Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-08-31

MAESHFIELD, June 10. 1907.
Prof. Pease-Dear Sir: have received your
very able and interesting annual report of the
condition of the New York Sabbath School AS
socation, and read it with great pleasure and
instruction. 1t is gratifying, very gratifying, to
learn that in "a city where vice and immortality
run riot with impunity," few humble Chris.
tians have devoted their time and energies to the
cause of religion, and | fervently pray that your
labors may be crowned with success.
The Sabbath School is one of the great insti-
tutions of the day. 1t leads our youth in the
path of truth and morality, and makes them
good men and useful citizens. AS school of re-
lgous instruction. it is of inestimable value ; as
civil institution, it is priceless, and has done
more to preserve our liberties than grave states
men and armed soldiers Let it, then, be fos-
tered and preserved until the end of time
once defended man charged with tbs aw-
full crime of murder at the conclusion of the
trial, asked him what could induce him to stain
his hands with the blood of fellow being
Turning his blood-shot eyes full upon me, he re-
piled, in voice of despair, "Mr. Webster, in my
youth | spent the holy Sabbath in evil amuse-
ments, instead of frequen&ng the house of prayer
and praise" Could we 20 hack to the early
years of all hardened criminals, believe, yes,
firmly believe, that their first departure from the
path of morality was when they abandoned the
Sabbath School, and their subsequent crimes
might thus be traced back to the neglect OF
youthful religious instruction.
Many years ago spent Sabbath with Thos.
Jefferson, at his residence Virginia. 1t was
in the month of June, and the weather was de-
lishtful While engaged in discussing the beau
ties of the Bible, the sound of bell broke upon
our ears, when, turning to the sage of Monticello,
| remarked, "How sweetly, how very sweetly,
sounds that Sabbath bel!" The distinguished
statesman for moment seemed lost in thought,
and then replied, "Yes, my dear Webster; yes,
it melts the heart, it calms the passions, and
makes US boys again." Here l observed that
man was only an animal formed for religious
worship and that Notwithstanding all the sophis-
try of Epicurus, Lucretus and Voltaire, the
Scriptures stood upon rock as firm, as unmoya-
BILE as truth itself; that man, in his purer, lofter
breathings, turned the mental eyes towards i'm
mortality, and 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 concurred in this opinion,
and observed that the tendency of the American
day schools, Che did not use our more correct
term, Sabbath0 presented the only legitimate
means, under the constitution, of avoiding the
rock on which the French republic was wrecked.
Burke" said he, "never uttered more impor-
tant truth than when he exclaimed that 'relig
ious education was the cheap defence of ma
tions.'" "Raikes," said Mr.. Jefferson, "has done
more for our country than the present generation
will acknowledge; perhaps when l am cold he
will obtain his reward; | hope so, earnestly hope
so; am considered by many, Mr.. Webster, to
have little religion, but now is not 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, bet
ter fathers, and better husbands. Of the distin-
guished Raikes he was clarum ct generabile no
men," took the liberty of saying that found
more pleasure in Hebrew poetry than in the best
productions of Greece and Rome. That the
i'harp upon the willows by Babylon" had charms
for me beyond anything in the numbers of the
blind man of Smyrna. | then turned to Jere'
miah (there was fine folio of the Scriptures be.
fore me of 1859 and 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 prolix account Of what was
pleasant Sabbath, spent in the company of one
who has filed very large space in our political
and literary annals.
Thanking you for your report, and heartily
concurring with you in the truth of your quota
ton, that Righteousness exateth a nation, but
sin is reproach to any people," remain, with
high regard, your friend, d. WEBSTER.