The republic., 1853-05-28
Address

| JOr utt6ranCe. AusplClOue Gay! ~ 10 Out &tcd
Sabbath School festival. 1t is a reunion of ths
friends of the Sabbath School of all denominations
by whatever name called; divided, indeed, into
different columns of march, bnt all advancing te
one grand object-the spiritual conquest of this
world to Emmanuel As upon the banner of my
country, which waves the centre of this host,
see inscribed the words E Pluribus Unun,. ONE
OF MANY, take that for an illustration of the con-
solidated beauty and power Of these numerous
schools, of various denominations, whom we see
before US. Welcome, then, all--superintendents,
teachers, children ministers OF the churches civi-
lians, and citizens. Thrice welcome to these hal
lowed scenes to participation in this spirii
ring jubilee. Glorious land of my birth! Here are
the fruits of your free, unfettered unpatronized.
glorious institutions. Who shall gansay the power
of the Sabbath School? am reminded of scene
which took place in this city twenty two years
ago at grand Sabbath School meeting, convened
for the double purpose of enlightening and recti-
flying public sentiment, and assisting to diffuse the
benefits of the system throughout the Valley of the
Mississippi.
The objects and policy of the American Sunday
School Union had encountered suspicion in certain
quarters. Suspicion had ripened into hostility.
and hostility armed itself with the weapons of cal
umny and detraction. The cry of .Church and
friends of the Union were charged with a conspi-
racy TO unite the two, or rather to procure in some
mysterious manner the ascendency of the former
over the latter In such crisis it not un
it was indeed the duty of great and good men Of
the land to step forward the arena of strife and
from the metropolitan centre declare their on;n
ION in the face of the country. At that meeting
accorolngiy appeared GRuNDY, WEBSTER, Fac.
LINGHUYsEN, HAyNE, WIcKLIFFE, KEY WH,r.
TLksEY and LowRIE, all unanimous and ardent in
their testimony to the magnitude, the patrotisno.
and the benehcence of the American Sundav
School enterprise. Senator Grundy. who was in
the chalr, opened the meeting with an address in
which he spoke of the grandeur of the epternrise
before them, the immense moral influence it was
destined to exert over the growing empire of the
West, and expressed hope that in dea tn We ahonId
close our eyes on a land of Bibles, Sunday schools
and Christians. In u similar, accordant strain. pro
ceeded the other distinguished spea kers: when Mr.
Webster arose, amid deep and impressive silence
and with a solemn and deliberate ennnciat;on
stated the topics he would discuss. They embraced
the idea OF gratitude that were born in land
of FREE EDUCATIoN-Lnarked by a long line of
patrimonlal instruction-by the excellence of in.
tenectual instruction based on laws and the far su
perior value and efficiency of system of educa.
ton founded on the BlBLE-s'that grand text book
for universal commentary" He passed beauti
ful encomium on that system of instruction which
improved the halowed rest of the Sabbath fnr
elevating the immortal mind to the contem
platlon OF its nohler destinies; admired the
simplicity of the plans of this inventive and be.
nehcent age for the rlelioration of the condi |
tion of humanity. All great and striking con.
ceptions, he said, were simple. 1t was the Jer.
vading element of their subiimity and that wae
a moral sublimity-the highest kind. The ranid
march OF the West, with the vigorous ste of youth
outran the details of mental cultivation ard 90
fellow citizens ofthe same great Republic we should
assist each other in the work of ntelectuaI mnrove
ment. Addressing himself with peculiar emphasis
to the chairman, he observed, that thou oh it was
well Known they differed in opinion on mat.
fhary F.
