The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-15
n.-.., w.s,.,er ou sunday schools.

Daniel WGbatef Oh Dun"s~S
The friends of Sunday schools VIII nc
p,ad to read the following letter written o!
Daniel Webster to Professor Pease, tue
founder Of the Five Potats Mission sunaay
school, which was read at centenaiai ce'e'
hration at Winthrop, Maine, some days s'hce'
by the Hon. S. Z. Benson:
MsRsHrIELD, June 10, lSo2.
Professor Peaes
Dear Sir,-I have received your very aoie
and intercstiog annual report OF the condi-
lion of the New York Sabbath. School Asso-
citation, and read 1t with great pleasure and
instruction. 1t Is gratifying, very gratifying,
to learn that in city where vice and isn'
morality run riot with lmpunity few hum.
BILE Christians have devoted their time ADD
energies to the cause of religion; and fer.
yeptls pray that your labors may be crowned
with success.
The Sabbath school is one Of the grelt 10.
situations Of the day. It leads our youth IN
the path of truth and morality, and makes
them good men and useful citizeus. As
school of religious instruction tits OF iaesti.
mab,e value. AS civil institution IL is price
less, It has done more to preserve our hber'
ties than grave statesmen and arcaed SOL
diers. Let it, then, be tiostered and preserved
until the end Of time.
Ionce defended man charged with the
awful crime of murder. At the coDcaaSfoil
OF the trial asked him what could have 10
duced him to stain bis hands with the blood
of q feIlow-beiug. Turning his blood-shot
eyes full upon me be replied: " Mr.. Web
ster. in my youth spent the holy Sabbath
in evil amusements instead Of frequenlng
the house OF prayer and praise" -.
Could we 90 back to the early years of all
hardened criminals, believe, yes, firmly be-
| lievc, that their subsequent crimes might
thus be traced back to the neglect Of youth
full religious instruction.
MANY wears ago / spent Sabbath with
Thomas Jefferson at bis residence in Virgil
MIA. 1t was inthe month Of June, and the
weather was delightful. While engaged In
discussing the beauties Of the Bible the
sound of q bell broke upon our ears.
Turning to the sage of Monticello, remark
ed "How sweetly, how very sweetly
sounds that Sabbath bell"
The distinguished statesman for moment
seemed lost in thought, and then replied :
..Yes! my dear Webster, yes, it mells the
heart it cslms our passions, and makes Us
boys again."
Here observed that man was an animal
formed for religious worship; and that not
with,tanding all the sophislry Of Epicurds,
Lucre,ius, and Voltaire, the Scriptures stood
upon O rock as firm, Us unmovaDle as truth
itself that man, in his purcr, lofler breath
inys. turned the mental eyes towards immor.
taIity ;and that the poet only echoed the gene
raj sentiment Of our nature in SAYING:
| 1.-THE soul, secure in her existence, smiles
Al the drawn dagger, and deies its point"
Mr.. Jefferson fully concurred in this
opjpiop, and observed that the tendency OF
the American mind was in different drec-
ton. and that the Sundly schools The did not
Use our more correct word Sabbatt) pre-
sented the only legitimate means under the
Constitution Of avoiding the rock on Which
the French Republic was wrecked.
Burke" said he, "pevcr uttered more
| important truth than when he exclaimed
that religious education was the cheap de.
fence of nations. RaikeS bias done more for
our country than the present generation Will
acknowledge. Perhaps when | am cold he
will obtain his reward. hope so. earn
estly hope so. | am considered, Mr.. Web
stcr. to have little religion; but now.iS not the
time to correct erIols-Of this sort. have al
ways said, and always will say, that the Stu
djolls perusal of the sacred volume will make
better cit'zens, better fathers, and better hus-
bands. OF the distinguished Raikes, he was
clarunl ct venerable nonaen.
took the liberty OF ing that L found
more pleasure in Hebrew poetry than in the
best productions of Greece and Rome; that
the "Harp Upon the Willows by Blbylon "
had charms for me beyond anything III the
numbers of the blind man Of Smyrna. l then
turned 10 Jeremiah Qherc was hue folio OF
Scriptures before me Of l43S) and read
aloud some of those sublime passages that
used to delight me on my fathers knee.
But l fear, my dear friend. l shall tire
you with my prolix account of what was u
pleasant Sabbath, spent in the company Of
one who has filled IL very large space in our
political and literary annals.
Thanking you for your report, and heart
lily concurrng with you in the truth Of your
quotation that Righteousness eXal'eth a
nation, but sin is a reproach to any people,"
remain, with high regard, your friend,
DANIEL WEBSTER.