Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-29
OUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
A Sermon by Rev. DR.. Dana upon Their I'm
portance as n Factor of Christian Civili-

A Sermon by Rev. DR.. Dana upon Their I'M
portance as n Factor of Christian Civili-
zation.
Last night, the Rev. DR.. Dana, pastor of
Plymouth church, addressed large audience
upon the subject of SUNDAY Schools and
showed how important factor they are in
the Christian civilization of the world. He
selected his text from Isaiah, chap. L1v: IL
And all thy children shall be taught Of the Lord !;
and great shall be the peace of thy children.
The reverend speaker began by declaring
that momentous events and stupendous work
were taking place in the rellglous world,
which we poorly conceived. The magnitude
of these was obscured by the multiplicity of
affairs engaging our attention. And he
further illustrated our little acqu aintance or
active knowledge of these occurrences by the
declaration that distance, timewise, as in
landscape, would have to become property
of the event before it could come out in bold
relief and be denied in grand proportions.
This was Introductory, though greatly en-
larged upon and eloquently illustrated, be-
yond the above mere synopsis, to the asser-
ton that among all the religious work of
tho century, nothing had equalled the
progress of the Sunday schools.
From a beginning in Philadelphia in 1911,
when the first Sunday.school had been start
cd, the latest statistics showed wonderful
augmentation, which could only be account
ed for under the blessing of God. To-day
there are in Canada and the United States
S3,444 Sunday schools, in which are engaged
S99, 1893 officers and teachers instructing
6,e45,77s children. Surely the prophecy of
the text was being fulfilled. b,
In addressing himself to tho Importance of
the Sunday school as a great factor in the
worlds advancement, DIR. Dana claimed it
took the young, and early impressed him
with the truths of holy writ. implanted mo-
rality and virtue inculcated by the gospel,
and fitted him for service as Christian citi-
zen. In answer to the general but unthink-
ingly made charge that crime and sin were
more prevalent than formerly, the reverend
speaker first denied the accepted asser-
ton, and then disproved it. He could
but believe that the machinery, SO
magnified, so intensified in application
and by means of the bible in two hundred
dialects, tracts, foreign missions, etc., was
in Gods providence doing His service.
Temptation had become gigantic in its al
lurements by modern means ard in these
modern times. The facilities by telegraph,
by railroads and the ease of business inter-
COulSo Ilatll luCredSeu business, lau mulLl-
piled the moneys received and expended and
had thus afforded an opportunity for great
temptation, which with some, not
resisting, had assumed the pro-
portions of gigantic defalca.
tions. Seventy five years ago clerk or
banker in New England in years had no such
transactions as were daily performed
in the business houses of st. Paul. And the
only way to repel the insidions approach of
temptation thus magnifed or made easy,
seems to make religious Influences equal in
the advance or progress of everything else.
AS beginning or q measure to this end the
Sunday school was paramount in impor
lance.
The discourse was both eloquent and
aboundea in argument, besides apt illustra-
tions, and was attentively listened to.
The choir rendered several selections in a
most exquisite manner. The closing hymn,
'Watchman, what of tho Might was rem
dered by double solo, soprano and baritone,
and double duet of male and female
voices in most engaging manner. The
benediction closed the exercises.