The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-04-29
EditoTsIournal

ca. + at Old Fogyis8a, Be tRc7dca,sd
~ HE4HjHds Of Sunday Schoot chit
Rren ~
The foregoing strange i-nterrogatoryi
l was amazed to find among the pub
lished proceedings Of the Sunday
School Convention, IN this city, Of
Wednesday, April 23d, 1868. The
answer returned to it was, "A little
of both" How true it is that from
the sublime to the ridiculous there is
but gsingle step. / propose to exam
inc the question a little. What, prae-
tically, IS the spirit of Young Ameri-
ca? In the solution of the Dues
ton, cur data must be its
various, visible manifestations.
Respectable foreigners travelling
among us, universally complain
of this spirit, and regard it in all its
manifold aspects as the very embodi-
ment of evil. In their enlightened
estimation it is, social nuisance, and
when they leave us to 60 home, they
feel a singular sense Of relief that
they have really got rid of the hide.
Gus fapDarItI0n forever, and are pro-
portienably grateful. Judged from
It's appearances, the spirit of Young
America has the following character
istics=Sauey iBdepeRdeRee-exaber-
ant %conceit, OVERLOOKING selt-sufhci en-
CIV. and unlimited disrespect for
everything really and truly respect
able in usage, opinion, or character.
1t is social rowdyism and domestic
rebellion. 1t Is perverse, I~ntractable,
refractory, and recalcitrant. 1t is
captious, willful, petulant, and con-
temptuous. Nevertheless, it is recon-
mended that this amiable spirit should
be inculcated in our Sunday School
childrenl Lest the vigorous qualities
of the spirit Of Young America be too
boisterOus, too obstreperous, a mild
infusion of the spirit of Old Fogyism.
is also recommended. The two COM
bined In well adjusted proportions, it
Is considered, will produce an admir-
able compound, equal to all the de-
mands of progressive and aggressive
Christianity, as verjuice and honey,
properly compounded, make a plea
SAINT beverage. How supremacy
ridiculousl If it be the inten-
ton of Sabbath Schools to I'M
prove the minds, refine the man
ners, and purify the hearts of the
scholars, the teachings Of the Sacred
Scriptures are certainly admirably
sufficient for the accomplishment of
the work: but where In that sacred
book do we find the slightest sanction
for the i~nculcation of the spirit of
Young America? The Scriptures
themselves are the very quintescence
of what popular prepossesslOn con-
siders Old FOgyism. The spirit of
Young Heaven vas pride, and every
Sunday School child knows something
of its legitimate elimination.
The spirit Of Young Anything is
verify impatience Of salutary restraint,
and opposition to wholesome traiping;
and 1t is the same wherever found.
Experience and instruction, kBowl-
edge and discipline, repress, restrain
and correct it. Obedience, meekness,
docility, diligence and humility, are
among the old fogyish virtues incul-
Gated In the Sacred Scriptures but
do they In the least comport with the
vicious, spiteful, disobedient. conten-
tious and contemptuous spirit Of
Young America? The sages of the
world have ever, both by precept
and example, enjOlned and In
forced the incubation of those virtues,
but we, while pretending to practice
their teaching, make a sorry farce
Of the wEele matter. Robert Raikes,
the worthy founder of Sunday
Schools, never contemplated that his
great institution would descend to the
work of encouraging and ~cultlvatlng
any but the pure spirit of Christ Je-
sus, who so sublimely and pathet-
ically said, Suffer little children to
come unto me, and forbid them not,
for of such is the Kingdom OF
Heaven" and in his holy love for
the innocent and helpless of the
earth, he said something of the pro-
the neeks of those who at
youthful heart. Our Sunday
properly managed, to make our chill
dren better, wiser and happier; and
all distractions, therefore, to the
work OF preparing children for a vir-
tuOus and useful life here, and a
happy Immortality hereafter, should
be removed and their re-introduction
Ioroldden. To this desirable end,
the means are knowledge, common
sense, kIndness, aud faithful dill
gence. The spirit ut Young America.
or Old Fogyism, or a ningling of
both, Is an obstruction to the advance
mant of the Sunday School cause. and
should not be encouraged.
Our Sunday School teachers de-
serve credit for their Jealous indus
Aw~~ and TCw fhnTw r-n~@n-,1 -.