The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-08-18
MISCELLANY.
From The London Methodist Magazine.
SABBATH SCHOOLS.
Their Progress and hathg results.


Raikes, of the city of Gloucester, was the
founder OF this most excellent institution /;
and if seven cities IF Greece contended Tor
the birth of Homer, how much more may
the city of Gloucester exult on account OF
| this God like and valuable man Ihe plan
as formed about the year 1871. 1t was
then like the little cloud, seen by the proph-
els servant, from the summit OF Mount
Carmel &c not larger than mans hand =
1t resembled, in its origin, grain OF mus
tard seed, " which is the smallest OF all
seeds" But it was designed by the Al
mighty to spread and grow. Yes, the
IS little cloud was the prelude OF copieus
and ferlilizing shower and the grain OF
mustard seed was destined to become a
great tree" This leads next to few re-
marks or the amazing Progress OF thss '1sts,
tution.
Three years after its formation, ii was at
tended with very great success. During a
lew succeeding years, the benevolent ioun-
der received accounts OF three hundred
thousand poor children being under instruc-
ton in Sabbath Schools And Mr. K. lived
to behold his plans almost generally adopt
ed in various paris OF the British empne !.
From what small circumstances frequent
Iy ariss the greatest events, and even indl-
yiduals, at times, have, like Mr.. Raises,
been made /" blessing In the midst OF the
land" Whilst many hero will rot, the
names Of Raikes, the founder of Sabbath
Schools of Howard, the sympathetic ex-
plorer OF prisons OF Wilberforce, the en-
sncipator of Africa of Thornton, & Rey.
holds, the benevolent friends of the poor
and INDECENT :--such names shall be" had
in everlasting remembrance, Thousands
" rise up and call them blessed" Let me
ask what would be the sensations OF MIR. K
was he now living, to behold he amazing
progress and success of Sabbath Schools in
our day f? A late writer observes, that a
million of poor children are received into
the bosom of this admirable and praisei
worthy institution" Blessed be God what
a multitude How las the little cloud"
increased in magnitude! What showers OF
benefits 10 the rising race have descended
from it How immense now in sZe is the
tree" which few years ago was but a
(" grain Of mustard SEEDS How wide The
ocean, which 10 the beginning was drop,
afterwards stream, then brook, which
soon formed river; and at length became
the stupendous ocean which we now behold,
waiting on its smooth expanse and CLASSY
surface, the children of the poor, towards
the haven Of useful knowledge, and the
port OF everlasting felicity
o England happest Of all lands the best!
BY blessing myrads, thou myself art bIest;
Wide as thy sceptre waves, let children learn,
Essential truths--and to their Saviour turn.
| nov proceed 10 The delightful and glori-
GUS consunmalon OF this excellent design.
We, or our children, shall see greater
things than these. The institution OF Sab
bath Schools may be considered as merely
in its infancy. Ii is certainly the dawn ola
glorious day, bui not yet its high meridian.
The SPLENDID Sun of Instruction gilds, with
rs rising efulgenl rays, the mountain tops,
but ii shall rise higher and higher above
the horizon, and ultimately spread its IRA
dating effulgence, and Respondent giories
on the plains below, The lowly cottage e.
ven now receives the exhilerating beam,and
the tribes of children OF the poor and ncedy,
are rushing towards the precious light.
am not prophet, nor a prophets son !;
but feel strong persuasion, that Sabbath
Schools win, ere long, spread from pole TO
pole, and from shore to shore. Yes,
Far shall the blessings reach in after time,
Through every country, & through every cline,
Children untaught, shall be instructed there,
TO read the Scriptures, and their God revere
The reign of ignorance will then be DER,
And knowledge sacred, spread fran shore to saote
Fen Sabbath Schools, humble mean shall be
To train up children yes--Great God TO Thee !
have long since regarded this, and Ger
tain other institutions of the present day.,
as q national honour, and in some degree a
national security The Institutions and
plans of usefulness now 10 vigorous co ope
RATION, will raise Grea,- Britain to distinc
ton above all Greek, above all Roman.
fame these things shall inmortalize our
land when the most durable monuments Of
its military grandeur, and its naval skill
shall have persisted and decayed when the
creenest laureIs Of q Wellington shall have