Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-06-30
From the Philadelphia L. 5. Gazette.
INFANT SCHOOL EXHIBITION

Rev. MIR. Living aon's church, in Crown
street. "A large staging had been erect,
ed in front and at the side of the pulpit
and maps, an infant school orrcry, and
other appliances, were displayed there
upon.
A large arch ofllowcrs had been thrown
over the pulpit, from the centre of which
was appended Il card of green, ornamcn
ted with flowers, bearing the following
inscription:-"Take his chiM and nurst
IL for me"-a passage, we believe, from
the charge of Pharaoh's daughter, touch
ing the Infant Moses.
Mr.. PEcuIN, one oithc advisers ofthc
managers, and gentleman devoted to
the cause of infant schools, entered into
n brief but very satisfactory explanation
of the mode ofinstruction
Miss JAMES, teacher of the model
school, lady we'll known for her sue
ccsslul cXcrtions in mstructing infants,
caused her class to 90 over part of their
lessons in primary grammar Reference
was made to the orrcry; and questions
relative To the motion ofthc solar system,
the distance fplanctS from the sun, the
time of revolution, the uses and move
mcnts of secondary planets, were put by
the teacher, and answered with surprising
readiness by the little pupils. The singing
was truly delightful. The Rev. Mr.
Livingston then read the annual report
of the managers. From which we learn
that the society has under its charge j6w
schools; one of which was opened last
September, as a model school, at 81 30
per quarter, with II children; since
which the number has increased to III.
In this school, teachers are prepared for
infant schools. a proper tribute is paid
to efficient friends of the society, who
have died since the last anniversary
The Rev. Mr. CooKMAN then address
sed the meeting. He observed that the
absence of clerical brother had dcvolv-
ed upon him the duty of making some
bservations; duty which he should
endeavor to discharge with all possible
brevity; especially as he was not init
mate with the circumstances of the in
stitution, the record of whose labors for
the last year, had just been read. But
the exhibition of the morning was sufh-
cient to satisfy him, and any one, of the
value of infant school instruction.
Hitherto, he believed the powers Of
tho infant mind had been misconceivcd
and underrated; and men had from an
unjust appreciation of It's capacities, done
injury to society. This, however, he a.
verrcd, is an age of revolutions; and the
spirit of free inquiry, which is subvcrt-
ing in Europe those political institutions
founded in error, is in this country en-
ercising its most salutary Influences
With one hand 1t grasps the pillar Of i'll
fidelity, and with the other the pillar of
superstition, and with its gian. power,
it heaves them from the pedestal; and the
whole temple Of error will tumble into
ruins.
1t has been said in dcriSion, by men
of more wit than wisdom, that this insti-
tuition is baby concern; and ridiculc,
more easily wIclded than argument, has
been employed to make the impression
that all who attend in the schools, were
reduced to infancy. Ii may be an ''n-
tant matter" said Mr. C.. but | incline
to the opinion that some Of the "iniants"
have to-day answered questions that
would puzzle their fathers and grand
fathers. But allow it Il baby institutions:
Hercules himself was once a baby
Sampson the mighty, the Nazarite who
stood on the banks of Jordon, was once
baby-But if such is the knowledge of
these babies, what shall they be in youth (;
What in manhood?
BY the system o. instruction here cX-
planned, said Mr.. c., we have the hu-
man mind early developed. The schol-
ar who once waited his years in idleness
or on incomprchcnsiblc words, is here
taught THINGS. The appeal that was
once to memory, is n ow to the compre-
hcnsion; learning is thus facilitated and
the season of stud y prop"rtionatcIy y short
ened. The fountain of knowledge is not
now upon the summit of the hill of sci
ence, which only the few can attan.-I
The labors of this generation have o.
pened its hidden veins, and it is now
yelling ont at the sides, and evan at the
foot of the mount; and the humble and
the poor as well as the proud, and the
rich may partake its blessing, even child
rem may wade its streams and drink and
be satisfied.
But, said the Rev. Gentleman, the
fulncss Of this days exhibition has not
yet been manifested; let me invite yorr
attention to what has been done for Afi-
ca; for poor degraded abused Africans. "
AT an intimation from the attendant man
ager, the children of the colored school,
stationed i'll the gallery, then arose. -
After very appropriate and highly clo-
quent appeal for the colorcd population,