Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-10-27
From the N. Y. Com. Adv. ofthe 2Ist inst.

From the N. Y. Com Adv of the 2Ist inst.
THE SUNDAY School JUBILEE, which
was celebrated OH Wednesday, deserved
more particular notice than we had
room to give it in the paper ofthat day
"lhc march nl mind" has become cant
phrase, conveying, in many instances, ii
well deserved sneer upon much that may
justly be considered quackery IN the
bOasted Improvements ol the present day,
in the methods devised by empircism, for
conveying and receiving instruction.
But that there is.an acceleration in the
advance of the juvenile mind to know
ledge, by reason of the multiplied and
improved means of instruction of the
present period, is not matter Of doubt
AT the foundation ofthese improvements,
are Infant and Sunday Schools. 1t is
true that the latter preceded the former
by several years, producing, as we have
abundant reason to believe, the happiest
effect upon the mind and character of the
rising generation. But the Infant School
strikes deeper yet; the mind is taken at
the earliest period of its expansion, when
its first impressions for good or evil, are
imbibcd. The Sunday School comes at-
terwards; and by the combination of the
two, the Christian philanthropist may
safely indulge in the brightest anticipa-
tiOns of future improvement in the moral
and intellectual character of our race
A foretaste of the vision thus present to
the eye of hope, was exhibited at the sol
emn pageant on Wednesday. The
schools were gathered in front ofthe City
Hall, together with their teachers and
superintendents, male and female, to the
number of many thousands. Their num-
bers were swcllcd greatly by countless
hundreds spectators, ,evincing the deep
est interest in the scene. Having OBJ
tanned position upon the piazza of the
hall, we were enabled to look down up
on the compact multitude below, cx-
tending nearly across the park, from
Broadway to Chatham street. The num-
Der appeared very large. According
to an estimate, after counting a section,
We supposed the assembagc to consist
of from fifteen TO twenty thousand. All
were clean, well dressed and orderly; g.
we envy not the feelings of those, if per-
chance there were any such, who could
remain unmoved, when these thousands
were pealing forth the hymns sung on
the occasion. In the open air the effect
ofeven thousand voices, would be much
diminished; but when ten thousand were
swelling at once the song ofpralse to the
Most High, it was powerfully affecting,
and indescrbabIy grand. The spectacle
was animating and neutrality-suspicious.
ly so, when, after the exercises were clos
ed, the several schools began to move off
under their respective officers, in various
directions, diverging in multitudinous yet
orderly columns, through the avenues of
the Park like radii from common CEN
ire. In the evening the superintendent
of the schools were assembled in the
Murray-street church, where appropriate
religious services were performed, and
an address pronounced by the Rev. DIR.
Spring. Not having been able to pene-
tratc through the crowd, we can only say
from report, that the meeting was one of
deep interest. Certainly the occasion
was one upon which the highestenergics
of bcnevolencc, and powers of eloquence
and piety, might dwell with delight and
without fatigue or exhaustion.