Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-08
To TIE ED1roRs OF THE WING.

L O TIE EDITORS THE WING.
Gentlemen-After what has recently onno,rod
IN your paper on the subject of Sunday Schools Won
VIII not consider me asking too much when 7
request the publication of the annexed extracts fro
the fourth Annual Report of the American Sunda,
School ORion-the only one 1 have in nv nosses
sion. ask this, for the purpose of making know
TO your readers, some material facts, which arc
probably not known to all of them 1t is far from
my design to enter into discussion of the subject
only desire that the PRINCIPLES of this JJn;op
be known, and then / may hope thew will NOT L
msrepresented.
The Richmond and Manchester SUNDAY School
Union is auxiliary to the American Sunday School
Union, and has School in Manchester and &c
IN Richmond under it's care in ono Of u-b;1 7
nave been Teacher four years. These Schools
ioF rehglous instruction, use only the Bible and
the DOCKS published and approved by the American
' ohior' ana consider that they are bound, by the
ieadlng principle of the Union, only to inculcate
the great and cardinal points of Christian belief
10 teach those plain and simple GOSPEL truths
Whlch are peculiar to Sect, but of vital impor
lance 10 all. Neither of the Churches, to which
the SIX schools above mentioned attacked clai i'm
10 be the only true Church, or insist on the doc
trine OF the apostolic succession, or ACKNOWLEDGE
In ther Ministers iRfaLLbiLity or authority to bind
, ,Ne e0nscie"ce.-on the the contrary, it is well
known, that these the very pretentions which
have separated between them and some other dc
nominations. L know not where your correspon
dent obtained the chatechism from which he made
the extracts published; but very sure that no
schools
Union. Whilst the complaint is made of iSecfnrinu
principles, permit me to say that have been not
little surprised, at the facility with which apollo
gles have been received from those who auoloedIu
act on Sectaridn principles and the burthen of ron
sure cast upon Society formed upon the princinle
OF discarding all that is Sectorian. do not com.
pam OF any Tor teaching their own peculiar doc.
trlnes; much less should any complain of us for
teaching truths IN WHICH ALL AGREE.
me American Sunday School Union has the
mo vir uyiee nj
patriotic citizens. 1t has already accomplished
much good, and, with the blessing of God, we hope
LOT sIli greater things through its fundamentally
II is not yet, in comparison with the Methodist
Book Concern, "Mammouth Institution"-bu
VIC trust the day is not distant when it will better
deserve the appellation, and the salutary influence
OF It's principles will be felt throughout this whole
country. A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER
Extracts from the 4M annual Report of the Anne
ricaR Sunday School Union.
" But while Sunday Schools have thus been shed
ding their benign light abroad, and the evidence oil
thcir salutary efficacy coming up from every
quarter; while in view of their peaceful but pow.
crtu influence, the heart of the christian swclled
high with the hope Of and brighter era in the
history OF nan-tbis the hour which infidei
~ chose to assail their character with the bitter
ness OF virulent and unsparng malice. There
were found men, who masking the motives Of theil
deadly hostility under fcgned regard for religious
liberty, have endeavored to arrest The progress Of
system, which by its own porpctuty would securely
guarantee both civil and religious freedom dowI
to tho rcmotcst generation.
1t was neither hoped nor expected, that this hos
tility to Sabbath Schools should spare a society
Identified with their prosperity, and whose undivid
ed energies directed TO increase their efficacy
and extend their influence. Accordingly, the view
and objects Of your association, have been the fl
v7rito subject Of untiring misrepresentation ant
abuse. Charges tho most absurd and incon Eruous
have been acdged, the belief Of which would sop
pose degree Of creduly, little hattei ing to tina
! public on whom they were designed to impose
Among these, your Board of Managers, selected BY
your votes from different churches, and embracing
sir distinct denominations of Christians have bee
| strangely accused Of mutual combination to ad
vance the pyedomiuancc Of an individual sect, owe
! the rights and interest o. the Tcst But to motto
! and rcPel those unfouDded imputatons is rot tn
present ogett e your Board, would it becom
4 this solemn occasion, when our sole emotion shout
be gratitude TO that Beng who, as this report ha
manifested, las 50 richly smiled aPon the exertior
ofthe past year in this peculiar work ofbehehcenc'
1 Thus much only they may say, in justice 70 che
4 own character and tho american Sunday Scho
= Union, that they have never lent themselves