Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-08-13
VOLUME 25, NO. SS.
Daniel Webster's Letter on Sunday
Schools.
MARsurirtp, June Is, 1852.


Prof. Pease-Dear Sir I have received
your very abe and interesting annual report
OF the condition Of the New York Sabbath
School Association, and read IL with grea.
pleasure and instruction. 1t is gratifying,
very gratifying to learn. that In "a city
where vice aud immorali,y run riot with
impuni,y,"a few humble Christians have
devoted their time and energies 10 the cause
Of religion, and ferven,ly pray that your
labor. mag DO crownd with saeces.
The Sabbath school is one Of the great in
.titu,ions OF the day. II leads our youth in
tie path Of truth and morality, and makes
them good men and useful citizens. Asa
school Of religious instruction IL is Of ines.i-
mable value; m a civil institution II Is
priceless, and has done moro 10 preserve our
liberties than grave statesman aud armed
soldiers. Let 1. then be iostered and pre-
served until the end OF time
once defended a man charged with the
awful crime Of murder. At the conclusion
Of the trial, asked him what could induce
him To stain his hands with the blood OF a
isllow.bcing. Turning hIs blOod.shot eyes
full upon me. he replied, in 4 voice OF de-
.pair, =" Mr.. Webster, IN my youth spent
tho holy Sabbath IN avi! amuSments, in.
stead Of frequenting the house Of prayer aud
praise" Could we 90 back u the earIy
years OF all hardened criminals, l believe,
yes, firmly believe, that their first departure
from the path Of morality was when they
abandoned the Sabbath School. and their
subsequent crimes isht thus be traced back
to the neglect. OF youthful religious in'true-
tion.
Many years ago spent Sabbath with
Thomas jefferson, at his residence in Nir-
cinia. IL was in the month Of June. and
the weather was delightful. While ensa-
scd in discussing the beauties Of the Bible,
the sound OF bell broke upon our ears,
when. turning to the sage Of Moncicsllo.
remarked. -" How .wectly, how very sweetly
sound. that Sabbath bell ''' The dis,n-
guished statesman for a moment seemed lost
In thought, and then replied: ies, my
dear Webster, yes, it melis the heart, It
calms our passions, and makes Us boys
again" Here observed that man WAS
only an animal for religious worship. and
that notwithstanding all the .Ophi.try OF
Epicurus, Lucretius, and Voltairc, tho
Scriptures stood upon rock ne iirrn. a. un-
movable as truth itself That man, ia hi,
purer, loltier brca,hing-, turned the mental
eyes toward immortality, and that the poet
only echoeI the genera! sentiment VI our
nature IN saying, that
"The soul. secure "a her eNi,tsnce
smiIe. a, the drawn dagger. lnd ds6e' it, poipr"
Mr. Jefferson fully coneurrcd in this
opinion, and observed that the tendency ot
the American mind was in different, di-
rcction, and that Sunday school.-(hc dbl
not use our more correct term. Sabblih)-
presented the only legitimate means, under
the constitution, Of avoiding the rock on
which tho French republic was wrecked.
" Durke. said he, never uttered more
important truth than when be exclaimed
that religious education was the cheap
defense Of nations" "Raikes, said Mr.
Jefferson. " has done more for our country
than the present generation will aeknowl-
edge; perhaps when | am cold he will OBJ
tain hi. reward | hope 80, earnestly hope
50; am considered by many, Mr.. Web
,ter, to havo little religion, bat now 10 no,
the time to correct errors Of this sort. /
have always said. and always will say, that
the studious perusal OF the sacred volume
will make better citizens, better fathers, and
better husbands. or the distinguished
Raikcs. be was elarun d rsnDa5as no
msn.'"
| took the liberty OF saying tha. ! found
more pleasure in Hebrew poetry than in tho
best productions Of Greece and Rome. That
tie " harp upon the willows by Babylon "
had charms for me beyond anythin; the
numbers OF ihe blind man Of Smyrna.
then turned to Jeremiah, (therc was a fno
lolio OF the Scriptures before me Of lijS)
aud read aloud sln.s oi those sublime passa-
ges tha, used to delight me ON my father,
knee. But ! fear my dear friend, shall
tire you with my proliK account Of what
was pleasant Sabbath, spen; in the COM
pany Of one who has filled very large
space in our political and literary annals.
Thanking you for your report, and heart
lily concurrng with you in the truth OF
your quotation, tina, Z" Righteousness eIal-
teth nation, but sin is a reproach to any
people " remain, with high regard your
friend. ID. WEEsTER.
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