The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-05-18
For the NEws.
GRAND HAVEN, May 18th, 1859.

| GRAND HAVEN, May 18th, 1899
Messrs. BAnss FosHA.
| I noticed in q recent issue Of the Clarion, o
statement that our worthy Holland citizens are
taking measures to establish in our village
Parochial School, assigning as a reason there
for, the evil practices acquired by their children
aud youth in their associations at school with
American companions. think the editor Of
the Clarion hits the nail directly on the head
and touches the case exactly, when he assigns,
ms the more probable cause Of the decline in the
good morals Of their youth their constant con-
tact with the whitening, blasting, cursing inau-
ence Of our saloons and petty grog-shops, with
their tempting display of decanters, card and bill
lard tables, &c. Though II may be that the
moral training Of our youth at school may be too
much neglected here as elsewhere. But how lit
tie avails any good lessons Of morality and vir-
tue that may be there taught, when the hours
for recreation and the leisure Of evening are
spent at the haunts Of the gambler, and the OBJ
scene. No wonder that our Holland citizens view
this decline Of good morals among their children
with serious apprehensions Of coming III, and as
foreboding great decline Of all that is virtuous
and ennobling in people now proverbial for the
high tone Of their moral and religious character.
The Hollanders, rs body, are indeed an hon.
est; religious people.
Your correspondent was accidentally detained
at iceland few sabbaths since, when he had q
favorable opportunity to inform himself relative
to the religious observances Of this peculiar peo-
pie. On that occasion he became the guest Of
II. G.. VAN HE'S, Esq, one Of the most infuen-
tial and respected citizens of the Colony. At
nine and a half o'clock we repaired to the
Church for mornbg service-stopping on the
way fer moment to pay our respects to the pas
tor, Rev. o. VAN DER MEuLES. Silently one
after another the worshippers entered the church,
the more pious standing for a moment, on arriv-
ing at their seats, apparently engaged in silent
prayer, the congregation in the mean time en-
gaging in the pleasing and profitable exercise of
singing. Soon, however, the pastor enters and
the services commence; and no doubt it would
have been great satisfaction for the opposer to
/
tened to the full chorus Of voices that sweled
aloud the hymns of praise from every portion of
that vast assemblage, even little boys and girls
contributing 10 the general harmony in soft me-
lodious strains. No voice silent there. And at
the time of prayer, noticed the Juvenile portion
of the congregation manifested as much serious
ness and spirit Of devotion as the middle-aged
and gray-headed sire. And when the pastor
announced his text" II is fnished'-every
eye was directed pulpit-wisc, and during the
entire discourse, which was uttered with an elo-
quence and pathos peculiar TO the talented pas
tor and whi:h seemed TO touch deeply the chord
Of sympathy and reyerential sorrow, no little
badly -tutored boy nor prececious youth was seen
with pencil or knife in hand working or carving
uncouth figures upon tho aide or back Of his
| ncighh0r's seat orwki1ering or laughing 70 the
sfeaFAnnoyanee OF sfs~kSf ana uee ess -
In fact sirs, never was more forcibly re-
minded Of the comedy but dearly-cherished
days Of my youth, when setting in the aged and
venerable church that reared its lofty spire from
the granite hill in my native town and con-
trasted the scene before and around me with
the strict puritanical rites peculiar to my New
England home, and here saw most pleasing
counterpart.
The interviews of the next day with the fami-
ly Of our excellent friend, r. NJ DEBRuYN, ESQ.,,
and others, convinced me that religion was not
Sabbath day matter alone with the Hollander.
IL is stated Of one of our most distinguished
statesmen, that before he engaged in any duty
belonging to his official capacity, he performed
his morning dcvotions. "First" says he, "my
God and then my Country"
"First," says the Holander, "religion and
then business" Three times n day is the Great
Volume Of Truth opened, and thrice daily the
name Of God remembered, by the assembled
family.
We are informed by the Post Master Of Zee
land that eighty copies Of the Chilfs Paper are
taken at that Office. Is il a matter of wonder
then, that the Holland citizens wish to throw
around their offspring a sure shield Of protection
against temptation to vice and immortality, and
teach them proper reverence for virtue and truth
while they instruct them in science1
VIAroR.
|