Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-04-21

grea, degree, BY mean, Of tina, in,rIlns ", III
virtue impaired to the rising generation u.
the medium Of Sabbath Schools, "'osa
We now call your attention to a few far,
nee'ed with the history Of the Am.rie,a o.
day School Uaiou. This Union 90, ss'-
10 May, 1924, about nine or ten wear, ,s .as
commencement Of these institution, ;' u
country. 1t commenced with abou, NJ
children, and 1900 teachers. One v,,, w"
wards, in Nav, 1926, the children had in., .''s',
to s2,6s7, and the teachers TO 1895. In
1896, the number OF scholars was las ny.
and Of the teachers 1928. To Nav. 100, :"
schools contained I74,l9l children. und., %
care Of 24,3o7 teachers; and, III Nav, 100, ~
the last anniversary, the children had i,e,.
to 259 SIS, and the teachers TO s2,3osy Si''
the las, reports nearly a year has slans.d. ' ~.
doubtless, the increase has been pronorlio,I
tina, of the preceding years. If So, there No."
be upwards of 400. 900 children now beIo,.9.
to this great family, 10 be fed with III. S,.,s
which come'h down from Heaven! Je,n,s =.
had compassion upon this multitude; and WI.
some Of his increduIous disciples hay. ,lJ
" Whence shall we obtain bread for 50 r,,,s
he has replied" Give ys them to eat."-aW,,.
them to sit down by 6fiies, and tens, and &C.,
in a company, and break 10 them the Br.s :
Life, which ! will cause 20 multiply in w,
hands, until all shall be fed and many 5a,i,,'
full Of fragments shall remain. Some, aIsr,
" forbade these little children TO be broupb, =
the Saviour" but at this He was disDIs,,,I
and said: Suffer the little children 10 cam,
unto me, and forbid them MOI; for Of such i,h.
kingdom Of Heaven. And He has taken n,Dva
them into his arms, and best them; and. ys,il,
they shall be blest forever. Nor shall ,b,
who are the instruments Of bringing the. IL,
tie ones to Christ, depart without a blfs,ip,
He frs, b!esses them, and afterwards makes
them blessings to their children and ,hu
thousands Of teachers and scholar. arr, from
week to week, receiving and impariug bensSp
important and lasting as eternity. What
magnificent scheme Of benevolence is his
How il displays the wisdom as well as tn.
goodness Of Him who is so Justly styled ,e
Father Of Mercies, and who must be aeknOy.
lodged and adored as the Author Of hi. ln,lt
tp,ion!
In relating the fact Of the existence Of Sal,
bath Schools in some parts Of Italy and Bohs.
mia in the 10th and 18th centuries, ii was no.
our intention to detrac, in any degree, from
,be merit Of Robert Raikes to whom the o.
GIN Of these institutions has generally been as.
crihed. The system was as really origiu,i
with him, as if nothing like it had ever beer
thought Of before Blu; il was his peculiar f.
licity 10 live ia an age which was prepared ft
the general adoption Of such 4 plan. III. pub.
lie mind in the most enlightened Chrisuu
communities had been stimulated in some ma
sure, to benevolent action. The enquiry "Lut
what wilt thou have the 10 do!" had bscon:
more general among Christians; vehicles 0|r'
Iigious intelligence had begun 10 &y sps~%s
wings Of the wind; Christians Of different DE-
nominations had begun 10 meet together IN Or
der to hold friendly consultation about obleeI'
of general interest. These and other causes
combined to render the efforts Of Robt Raikr
more successful than had been those OF his pre-
decessors in the same department OF labot'-
This success is indeed amazing, and beyond al
calculation. The effects Of his labors Save e.
tended to every quarter Of the globe; they have
attracted the admiration oil the Christian
world, and his name will be had in everlasting
remembrance. -,
The fame Of some has been extended by ID;
blast OF the trumpet and the roar o. cannon, ao
while they have marched over The trembling
limbs of humanity, they have left behind 'atn
scenes Of carnage and Of desolation Bot "a,
fame Of Robert Raikes is spreading 'hro0sl
the world by the silent yet rapid extension =
the Sabbath School systeri, unaeeonp.nF'
with the groan. Of the dying, and un'arn!sne'
with the stains Of blood. 1t has become ia.n.
,i6rd with an institution. which Is imparn't
intelligence and virtue to almost every e''laIs'
community, and which will, doubtless i" I" =,
distant period, extend its sslulary influence v
every part Of the world. And some m'A'u
Of The same honor Az ats the humble'' 'a'o'. 9
in these nurseries Of pie,y ; Tor they NAV !"
wise shall shine as The brightness Of 'ne nm
ment, and they that turn many TO rg"'e
as the stars for ever and ever. .np
In concluding this Report, the Board WV. wv
avail themselves of this occasion, to pay :,
butte Of sincere respect and Of cordial 'ne'" y"
to the memory Of Mr.. James Douglass IL.
Of the ~earlies, and most interchangeable msm"'
Of this Society, and, al The time oil MS d''l
Corresponding Secretary oil Inc Board AZ,
know not how to express their seD''u''e'
more appropriately than in the lang.'se u ,
which was adopted by The boa, w.
their first meeting after the death Of MI
glass. The resolution is as follows
"Resohed, That this Board condole with N" p NV
in the Affective dispensation OF DIVINE rW,