Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-04-10

the regularly OTgdulZeu Cuuudy DcnOOl
at Crenshaws's in 17S6, together with
divers other schools within the circle
of his acquaintance"
IF the ancient workers in the great
and glorious cause could but see the al
most numberless pupils now in attend
ance upon the Sunday Schools scatter
ed throughout this broad land of ours.
how their hearts would thrill with de-
light. Even in our own little city this
organization is thorough and is doing
work the good results of which are
incalculable.
Last Sunday morning we looked in
on the Methodist Sunday School, and
spent an hour probably and pleasant
ly. After the opening and order was
restored by that prince of Superin-
tendents, r. Fl. Pickering, every
thing moved off in harmonious style.
From the Secretary we learned that
this school consists Of 6 officers, "a
teachers, 200 understanding a total
membership of go. The roil-call
showed that 6 officers, p teachers and
l43 pupils were present.
The officers and teachers are untir-
ing in their efforts, and the children
are orderly and evince determination
to spend the hour devoted to school in
an acceptable and profitable manner
One great need, however, is more
teachers, and we sincerely trust that
out of this community, where such
timber is so abundant, they may be
Supplied with an additional number
The following extracts from an able
article on Sunday Schools is so appro-
pirate to ours and the present time,
that we adopt them entire:
Man is not merely an intellectual
being-he is also an accountable. i'm
mortal being; and no matter how i'm
portant the education of the intellect
may be conside, ed, it is much more i'm
portant that his moral nature should be
cultivated: that he should be taught
his true relation to Gcd and to his fell
low-mcn; that he should learn the
truths of revelation, the character
of God, and the wondrous story of the
provision made for the regeneration
/ of his fallen nature.
1t is melancholy to reflect that this
knowledge is not considered an essen
tial branch of education. | had al
most said the intellect is cultivated at
the expense of the immortal soul
Considering the brevity of life, how
unspeakably important is it that those
acquisitions should be early made
which are to fit man for eternity!
This want is only adequately sup
piled by the Sunday-school and this
it is, and this alone, which has secured
their adoption everywhere, not only in
the crowded city, swarming with pow
erty, and wretchedness, and vice, but
in the comparatively happier places
where AFFECT poverty rarely intrudes,
and wherelcomfort and cOntentment is
the general lot.
Where is the community, where is
/
igious truth is not important? and If
important, which is the period OF life
when it can most effectually be taught?
Surely it cannot be necessary that this
question should be answered. The ex
pericnce of all ages teaches US that
youth is the period when the moral
nature of man is not onl y most sus-
ceptible of good impressions, but that
the impressions then made are the
most lasting. just as the twig Is
bent, the trees inclined, sings the
poet; and one greater than he enjoins
US Ito train up child in the way ne
should go, and when he is old he will
not depart from 1t.
We are then called on, by every con-
sideration which could influence US as
men, as Christians, as philanthropists,
as patriots. to foster and sustain the
Sunday-school. Is it not our duty not
only to give it our active support, by
sending our own children, and those
under our control, but as far as lies in
our power to induce others to do so?
How can we expect the superintend
ents and teachers of the schools to
give their time, and attend week after
week, and year after year, without the
approving smiles of the parents aud
friends of these children, without any
recognition or appreciation of their
valuable services?
1t is true they are doubtless impelled
TO the rendition of this service by the
noblest of all motives, the desire of
doing good; and | have no doubt they
receive the reward of an approving
conscience. But can We, for whom
they labor, exOnerate ourselves from
our share of the burdens? We can at
least, by our presence, manifest
an interest in thu cause, and thus
uphold their hands and strengthen
their hearts in the performance of
this labor of love. Surely more
beautiful sight, mere cheering
prospect, cannot well be conceived
than that of Sunday school. i col
lection of children, attired as they usu-
ally are at Sunday-schOol, is always
pleasing sight. How ais this increased
when we consider them as immortal
beings, engaged in the cultivation of
their moral powers, as we'll as their
intellectual faculties, and qualifying
themselves not only for the life that
now is. but also for that which is to
come! And should there be any
amongst them who have been rescued
from idlencss and infamy, and whose
little voices are employed in hymns of
praise to their Creator, it is a sight at
which the highest intellect and the
Hottest nature might rejoice.
The benefits conferred by the Sun
day-school upon the scholars, and its
necessary influence upon their subse-
auent life and conduct, are too obvious
to require that they should be further
dwelt upon; but the indirect influence
which they exert upon others is not SO
manifest. Many cases are known, and
have been publicly authenticated, in
which Sunday-school children have
exerted the most salutary influence
upon their irrcligious parents; and
doubtless the amount of good which
has been thus accomplished will never
! be known in this world. So, also, the
teachers, in numberless instances, have
been converted through the agency of
: the Sunday-school. Indeed, 1t could
not be otherwise 1t is the quality of
, all benevolent actions to be twice
blesSed-tO the giver and the receiver
B. Let us, then. rally to the support of
: our Sunday school Let us resolve to
= aid it, not only in peouniary point of
I view so far as NAV be necessary but a lso