Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-20
REPORT.

81
School Union are, with one Of the most important
charges which can be delegated BY their fellow.
cltizrus--wLilst they court the constant supervi-
sion of the public eve, and ask that their respon
sib,lities mas in some measure be lessened by
the frequent aud rigid examinations of their
schools, Of the character of their Teachers, the
Books used in their classes and forming their Ii.
braries;-they yet feel themselves bound, on
these Anniversaries Of your Society, when they
may be called to resign their charge into the
hands Of others, TO give some account OF their
stea ardshp, Of the state of the Schools, and
the manner in which their other duties have been
performed. Important, however. as these du.
ties are in their bearing upon the moral and reli.
gious character, the temporal and eternal inte-
rests, of the rising generation, and the happiness
and well being Of every family whose children
may be entrusted to their care-they do not in
volve any varied operations, any circumstances
very striking to the careless observer, or any
thing which might arrest the attention Of persons
eugrossed in the exciting scenes of business, po-
litics, or pleasure. The Sunday School Union
owes its importance to the fact, that the books.
the mode OF instruction. and the principles of
religion and morals to be furnished, and impress
ed upon the children Of our community, are in
some good measure under its control. Yet these
these principles formed, without noise-wthout
ostentation--without the Managers of the Socie.
ty, the Teachers of the Schools under their gu.
pervision and care, or the Scholars who form
these Schools, being often or torcibly intruded
on the public notice. But the very silence of
these operations, the very noiseless tenor of the
whole institution, when the immense importance
of the results to be produced are considered, are
the circumstances which should secure the most
rigid supervision OF an intelligent community
The Managers court this supervision: they would
rejoice to see every book in their libraries, and
in the hands Of their Scholars, made the subject
of the most rigid examination. They court this
supervision, aud would rejoice in this examina-
ton, because they feel confident that the insti-
tuition would, if thus examined, commend itself
to the favor Of the public 10 much higher de.
gree than il has heretofore DONE and that the in.
creased confidence Of parents and guardians,
and their increased desire 10 have the characters
Of their children formed on such admirable prin.
ciples Of religion aud morals as are incucated
by the publications Of the Union, would insure
q support. the most gratifying and important,
which now, in msny too cases, is withheld from our
Schools
Some conception may be formed OF the vast
Importance Of the Sunday School operations
among ourselves, when we state. that fully one.
sixth Of our whole white population is brought
under the influence of the instruction thus al
forded; upwards of eight hundred children and
youth being enrolled in the Schools connected
with the Union, and we presume one hundred
aud fifty, or two hundred. in the School, or
Schools, not connected with US. What Chris.
tan can, what patriot phlanthroplst should, be
Indifferent to such an institutioni-And who can
refuse his admiration to that Christian beneyo-