Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-04-19
Sabbath Schools.

Sabbath Schools may be stimulated by
reading the following beautiful and elo-
quent tribute to their usefulness from one
| of the greatest of American minds. The
letter was published in the presbyterian
Weekly" 1t was originally addressed to
! Rev. Mr.. Pease, Of the Five Points Sun
day School, New York, and dated at
Marshfeld, June Is, 1882
II have received your very able and in
teresting annual report of the condition Of
the New York Sabbath School Associa-
! tion, and read it with great pleasure and
instruction. 1t is gratifying, very crafty
! ing, to learn that in city where vice and
| immortality run riot with impunlty, a few
| humtle 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 morality, and
! makes them good men and useful citizens.
AS Il school of religious Instruction it is Of
I
it is priceless. 1t has done more to pre-
serve our liberties than grave statesmen
and armed soldiers. Let it, then, be fos-
tered and preserved until the end of time.
1 once defended a 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 a fellow-being. Turning his
blood-shot eyes full upon me, he replied ::
!, ''Mr. Webster, in youth [ spent holy Sab
| bath in evil amusements, instead of fire.
| quenting the house Of prayer and praise"
Could we go back to the early years of
all hardened criminals, 1 believe, yes firm
ly believe. that their subsequent crimes
might then be traced back to the neglect
of youthful religious instruction.
Many years ago I spent Sabbath with
Thomas Jefferson at his residence in Vir-
ginia. It was in the month Of June, and
the weather was delightful. While en-
gagged in discussing the beauties of the
Bible, the sound of bell broke upon cur
ears. Turning to the sage Of Monticello,
l said, chow very sweetly, sounds that
Sabbath bell !"
The distinguished statesman for mo-
ment seemed lost in thought, and then re-
piled: eyes, my dear Webster; yes it
melts the heart, it Gains our passions, and
makes us boys again.
Here I observed that man was an ami
| NAL for religious worship; and that not
withstandng the sophistry of Epicurus,
Lucretus and Voltaire, the Scriptures
stood upon rock as firm, as immovable,
as truth itself; that man, in his pur or,
aoftier breathing turned the mental eyes
towards Immortality; and that the poet
only echoed the general sentiment of OUT
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 tendency
| Of the American mind was in different
direction. and that the Sunday School (he
did not use your more correct word, Sab
bath) presents the only legitimate means
| under the Constitution of avoiding the
rock on which the French republic was
| wrecked.
''Enrke,' said he. ssnever uttered 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 gen
Grafton will acknowledge. Perhaps when
arr cold he will obtain his reward. l
hope so. earnestly hope So l am consid-
cred, Mr.. Webster, to have little religion;
I have always said, and always will say,
that the studious perusal Of the sacred
volume will make better citizens, better
husbands Of the distinguished Raikes-
he said was claruna ct venerable qaonae1a.
to k the liberty of saying that found
more pleasure in Hebrew poetry than in
the best productions of Greece and Rome
that the sharp upon the willows by BABY
lon'' had charms for me beyond anything
in the numbers of the blind man of Smyr-
ma. l then turned to Jeremiah. there was
fine folio of the Scriptures before me of
passages that used to delight me on my
fathers knee.
But I 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 very large space in
our political and literary annals.
Thanking you for your report and hear
tily concurring with you in the truth in
your quotation, that Righteousness exal-
eth nation, hut sin is a reproach to any
people" [ remain, with high regard, your
friend,
DANIEL WEBSTER.
DON'T FORCE TENDER PLANTS.
the article entitled Learning and HEALTH
in the ''Gentleman's Magazine DR.. Ben
jamin W. Richardson earnestly deprecates
too early forcing of children's minds: