The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1853-12-10
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Sabbath Schools.


2retentions, claims no Legislative cnnctmcnts,
and asks no support but what an enlightened
and christian sympathy feels bound to bcstow
Il II not like the ro,ring cataract which is
heard from afar; but lke the little rill meander.
Ing through tie how,ry mead whose course
can be traced by the verdurc and fertility
which line It's banks. And yet, by its humble
Origin and nnprctending claims, it has escaped
the opposition of tho great, the power of
| princes and the anathemas of Popcs, il until
has become one of the great benevolent insti-
tutions Of the day, and one of the most pow
erful engines which can possibly be brought to
bear against the accommodating influence of
vice and misery. Scaling the barriers Of sec.
tartan prejudice and sectional opposition, II
pcnctrates where tho missionary himself can.
| not 60; and conyerging to one point al the
combined talent, and picty, and christian in
fiuencc Of that community which it enters,
forms centre from which again divergc the
rays Of light and truth, aud heavenly wisdom,
to benefit and bless mankind. The christian
missionary now enters, the sanctuary is rear
cd. tho church.going bell proclams the ap-
proach Of a Sabbath morn, tho wilderness
and tho solitary places arc made glad, and
the desert begins to bud and blossom like the
rose. ,t .E
Long before the heralds Of salvation deigncd
to visit our country, the Sabbath School had
planted its peaceful standard, and wns exert
| ing that benign influence which has contribu,
| ted in no small degree TO produce those glorious
results which we this day behold. Sabbath
Schools are now considered the necessary APP
pcndage of every christian church. They arc
the little nurseries from which the plants Of
righteousness arc ere long transplanted to
flourish in tho garden Of our God, aud yield
the fruits of holiness and peace. More than
threc-fourths Of the members of our churches
arc now received from tho Sabbath Schools
| and nineteen-twenticths OF our missionaries TO
foreign lands, here received their first serious
Impressions; here they learned to feel that
they were sinners; here they learned the f.reat
and glorious truths of the everlasting Golipel
and here too, they learned to feel for the mis-
cries Of their fellow-crcatures. It's influence
| is beginning to be acknowledged too, in the
councils of our country; and well may IT,
when We reflect that more than three hundred
| thousand Of the most pious, intelligent and
efficient members of our churches arc cnga-
ged, from Sabbath TO Sabbath, in training two
millions Of children in the sublime truths of
the Gospel, and who are continually entering
upon tho stage of action, filling our legislative
halls, entering our pupits, laundering in our
Scnatcs, and taking upon themselves the most
/ arduous and responsible duties that were ever
assumed by free-born citizens.
| The writer Of this well rccollects secing one
of the judges of our supreme court, on q Sab
bath morning at the bead of his class i'm a
Sunday school, and when such men become
teachers what may We not expect Of their
pupils. The Sunday school now finds able
Advocates and faithful teachers in the British
| parliament. a member Of that august body,
| in a speech lately delveresl ascribes tho sta
bility Of the throne. the dfminution of national
| expenditures, and the great and growing i'm
| pulse which oil benevolent operations have
lately received tosSunday school influence;
for If Sunday echools check tho buds OF vice
| in embryo, thereby causing diminution OF
critnc, they must necessarily cause din,inu-
| ton Of police officers, prisons and guards,
and consequently, Of national expenditure,
IL such be the influence Of Sunday schools Is
Il not clear 10 our minds thnt they do not re.
| ccivc from our pastors and churches that at
tcntion which their importance demands g--
Too often they arc passed by with withcring
indifference or cold neglect, until they pine
and die. The pastor pleading his multiplied
cares throws the responsibility upon the lay
their turn incapacity, throw in back again
upon tho pastor, and thus it is borne by
neither.
The time was when. in New England, al
least one day in each week, in their day schools
MAS spent in giving obstruction from the Bible
| Now that practice Is discontinued, and the
Bible, as clsss,book. Is hanished front our
schools; and If our children arc not instructed
in the Sunday school IN most cases they re-
ceive no religious instruction whatever: and
as faith comes hy hearing. aud heariug by the
word of God, can Nc expect that our child.
rcn, as they grow up 10 embrace the submo
truths OF the Gospcs. anl bccowe active and
efficient mnnleers of oar cluifclsss when they
have never been taugh; thr very elementary
PRINCIPLES ot Christianity Ne This wcald
ee surprising an effect without ssase Goa
ssey convert their souls, aud they sssy enter
the church, tns they vii tc dfUuss oF piSu,i,S,
snsi the whvels cs 2len e,ll be impesisd in her
onward uaGVli
oush, not SUNDAY Schs.ol thsn d DC ss-
,ahlishea IN eesaessioa wl,h cvsyy CHRIS. Ian
Church. Shey esn. sed ,hes cgghi ~ ,e
teasatsiae.l. The rsSs<r ~ this clas sessslte.
sssi ssitslay 2she,i 81 thirty .t,Ae ssl.,sass
nlnc atsssths ~ Ass een anAsslssi egiasts SiN
lrse tehSsAg@ wtse lUfatsl iasss elsa. saa
fslsisfatly tnssrssssSl. the resaAiss,ts shlsts
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