The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-07-23
srEDAT SCHOOLS.

Address By 3. A. Ogllvlvic ata SuRday
School Picnic ct Mt. Ollvet, JUne
e, 1889. =-
On the a6th of June last the teachers
and scholars of the Mt. Oliyet Sunday
School had a picn-nic, accompanied by
the following address by one Of the
scholars, r. A. OGILvIE.s The school
appointed a committee to ask the priv
ilige Of publishing it, which was grant
ed: =. fs7
RESPECTED PARENTS AND FRfENDs =
In behalf of my teachers and eompan
ions, / bid you q cordial welcome to
this rural shade, beneath this spacious
temple, whose roof is the vault ofheav-.
en-, and whose gentlezerb yrs are laden
with thousand odors
/ see many in this assembly, whose
heads are silvered o'erjwith age, who
come hither on this anniversary occa-
| sion, to encourage us with their pres
ence. A happy greeting to you !1yOu
| who have gone 50 far and learned 50
much on your journey in life, that you
SO kindly cheer us, just commencing
orr pimigrage.
If there is an institution that opposes
the progress of human degenaacy III
our thoughtless and hayward world,
it is the Sabbath School. The Sabbath
School is the keystone Of the arch
which sustains the temple of virtue.
The Bible is our standard of duty our
great code Of morals. To il our eUlln-
try owes not only her religious liberty
and her entire moral condition, but to
a great extent, Der civil and political
rights. sa
One of the principal occupations of
the Sabbath should be, to enforce the
principles of sound morality. Where
this sacred trust is preserved inyiolate,
you behold people convened, one day
in seven, for the purpose ofacquainting |
themselves with the best moral princi.
Piles and, precepts. We may. not, at
once, perceive the effects which this |
weekly observance produces; like most |
moral causes, it operates slowly, but |
surely. From late statistics we learn |
with grateful interest, that throughout |
the Unitad States noble impulse has
been given to this sacred cause. Take |
single illustration in one city. A re-
cent investigation ascertained that of
"twelve thousand children who had
shared i'm the blessings Of Sabbath
school, net one Ind ever been arraigned
.fesgwime.u IS volume Of COM
mendations but, sirs, it is only the be-
ginning Of good. The next age will /
witness some of the fulness of its mer-
cies, when these children shall take
your places and assume upon them
selves the duties of men and citizens.
Sabbath schools will create an infiu-
encc in the public councils of the coun-
try.
Washington, who had studied the
human character under many DIVERSE
ties, came to the full conviction, that
"no principle could be safely trusted,
which did not flow from a sense of re-
ligiOus obligations" and an infinitely
greater than Washington, had ages
before proclaimed the same truth.
Sabbath schools will purify the ele-
ments of society; they will arrest the
torrent of corruption i'm our land, erect
the standard of sound principles, and
by the blessings of heaven save the
country and perpetuate her liberties.
A canse thus exalted i'm ITS aims, ad-
dresses itself to the philanthropy, of
every community. 1t BELTS this Occa-
sion to say that nobler charity could
~ Orrr hI0s |
Sirs, il is raising a great empire Of
immor tai beings to the dignity of
virtuous freemen, to send forth the NOR
al influences among them, that shall
establish the basis of political prOsperi-
ty; that raises protection around the
sacred privileges of the fireside, and
secures the hearth and altar from rude
invasion, and more than this, 10 open
to them the pathway tOa biissful inn
mortality. Patriotism in its boldest
conception, cannot aspire to purer
bliss than this, and hOnOred is the
humblest man who aids in this noble
cause. Sirs, what are earthly scepters,
what is human wealth and greatness
compared to such a vision? Where or
how can wealth accomplish for us
more substantial OF sublime pleasures
Away with the fame of your Caesars
and NapOleOns! 10 the frightful do
mains of slaughter and misery. They
can no more bear comparison with the
christian philanthropist, than the eye
already inflamed to torture by dissipa-
ton. can look on the sun at MONDAY.
We have a noble few in our cOmmu
nifty who feel that they were not born
for themselves, nor for the narrow Cir
Gle of their families, but f)r this whole
community. They delight i'm doing
good. Their talents, their time and :
their money, they hold i'm constant
reuuisition for the benefit of this COM
munity. You may trace them along
the pathway Of life, by the blessings
which they scatter. They may be
Iikened to yOn little stream which car
ries gladness from vale to vale through
all the length of this rejoicing valley
which il was made to bless. Or we
may liken them to the summer show
ers, which pour gladness and plenty
DER the regions they visit.
Kind Instructors, Gratitude, the pur-
est incense of the heart, constrains us
to thank you for your paternal care,
your faithful cOunsels and affectionate
instructions. You have opened before
us those ways of wisdom, which are
full of pleasantness and peace. You
have told us of the bright rewards of
obeying the scriptures, and of the fear
full recOmpense Of the ignorant and vi
cious, who know not God i'm their
ways.
Worthy superintendent, In the name
of my companions, warmly, sincere
Iy thank you for your paternal, guar
dian care. Our lips cannot express
the gratitude that glOws within our
hearts, but deeply we feel it, to you it
belongs, and we will endeavor by the
blessings of heaven to testify it in our
future lives, by dedicatfng all that we
are, and all that we may attain, to the
promotion of virtue, and good Of mani
kind. May you 80 OH i'm peace, your
path like the sun waxing brighter and
brighter, till the perfect day, and may
the light OF your example long linger
i'm blessings on those of us who shall
survive you, to take your place in the
broad and busy world, and in Heaven
you will gain the rich reward for all
your toll and care.
Ii the ladies but knew what thou,
sands of them are constantly relating
us, we caudidly believe one half the
weakness, prostration and distress OK
las, al, |