Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-09-06
rIuvrxRs ON EDUCATION,

,.,,osed to saw OH the means of establishing
mad preserving authority, shall proceed to
another very important branch Of the sub
icc,, and beg your very particular attention
10 il, viz. Example. Do not, however.
suppose that mean to enter on that most
beaten of all topics, the influence ofexsmple
in general, or 10 Wrile q dissertation on the
common saying. that " example teaches
better than Precept." An able writer
doutless, might set even this in some new
lights, aud make it a strong argument VII"
every good man to pay the stric'est a'''''''
ton to his visible conduct. What we see
every day has constant and powerful IN
auence on our temper and carriage. t1ehce
arise national characters, and national man.
ners, and every characteristic distinction OF
noe and place. But Of this | have already
said enough.
Neither is it my purpose TO put you IN
mind of the importance of example to en-.
force instruction, or ofthe shamelu'ness OF
q mans pretending to teach others what he
despises himself. This ought in the strong:
est manner to be laid before pastors and
Other public persons, who often defeat hae'
itually by their lives, what they attempt to
do occasionally in the execution OF their
Office. Iftherr remains the least Suspicion
of your being of that character these letters
wJuld have been quite in another strain.
believe there are some persons oil very IRE
p,.lar lives, who have so much natural tIgh
in their consciences. that they would be
erieved or perhaps offended, if,heir children
should tread exactly in their own steps !:
but even these, and much less others, who
are more hardened, can never be expected
to undertake or carry on the system of ed
uca,ion, we are now eadeavouring to illus
trate. Suffer, me however, before | pro.
ceed, to make one remark when have
heard of parents who have been watched by
their own children, when drunk. and taken
care Of, lest they should meet with injury
or hurtful accidenls--or whose incorporate
rage and horrid blasphemies have, without
scruple, been exposed both to children and
servanrs-..or who, as has sometimes been
the case, were scarcely at the pains to con:
ceal their criminal amours, even from their
own offspring-I have often reflected on the
degree Of impieiy of principle, or scared
ness Of conscience, or both united, necessary
10 support them in such circumstances. Let
us leave all such with mixture fplty and
disdain.
By mentioning example, therefore, as an
;nonor,ant and necessary branch Of the edu
cation Of Children have chiefly IN view
great nun Der of particulars, which, sepa7a.
teIy taken, are. or at least are supposed to
be, Of little moment Z; yet by their union
or frequent repetition, produce important
and lasting effects. | have also in view to
include all that class Of actions, in which
there, is, or may be coincidence between
the duties of piety and Poli,eness, and by
means of which, the one is Incorporated
with the other. These are TO be introduced
under the head Of example, because they
will appear there to best advantage, and
because many of them can hardly BE- ,augh,
or understood in any other way.
This. | apprehend, you will readily ap.
prove OF, because. though you Justly con-
slider religion as the most essentially
necessary qualification, you mean at
the same time that your children should be
fitted for an appearance becoming their sa~
tion in the world. 1t is also the more ne
cessary, as many are apt TO d'sjoln wholly
the IDEAS ofpeiy and politeness, and to sup
pose them not only distinct, but inconpaf''
bic. This is dangerous snare to many
parents, who think there is no medium DC.
tween the grossest rusticity, and giving
way to all the vanity and extravaganza
of a dlssipated life. Persons truly Plous
have often BY their conduct given coun'
tenance 10 this mistake. BY certain
narrowness of sentiment and behaviour
they have become themselves, and render.
ed their children, unfit for general inter
course with mankind, or the public duties
ofsctive life.
You know, Sir, as much as any man,
how contrary my opinion and conduct have
been upon this subject. | cannot help
thinking that true religion is not only con-
sistent with, but necessary to the perfection
of true poteness. There is noble sen.
timent 10 this purpose illustrated a, consid-
cradle length in the Portrayal Essays, viz.
"That worldly poli.eness is no more than
an imitation or imperfect copy of christian
charity. being the pretence or outward ap-
pearance, of that Difference to the judgment
and attention 10 the interest Of others, which
true christian, has as the rule of his life,
and the disposition ofhis heari.~ have
at present 10 my mind the idea of certain
persons, whom you will EASILY guess at, of
the first quality one or two Of the male,
and twice that number at least of the female
sex, in whom piety and high station are
united. What sweetness and complac.