The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-09
MoRrE cARoLxNA.
Educational Progress and Prospects


bv a triAing effort, when the proper means to
accomplish it are put forth. Several months
AGO n gentleman of our acquaintance, while
travelling in Western North Carolina, was
amazed to find so little regard for the train
ing of the youth on the Sabbath, or any evil
dence that the boys and girls were being
educated to Remember the Sabbath day or
eto keep it holy" Sunday Schools, he dis
covered, were unknown in large section of
that beautiful country, and while journeying
with an eminent physician residing at the
county seat of Caldwell county, and conversing
about this want of means to instruct the youth
in the ways of salvation, the formation of
Sunday Schools was suggested by our
friend, who proposed to supply the means
thronoh the West Arch Street Presbyterian
Sabbath School, provided the physician would
organize and superintend them. Soon after,
the West Arch School were apprised Of the
facts in the case, and the suggestion to supply
the means was Immediately carried into effect
bv an appropriation of money, and his Honor
Judpe Peirce, with two ladies and two gentle
men. were appointed to send out library and
music books, ETC. This was promptly DONE
and three white and two colored schools were
organized under the immediate supervision of
Dr. A. A. Scroggs. The letter contains the
second report of the operations Of these
schools; and we publish it to show how much
good the West Arch School, under the super
intendence of Governor Pollock, is doing and
how richly and amply we are always paid 10y
literally distributing to the wants and neces-
sites of the destltute;-
LENoR, Caldwell Co., N. c., Aug, 1869.
To the Officers Teachers, and Children
of the West Arch Street Presbyterian
Sunday School, Philadelphia: - Some time
during last spring or early summer it
was my pleasure to forward to you Il report of
an effort in the cause of Sunday schools in the
destitute regions of our county. ! was stimu-
lated to make this effort not only by the exist
ing wants of that portion OF our country, but
farther by the magnanimous donation OF books
and Sabbath school appliances which we
received through your kind and Christian libe
rality.
had advised and prevailed upon these schools
to appoint ut as carly day after their Organ-
zation as it was practicable an anniversary
day" This might iuaUgurate n custom to be
yearly observed hereafter. Accordingly Thurs
day, the l4th inst, was set apart us their first
anniversary occasion. 1t was duly observed and
eniOyed by over five hundred people, 1t was ar
ranged to have II visit and the ministerial SER
vices of a Sunday School agent, who visit
ing this part of oar State at that time. The ex-
ercises consisted of singing, marching, preach
ing, addresses, and partnking of an elegant and
sumptuous feast--a iree-Will offering of the
friends and patrons of the schools who were
in attendance. The whole programme passed
off finely. Speakers and people were highly
pleased, and it is hoped and believed that the
Sunday School cause has received an impetus
which will tell upon its future usefulness and
prosperity III all that destitute region of country
Oh, could those kind patrons, teachers, and
children-the donors of those beautiful Sabbath
School hooks nonprS-laVp bppn
witnessed the events and incidents of the day, 1t
would have cheered their hearts and encouraged
them in their ''Worll of faith and labor OF love.
They would have seen parents there (scorcs of
them) who were never at a Sabbath School eele-
braton before, and who for the first time wit
messed the participation of their children in
these go them) novel yet interesting exercises;
and in the long procession OF Two hundred and
fifty-nine children. There were to be found
scores upon scores who on this day, for the first
time in all their lives, took their position in
these ranks; and the long procession as filed by
would have brought to view faces beaming
with newborn pleasure, steps quickened by the
lively air of one of our sweet anniversary songs,
the whole scene giving promise of good, gratify-
ing to every Christian heart and calling forth
from an overflowing soul the exclamation, Be
hold what hath God wrought"
There was no one who participated in these
delightful exercises on that day but came away
not only pleased but impressed TO every
Christian heart especially it was an occasion of
the deepest interest the impressive services of
the day, the unalloyed pleasure of the children
the great object had in view, and the probable
prospective hope that these precious seeds would
yield harvest of good.
And now, dear children and friends, it be-
comes my grateful task to record and transmit
to you some of the fruits of this Sabbath School
effort, and the fulhlment of those gracious
promises which admonish us, ''ln the morning
SOW thy seed and in the evening withhold not
thy hand"
A protracted meeting was appointed to be
held at a point accessible to all these schools,
which commenced two weeks after the -anni-
Versary." Before the time came around, con-
siderable religious interest was apparent in two
of the schools.
Early after the commencement of this me IT.
ing the work broke out and increased day alter
day, till l believe not one uncOnVerted scholar in
either of the schools was left. Parents were
reached, and wholesome and salutary revival
influence seemed to pcryade the entire church
membership in our town; denOminatlonal diffe-
Tences, names and schisms were forgotten.
Every child of God felt that it was Gods work.
and with humble pious zeal they came up ''Co
the help of the Lord against the mighty" The
Holy Spirit was divinely present operating and
influencing every heart, and we humbly trust
the feet of scores were turned into the right
way. A large proportion of these were Sunday
School scholars
There were many incidents connected with
this work it would be pleasant to detail in this
report did its limits allow me to do so. Suffice it
to say that some OF those beautiful Sunday School
songs in the books you sent us contributed much
to give interest and impressveness to this reli-
gious work. This was again and again most
beautifully and strikingy eXemplifed in the
song, Come TO Jesus, just now, as the penitent
would cry out in anguish of spirit, Lord save
me-" The choir of children would answer, "He
will save you just aolo." Sinking under his
weight of guilt again, the penitent would cry,
have rnSnOO6n0