The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-07-11

To the Editor Of the Elk County Advocate: |:
The members of the Institute voted
that this Essay be published In the Elk
Co. ADVOCATES:
written for the sunday school Institute.
held 1T Little Toby Church June Is and is.1 4
AS I had partly prepared my essay
before I received the given subject,
cares numerous and time limited, the
thoughts will not be as well connected
as they would otherwise have been.
would that I were competent to do
justice to my subject. which is,
How shau ve Enlist the Whole Church
IN tie Sanday-school WorkS
We are convened to-day In most
glorious cause; one in which all the
people Of the earth should take part.
I will endeavor 10 give . few reasons
why all should engage in this good
cause:
We read in the Bible In the days of
the Mosaic dispensation, that direc-
tions were given TO instruct the chill
dren when they should ask the mean
ing of the Passover, also in Isaiah, 54th
chapter and 18th verse. And all thy
children shall be taught Of the Lord |;
and great shall be the peace of thy
children. So on, we might follow
line upon line and precept upon pre-
cept, to convince all the church how
necessary it has been, and is, to care
for the children.
A great many good and eminent
men, such as Luther, Oberlin, Kinder
mann, and others in Europe, and the
Wesleys, Stricken, and others in
America, felt the need and exerted
themselves to found Sabbath-school
upon both continents; they partially
failed for lack of system, while the
honor of founding the sunday-school
was conferred upon Robert Raikes, of
Gloucester, England, in the year 1882,
who began to systematic the work.
A little more history seems appropriate
to show that Christian ladies may do
much for the cause-even originate a
good work. Sabbath-schools are now
an important appendage of every
church, and have been a benefit to
millions of immortal souls but it de-
serves to be mentioned that Hannah
Ball, a young Methodist lady, had a
Methodist Sunday-school at High
Wycombe, fourteen years before Robert
Raikes began his at Gloucester, and
that Sophia Cook, another Methodist,
who afterwards became the wife of
Samuel Bradburn, was the first who
suggested to Raikes the Sunday-school
idea, and actually marched with him,
at the head of his troop of ragged
urchins, the first Sunday they were
taken to the parish church.
AtabOut this same time good man
by the name of William Fox, of Lon
don, seeing the ignorance and degra-
dation of the poorer classes of that city
established a school throughout Eng
land. in which poor children might be
taught to read the Bible.
It seems, as we read the history of
this blessed work, that the happy
combination of circumstances that
brought the knowledge of the united
efforts Of different persons to each
other, that it was plan of Divine
Providence to give to the world, next
to the church, a means Of doing the
greatest amount of good.
If few can do SO much for the
cause, why not the majority unitedly
take part in this blessed field of labor.
love to see the children gather in
on Sabbath morning, with eager
looks and sweet voices, their little
hearts ready to receive the seed of the
Gospel of Christ. would say, send
the little ones; do not fear they will
annoy and trouble us. We expect to
exert ourselves to interest and please
them; 1t being the uppermost thoughts
of our hearts to simplify the lesson to
suit the tender minds. Remember,
kind friends, "early impressions are
lasting" and all who desire their chill.
dren to have principles of honor
formed within, which shall rebound
to the glory Of God and the salvation
of their souls, will send the children
early to the Sabbath-school.
When we compare fifty years ago
with the present, we find there is a
great contrast and a vast difference.
| The progress and improvement is visi-
BILE to all, yet there are a few people
to-day thank God the number is
limited-that object to the present sys.
tenn, who think the spelling-book
should be taught as in days of yore.
The Sabbath. school is so we'll es.
tablished at the present time that we
can proclaim with united voices
The great work Is well begun,
Which will not cease beneath the sun.
To do Gods will we all will try,
For the end of our Journey is drawing nigh
Were we to observe more holidays
believe it would be both interesting
and beneficial to all concerned, besides
it might be a means of increasing oul
numbers.
1 like the Episcopal form of cere
mony for the children, especially theil
Palm Sunday, Floral Sabbath, decora
| ton DAYS, and the like. There arr