Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-18
flor the Phenix GAzette.l
COUNTRY SUNDAY school,

Tn nv first number called the attention OF
the public to the consideration Of establishing
Sunday Schools in every county, for the benefit
of the children Of the rich and poor. ! went
upon the idea of the immense utility, practical
bili,y,-. asinsss, and cheapness OF the system,
and of its vast importance in temporal and
eternal point of view. l necessarily supposed
that the county would be divided into many
parts, so that schools might be established in
Z manner convenien. aud accessible 10 ALL
Many neighborhoods are very populous, and
would, Of Course, furnish many scholars, and
teachers. Others are ,hinly settled ,and the num-
Der Of scholars would be proporlionably small.
would embrace in the system persons OF al
most every age,-at least, all who are capable
or disposed TO learn. Many grown persons
labor unGer great misfortune, in consequence
Of their inability to read. Hence, they remain
not only ignorant Of the word Of God, but OF
every me ans Of intellectual and moral improves
ment. The inference fairly is, tina, in thickly
settled parts, hundreds Of children can be found
to make large schools. In thin settlements, it
would be an object to induce grown persons to
Join the school. 1t is desirable to make the
schools as large, and as profitable, as possible.
established, whether the numbers be large or
small. Every part of the State should be en-
Iighlened, and the circumstance Of the thinness
of a neighborhood, ought 10 be no obstacle a.
gainst the light shining upon it Schools may
consist of 10, 90 to 200, and upwards. i know
of nothing to prevent The schools from being
we'll attended, at least nine months in the year.
Taking out some severe weather in winter, the
weather will always admit of the roads and
ways being passed Our winters, commonly,
are mild and open. This winter has been un>
usually wet and cold. Not so with winters
generally. The schools should be KEEP, up the
whole year, and nothing should be allowed to
interfere with their progress. Some youths, Of
both sexes, painting with the love Of God, ard
anxious for the improvement OF their minds
would joyfully dash through rain and snow
As regards very young or delicate children,
their parents and guardians would naturally
consul, their health. Boys of good constitution
would no, hesitate TO go few miles, in cold
weather, in pursuit Of acknowledge. As Sunday
is /. day of rest from rural labors, considera'
BILE part Of the morning, say from to -, might
be devoted TO The objects Of the school. What
a contrast will then be presented to their pre-
sen, employments on that sacred dayl Instead
of their time being idly wasted, it will be app
propriated 10 the acquisition acknowledge use
full and commendable to them here, and Of
those essential truths which regard their earth
ly and eternal felicity.
This plan, by no means initiates against the
use of common schools. In towns and cities,
weekly scholars 60 to the Sunday Schools
What a great chance do they give TO poor APP
pren,ices, who have no time allowed them dur
ing the week, for their meu,al improvement,
The gYat intention Of Sunday Schools, is the
improvement Of those who have no means or
opportunity OF going 10 the common schools,
and of affordug TO the pupils Of The last schools
divine instruction. Many young persons, of
Of both sexes, who are engaged during the week
in some necessary employment, md Sunday
the only day Of leisure. In those parts OF the
State where slave labor is unknown, many per-
sous are necessarily employed during the week,
aud Sunday affords them an excellent oPPortu'
nifty for improvement. If the sons and daugh'
ters of the rich are weekly educated, they will
have :he delightful task of importing to their
Moor neighbors the benefits Of their instruction.
The work, when once CONNIE need, will sustain
itself In few years ,be scholars become
teachers. Love, gratitude and piety, dispose
their minds to extend to their fellow beings
the same glorious advantages which they have
enjoyed. Sin the Report of the New Castle
(Easland) Sunday School Union, it is stated,
tb., ov, of 3s42 teachers, s72 had been schol-
49,. ard 1919 we're members Of Christian Soci-
.,,es Inthe Walls End School, out Of ss teach
srs. "a ~sss once scholars in The school, and
O., - %, christian Society. In the Sum