Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-26
THE GAZETTE.
MORNING, AUGUST &c, 1858.
DANIEL WERSTER'S LETTER ON sun
DAY SCHOOLS.


PRoT. PEAsE-Dear SI:--I haso received
your very able and interesting annual report
of the condition. Of the New York Sabbath
School Association, and read it With great
pleasure and instruction. II is gratifying,
very gratifying, tolearn, that in "a city where
vice and immortality run riot with IMMUNITY"
few humble Christians have devoted their
time ard euergies to the cause OF religion,
and ferrentiy pray that your iabors may be
crowned with success. %
The Sabbath School il ooe Of the great in
stisutions Of the day. l, leads cor youth in
the path of truth and morality, and makes
them good men and useful citizens. A.
school Of religious Instruction II Is o! inest'-
msble value; as a civil institution it ia price
less, and has done more to preserve cur l'bei-
ties than grave statesmen aud armed soldiers.
Let it then be fostered aud preserved un;ilrhe
end of time!
/ once defended a man charged with the
awful crime Of murder. AT the conclnsioo OF
the trial, asked bin what could have 10
duosd him to stain his hands with the blood
of fellow-beiDg Turning has biocd-Sboi
eyes full upon me, be replied, 10 Voice Oh
utter despair, "Mr. w ebster, in my youth
spenttbe holy Sabbath in evil atuu5ements,
instead Of frequenting the house OF prayer
and praise" Could ue g, back TO tho early
years of all hardened criminals. | believe, yes,
firmly believe, that their FIRST Departure iron
tbe path of morality was when they aban-
doned the Sabbath School, AID their subse'
quent crimes might. thus be traced back to
the neglect Of youthful religious instruction.
Many years ago spent Sabbath with
Thomas Jefferson, at his residence in Virgin
10. It-wss In the month Of June, and the
weather was delightful. White engaged 10
discussing the beauties Of the Bible, the
sound Of bell broks upon our ears, when,
turning to the sage Of Monticello, | remark
ed, "How sweetly, how very sweetly, sounds
that Sabbath beiI!" The distinguished states
man for moment seemed lost in thought,
and then replied: ayes, my dear Webster;
yes, il mefts the heart, it calms the passions,
and makes as boys again" Here observed
that man was only an animal formed for re
ligious worship, and that noiwith'tandlngaH
the sophistry Of Epicurus, Lucretius and Vol
taire, the Scriptures stood upon rock as
frm, o. ppmovable as truth itself; that man,
in his purer, loftier breathiDgs, turned bis
mental eyes stewards Immortality, aad that
the poet only echoed the general sentiment
of our nature in saying that,
The soul secure in her existence, smiles
At the drawn dagger, and defes its point"
Mr. Jefferson fully concrrred in this opin-
ion, and observed that the tendency Of the
American mind was in Il different direction;
and that Sunday schools be did not use
our more correct term, Sabbath, )-presented
the only legitimate means, under the corst-
tuition, Of avoiding the rock on which the
French republic was wrecked. Burke, said
he, ''neyer uttered a more important truth
than when be exclaimed that religious
education was the cheap defence Of nations."
"Raikes," said Mr.. jefferson, ''has tore
more for our country than the present gener-
alton will acknowledge; perhaps when am
cold be will obtain his reward; l hope SO,
earnestly hope 80; am considered by many,
Mr.. Webster, 20 have little religion, but now
is not the time to correct errors ct this sort.
/ have always said, and always will say, that
tho studious perussl Of the sacred volume will
make better citizens, better fathers, and bet
ter husbands. OF the distinguished Raikes,
he was clarum ct venerable nOmen." took
the liberty OF ing that | found more plea
sure 10 Hebrew poetry than in the best pro.
auctions of Greece and Rome. That the 'barp
upon the Willows by Babylon" had charms
for me beyond anything in the numbers
of the blind man of Smyrna. then turned
to Jeremiah There was a fine folio CT the
Scriptures before me, of 1851 ana read aloud
some Of those sublime passages that used to
delight me on my fathers knee. But fear,
my dear friend, shall tire you with my pre-
Liz account of what was pleasant Sabbath,
spent in the company Of one who has filled
very large space in our political aud ii,era-
~ annals. a., >-.E
Thanking you for your report. and heartily
coucurring with you in the truth Of your que
tation, that righteousness exalteth q nation
but sin is reproaoh to any people. re-
main, with high regard, yonr friend,
- F.. 10 ,"t,.' ID. WEBSTER.