New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-08
MISSION SCHOOLS.

To ne Editor Of The n. Y Trib""e
SIR: The various articles that have recently appeared
in the columns of The TRIBUNE have awakened de-
sire in the public mind to know something more on the
subject Of Mission Schools and in answer to request
| will state some facts, far forth a have been
able to gather them. The New York Sunday School
Union has on its present list 200 schools, OF which
about co are appropriately denomnated Mission
Schools Those schools number about $4,000 pupils.
The Brooklyn Union and other associations and
churches in and around NewYork have nearly so
such schools with about 900 scholars In our coun-
try at large there perhaps 800 900 children in that
class of schools and it is probable there are an equai
number Of 500 600 in church schools OF the poor ana
neglected children and besides, there are about
800 coo more children whose parents belong 10 The
various church organizations in the Sabbath schools
of our land, making in all about :, 5OOOOo who are
taught by the voluntary service OF 2oOOOO 10 JOOOOO
unnad TEACHERS The number of children in our coun
try of the ages between five and sixteen Is at least
6, 500 600, thus leaving the enormous number OF
1900 900 who almost entirely beyond the pale OF
either Protestant or Roman Catholic Sunday School
influence.
To meet the wants OF this large class, good men
and women, regardless Of sect and creed, have
commenced the work. in this city and elsewhere,
of establishing these Mission Schools sometimes
in q chamber sometimes in a basement, some
times in hall or old church. i say commenced, by
which mean only little, comparatively, Is yet ac-
contradiction half of the children OF New York are
not yet in SabbathSchOos, although rome OF our best
Mission Schools were established more than twenty
wears ago In these Mission Schools the poorest, most
wretched and ignorant children particularly sought
out clothed and fed in part spoken kindly 10, anu
taught the first principles OF an educaton Id one Oh
those schools a few weeks since twelve children OF
coa-pickers Organ-gTinders and Others OF the ages
Of from seven TO eleven years, were brought Ia, OF
which but two had ever been in public school or
knew how to spell the smallest syllable. In four weeks
1 Al MID aah
Of Ssbbath-schOOl teaching the majority cOuid reau
in the rst chapter of st. Johns gospel One in iact
could read quite well in three weeks-havlng received
the present of Testament, which he took home, ana
devoted himself TO the mastering OF II every evening;
and thus was developed what promises 10 become
useful man. ..
distinguished friend Of education recently said Of
these schools that ii was "a cheap, simple agency 10
give the Gospel to the millions. In thus CITY, ior
instance, We have SIX thousand SaDDath'Scnool tescn
en- which il t0ur tmes many "a all the day'schoO
teachers of our city; and they exerting mighty
influence for good to such extent az ought to com
rnand the acknowledgment OF our most distinguished
philanthropists and statesmen. No human Innd can
orasp or pen portray the real value OF the services OF
these six thousand voluntary aborers as preventa
tive police of our city, in restraining and remodlng
Young criminals and the checking of crime. Said the
Sheriff Of London last May in large public meeting
in Exeter Hail. "The Sabbath School has done, "a
be conceived, "MORE THAN ALL OTHER AGESCHs
PUT TOGETHER toward the moral elevation OF society
at large and the maintenance of social order ana
that "THE EDUCATIOE IMPAIRED IN The oVHDAf
&" SCHOOL HAS A GREATER INFLUENCE THAN ALL The
"syCULAR SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND.
The upsectarian character OF those mission schools
acts efficiently as bond of union and kindness among
The -ects. year ago one Of those mission schools
was established by decidedly sectarian church, and
vet before the FIRST six months had closed we found
not less than FIVE denominations represented among
the teachers. They are emphaticaly USIos schools
TIE great value Of these schools hes IN the person0f
serrce of the teachers and this Is free The expenses
of conducting an ordinary mission school under good
advantages will not average more than $3.50 each
Tbs il indeed a cheap simple agency to reach the
Youthful million, and know not how else tney can
be reached. For more than thirty year, our cnlTch
sabbath schools have aimed to reach the masses out
they ave not even kept pace with the increase Oh
u,ruaton They encounter prejudices ana OBJ ptciss
which the other do not. II our churcn oaoVat J.
schools will only reach faithfully all me ianles ol men
congregations and many poor children a. my no"
do n il about as much We have reason 70 expect
irdeipg from the past What then i our resort, II not
Nisio1 schools that shall carry light into every dark
md bepiobted give Point" Of not only city buy
country al-teaching visiting, feeding, clothing ana
.yrnrathizng with all everywhere. Here u WIDE
Grep hopeful field for the pers0H0i service - pncees''
Is every good citizen patriot, pharthrpi'' states
nan and Christian. The children are truly precious-
let Is not neglect them. Il t. ?
NeN- York, Feh n. 1870.