Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-01-19

81 WIZ Si'NOCh many precious CnlldrGn rom
the sinks Of vice and iniqnity, as brands
from the burning, and place them in the
school OF virtue; where they "will learn
OF Jesus" and be taught to aspire to the
dignity of their nature.
Shall this Society be sustained? This
question must be answered by an inteli-
gent christian public And, let me assure
you, my friends, that nothing hut the vast
Importance of the work In wk:cl. am en-
gagged, sense of the responsibility resting
upon me, and the encouragement arising
from the fact that | am appealing TO
christian people, could indnce me thus to
appear before the public, and TINS to ap-
peal to those who hope will hear me and
make liberal response.
The American Sunday School Union Is,
as many are aware, the only national insi-
tuition of the kind we have say nation
al, because it has for It's object the good Of
the uation without respect to parties or
sectS. 1t Is as we have seen, an irdepen-
dent organization Of lay members from
different denominations. 1t has for its OBJ
ject the organization and aiding of Sunday
Schools in every portion of our land, more
particularly where the people arc nearly or
entirely destitute OF preaching OF the gos-
pei. The society j. divided into two de-
Partmcnts; the Publishing department is
selt-sustaining, and asks no contributions
from the people; hut on the other hand.
1t gives all the profits arising from the sale
of books tor the purpose of organizing
Sunday Schools and supplying poor schools
with books gratuitously.
The Missionary department, however. Is
dependant on the contribution of Il philan-
thropic people for It's support. 1t cxpcud7
each year the whole amount that it re-
cHives by employing Missionaries to explore
the country, organise and aid schools, sup
plying them with books 10y sale or Gift.
Pastors of churches and Superinteudamts
OF schools lift collections for its slppolt.-
Many also become annual members br the
payment of three dollars, while others give
more or less as they feel disposed. 1t il
also the duty of the Missionary To make
collections and solicit donations. And it
Is for this purpose that | now appeal TO the
citizens Of North Carolina; and let me here
/ inform you, dear friends, that this society
| for the aid Of which L now appeal to YOU,
/ has, In The last five years expended three
/ thousand dollars i'm this State while 1t has
received so far as | am informed. the full
sum of one dollar. | DO not state ihis to
the discredit of my native State. for she
certainly would have contributed libcralIy,
had the subject been properly brought be
fore her citizens; but make the aborc
statement to show that VIC ought ROW 10
+. contribute literally TO the support OF this
in74.tation. And why should we support
this institution Answer-becansc, as NC
haze seen, it is the only Institution of lis
character in our land, and while we be-
licve and rejoice in the belief that other in
stitutions are doing much good, We at th.
f same time believe that no other Institution
is more admirably adapted to the wants o!
the present day than this where sectarian
schools fail there the Union school succeeds.
There Is much work of this kind to be
done. -Four millions of children IN the
United States and hcrterritoricS are out ri
Sunday Schools, each of these children has
an immortal soul to be saved or lost Here,
then, is at stake, four millions Of souIs, each
of which ontwcig!s, in worth, million of
worlds like this. Thesc-all thcsc, appeal
to Us with ali the cIoquencc arising FIONA
the Importance of their future welfare ia
this life, links with the Immortality Of tln.
soul the pains OF hell and the gIorics of
heaven.
Many piors mothers. the daughters of
, our own beloved State, but who are now
the Inhabitants OF the far west, as they
cone forth from their closets with stream
Z ing eyes, and look upon their chI.,llen
(now deprived Of the blessings Of the Sab
blth SCHOOL, turn their wi>lCul eyes toward
. their native State, and asks in their hearts
> "what will ron do = The diving PRAYER
of many a fond mother as she left her
! helpless orphans dependant 9n a christian
= people for religious instruction., appaals 20
4 us with all the pathos that a last PRAYER
- and dying hour conld give it, anj asks
- "what will you DO" Yea, ami 10 not
angels look down from the climcs RI bliss.
- and behoIding this young aud rising mass,
. and inquire what will yon do" Docs
: not a Saviour look down from hiS media
70 torial throne, directing our mind ta Cal
\ varr, to his caIth-convulsipg groars MS he
atoncs for a sin-cursed world. and remind
ing rs OF onr obligations to him and To our
? fellow men, ask what will you do :" Ana
?, does not God the father, the author os our
cxiste: &C and the givcr of all we have, re-
ofI m:nding us of the worth of tn. soul
. lquirc, "what will you do?'
: All thsse considerations appeal TO n- ir
\ terms stronger than language can express
+ WI! you do yoar duty or not? SEAL
A. these children be gathered into the san
49, day School at cost of % or 80 cent
~ ~ each, or shall they not? VIII not ever,
nt heart and hand respond, yes, they shall b
thus instructed? And will not ever, on,
that reads this article 90 something f.
i, !, this cause.
- Letpastors of churches, superintendent
of schools, and Others who will, lift co!Icc
tons and forward the same 10 J. l.. Sike,
Macedonia Z. o., Montgomery county, \
ol c. Also, let private individuals inclose an,
amount they will and send as'ahove. An,
O. amount from % cents to So, will be gladlr
on received, and pledge you my honor az
is christian gentleman and nnistcr Of tn
pc crosDei 10 report all funds thus faIlinr int