Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-07-09
sunday and the sunday school.


centennial celebration of Winthrop,
Maine, some time ago, which he is
sure is new to the newspaper readers of
to day
MANSFIELD, June Is, 1852.
Professor Pease:
DEAR SIR:-I have received your
very able and interesting annual re-
port of the condition of the New York
Sabbath School Association, and read
it with great pleasure and instruc-
ton. 1t is gratifying, very gratifying,
to learn that in city where vice and
Immortality run riot with impunity, a
few humble Christians have devoted
their time and energies to the cause of
religion; and | fervently pray that your
labors may be crowned with success.
The Sabbath school is one of the great
institutions of the day. 1t leads our
youth in the path of truth and moral
ity, and makes them good and useful
citizen. As school of religious instruo-
ton it is of inestimable value. AS a
civil institution it is priceless. 1t has
done more to preserve our liberties than
grave statesmen and armed soldiers.
Let it then be fostered and preserved
until the end of time.
/ once defended man charged with
the awful crime of murder. At the
conclusion Of the trial, asked him what
could have induced him to stain his
hands with the blood Of fellow-being.
Turning his blood-shot eyes full upon
me, he replied Mr. Webster, in my
youth / spent the holy Sabbath in evil
amusements, instead Of frequenting the
house of prayer and praise"
Could we go back to the early years
of all hardened criminals, l believe, yes
firmly believe. that their subsequent
crimes might thus be traced back to the
neglect of youthful religious instrpction.
Many years ago, spent Sabbath
with Thomas Jefferson at his residence
in Virginia. 1t was in the month Of
Juue, and the weather was delightful.
While engaged in discussing the beauties
of the Bible, the sound of bell broke
upon our ears. Turning to the Sage of
Monticello, remarked:
" How sweetly, how very sweetly
sounds that. bell"
The distinguished statesman for mo-
ment seemed lost in thought, and then
replied: E" Yes my dear Webster, yes
it melts the heart; it calms our passion,
and makes us boys again"
Here | observed that man was an an
imal formed for religious worship and
that, notwithstanding all the sophistry
Epicurus, Lucretius and Voltaire, the
Scriptures stood upon rock as firm, as
unmovable as truth itself that man in
his purer, loftier breathings, turned the
mental eyes towards Immortality and
that the poet only echoed the general
sentiment of our nature in saying
/: The soul secure in her existence, smiles
At the drawn dagger. and defes its point.
Mr.. Jefferson fully concurred in this
opinion, and observed that the tendenc Y
Of the American mind was in different
4 direction; and the Sunday schools Che
!. did not use our more correct word Sab
bath) presented the only legitimate
means under the constitution of avoid
> ing the rock on which the French Re-
public was wrecked.
Burke" said he, never uttered a
more important truth than when he ex-
claimed that religious education was
the cheap defence of nations. Raikes
" has done more for our country than the
: present generation will acknowledge
Perhaps when am cold he will obtain
: his reward. ! hope so. ! earnestly hope
so. am considered, Mr.. Webster, to
i have little religion but now is not the
time to correct errors of this sort. ]
have always said, and always will say
. that the studious perusal of the sacred
volume will make better citizens, better
!" fathers, and better husbands. OF the
J distinguished Raikes, he was clarum Ell
venerable nomen.''
/ took the liberty of saying that ]
found more pleasure in Hebrew poetry
than in the best productions of Greece
), and Rome; that the harp upon the
. willows by Babylon +" had charms for
me beyond anything in the numbers OF
i the blind man of Smyrna. / then turn.
). ed to Jeremiah (there was fine folio Of
the Scriptures before me Of 1859 and
read aloud some of those sublime pass
! ages that used to delight me on my ia
ther's knee.
= But fear, my dear friend, | shall tire
you with my prolix account of what
was pleasant Sabbath, spent in the
= company of one who has filled a very
large space in our political and literary
annals.
Thanking you for your report, and
boa,,;I.r oononrrinr ,,-;.L -, - ~