A DELORO PRESENTATION - 73 YEARS LATER.
/BRENDA BROOKS SKOF, IN HER RECOLLECTIONS IN "DELORO-LIFE IN A COMPANY TOWN" , RECORDS THAT THE WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL MEETINGS WERE HELD BEGINNING AROUND 1945. I RECALL THAT WE MET IN THE OLD FURNACE ROOM IN THE ORIGINAL TOWN HALL BEFORE THE FIRE THAT DESTROYED . CHAIRS WERE PLACED IN FRONT OF THE OLD WOOD BURNING STOVE. EIGHT OR NINE KIDS, AROUND THE AGES OF TEN OR ELEVEN WOULD GATHER UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF MRS. HEMPHILL.
NOW, OF COURSE, WE WERE NEVER WELL BEHAVED, AND TO THIS DAY I RECALL THAT OUR ACTIONS WERE MET WITH DIRE CONSEQUENCES WHEN WE GOT HOME. HOWEVER, WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED, WITH THE KIND OF BEHAVIOUR THAT WENT ON, THAT ON NOVEMBER 27, 1946 REVEREND YOUNG FROM ST. ANDREWS UNITED CHURCH, AND THE ANGLICAN PRIEST FROM MARMORA, ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON PRESENTED EACH OF US WITH OUR FIRST BIBLE. THEY SAID," HOW DO YOU REMEMBER THE GOSPELS"? LONG PAUSE--(GOD HOW WOULD I HAVE KNOWN THAT). THEY SAID "MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN, GET ON YOUR HORSE AND GET ALONG”
“IMAGINE THAT”, IS MY THOUGHT, EVEN TODAY. THAT LITTLE BIBLE, NOW COVERLESS, TORN EDGES DUE TO ITS MANY MOVES, HAS BEEN WITH ME ON MANY OF MY JOURNEYS TO THIS DAY, AND I FEEL IT'S TIME TO BRING IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL HOME.
SOME 73 YEARS AFTER THIS PRESENTATION, I TAKE GREAT PLEASURE IN RETURNING THIS BIBLE TO ITS ORIGINAL HOME IN THE COLLECTION AND ARCHIVES OF THE MARMORA HISTORICAL FOUNDATION AS A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT THERE WAS THIS EVENT, PLACE, AND TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THIS LITTLE VILLAGE CALLED DELORO.
REVERAND JAMES DALTON - JANUARY 2019
IF THERE ARE OTHERS WHO REMEMBER THIS TIME, AND YOU MIGHT EVEN HAVE YOUR BIBLE, PLEASE LET THE FOUNDATION KNOW YOUR STORY AND ADD TO THIS TIME AND PLACE.
Brenda Brooks Thank you, James Dalton for this wonderful memory. I too still have my Bible which was issued in 1945, and also my brother Vic's which was issued in 1948. Most of my siblings, the Brooks children, also received the Bible, and for some of us it was given for perfect attendance. I really liked Mr. Dalton's version of "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,......" as the ending for me was ".....hold the horse while I get on......... Also I taught the lessons at Deloro Community Sunday School to the kindergarten class. Many good memories and blessings.
