Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-08
To TIE EplroRa OF TIE AYure

Schools have recently appeared in your paper
the undersigned SuperIni endents of Schools IN
this City and Manchester, connected with the
Amer can Sunday School Union, beg leave
through your columns to lay before the public a
simple statement of facts, illustrative of the
character OF that Institution, and OF the Schools
connected with Ii here.
That The American Sunday School Union has
no unconditional or sectaran character, must
be evident to every person who has any knowi-
edge Of It's organization. There among It's
officers, six different dcnomina: ions of Chris
tIanS well several persons who do not be-
long to any Church. We mention the Chief
Justice Of the vi ed States, Jud.a Mclean
and Charles T. Mercer, As persons wei known
II this community. The Institution IS simply
union OF the friends of religious education for
the promotion of that object, upon principles
common to item 0U This object it proposes
to advance by difjdsng information. suggesting
aud circulating improvements in aching, fur
nlshIng at the cheapest rates appropriate books
for instruction and for libraries, and as far as it
has the means, b. sending out agents to explain
lis plans to the people. and induce them to form
schools where they do not already exist.
No Minister Of the Gospel, of any dcnomna-
ton, can be a member of the Board Of Managers
of the a. 5. s. Unicn. l. is made up wholly of
Lagmen, who are elected annually by the Soce-
ty And as the society is itself voluntary asso-
cation, consls iug of such choose to pay three
doilars annually to promote its benevolent OBJ
Jects, nothing but want of deep interest in the
eternal welfare Of the rising generation, need
exclude any man from having voice in its DELHI
eratons The Publishing Committee of the
Board consists of eight persons. who must be of
at least four different denominations Of Chris
IIans. No book can be published until three of
this Committee have certified in writing that
they have read it through; and any one member
may eXpunge any part, OF suppress the publica-
ton of any book. The society has published
| fb,,eo
for Sunday School libraries; and thousands of eve
ny age and denomination in every part of our
land 1chO hare read them. bear testimony to their
excellence. Their enemies cannot find sccta-
nan paragraph in the whole of hem!
Any School, or union of Schools NAV become
auxiliary TO the society, by simply sending it
copy of its cons tuition, list of It's officers,
md copy of Its annual reports. No question
is asked as to The religious denomination of any
school wishing to become auxiliary. No auxi,-
lary Is required to pay any money to the parent
society, take any of its books or 90 auv lhinJ
more than is stated above, 10 maintain Its con-
neXlon with 1t. Every school is left at perfect
liberty TO furnish Its own books, to adopt It's own
node OF teaching, and TO manage ali its concerns
n us own way. AS the society eXerts no infiu-
ence Whatever over the management of the
schools 1t Is utterly impossible for any school, or
any deDomination, to oppose it, or secede from
1t, in self defence"
The society sends cut its agents, some of one
denomination, and some of another, for the pur-
pose already stated, of awakening an interest in
the cause Of Sabbath Schools, and exciting the
people to establish them in every part of our
land. AT this very time, they are forming
schools in many PLACES and leaving them at lib
erty 10 become auxiliary to that Union, or TO the
Protestant Episcopal Union, or the Methodist
Episcopal Union, or to remain independents
Inc only object OF the society is equally effected
IN q her case--lt being simply bring the rising
ron Ia ~ 10 tfp,l1 "a,
auXlllarles, 1t offels the benefits Of union
WIN ieHow Iebourers. and of purchasing books
al reduced rates. And this union of effort cna-
oies lhe parent society to direct its operations
wHh more definite knowledge of the Sabbath
"cnoo' cause IN our country, and consequently
with more effect.
Such being the character of the A. S.
I&Ion we need not wonder when 1t meets the
opposition of lntdels and Seciarians, and the
CDItai support OF the most enlightened friends
Oh education, IN every part of our country In n
iGte? TO the Corresponding Secretary. Judrc
MafShaH says, mo man est mates more high
~ than | do, he real worth of your society
or the ''@Tinsic value of the objects it pursues.
am mnch--very much grai6ed at the sue
cess which has thus far attended its pblan-
tnropc, Incriorious, and well directed labors."-
dhe late Judge Washington who was an off
o'r OF The Society, said in n letter to the pub
IIshng comm ttee, 'Thht Heaven NAV prosper
Union arc engaged so honora BILE TO them, and 50
oeHe"cldl 10 our country, and to those particu-
AIRY VINO are the objects of their soIcltude-is
the ardent prayer of their faithful friend and adj
mirer'" Among those who publicly and eloouent |
y aC'ocated Its designs, In Washington last |
+ eDFuaIy we notice the names of such men ms !
eiH Grundy, Senator from Tennessee Fi !
ga " DlUiesey, Representative from Ohio, Nj |
sh-iaS ~. Coleman and Charles A. WickLfe |
representatives from Kentucky, G.. E. HAYNES
2 helre sentative from Georgia, and Dan. IVeb-
SER Senator from, Massachusetts. WIN. Wirt. |
III ms beautiful letter to the Society's aren't. in |
commentator Of the object. says, sIt il han
'y lotce that there is nothing seciarian abont =,
C', nat Tue whole Christian Church uui,es in
is adjancement And j, $ not less happy toece
nat 'be narrow spirit OF political party, or ofl
temporal dominion TO the Church Inns no con.
Germ this case
b Ihs It is evident that the American SUNDAY
'1"O'I Cnon Is. both in its organizaji IN and in
5 oIeTuIl'ns, just such an anil .sectarion and
'ufIai Institution rs you, Messrs Editors and
'OuI CotTcSpCndenis. so ardenily admire Anal
Ia' u Is pot Very erirdUngunt in carrvtrr into
l". Gu your iavorte pltH Of dfiusinp J3iJIc ino,y
- may be inferred from The fact rneniioncd m
vi, Ooiemans address, Thiyty-sercq Gnda boifl
,,,'S '''t eE"bie The society IN te,ch n UD,I +,
,1y, nm scha'ige him from scijooL nj IL NJ. "A
80 y 'se ''tt n fcst0ment IN his hn5d" Nv,
80, "'yss earnestly call upon every friend off
y, T.. 'uuC'tion' on these broad and LIBERAL
'es' upon every friend Of civil and rcI;,;
81 ,y' ana especially upon every friend oil
i'ol Peiy, 20 come forward and aid = ,'rsnu "
ne eIfnd object Of tits noble iusfi,csio- 'ug
me inemies Of this plan viii nu,.,o H.. az
TDFO@ltIOG aud fpaoh cI,,fJ~.. 80 CFH