New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-18
THE SUYDAY-SCHOOL CONGRESS.

The Sunday school Congress meeting In
Plainfield, New-Jersey, and composed OF mem
hers of almost every Protestant sect, has adj
iourned after q session marked by great earn
estness and unanimity of aim. New methods
of instruction in religious truths were brought
forward and carefully examined, and the duties
of sfperBendents and teachers were discussed
with such zeal that it is only fair to assume
that every sincere member OF inc congress
went home warmed and encouraged by the
sense of q strong popular support III Ills
good work. Since Robert Raikes less fhan'a
century ago paid the four old DANES 10
teach The ragged little wrctchcs whom ne
brought TO them on Sunday mornings, theie
has been wonderful change In the primal
idea and management OF Sunday-sch0ols. Inc
teaching was made gratutous even In
poiLes's time. and every secular device to
make knowledge attractive OF to give 1t a firm
hold upon the memory of the pupil has been
brought TO bear in this religious instruction.
Maps. pictures Music, panoramic views, ana a
system of rewards which begins Mt tho tod
ding baby have all been called in to ald III
the work.
II has been discovered, too, that the con-
tributions of the vast army of little folks are
Ly no means to De despised in the promotion
of any church enterprise f; and the custom Of
lcyyine these contributions is general in every
sect and church. Thereby We are assured not
only i, the money raised for good purposes.
but the youthful Christian is taught self-denial
charity. the absolute duty Of returning the
money lent him by tho Lord. There Is much
aoupd truth in this theory. The danger is, that
in tho careless practice while the money IL
raised the good effect upon the chlld Is lost'
Thousands tens Of thousands OF Children SCI
out every Sunday morning with their pennies
TO send TO the heather, whose only clear
idea ia giving is the ambition that then
class shall raise more than any other or IN
VULGAR osenta,iOn which surely need not be
part of the rel giOu, training OF our children.
If their comprehension goes beyond the class
no, il ccnters ON "the wretched heathen' as
r,pr,septrd in SUNDAY school literature and as
unlike the real IIindO0 or Chinaman "a stage
Yankee il unlike the educated Bostonian. Ii
| the little ones are to be taught self denial OF
charity. let it be- for tangible objects, for the
door in their own village, for hospital an
asylum, some want which they can compre-
bend. some heueft which they can SEQ and
measure.
| We have alluded before now 10 the faults OF
the Sunday school system simply because we
consider the sy stem in itself so admirable, so
| powerGul n lever for the elevation OF humanity
that the faults appear to us inexcusable. They
arc such az will grow into any system by the
mere force of routine, and have become so in
toerated in this one that the eyes most accus-
| toned TO them cannot separate them from true
religious engincry. Very few superintendent
probably question the motive of each child III
giving; very few parents trouble themselves TO
know precisely what spiritual truths are I'M
parted to their little ones Oh Sunday morning,
or bv whom. They think that the teacher Is
nece .sarily q Christian, and all Christians
are alike good people. Now tho truth is that
| NIL those Young men and women have their
own God that is, they only know God M
He i, measured by their peculiar character,
brain. and experience They give that idea,
and ONLY that. to the child who IL at the most
receptive age of life. Many mother would
he amazed 10 know the conception OF his
Maker which her child has received from some
crude boy or girl teacher. Let Sunday schools
increase and flourish. But let them be more
strictly under the oversight Of parents, and In
every case be made an adjunct TO home teach
ipy and not substitute for it,