Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-07-04

Sunday School.
The Committee appointed by the late Sunday
School Convention of the Methodist E. Church at
Cleveland to prepare an address to the people of the
Chattanooga District on the subject of Sunday
| Schools, submit the following:
The interest at present manifested in Sunday
Schools prompts us to give rapid sketch of their
origin and progress.
| Prior to the year 1881, the Sabbath IL England
was desecrated by every species of dissipation mis-
chief and crime by the children of the poorer class
es. In order to rescue them if possible, from the
whirlpool of ruin, Robert Rarkes of Gloucester es-
ta0llshed the first Sunday Schools. He at first paid
| small sum each Sunday to such teachers as he
could engage to take charge of the rude and desti-
tute children of his neighborhood. To induce the
children to attend, and to encourage them to learn,
he at times distributed rewards of small books and
Bibles to the most deserving He appealed to the
preachers the teachers and to the better part of the
community, and enlisted their sympathy and as
slstance In the cause. The improvement was so
rapid and evident that all classes of the poor old
and young focked to these schools for instruction
And many teachers offered their services gratui-
tously prompted by the desire to bring this people
into the Kingdom Of Christ and make them useful
in the world.
Soon the Sabbath ceased to be day OF drunken
ness mischief and profanity but was devoted to the
study Of the Bible and the development Of the pre-
cious principles it inculcates.
In few years hundreds and thousands had been
rescued from error, and trained up in this way they
should 60 and they went forth with glad hearts and
willing minds sowing good seed which, falling on
good soil, sprang up and produced al abundant
harvest.
Such was the success attending the institution that
In less than half century it had with greater or
less effect extended over the civilized word Its
venerable founder lived to see Aoursiag in every
part of England. He went no me to his reward in
lell aged seventy-fve years
As a means Of preventing and correcting I'M
morality and crime it is not surpassed by any other
instrumentality; in eevating and outstanding So
cety 1t Is not inferior to any agency that welded
by man. 1t descends to a strata that is seldom
reached by the common school and the boosted press
and that too often neglected by those whose mis-
sion is to the poor of this world But while its bes
sings without are extended TO the destitute
the rich are also benefited. The desire for knowl-
edge it excites among the poor and the impulse it
gives to education in his neighborhood, enhances
the value Of his property. The restraints it throws
around the vicious protects his property from dam
age and theft, and the exemption from crime saves
to him large proportion of the taxes which he paid
for the prosecution and punishment of criminals.
1t addresses itself to the favorable consideration
OF the rich and the poor the high and the low, the
patriot laborng for the future prosperity and glory
OF his country and the peasant toling for the scanty
means Of support, and to prepare his children for
useful and respectable stations in life While it warns
the wavering and tempted, and strives to reclaim
the fallen and forsaken, it strengthens and eevates
the faithful and the good.
Its rewards are not to be waited for and expected,
like bread cast upon the waters after many days or
afar off in the distant lands, but they are at once
poured out upon the aborer in the cause enjoyed in
our own neighborhOods, around our own fresides /
and in the hearts of ourselves and children
1t is an institution that benefits parents and chill
dren teachers and pupils. In the work of teaching
the teachers are made wiser and better They are
led to study the scriptures more diligently and there
with their scholars, with open face bsholding the
glory of the Lord are changed into the same image
by his spirit" By attending these schools the preu-
rible scourge that has just passed over U.s. will be
melted away, and better days return. Epraim will
no longer envy Judah, nor Judah ve1 Ephraim and .
will find a common platform on which they can all /
stand, and common cause in which they all can
work Like Job and his friends they will cea Sc to
chde each other and be ready to assist and pray for
each other
But the youth of our country have the deepest in
terest in the success of Sunday Schools We write
to you, because to you the evil days have not come
nor the sun the stars been darkened, nor the
clouds returned after the rain. On you hangs the
hope of our country. On you depend the existence
and triumph of the Church. On you depends the
execution of the laws that protect each one under
his own vine and fig tree. On you rests the weghty
responsibility of carrying the Redeemers kingdom
over every mountain and river of this continent
and of making every hill and every valley vocal
with the praise of our God. The promise is to YOU
and to your children after you, and the great COM
mand of our master is much upon you as it was
to those who first received it, To gather the peo-
pie together, men and women and children that
they may hear, and that they may learn to fear the
Lord their God, and to observe and do all the words
of his law as long as they live"
Rev. A. S. SHANNON,
JNo. W. RAMSEY, Committee
T. D. RAMSEY,
W. NJ Without, Chairman of the Committee.