Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-07-10
Ed. t. TAYLOR,
Cantro1 Church q c
Teachers.

GEO. w. BUsH, r..o,
CHAs. STEWART,
P I. E. SMITH,
GEo. II. RoBINETT,
A. r. WooLsToN,
HOMER BARRY,
The folIoaoing is The extract enclosed to
Which erceptiOn is taken'-
lone of the most Interesting and pleasing
features of the anniversaries of St. Andrew s
Schools, is the aacrity and pleasure evinced
by the children in gieing their contributions
to the cause OF religion instead of taking
something in the shape of a present, as Is
the custom in some churches. As offering
after offering is carried up to their well-be-
loved and estimable Bishop, smile of JOY
and gladness lights up the faces of the dear
little donors, and seems to touch the heart
and cause every behoder. to feel that it is
better to give than TO receive. ~
REMARKS
My dear Christian brethren, what in the
world is the matter with you? Your COM
munication or rather your protest ~
strikes lis with an astonishment which,
we think, will also pervade the mind of
the general public who may read it
We received it through the Post Office on
Saturday last, July :, Notwithstanding it
bears the date of June 90 Why were you
so long in coming to the conclusion that our
church and school were particularly struck
at and insultedY Scarcely day has passed
by since the-tO you--ofIensive article was
published, that we have not met or seen
some one or more of you personally, and
yet not syllable of complaint or dissat-
isfaction has escaped your lips to us
Hence we are the more amazed at the "pro-
test " before us. We are PANIED at the lack
of Christian charity its tone exhibits, and
feel not little mortified at the feeling of
anger which seems to pervade it,
But let us examine its points and see how
far you are justified in assuming that the
article does such grave injustice to the
church of which we are members" The
apparent offence is, we infer, to be found in
a part of theextract which you have quoted,
to wit: that the children evinced more plea
sure in gi0ing than in rscsiring presents, as
is the custom in some churches.
Now, my dear christian brothers. if YOU
will read it again, and read it carefully, you
will find that we said "in some churehss, {"
and as it is not the custom of the Cen.
tral Church to give presents to the scholars
as we all know, by what strange CON
struction of language were you induced
to think that some churches" meant the
Central Church But again, you say |
ought to know that "our Sunday schools
always contribute to every worthy cause ~
Well, have we ever said they did not 80
contribute? Upon what line or sentence of
the extract you quote, do you find any sound
reason for your unkind inierenceP On the
contrary We haze said and published exactly
the opposite, and the gratuitous explanations
your protest essays 10 make in reference to
the distribution OF books by Mrs. Latimer;
the objects and purposes of that distribution;
and the customs of the school upon the ten.
der point of gieing and taking, were all pub.
lished in the journal as written by us, in
January last; and by way of refreshing your
memories, permit us to reprint the following
leading paragraph of an article covering one
column and half of the paper, upon the
tenth anniversary celebration of the Central
Sabbath Schools
From the journal and Statesman 0 January 10, 1866
CENTRAL sABBATH SCHOOL ANNIvERsARY
"The tenth anniversary of the Sabbath
Schools connected with the Central Presby
terian Church was held on Sunday afternoon
the 7th inst. Although the weather was
quite unpropitious, there was an unusually
large gathering of children and spectators
present on the occasion. The church was
handsomely festoOned with eyergreens, anC
| the scene was interesting and animated Ar
address suitable to the occasion was made tC
the children by Rev. Mr.. Wiswell, and the
classes, as their names were called, sent uI
their offerings of money, many of which
were quite liberal in amount. The usua
distribution of books-the generous donation
of Mrs. John r, Latimer-took place amonl
the scholars who had committed the Shorter
Cutechism and portions of the Scriptures tt
memory during the year. The schools ar,
in flourishing condition, us the report o
( Mr.. Z. T. Taylor, the valued and effcen
superintendent, will show We publish i
entire.
Now, my dear christian friends, in yiev
of all this, do you not think you hay
made slight mistake in erecting the ground
plan of your protest2 In your ardor t,
reach the public eye with such fraterna
words as untrue" scandalizing tn
church, d" injustice, &c, have you no
clipped the wrong extract from the report o
St, Andrews Sunday School celebration
Perhaps not, but whether you have or hav
not, let us beg Of you to remember that yol
are christian friends and brothers; that yo
are, each and all, engaged in most sacre,
and holy office-that of teaching the you'll
OF our city to. learn of Jesus, to love Hin
and keep His commandments, and that TO d
this acceptably before our common Lord an,
Master, you should wear the mantle q
charity and brotherly love; meanwhile in al
our intercourse, whether in the church or tn
world, let us all strive to keep before us III
scriptural declaration that "a soft answe