, 1863-05-26
THE CHICAGO SABBATH SCHOOL
UNION.
INTERESTING ANNIVERSARY
EXERCISES,
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY AND
TREASURER.

NAAN
School Union was held at the First Baptist
Church, yesterday. The morning was spent
in an annual conference OF Sabbath School
Teachers, and Sabbath School prayer meet
ing. In the afternoon, the President, Rev.
L. II, Bugbce occupied the chair. Tie meet
ing was opened by singing "Chilt1Ecn Of the
Heavenly King and reading the 4sth
Psalm. Prayer by Rev. Robert Patterson.
After some Introductory remarks by the
President, the "Rc]ation Of Sabbath School
Esperience'' was participated in By NessFs'
Patterson, Barker, 1Iawley, Rldel'e, howard'
Mrrrick, Kent. Nichols, Mayhan, H,ooaro,
W1cnn, Lord, Boztfee, and BuSoee Ailer the the
conclusion of these interesting exercises Inc
session closed By singing the DoxoloGy.
The IJ,ion met again at O'Clock p. m.
After the usual opening exercises. LUG report
OF The Secretary md Treasurer 1ur tue yea!
was read BY E. W Hawlcy, ESD and ordered
p''nteo' TIE REPORT.
CHICAGO. May q, 1853.
Dear Brother and Friend in the sabbath School
Tie report which you expect me to make for
yon now past is unavoiaably imperfect. Ci:cu-
lars sent to every school askn. for statistics
Abont one-half responded, It was impossible togo
and personally solicit the report Of I'LL tho schools
Where large 1!u;nbcr manifest no interest in
others ncgiettty TO report at ali! it becomes very
difficult 10 present St lti=tica statement Of the
Sabbath school work ofthe city. Had the Union
definite nit mbrrehip ip. and eath school so coaectel
with it, un,tcr obligations to keep records aud re-
ports, This difllculty might be ohyiatsd.
But while We fail to know al til. efforts put forth
with THUR results, VIC remember the record book
on high Tie master keeps tue accouht with each
corp. of lahorers, ard will one day, aay 10 cveEy
one Wei done FOOD and i ninttnsfa' '.T4oa @
words, The earnest eonnseia dcyotcd teachers have
our thousands Of scholars, and sec the germinatlns
Fred which will hear fruit INTO eternal life.
Enough TO encourage us. eyen Il We only ial back
unto me T.id, but ehall prosper in the thing where
We have q schools in the city. OF these, u are
| bcen discontinued, and one has been organized,
Hhlc, another has grown into church ossani.a;;
tion, leaving Hs decrease OF two missions, aud
| an increase Of one church school.
| Of these o. schools. 50 have reported. They
show us the number OF enrolled scholars to
Whose @ average attendance is .:.......:.. S,5G
Enrolled Teachers Observation-Disclosures. l,013
Average attendance. e................... 933
Se Se sf sf Ts1sssS: Esss;s ss"ss5ss u =
Deaths Q! Teachers. s....-...--......-.-- y
Deaths of scholars. ............... %
No Of Volumes in Libraries. .,;..,..... 12S!5 Is
| No. of Papers distributed nopthly...-.. 15,hiG
| Amount OF School contributions ,06e .07
II We estimate for the remaining ~ schools on
the basis OF hist yea.>s reports. We have grand
iosss: Of teachers i.;s6 Averaging an attendance &C
of lao, showing: decrease in enrolment, from
last ycars report, ~ SCHOLARS aad l'7
I The cllt for n,rn 10 defend our couutrys fa,
took f,om the Sabbath School wo:k many Of III
untring labor. rs, some Of whose place. remal
s.ilI vacant, while. notwithstanding rapid in
crease OF population. find our ,utnber o; scfo.
arr lees. ned nearly ":01' The census AIKEN last
November for the public schools, sho~ th: nnna
acc to 1e been ss9s IS Ws % eI q oprns foi
gospel labor! What demand these facts make
; for more latorrrs and renewed energy among the
patts p Who can ieok back Without regrrtting &C
little done. Or without resolving with earne.'
pEyer that this ycar shall be more abundant IL
. Last year Is Schools aepo1tcd the conversion o
- teachers and 3; sclolars. This year % School:
(beng lces) report 81 teachers and 15i scholar
l converted showing gain in this respect while
+ u1n1y others OF RELIGIOUS Interest are mentioned.
t Tl!c prayer mcrtines connected with many q
our Missions continue TO possess marked interest
: und bring TO light 1nasy precious tokens Of the
| 1o1d's fuy0r.
We have also solemn admontion that what w
hare to do for otllrr must lie done quickly, in ths
increased mortality both nf and scholars
: Ey connection with the Un.on and the City
. Tract work has afforded me favorable opportun
q ties of seeing what progress our schools were
making. and | am constrained to think there ha:
hccn decrease Of labor and interest the past yeAf
| While eome have worked with comn1entlaEc zeal
= and gained increased prosperity, others hare sni
fercd. They havc lost some oftl vigor and en
tl,.iaem which attends a enterprise, aut
: which has been apparent in the past.
d l do not wIeh to discourage, but rather to ava
0 ken the people Of God to the spiritual wants Of til
tens Of thousands Of little ones in this great AM
growing Gity-with the pressure Of busl
| ness und increasing p1ospcrity-Sith tn
= lAttc to be rich and tlle excitement Of commercia
l. gain. We mny, and lave doubtless lost OF GU
|. zeal and love for the work, which with the ab
eence Of many Of our brethren In the army VIII
O were dice devoted !aboreEs with Ee, we have tn
+ KY to the Fetrosrcseion onr statistics this nigh
= y rive. What Christian can stand by and leave th
;, ever growing work Of winning the souls Of tn
e 6cr Is less now ,eca,lsc thu interests of in
l. perlled nstion called many Of thcir colaboreI
q from their side. Let pray the Lord Of the hal
best that IL will send forth lab0rcrs, for th
J. ! Geld is alzeady white to harvest.
e FINANCES.