The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-12-01
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
An Address TO the Sabbath schools
In Maury md the adjacent Counties.

!
lumbia, Tenn on the days OF the 9th,
10th, and 18th OF November, 1871. The
topics. which were had under considera-
ton, are of vital interest to the cause,
embracing some OF the fundamental
principles pertaining 10 the institution,
and also some of tho most important
practical questions that are constantly
arising in The work. 1t was the desire OF
the Convention to benefit not only those
present and participating in its delibe>
rations, but, as tar as practicable, also TO
reach with its beneficial influence all
the Sabbath Schools in Maury and the
adjacent counties; hence, this Circular
Letter addressed to those schools. The
powers and authority OF the Convention
are only advisory and suggestive; and,
| therefore, this Letter comes To those to
whom it is addressed only in the way OF
advice and suggestion.
/. That is the relation Of the Sabbath
| School 10 the Church This question
naturally resolves itself into the prima-
| ry inquiry, what is the Sabbath School?
| 1t was the opinion of the Convention,
that, the Sabbath School is in no sense
an institution distinct and separate from
! the church, but, that it is the Church it.
| self teaching the truths Of the gospel to
| ali that can be induced 10 hear its voice.
| IL is not an outside work OF the Church
| but, as tho ministry is the Church
| predchia1, 80 the Sabbath School is the
/ Church Touching, the truths OF the Cos
| pei. TIE Divine Master has appointed
! and specified both these duties ia the
| great commission which he has given
| His Church for the conversion OF the
! world, by which the Church is author
! lied and commanded TO 90 and preach
! the gospel an al nations and TO teach
! ha gNrsrsF,al
| the gospel. Aud not only the children,
| but also the adults, Of both the Church
! and the World, are thus 10 be gathered
! in and taught the truths which are able
/ to make them wise unto eternal life.
| This duty has pertained to the Church
| from the beginning, as We may see from
| Deut. xXXi--l2--l3: "Ga!her the people
| together, men, women, and children,
and the stranger that is within thy
gates, that they may hear, snd they may
learn. and fear the Lord your God, and
observe 10 do all the words OF this law /;
and that their children, which have not
known anything, may hear and learn 10
fear the Lord your God"
2. What Is tie chief end Of the sabbath
.Sch0OlP-It seems 10 be the necessary in !
ference from the foregoing conclusion,
that the CHIEF end OF the ; .bbath School
i, te teach the truth as il is in Jesus for
the conversion Of sinners, and for the
continuous growth Of those converted "
the knowledge and grace of the gospel. !
The end of the Sabbath School has /
double Telstion; first, 10 those out Of
Christ, teaching them the truth rs il is
in Jesus, and aiming 20 lead by the
truth thus taught TO Christ Jesus TOR the |
spiritual regeneration OF their souls; !
and, secondly, 10 those already convert !
ed, teaching them still more of tine truth |
as il is in Jesus, aiming 10 secure there |
by their continuous growth in the know \
ledge and grace OF their Lord aud Sa- I
vior.
9. UhGt Is the reldtiGn Of tie Minister |
T. the sabbath School > The answer TO
this inquiry is involved in the idea OF
the Sabbath School as being The CEurch I
tCpchjHy; hence, it follows that, mas /
much as he is the Pastor Of the whole !
Church, so he is he Pastor OF the Sab !
bath School, and that il is as much 3
part of his solemn and official duty 10 |
feed the lambs, - Is 20 iced tho shsep," |
OF 1.-The flock over " hich the Holy Ghost |
hath made him an oveTseeT." Whether |
the Pastor should be superintendent OF |
the school must be determined by the |
circumstances in each particular case, !
but in all cases he should be present in |
school, as often and rs much as possible, |
TO encourage, guide, counsel, and in- |
struct.
!. WHO arc proper persons TO be teach |
erS in the Sabbath School 2--On this ques-
ton there arose an earnest discussion. !
On one side it was held, a. the Sabbath |
School is the Church teaching, and as the |
end OF Sabbath school teaching is the |
salvation Of the souls of those taught |
through the fundamentally OF the |
truth, that none but truly pious persons |
should be received as teachers; on the |
other side il was held, that any person, |
not impious in their lives, should be re- |
ceived as teachers and should he encOur- |
aged to otter themselves AS such, because, |
while teaching others they would them |
selves be brought into close contact with |
the truth, and might thereby be led 10 |
Christ for their own spiritual regeneTa- |
ton. Neither OF these extreme views |
prevailed. 1t seemed TO be the opinion of |
the Convention, that, as tar as posi- BILE, !
only those men and women, who are |
truly pious and at the same time apt to |
teach, should be received as teachers |
such persons are properly qualified To |
he the most competent teachers, and ev-
cry school should. as iaT as possible, be |
supplied with the very best teachers |
but, when a sufficient number Of such |
teachers cannot be commanded, then. as |
the next choice, such persons as are |
known TO be earnest seekers after the |
truth for the salvation OF their own !
souls, Should be received; but. in cases |
where it is impossible to have the school |
supplied with teachers OF the two classes |
above described, thsn, religiousIy in |
clined persons, who are willing 10 as
sumo the responsibility, and whose in> !
/ tellectual View arc knoYn to DO sound |
and correct, whose general conduct Is |
| upright, and whose conversation is NOR
| ALLY pure, may be received as teachers
| IN tho Sabbath School but. under no
circumstances, should persons. who are
| impious in their lives. prolane In their
! speech. or immoral In their conduct,
| have immortal souls committed 10 their
instruction and guidance as their Sab
! bath School teachers.
| 5. Sabbath ScsOot LiterGtGre.-As II u
important TO have proper persons for
| teachers, so it is very important Ihatfthe
Literature of the Sabbath School should
| be of the proper kind. Books are silent,
| but very influential, teachers: and. for
| Sabbath School Libraries they should be
| selected on the fundamental idea. that
| the end of the Sabbath School Is 20
| teach the truth as IL is in the GOSPEL. and
| thereby lead souls 10 Christ for lvotiou
| Therefore, the Bible should be the CEN
trail book in the library, and none other
should be admitted except those thai re-
volye around the Bible us planets around
the sun, receiving their si1nirc nee and
life from the Book Divine, and reflect
| ing only the light of the truths il con-
tains. Much Of the Sabbath School lit.
| er8ture is not merely worthless. but
| positively hurtful. The church is mum
dated with multitudes of so-clIlod Sab
bath School books, which are nero nov
| eiettes, and even as works of fiction very
| Inferior. Their influence is luisrlIidiur
tothe minds OF Tie young. aud abso-
lutely hurllui. Sucb puslicationssh
lie carefully excluded, aud our sabbath
| school libraries should he well supplied
withtBose works that are real helps IN
the study OF the Biblo, The time has
come when the Church must exercise a
careful Land strict censorship over their
Sabbath School lIbr,ries. and exrlud.
from them many of the books that arr
poured from those presses. that are Is
suing books merely for the money th,t
is made by their sale Such books are.
now appearing In the land almost ~ fast
and ss numerous as the frogs in the
plague Of Egypt, and they are quite as
pesliierous intneir misguning 49,. .''->
moralizing influence on the minds and
hearts of the young
6. Hon. to multiply the number, and TO
extend TIE Influence Of Sabbath schools ?
This is an important. hut di1ieu.I
question. The formation of mission
schools was recommended. Care should
be taken in their formation that they be