Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-11-11

/ NtuI > ouh wv p'aSb ah''"Ss~ s'SfSs"'S'
had its origin, was within two miles Of
the birthplace of the first named ol
these distinguished personages. 81
The circumstances whichled to the
Organization of this Sabbath school
were as follows: sp F'' '.'
In the early part Of that year. 1916,
Mr.. Sncad came in possession Of tract
which gave an accoun, Of a Sabbath
school which had been founded in Lon.
don by the philan,hropic Robert Rakes,
That tract, he says, made 6eepim.
preston on his mind, and suggested the
idea that such an institution might be
made very advantageous to the people
of his neighburhood, many of whom
with their children, were unacquainted
with the letters ofthe English alphabet
Mr.. Snead being young man, only in
his 22d year,and a school teacher in hi:
na,ive county, naturally felt desire fol
1.-The Improvement and intellectual eleva
ton Of his ncighbors; and it occurred
to him that if Rakes' plan of insfruc
,ion could be put into practice. there
need not, necessarily, he a man or wo
man among, them who might not learn
to read and write. He was atthattime
teaching school on the farm on which
Patrick Henry was born and raised
ahd in addition to Ills weekly duties, be
resolved on assuming new ones on the
Sabbath, provided certainpersons would
agree TO his propositions, and second
his e(fbrts. Accordingly at the April
muster of the militia company, com.
manded by Captain (since Colonel)
Charles P. Goodall, MIR. Snead request.
ed that the men be formed into a hol.
low square, which having been done, he
informed The company Of what Rakes
was doing in London 10 promote pnru-
lar education, and then gave an invita-.
lion to as many as might fee! disposed
10 meet him on the next morning, which
would be the Sabbath, at the Ground
Squirrel meeling.house, aud bring their
children with them, with the design Of
organizing aud conducting a Sabbath
school. stating ais" that adalts,l as well
as minors, who wished 10 learn tqrepd
aud write. would be taught free ot
charge. The proposal met with gener.
al favor, and ln the auoxt day. at The
Rljme appointed, The militia, cf Saturday
were busily engaged in dsSisins ways
aud means TO establish and perpetuatc
the navel institution of a Sabbath school,
All they did on that day was to adept
a constitution, appoint officers, consist
ing of president, iour,ice presidents,
secretary aud a treasurer. aud sub.
scribe funds for The purchase Of books
aud stationery. Tho bnoks, &C.. were
tnuhcnmiug nn the ncxt Sabbath. and
the first SaJbaM school IF Virginia
went Into operation.
Col. Charles P. Goodull, then cap
tain Of that militia company, who is
still living, was made the President Of
thu, school, and. doubtless, can testify
To the facts above stated. The school
continued in successful operation till the
following November, when it was sus.
pended till the opening of spring, at
which time it was Recommended with
increased interest, and thus kept up ill
the year 1886, periol Of 90 years,
when all the original teachers had LEFT
the neighborhood. 1t is confidently as
serted that there was not lin 1886 a
white child or young person within five
miles of that place, having availel them
selves of tho opportunity. that was tn'
able to read the Bible, T~o pf the
pupils having located in The far west,
subsequently wrote to Mr.. Snead. ex'
pressing their thanks and warmest graf
i,udc for the benefits of that Sabbath
school. They said it was the ouly ed
ucation they had ever received, and yel
it qualified them for business, and by
means Of it they wele doing well in ths
world. g
Mr.. Snead opened q second school o
The kind at III. Deep Run (Bnptist,
church, in the year 1915, TO which h.
devoted half Of his sabha,hs, giving
the "her half To the Ground Squire
Westinghouse. The average attend
ance Of this second schDol, inclntiu!
ndults and children was about .ffy.-
This was a large attendance for til,
coeatry, at that time. This school wa
kept up forseyeral years.
The history Of these two Sabbn,l
schools is interestingly suggestive:
! /. 1t shows what train of moral
\ educational and religiousintiuenccs ma,
be originated by ouly oss man. Fo
example: Rukes in London, und Snep,
in Virginia, g.r.t.
9. Wc learn from them the clloctiv
'Ipowerot those li'tls preachers, calle
tsactt. W =
4 8. That well disposed, moral youn'
men, tl,nagh not membersot tho clurc
may yet do good in the Ssbbatbsclleo
Mr.. Snead did not emhrocefclision, M
connect hiMsa,f with 'tlie clurchafi