New-York tribune., 1874-05-29
SUNDAY.SCHOOL UNION

SUNUA AI-SChOOL ONiUA''
The semi. centennial celebration OF t1is AS
sociation took place in Philadelphia on Tues.
day last leading divines of the majority OF
the Protestant churches giving evidence OF
the useful work which 1t has accomplished IN
the fifty years it has existed. OF seven years
no record has been kept; during the re-
naming forty-three, there have been nearly
10000 schools organized, containing between
two and three millions of scholars. The value
of books, papers, &C., circulated gratultously
il over $8,OOO,O0O. The operations OF the
"Union have been extended to Spain, Italy,
"Germany, Holland, Denmark, Norway and
"Sweden, Switzerland, France, Japan, and
"Russia, in all of which efficient aid has been
"extended by the natives" The Sunday
school, az q lever Of civilization and Chris
tianity, received during the celebration, al
matter of course, the warmest cOmmenda-
ton: it was intended, said DR.. John Hall, to
supplement-, not to supersede, home religious
training. As a practical proof OF its EN-
cheney, its advocates might have instanced
the adoption of the system by the Quakers'
Jews, and Roman Catholics, each OF whom
had reason to accept such reform in church
management slowly and with reluctance.
There can be no doubt of the great good
ACCOMPLISHED by the Sunday school, especially
if carried ont in its first idea, that OF mis-
sionary work for those who are in all proba-
blity out of the reach of any religious home
training.
Didactic instruction, especially religious
instruction, always comes to chpu
with more force from stranger tnah
from its parents hence it may be ad-
yisable occasionally to "supplement nome
"training," as DR.. Hall suggests, by outside
influence. But then comes the question or
what this outside influence precisely is. Be-
cause it is more effective and startling 10
childs mind it behooves both parents ana
pastors not to take anything in this matter
for granted, nor to approve without proving
Mission and Ragged schools usually have as
their teachers the elder and graver members
of the church the children who are brought
into them have a chance, therefore, OF sound
wise teaching. But the majority OF other
teachers are young girls and boys, too young
to have children of their own, and assuredly,
however good their intentions, are not yet
gifted with that divine wisdom and experience
which would make them fit leaders OF the
children of Others into the knowledge OF the
most mysterious and awful of all truths. The
distribution of books and collection of money
for missionary purposes are in too many IN
stances made by them the chief end OF the
Sunday school, one class vying with another
in n paltry ambition to be first. The books
and papers distributed gratuitously, well
meant as they are, partake too much OF the
diluted, namby -pamby, goodish qualities which
IL, oe la N
adays, and which are giving to our boys ana
girls a weak and false sentimentality 10
ground their lives upon, instead OF vigorous,
vital truths concerning God, and the world
and themselves. DevOut mothers think they
are in the direct line Of their duty
in sending off their broOds early on
Sunday morning to school; they know
that they are acquiring their ideas of
their Maker and Savior, which are to last
through their lives. If they followed the poor
babies and saw multitude of children under
the care of inexperienced youths and girls,
full of curiosity about each others finery, and
of eager anxiety lest the class OF "Tender
LAMBS" should collect forty cents more than
the "SOldiers of the Cross" they might doubt
whether an hours quiet talk at home might
not be more helpful to their souls, though
more wearing to their mothers. By the time
they have learned the lessons of this assembly
and dragged through the tedious mornings
church going, their religious fervor is assuredly
not strengthened. In some churches monthly
sermon is preached to the children: most
useful and cOmmendable custom. We do not
wish to be understood as censuring the Sun
day school system. We only suggest that it is
too powerful lever to be left In the hands
of the young and inexperienced members of
the churches.