Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-06-03
COM III u MICA TON
FOR TIE ADVERTISER.
THE SUPERINTENDANTS MONTHLY REPORT O

THE SUPERINTENDENT MONTHLY REPORT OF
THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS CONNECTED WITH TRINITY
PROTESTANT EpsCorAL CHURCH, FOR APRIL 1852
Rercrend and Dear Sir Few will, probably
dispute the point which l cndeavorcd in my las,
Report 10 illustrate, namely, that in general the
Sunday School is a good institution. Perfection
is not clalncd-ncilhcr is universal favor or inter.
est TO be expected by the advocate of Sunday
Schools. Difficulties must be met and overcome in
this as in every other good work Let us notice i,
few of these
Sometimes there is objection TO the whole work
Of Sunday School instruction. 1t is regarded as a
work of supcrcrosation, interfering with, if not
suppanting, parental religious instruction. would
have deemed this rs mere subtcrfugc of world
influencing an active christian ana conscientious
parent. Still is this not an unfounded prejudice
Such an objection can have no force in cases in
which children have no religious training and cdu-
cation at home. Many children attend the Sunday
School, rs they do other Schools, whose parents do
not realize the unreasonable importance of per-
sonal consccration to the Lord. These, having no
ipe and without Gnd in the word,'' arc not likely
to be solicous that their offspring should "rcmcm-
Der their Creator in the days Of their youth"
Should such young mmorals, for the prejudice
under consideration, bc deprived Of the instruction
given in the Sunday School And where parents
arc sincerely anxious TO train their children in the
nurture and admoniion Of the Lord, the Sunday
Schonl is not upheld rs Il rival, but Only as all
humble assistant. In the weekly recurrence Of
lessons from Gods word, or based thtrrupon, pI-
rcnts are furnished with natural introduction o
the great truths Of the Gospel to the ch;lI's notice
and with fitting opportunity Of urging our immc-
diatc surrender of the heart 10 the Lord Should
such al ally be contcmptuously spurncd in the diff
fcult work Of rcigiously educating the young
Are any so perfectly instructed that they may not
derive any benefit from the humble "Sunday
School Tcachcr?" Were such case possible. such
highly favored children might by their attendance
encourage others TO come TO the Sunday School
who have no such prc-cmincnt advantages. Even
in such case, tho Sunday School would only con-
firm the sound religious instruction received al
homc anil, certainly, no child Of man can too fire.
qucntly or too earnestly be reminded Of the things
that make for his peace. At least will not tho
truths thus reiterated be manifested to be Of tho
very first Importance TO the Child Jealousy o
the Sunday School seems to be unreasonable, un'
foundcd--yct while prejudice continues TO influence
the human estimate of things earth, the Sunday
School Teacher must expect to encounter difficulty
BY mcckncss, wisdom, and love he must seek tc
disarm such opposition.
But the chief difficulty to be encountered is the
'riS inertiG," the common unconccrn on the mat
ter of personal religion. In theory, multitudes il
christendom hold the doctrine of human dcpravity
who practically manifest little concern that tlcil
children should be "ncw creatures in Christ
Jcsus.' These cannot doubt that &C. the kingdom
Of God and his righteousness" are deemed by the
gracious Lord as of first and greatest consequence
to mankind. Still there is little, if any, evidence
Of anxious and praycrful thanksgiving to correct
the earthward tendency of the youthful heart On
the contrary, the unavoidable inference from what
is and heard is that the pleasures, riches, hon.
OTIS anu eSlcclIl Ol WOflu UTSt 10 DC con-
sidcred and sought This inference children draw
very carly, indeed, before they arc ordinarily
thought capable of reasoning. In their judgment
they arc manicsty influenced by those with whom
they have much to do. They cannot think that
the interests of the soul arc deemed by their parents
of very great moment, when these are seldom
spoken Of as practically regarded. The natural
disasc TO true hcar-purifying christian principle is
sufficiently strong in the best samples of human
nature. But when this is strengthened by mani
fest parental preference for the things Of timc the
Sunday School Teacher may expect to find much
difficulty in engaging the young heart in the truths
and doctrines of the lowly Jesus. Still faith and
prayer can do much" all things are possible to
him that bclicveth."
Thus among those who are not Immediately con-
nectcd with the Sunday School, prejudice and in
difference as to religion may put difficulty in the
progress of the good work. There are other i'm
pediments worthy of notice which spring up in the
path of the Sunday School Teacher and may be no.
ticed hereafter
Our Schools number at present, White Scholars,