The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-01-11
Letter from Mr. Web Ter OIL Sabbath
SchOv!S,
Pnor. PGA DAN SlR | haye

NV Go.k @atblth School Assoc a
!ion, a.l r~a! ]. w;th great rc,s &c
ana iaalue,t2M. It is gratifying, to
iearA that, asa city where vice and
immn!al,ty run riot with impuaity,'
few humblo Christians have dcvo.
ted their time and encrgieo to the
cause Of religion, and ferycntly
pray that ycur labors may bo crown
ed with success.
The Sabbath School is one of the
great Institutions Of the day. 1t
leads our youth in thv path of truth
and morality, and makes them good
men and useful citizens. as d school
of religious Instruction, it is Of ines,i-
mable value as civil int.tution it
is priceless, and has done more to pre-
ee,vo our Liberties than grave states
men and armed soldiers. Let Il, then
be fostcred and preserved until tho
end Of time
| once defended n man charged
with Tie awful crime of murder. At
the conclusion Of tho trial asked
him what could induce him TO stain
his hands with the blood Of Il fellow
being. Turning his bloodshot eyes
full upon me, l.o replied in vo.cc
of despair, "Alr. Wcbstor; in my
youth spent the holy Sabbath in evil
amusoments, instead Of frequontipg
the house Of prayer and praise"
Coull "c 50 back to tho early years
Of all hardened criminals, believe,
yes, firmly believe, that their first de-
parturo from the path Of morality
was when thoy abandoned tho Sab
bath School, and their sub,cu uont
crimes might thus DC traced back to
tho neglect Of youthful religious in
strucii)n.
Many years ago spent Sabbath
with Thomas Jefferson at his residence
in Virginia. twas in tho month Of
June, and tho weather was delightful.
While engaged in discussing tho beau.
ties of tho Bible, the sound Of bell
broke upon our cara, when, turning to
tho sage of Monticcllo, | remarked,
elbow swcotly, sounds the Sabbath
bell !" Tho distinguished statesman for
n momont seemed lost in thought, and
then replied, "Ytsdoar Webster, yes {;
it mclts tho heart it calms our pas
slons, and makes us boys again"
Hero | observed that man was only an
animal formed for religious worship,
anal that notwithstanding all tho so
rhistry Of Epicurus, Lucretious and
No,tairo, tho Sculptures stood upon
a rock as firm, as inmovahlo az truth
itself that man, in his puGcr, loflicr
brcathings, turned the mental eyes to-
ward Immortality: and that the poet
only echoed the general sentiment Of
our nature Ia saying that "thc soul
secure in her existence, smiles at
tho drawn dagger, and dciics its
point"
Mr. Jcil 'rson fully concurrcd in this
opinion, and observed that the tcnden.
cy Of the American mind was in Il
d'Nct ent direction, and that Sunday
Schools (ho did not use our more cor.
rect term Sabbath) presented the only
legitimate means, under the Constitu-
lion, Of avoiding tho rock on which the
French republic was wrecked.
'"'Nc, eaiN nC 'uCNeT uilCEeN II
moro important truth, than when he
exclaimed that religious education
was the cheap defence Of nations
"Raikcs," said MIR. Jefferson, has Sdonc
moro for our country than tho present
gcncla.irn will acknowledges. Per.
haps when am cold, ho will obtain
his reward; | hope so, caruc> silly hope
so. Lam considered by many Mr..
Webster, to have littlc religion but
now is rot tho time to correct errors
ofthis solt. have always said, and
always sill suy, that the studious
pcrusal of the sacred volume will make
better citizens, better fathers and bet
ter hushands.' | took tho liberty
of saying that | fourd more pleasure
III ilTbrcw poetry than in tho best
productions Ct Greece and Rome that
tho "harp upon the willows upon
Babylon" had charms for mo beyond
anything in tho numbers of tho blind
man of Smyrna. then turned to
jeremiah (therc was fine folio Of The
Soriptures before me Of ll5S(, and
read aloud somo Of those sumblimc
passages that used to delight, mo on
my fathers knee. But fear, nv
dear friend, | shall tire you with my
prolix account Of whatwas q pleasant
Sabbath. spent in the company of one
who has filled q very largo space in
cur political and Literary annals.
Thanking you for your report and
heartily concurring with you in the
Truth of your quotation that "right-
cousness cxalteth nation, but sin is
reproach to any people," I remain,
with high regard your friend,
D. WEBSTER.
Ma"shGo!a, Juue. 18th, 1852.
- e.