Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-06-28
Jefferson and Webster
Their Views on the Sabbath, the Bible and Sunday
r.. Sehools .-


Their Views on the Sabbath the Bible and Sunday
5 Eas e Schools Ell t r. ir-ir
5s;7 From the Boston Traveller, June IL -
40 During the late anniversary meetings in this
city, some pains were taken to circulate about
the hall where many of the meetings were held,
tracts designed to bring into discredit the Bible,
the Sabbath, and the institutions of religion
generally. Previous to the anniversary of the
American Sunday School Union, some one took
the trouble to scatter over the seats ofTremont
Temple tract designed to show that Mr. JEFF
ferson had no very good opinion of the Bible
or the institutions of religion founded on its
teachings The attention of the chairman of
the meeting, Hon. 4. $. robey, having been
called to this, he thought it peculiarly appro-
pirate to read letter in his possession from
Daniel Webster, written thirty eight years ago,
to Prof. Pease, Of New York, In response to his
report of the New York Sabbath School AS
sociati0n which the Professor had sent TO Man
chester In this Mr. Webster describes an inter
view which he had with Thomas Jefferson many
years previous while spending. The Sababth at
MS residence in Virginia, aud repeats Mr. JEFF
ferson S utterances respecting the Sabbath, the
Bible, and the Sabbath School institution,
which very clearly show that whatever specula-
tive opinions he may have expressed at any
time, he was very far from being the scofer
which some would have us believe And this
conversation, and the entire tone of Mr.. Web
sters letter, prove conclusIvely the deep respect
and reverence for religious things which were
ever cherished by this most eminent of Ameri-
can lawyers and statesmen ...r -.
LETTER FROM Mr.. WEBSTER.
MARsnFIELD, June Is, 1852
Professor Psase @ @ ,a-
DEAR SIR: have received your very able
and Interesting annual report of the condition
OF the New Y ork Sabbath School Association,
and read 1t with great pleasure and Instruction
1t Is gratifying, very gratifying, to learn that in
"a City where vice and immortality run riot with
impunity," few humble Christians have de-
voted their time and energies to the cause of
religion, and [ ferVently pray that your laboys
may be crowned with success.
The Sabbath School is one of the great in
situations of the day. 1t leads our youth in the
path OF truth and morality, and makes them
good men and useful citizens. As school of
religious instruction 1t is OF inestimable value;
civil institution 1t is priceless and has done
more to preserve our liberties than grave states
men and armed soldiers. Let it then be foster
ed and preserved until the end of time
once defended man charged with the aw-
ful crime OF murder. At the conclusion of the
trial [ asked him what could induce him to
stain his hands with the blood of fellow being.
Turning his blood-shot eyes full upon me, he
replied, in voice OF despair, Mr. Webster in
my youth spent the holy Sabbath in evil
amusements, instead of frequenIng the House
of prayer and praise" Could we go back to
the early years OF all hardened criminals, be-
lieve, yes, firmly believe, that their first depar-
ture from the path of morality was when they
abandoned the Sabbath school, and their sub
sequent crimes might thus be traced back to
the neglect of youthful religious instruction.
Many years ago spent sabbath with Thom-
as Jefferson, at his residence in Virginia. 1t
was In the month of June, and the weather was
delightful While engaged in discussing the
! beauties of the Bible, the sound of bell broke
upon our ears, when, turning to the Sage of
Monticello, L remarked, How sweetly, how
very sweetly sounds that Sabbath bell Il The
distinguished statesman for moment seemed
lost in thought, and then replied: Yes my
dear Webster, yes, 1t melfs the heart, ii calms
our passions, aud makes boys again." Here
L observed that man was the only animal form
ed for religious worship and that notwlthstantk
| ing all the sophistry OF Epicurus, Lucretius and
| Votaire, the Scriptures stood upon a rock as
! firm, as unmovable as truth ITSELF that man
in his purer, lottier breathing, turned the men,
tai eyes toward Immortality, and that the poet
only echoed the general sentiment OF cur ma
ture in saying, that 1.-The soul, secure In her
istence smiles at the drawn dagger, and defes
its point.
MIR. Jefferson fully concurred in this opinion,
aud observed that the tendency OF the Amerl-
can mind was In different direction and that
Sunday (he did not Use our more cor
rect term, Sabbath) presented the only legiti-
mate means, under the Constitution, of avid
ing the rock on which the French Republic was
wrecked. burke, said he, never uttered a
more important truth than when he exclaimed
that "A religious education was the cheap de-
fence of nauons' '.isalkes,'' said Mr. JEFF
/ ferson, has done more tor our country than
the present generation will acknowledges; per-
haps, when am cold. he will obtain his re-
ward; L hope so, earnestly hope SO; am con-
sidered by many, Mr.. Webster, to have little
religion, but now Is not the time to correct er-
rOrs OF this sort. have always said, and al
ways will say, that the studlouS perusal OF the
sacred volume will make better citizens, better
fathers and better husbands Ofihe distinguished
! Rakes, he was 'ciarun, ct UenerdCtte mon,eR.
/ took the liberty of saying that found more
pleasure in Hebrew poetry than IN the best pro-
duclions of Greeee and Rome; that the harp
upon the willows by Baby lon" had charms for
me beyond anything In the numbers ut the
| blind nan of Smyrna. then turned to j eremi-
ab. lthere was fine folio oi the Scriptures be-
fore me of 1862 aud read aloud some OF those
sublime passages that used to delight me on
father knee But fear, my dear friend,
shall tire you with my prollx account of what
was pleasant Sabbath, spent III the company
of one who has filled very large space In our
political and literary annals. -s3old seE saay
Thanking you Tor your report, and heartily
concurrlng with you In the truh OF your quota
tion, that righteousness exate,h a Dallon, but
sid is reproach to any people, remain With
a high regard, your friend. ID. WEBSTER