian men to find a solution to the problem, "How to evangelize the masses," I have