Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-06-13
RELIGIOUS MISCELLANY.
From he Christidn Watehman.
NEw-ENGLAND 8. s. UNION.


NHw-ENGLAND 8. $. UNION.
The anniversary meeting Of this Socie-
~ was held in the Federal-st Meeting
house on Tuesday. at p. NJ Rev. ~
w. Williams Of Beverly. presiding. Open
ing prayer by Rev. Prof. Sears. ~
The Annual Reports of the Society and
Treasurer were read and accepted.
The following Resolution was then Of
fered by Rev. L. 0. Lincoln, of Portland,
Maine: *
Resoired, That while the importance Of the Sab
bath school, in ts bearing upon tho temporal inter-
ests Of the community, entities II 70 the friendly re-
gard and assistance OF the Patriot and Philanthro-
pist its influence neleEating the standard mad pro-
noting the increase Of vital pcty, should call forth
in its 6ehalf the prayers and the active co-oPera-
ton q the Christian.
Mr.. Lincoln said that all would agree
in asserting to the truth Of the two or three
simple points embraced in this resolution.
SnlI. however, it was well TO consider
Aem. ,ha, they might be the more strongly
aad vividly impressed upon the minds OF
thoss present. The resolution first spoke
ofSabbmh Schools IS exciting beneficial
influence upon the temporal interests of
men. This was perfectly true. And
yet perhaps, il was truth which those
who presided over the temporal interests
Of the society would be slow to acknowl-
edge. But all experience proved that il
was not to 6eets, armies and warlile prep
aralions that nation must chiefly look for
styenoth and safety. Neither could de-
pendsnce be placed upon the dissemination
Of knowledge merely. The instructions
ofthe Bible and the moral discipline there
enioined, were adequate to sustain and
strengthen the sbric Of society; and un-
less the minds Of our children were early
imbued with this knowledge and subjected
10 this discipline, all other instruction, all
other iscipIine, and all other means OF safe
" would utterly fail. This necessary pro-
vision was excluded from our common
schools, and hence, II the rising generation
were to be beueftted in these respects, al
all, Il must be through the medium Of the
Sabbath School. Let these flourish, and
their beneficial influence would De seen II
all the temporal relations Of society.
But the resolution presented another ant
still more important point. IL asserted
that Sabbath Schools were directly iustru
mental 10 promoting the cause OF vital re
hgion. And Of this there could be no dis
pute. The fact that Sabbath Schools ar
instrumental, ia the improvement, not on
ly Of the outward condition, but he mora
Character or those under their influence
was proved By the early experience 9
those engaged in this enterprises II wa
said by the overseers Of the factory chi
dren taught ia the Sabbath School by Rot
ert Railxes that change had been wrougt
in them as great as would be the transform
alton Of wolves and tigers into men. An
not only was the moral character improves
but Il was a fact notorious in the exper
enee Of the churches, that multliudes IA
become the subjects Of divine grac
through instrumentality OF this institutio
Ia illustrating this view Of the subject y
L. ndverted 10 the influence Of Sabba
Schools in tightening and assisting the J
bors Of the ministry. Ministers Of &
prescott, unlike those ofthe former gencr
t;on. were not obliged to reiterate to q
taught auditors the first principles OF $;
walton. These were taught to large p
Of the audience 10 the Sabbath School.
The children there learned clearly !
truths Of the gospel. and were thus enao
stonce to recoQnizehnd acknowledge n
when prrenied from the pulpt Tn