The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-11-28
VOL. 8, NO. SO

IcAletouco 10 udscu upOu IIeir VIZ
tue and Intelligence.
Tho children who are now the
pupils in our Sunday Schools, will
in a few years, become tho men
and women of America; and upon
them and their cotemporarios will
under God, rest the tremendous re.
sponsibilities of their day and gen
Grafton. 1t is this particular and
reaching phase of Sunday School
influence that | desire earnestly Ia
press upon your consideration,
Many of our neighbors and fel
low -citizcns require to be educated
up to this proper appreciation of it.
and it is therefore a matter of vi.
tai Importance that its totality ol
influence should be distinctly un.
derstood.
Let it be elaborated in your
churches, discussed at your social
meetings, and canvassed in your
homes and at your iresides. Do
this, my friends--use all the means
in your power TO strengthen and
popularizo it, and you will bo do.
ing untold good for your country
and the indcstructibility of its gov
ernment. Whenever you can, muI-
.tiply the Sunday Schools, increase
the number of its teachers, gather
all the children into its folds, and
you will most assuredly be in the
way of advancing the "Kingdom Of
Cod"
The Secretary's report will pre-
sent to you in the aggregate the
statistical status of the Schools in
this county; SO far as they have
bcenin correspondence with him,
The Constitution makes it the
duty of each associated school to
rcndcr to this officer complete
quarterly statements of their con-
dition, for reasons which will be
manifest TO you all. | fear that
this worry necessary requirement
has been much neglected. In some
cases only partial returns have
been made, but for the most part
none whatever. Without inquiring
too closely into the causes of this
neglect, | will here only romark
that tho Office of Vice President,
one for each township in the coun.
ty, was created for the express pur-
pose of enforcing the constitutional
exactiops. These officers are in
vested with tho necessary authori.
ty, and are placed as advisers and
overseers over the schools of their
townships; and if in any
case they become careless und neg
ligent, their schools, sympathizinS
more or less with their feelings,
will become careless and negligent
also. In theory, tho Constitution
of this Association is complete. 1t
would be complete in practice also,
if none but faithful men were ap,
pointed to Office under it; and one
of the most responsible duties that
will devolye upon you at this an
nual meeting, will be to make such
judlcious, discriminating appoint
mcnts..
p. l take pleasure in stating that
this Body was duly represented at
the annual assembly of the State
Sabbath School Association held
at Xenia in June last. There were
more than twelve hundred dele
gatcs in attendance, including in
their number some of the best per-
sons intellectually and morally in
Ohio.
1t was in every respect a grand
gathering. Mind coaleased with
mind there; heart fused with heart;
plans Of generous enlargement were
expatiated; principles of practical
wisdom were settled, and warm
hearted resolutions to the people
in behalf of the people, were adopt
cd. The delegates met under the
most hopeful expectations, and sep
arated perfectly satified, determin-
ed and enthusiastic. At this meet
ing all the counties in the State,
organizations similar to our
own, were called upon for mon
led contribution to pay these sala-
ries, and defray the necessary and
large State expenses for tho current
year.
When Fairfield county was call
cd, in the absence of any response
from the immediate delegates, our
public spirited friend, Mr.. HENRY
LEONARD, of Basil, who was pres
ent, pledged the county, in tho
sum of 500, and made himself re-
sponsible for its payment. l sug.
gest, and do respectfully recon-
mend that you assume this debt,
and relieve Mr.. Leonard from its
responsibility. This would GER
tainly be as graceful on your part
as it would bc cminently just and
proper.
You are all aware that in August
last we held our first annual Festi-
val in a grove adjacent to this city,
under the provisions Of the Consti-
tuition. 1t was intended that these
periodical gatherings should be
general, fratcrnal, social and loving.
Studying the same divine los
sons, stimulated by the same mo-
tives of action, and looking to the
accomplishment of the same usofnlt
resaits, II was thought by the Con-
vention which framed and adopted
our Constitution, that such Occa-
sional festive unions Of all our
Schools would bind them closer to-
gether - that Friendships would.
ripon whom acquaintances were
formed, and that the happiest in
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