The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1856-01-05
For the Central Presbyterian.
The Sunday School Successful Amid
Opposition.

A missionary of the American Sunday
School Union who labored in a destitute
county in Virginia the past summer, sends
the following pleasing intelligence of sue
cess where it was least hoped for.
q hast iust occurred to he t. sead ycu
an abstract from letter which | received
in July from the superintendent of the most
unpromising school, think, which organ
lied in Virginia. 1t was in the very midst
of the "Hard Shells" in place where [
met the greatest opposition. 1t was the
stronghold of that denomination in F.
county, and you may Judge from what have
told you, that they are not weak in their
epdeayors to frustrate any good influence
in any part of the county. But to the letter.
"You were apprized Of the opposition we
looked for, but it was even greater than
our expectations. Mr.. NJ. (the hard shell
preacher) has made it the chief object Of
his pulpit denuDciation ever since you were
here, and the attacks are still continued
WITH incessant violence, but we let it pass
altogether unnoticed, looking to the Lord
for help and resting in the Scripture pro-
mise ''my grace shall be sufficient for
thee" | believe one school is now estab-
lished on a secure basis. We have forty
scholars and eight teachers, and the school
increases every Sabbath. We expect to
number not less than sixty by the end of
the Summer The opposition is yielding
and the children of the Hard Shells are
joining every Sabbath. We are looking
for the day when Mr.. NJ. will stand alone
in his opposition to Sunday Schools, tenn
perance and the missionary cause.
We are glad, my dear brother, that you
visited our neighborhood. We will remem-
Der YOU with gratitude, and we believe your
labors in p will be rewarded with
at least one permanent school,. We are
well pleased with our Library and intend to
increase it from time to time as we are able.
Both children and teachers manifest much
interest in the school. The older people
visit the school often and lend helping
hand | believe the Lord is with us, and
| do believe we shall succeed"
The writer of this letter, who has taught
the district school in that neighborhood for
twelve or fourteen years, and who is a very
excellent member of the Methodist church,
told me at the outset that there was no use
in making any effort there, as he said the
attempt had been frequently made without
any success. He said unless | had some
patent mode of doing that work, he was
quite sure it would not be done. l told him
was the man who would try, and this
school is the result of the attempt. In this
letter to NE he said that the school is called
by its enemies, "a Yankee notion" an
"Abolition school," the 'golden calf which
Aaron made" &c. &C., to the end of the
chapter. | should have been slow to make
any effort in this place if l had known be-
forehand the character Of the place, but
when found myself there determined to
drive the matter through. The result Of
this experiment has satisfied me that there
is nothing like going right among the enc
my and if you can gain footing, attacking
them in the midst Of their strong-holds.
Yours 4 NJ :.