widely a5 they were geographically separated |
from each other, to the subject before the assem-
bly, that night. TO this declaration the Chairman
RESPONDED win an inclination of his head, and an
expression of countenance that denoted his bea rty
concurrence with it in all it's fulness The enthn
siasn1 of the audience this ge of the meeting
is far better remembered than it can now be de-
scribed. The impression was as comnlete aa II weo
happy. The influence of sentiments uttered on
that occasion and published abroad was as salutarv
as 1T was widespread; the vindication was tri
umphant; the voice of calumny died away; the
enemies of the truth disappeared and the friends
of Sabbath Schools we're multiplied on every s;de
This hour witnesses the truth and progress of |
those noble sentiments of the men who have cone
before us, diligently and constantly maintained |
by those who have come after These thnneands |
of children now before me, then Unborn riss m |
in view Of the massive columns of the National
Capitol, and bear their humble witness to the goyv
of that system which ELECTED the otier euloeiums
of hOnored statesmen, whose eoouence echo;nr
within the walls of the same CAPITOL. has warme5
patriotism into life and Indifference into liy elv sen
ability.
If now the question be put to this immense as.
eembly what is our security, would not ali renjv
not N armies, navies, statesmansbip. dnomaiic |
skill, free institutions, great and towering name
but in the FAVOR OF Cop? In that rjghteousness
which exalteth nation? Let US call to mind the
concluding words of the inaugural address of onr
President, recently uttered on this spot;
:" Let not the foundation of our hope rest rnon
mans WISDOM. 1t must be felt that there
is no national security but in the nations hum.
bIed, acknowledged dependence unon Cod and
His overruling providence STANDING IA 7
do almost within view of the green slopes of Mon
ticello and, as 1t were, within reach of the tomb
OF Washington, with all the cherished memories of
the past gaiherlng around me, like SO many voices
OF eloquent exhortatIon from Heaven, can express
no better hope for my country than that the kind
Providence which smiled upon our fathers NAV
enable they children to preserve the blessings they
Here the speaker was proceeding to address
the teachers, when a dark cloud rising in the
north west produced great agitation among the mass
OF children and youth, those in the outer circles
beginning TO move of, and, as the cloud thickened
and neared the assembly, there was a general rush
to the Capitol for shelter. We give the substance
of the concluding remarks.1
Inc topics on which designed to address you
are embraced In one word d-aUALIrIcArroN. F,rst
the teacher must be taught it, the school of Christ
under the tuition of the Spirit, with the BIsLe for
text boak, an open Bible such as see pictured on
yohue. oa"nef, WIN tne inscription above, Light
for all, and the injunction beneath Search The
Scriptures; the inspired, authenticated, luminous
living word of God, itself great historic monu
ment standing amid the wastes of time and the
rayages OF death, in its own immortal perfection
and undecaylng grandeur, unique and eempiter
nal. "Ihop, therefore, that teschest others teach
est thou not thysel?'' Them too, the teacher must
love his work. 1t s lovely work in which Won
are engaged. If the poets imagination warns
to his work, while his eye "in fine frenzy is roll
ingi II the painter courts daily the canvass on
which be is distributing his colofs; if the ecuIptor
plies with ardent foLdness and diligence
the cold, leless marble; if the botanjst DELIGHT
himself among his flowers, the borticultnrjst
among his plants, and the geoiogist among his
minerals; II men are everywhere enthusiastic i n
their professions and pursuits what intensity of de
voton should mark the Sabbath School teacher
whose work is not Of the ina aginaton, not on can
vass not on dead marble or mineral, but on LIVING
MIND! 1t is the heart of the wise that teacheth his
mouth, and addeth learning to his lips" 30 that his
"doctrine droppeth as the rain and his speech dis
tieth as the dew, as the small rain upon the ten.
der herb, as the showers upon the grass,
Teachers should loue their pupils. Not alone the
ATTRACTIVE, the docile the bright and beautiful but
all children because they ARE children; they
should love their souls Christ did, when he
commanded them to be brought unto him. To
this end there should be strong, vivid concep.
ton of the toorfh Of the sou-the most attractive
and glorious Of all created things, when the i'm
b,nd drf