The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-01-16
The MEETING OF THa SUNDAY soHoon

The MEETING OF TH1 SUNDAY SoHoon
SomErr OF THE WAsHNGroN SraEEr
MErHon1ss CHURCH. This society.
whose object il the prosecution Of the
interest of tho Sunday. School connected
with the Washington Street Church,
held its first quarterly meeting Sunday
afternoon. The meeting was ian oeca.
sion OF much interest to those who par.
ticipated. At3x P. H., the church was
filled by the congregation Who worship
there. the children of the Sunday School
and representatives from all the other
churches Of the city. The efficient
choir OF the church led the Sunday
School children in singing several Of
their beautiful hymns; then followed the
reading OF Scripture. aud prayer by the
paator. Rev. Manning Brown; after
which the several reports OF the officers
of the 5ooiety were read-showing
gratifying Improvement in the condition
OF the school. The President, r. d.
Sem, ESD, briefly stated the general
purpose or the organization, aud intro
ducod Colonel j.. P. Thomas. who had
promptly responded TO the oall made
upon him, by the society. and who has
been always found ''ready for every good
word and work.; .,yh,,.a ~ Xxx,
Oblonel Thomas said,t that hs highly
appreciated. the honor hpid tba privilege
ct .se ;a7:.$eas .Ehh;;sss..M,' l,,s:oSaSEs h:sa
that afternoon before the President and
members, OF the Sunday School Society,
in behalf Of With t6sy had met to-
gether. Hfssofibe was ons' neither TO be
sought NOR dHclihed.'' Belonging, as he
did, 70 'Spbthat 8ofpa o. tho Grand Army
OF tha Prince aa aof .',Peaoe. he sppleoia,ed.
on that; account; the more highly the
summons to address tho Sunday School
oreanizati16Gh OF the Washington Street
Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Apostle had 'askt,d that utterance
might be given to him from on high to
speak boldly 9f 'the mystery of the Cos
bonds;.,.The speaker said that it was not
fothimt 'aak that great gift. 1t was
not 'fof hfmio touch upon the Office Of
God = ministers. His unworthiness fol-
badD this, and the occasion did not de-
mand it. He proposed not to rush iu
where angels fear to tread. 1t was his
part to be far lesa ambitious. His duty
was to give the spirit and purposes of
the Sunday School enterprise; to in
terpret it's philosophy truthfully, evan-
gelically. intelligentiy. and to draw
thence some deductions as to our duties
in that behalf. Yet standing in that
presence. and feeling that his feet rested
bility of the Office he was dischurging
under the auspices of the Church of the
Living God.
The speaker then alluded to the cir
cumstances attending the establishment
of Gods visible church on earth, aud
alluded to the necessity, the power, the
dignity and the efficiency of pure and
undefiled religion. The history Of ancient
nations. the Individual history of man,
showed the necessity of the correcting.
tho vitalizing. the preserving, the con-
serving principle of divine religion
cultivated and gifted people-thau which
existed. Yet her Plato, her Socrates and
hSi htiotOtio Ot9Ctiy W 6OIfS Cu6
problem of life. So, too, with the peo.
ple Of imperial Rome. So, too, with the
groat philosophers Of all heathcndom.
In their loftiest flights they failed to
catch the idea Of u SAVIOUR, REDEEM.
Ell or MEDIATOR, and they had to return,
bailled, to earth, with glance only of
THE TRUTH. The speaker said that it
seemed that God. in His providence. be-
fore tho Christian revelation, had de-
sigued to show clearly to humanity thct
1t could not, nnaided, solve the problem
Of itn existence, and that thus it was in-
tended strongly to impress upon man the
sense OF his dependence upon tie God
in whom he lived und moved and had his
being.
The speaker next referring to tho
establishment of the church, OF the
Christian church-which event, he said,
was consummated in Gods appointed
time-went on to remark that it was not
his point to enlarge upon the Office and
work of tho church. Sufficient TO say
tlat all refecting minds must recognize
its powerful influence upon tho conduct
Of men and upon the destiny OF commu-
mites. LIE was poor philanthropist
who did not recognize its beautiful
ethics, md he was poor statesman who
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