(p. 85) J. S. Withers was elected secretary in the early seventies, and for more than twenty years performed the duties not only of that office, but of vice-superintendent. During that period he did much to forward the interests and strengthen the power and influence of the school; his name is indissolubly connected with its best work and its success. Of the present teachers, several have been members of the school for more than a quarter of a century; Mrs. K. W. Williams, who has a large and active class of young men and women, became a teacher in 1867; there have been intervals of several years during which her work was interrupted, but for the greater part of this period she has been identified with the school. Miss Margaret Cromwell took charge of the infant class in 1875 or 1876, and has taught it ever since, with the exception of a few years, when she was induced to come with a class of little girls into the main department; she resumed her work with the little folk in October, 1888, and has taught them continuously from then to the present. Mr. A. H. Ward was for years teacher of the Bible class. As already noted, the record books previous to 1885 are not available, but in that year the largest attendance registered was 114; the number of teachers, 13; missionary offering, $16. In 1896 the number of teachers was 20, with a corresponding (p. 86) increase in the number of pupils. The contributions to missions have generally been large in proportion to the attendance, reaching high-water mark in 1894, when $100 was contributed. In 1896 the names in the "One Dollar League" were 46. The methods of work have been along natural lines; the efforts on the part of superintendent and teachers have been to secure regular attendance, and regular, if small, contributions to the current expenses; the teaching, for the most part, has been characterized by adherence to the really vital things of heart and soul; pupils are attracted and held in the school by the teacher's individual influence: it is rare that recourse is had to such adventitious aids as prizes: even the "treat" at Christmas time is not an established thing; on several occasions the pupils' offerings at Thanksgiving and Christmas to those of our little town less fortunate than themselves have been notably generous. For a time the Louisville Widows' and Orphans' Home was remembered by the school. During the last two years there has been naturally some falling off in the attendance and interest; but now that the school is properly lodged, all have resumed work with an enthusiasm that promises great things for the future. On June 9, 1901, the first session in the beautiful new Sunday-school room was held; at the second service, two weeks later, the attendance, notwithstanding (p. 87) the extreme heat, was 167. The school has pledged $400 to the Church debt, to be paid in three years, the proportion assumed by each class to be met by voluntary contributions on the part of teacher and pupils. The present corps of officers and teachers is: MR. W. S. CASON, Superintendent; MR. J. M. CROMWELL, Secretary and Treasurer; MR. M. D. MARTIN, MR. W. S. CASON, MRS. K. W. WILLIAMS, MISS BLANCHE ROBERTSON, MISS BIRDELLA MEGIBBEN, MISS BETTIE M. CROMWELL, JUDGE W. T. LAFFERTY, MRS. W. T. LAFFERTY, MISS BESSIE SHAWHAN, MISS MINERVA REES, MR. C. T. EALS, MRS. CORA. S. HAVILAND, MRS. J. W. MUSSELMAN, MISS MARGARET CROMWELL. -- Bob Francis 1920A Butner St. Ft. Eustis, VA 23604 My Homepage is: http://www.shawhan.com Ruddell's Fort Page: http://www.shawhan.com/ruddlesfort.html Early Bourbon County Families Page: http://www.shawhan.com/bourbonfamilies.html