Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-04-14

ne church and the nation as one of the
church's most efficient and hopeful auxil
iaries in the work of moral progress anc
renovation. =l4
These things being admitted, what more
IS needed 10 bring all the children and
youth IN Wisconsin under its sacred, NOR
al influence AS citizens of the most
prosperous and laxuriant portions Of our
national domain, what more is required
OF US to make this iltustrlous institution n
great highway on which our future State
can ascend 10 unparalleled moral great
ness As Christians, what more are we
called upon TO DO to make the Sabbath
ocnool nursery for the rearing up of sa
chosen generation, royal priesthood, an
holy nation 2 The true answer to these
questions is brief We must feel. Dro.
toundly feel, the unutterable importance
OF this work. We must realize the pre-
eminent adoption of the Sabbath School as
powerful means for the accomplishment
of this grand end. More than this. We
must have a clear conviction of the so.-
rmn truth, that on US rests all the respon-
slblII;y Connected with the right or wrong
moral training of Children responsible
Ity as broad as immensity-as deep as
Eternity They are now In our hands as
the clay is in the hands Of the potter
Our influence will tend to shape their
course for the everlasting future-perhaps
fix their eternal destiny.
Who stops TO take the dimensions of
such n work Who attempts TO fathom
the guilt which stands directly connected
with lis neglect On what heart is the
truth written. in all its length and breadth,
that this work cannot be overlooked with
out resulting most disastrousiy both to
the Church and to the STATE To be
more specific and direct in our remarks,
there are two classes on whom we wish
to press sense of responsibility in rela-
ton to the Sabbath School.
/. Parents have duty to perform on
this subject, which is peculiarly solemn
and Imperative.
There is not being on the globe, who
occupies position which is surrounded
with SO much grandeur and soiemnity as
the Parent. In most important sense,
you are responsible for the existence OF
the precious group of children that sur
round you. Their immortal being is the
result ct your choice. Mark another
Thing. You also will be responsible. in a
high degree, for the final results of their
being. Whether Heaven or He'll is to be
the place OF their changeless destination,
depends mainly upon The care which you
shall expand upon their early religious
training. This is q momentous thought
We wish you TO ponder it. The soul of
each of your dear children is now poised
between two moral extremes-Eternal
Life or Eternal Death Your influence
is the weight which is TO decide the pre-
ponderance. From a responsibility so
measurable. You cannot escape. Bva
changeless law of Heaven, the salvation
of the child IS made TO depend mainly up
on your fidelity. Goi has made Won the
guardian of all It's immortal interests. II
was his purpose 10 make the family, the
sure .sarh TO safety" t. every newborn
soul. And whenever parents have viewed
the family organization In the light of this
grand design Of Heaven, their influence
over their children has been most power
full and saluta7y. Like the faithful and
believing Patriarch, icy have s. e0nmanl-
ed their children and their households
after them.
In this connection, we uish every pa
rent seriously TO mediate the following
important facts which have been publish
cd on the authority of the Secretary of
the Massachusetts, Sabbath School Socie-
tv. in 1888 he visited 265 families in
New England. In these he found 300
children over fifteen years of age. OF
these children, SS4, almost three touiths
arc hopefully pious; 795 have united
with the churches sixty one, entered The
ministry /; only Serentee1 are disslPated,
and about half only of these, became so
while with their parents. In eleven OF
these families. there arc 1913 children,
and all but seven plous. In So OF these
families, there are 249 children over fiji
teen, and all hopefully pous. When and
where can any such result be found IN
the families of infdelS, of the vicious, or
Of ir7eiigious men. Barnes notes on l.
sqiah, chap. SO.
We hold up this most cheering result
Of parental fidelity before the fathers and
mothers Of Wisconsin. And in view OF
the infinite interests which gather round
the right or wrong moral education OF
YOUR children. we beseech YOU 10 be faith
full. We feel sure if you can be brought
to realize the awful truth that with your
own hands you arc to write LIFE or
"DrArH on the destiny of your child,
YOU will be in earnest on the subject
Realize this-loye the soul of your child
with an intensity proportioned to its IN
finite value. and you viii not only be sys-