Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-21
's Baltimore Dailg Commercial


DEAR SIRs-Permit u. through the columns NJ
your paper, to inform the friends Of SUNDAY gchool
That we arc making tronG and successful csnrts lc
rc-organi2o and establish Sunday school. in tho dos
ttute portions Of tho South and We earnestly solicit
their generous contributions in aid AMI Suppcrt al
the glorious cause.
IN december 81, We made a visit to VIRGINIA. to
Su@ernLHnd toe work Of the Christian Commission
gasSed through the Shenandoah Valley and otHe,
districts devastated by the march Of ccntcndiur, w
mes. AT every step We marked the frichtful conSa-
q!GpceS OF war; but in instance did IL strike ne
with more terror or deeper than in such Ines
"heFe we found the churches demolished or left in
SIch ruined condition that it wCs impossible to use
lhea Tor any religious service. During the race of
war had become necessary to use them for military
hospitals, and sometimes to shelter soldiers f1' -
iIclemen&X OF the weather. As soon, however MS
these buildings could be ted by tho army or The
wounded removed, they were restored to the owners.
pEI Iha neoie were 50 much reduced by the extremes
OF war, and entirely destitute Of means that fboI
could not put them into t condition for Divine ser
wee nor even procure the necessary material tn re-
elSu JHeir sunday SchOOlS. Nearly al their bibles
!tstuuentS, books, lbrary-booi,s and other
important articles were either lost. DESTROYED or
carried oil by the soldiers.
In many !! p!aces wo found the people Discouraged
poverty and suffering wrought its effect witheut
churches-wlthoUt schools the parents had crown
IN Inherent to the religions training Of their chiircn
allowing them to idle the Lords day and r1Ip rara
lessy at large are happy to state, however that
who were fully awake to the fearful course Of ths
:Pntu2 dearth, and who5were anxious to hc dilgent
lor want ot means DcStituiiOn ercircel tEci no n.
they could neither get money Bibles Testamen.s
hJWn-o2oHS, library books, or any other necessary
Seeing this great poverty in their temroraI and
spiritual condition. We dreaded its demoralizins len
dency on the rising generation. heefare res oIysd
with the help of imghty G d to revive these perish
ing schools and bring the kids again to the Shepherd
tent. .
We returned to Baltimore IN stronr c,itb of s,,o-
cesscwe sent out an appeal in their behalf to which
t Sua LLenui 0l 5He city gave prompt and generous
Surhorf., Key ,; GWteau, togetherw with other mem
bers Of the Maryland Sunday School Union, became
warmly engaged in the effort, and ~ to this time
we nave succeeded in collecting four thousand four
Ethured dollars !4l'gj IN cash. and expended the
same amount in adofthe Sunday Schools South. also
large c9ntnbutons of new and secondhand books
received from various donors. We emb-ace this OD-
portunity, publicly, to acknowledge the recent Of
large grants, Of Bibles ard Testame0ts from the
American Bible Society of New York for the same
cause and accordingly disposed
=, Our appeal in behalf Of the pershing schools in
Virginia and other States, did not. in the least limit
nor interfere with our usual collections to support
the cause IN Maryland. We desire to state for the
encouragement Of those who have contributed to-
nave successfully aided one hundred and ninety
schools, OF various denonnatous in different States
W c are IN correspondence with these schools and
nave many hlcTrStag letters from SupCrintendents
and teachers, acknowledging the receipt of books
ard expressing heartfelt gratitude to those friends
who sent such ger help in their dark; desDond
inG hour. From letters extract the following:
The bibles. testamcnls, and Sunday school books
the desired gift; nothing could be more acceptable if
the present Is at all III proportion to our necessities
Could the kind donors have yesterday witnessed the
celv? their share, they wouli have felt amply re-
warded for their noble and dsintcrcsted efforts in the
cause Of cur Divine Master"
FEB. lSth, 1866 Dear Sir:-The singing books ar
nyed safely. In the name of the teachers and
scholars send many thanks to the kind donors
Could you know how fully they are appreciated l am
sure you would feel in no small degree compensated
lor the trouble you experienced IN procur.uE them
for US. Our school is now in a promising condition
pr
from It's present state, that good man may Gre long
be sent to break unto Us the bread Of life Never for
tions at the Throne of Grace" D.
A pious man near Shephcrdstown, who had been
broken up by the effects of war, but he continued in
faith, and made his precious charge a daily object of
prayerhe earnestly and ferVently plead that the Lord
IN His goodness might send them help. We were
Provldentiay directed to the field of this devoted
Christian learned their destituton and promised him
Immediate help. Soon after our return to Baltimore
he received letter containing an invoice of books
and other articles necessary to replenish school
We are told that when it reachhd him that heimme-
dlatey tell upon his knees and gave thanks TO God
that his prayers had been answered, and that the
necessary help was now at his hand. About two
months later we were again called to make tour of
the same ground, and was utterly surprised at the
great change we found In their schools and churches
In CharlestOwn, Va, where short time before every
thing looked desolate, we now saw hourishinc Sun
those IN larger containing from hundred,
one hundred and fifty to two hundred children.
We remarked TO of the superinIeuqents that
we could scarcely realize their advancement since
our former visit. lie replied that it must be attr-
buted to the Christian sympathy and encOura ging
help which they had received a few months before
from Baltimore, that the rC-Openiug of their schools
had given encouragement to the people, and, that
ministers and laymen now actively engaged in
holding Divine service in every church throughout
the town.
We do not know of any channel, through which our
Christian trlenOs could pass their charitable contri-
buttons to greater interest," or more accomplishment
OF good than through the source now open to them
Notwithstanding the one hundred and ninety SuD-
day schools, which have been able to assist by tb
blessing OF God, we are still receiving the most i'm
Fortunate appeals from other schools in tho South
IN places to which now have access Shall the cry
OF Macedonia come to us unhGeded? Can Christian
men and women suffer the innocent children of ad-
yersy to perish for want of Gospel food while they
enjoy light, prosperity and plenty?
We need fifty thousand books to supply the present
demand, comprising library books, question books,
hymn books, ana note books Tor children. We are
familiar with the destitute ielGs in Virginia ana
other States and offer ourselves faithfully to dis
tribute all contributions in money and books sent TO
our hand Wn have agents ai4piCyed in the
work, but conduct our operations by direct commu-
nlcatlon with the schools, tree Of all expense
Christians and lovers of the Sunday school We
earnestly enreat you to sustain efforts in behalf
OF these suffering schools in the South. ct us fu
the command of the Saviour: Feed my lambs y
Suter little children 10 come unto me, and forbid
them Got, for OF sucn is the Eingdl m of heaven -
Contributions IN money and books he sent to the
care of Rev. S. Guiteau, Tract Depository, No 73
Fayete street. to my address, Nos 50 and 81 Bal
lmoie street. Baltimore. e. 5. GRIFFITH.