Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-08-27

hundred, and they are increasing every
week, Ga the benefit Is universally seen.
have endeavored to engage the clergy OF my
acquaintance that reside in their parishes.
One has entered into the scheme with great
fervor; and IL was in order TO excite Others
to follow the example, that | inserted IN
my paper the paragraph which suppose
you saw copied in the London papers.
cannot express to you the pleasure / often
receive IN discovering genius aud innate
good dispositions among this little multi
tnde 1t is bolanizing in human nature.
| have often, too, the satisfaction OF receiv
ing thanks from parents for the reforma'
tion they perceive in their children. Often
have given them kind admonitions, which
| always do IN the mildest aud gentlest
manner. The going among them, doing
them little kindnesses, distributing lrifling
rewards, and ingratiating myself with
them, hear have given me an ascendnncy
greater than ever could have imagined
for am told by their mistresses THAT they
are very much afraid OF my duspleasurs.
II you ever pass through Gloucester, 1 shall
be happy TO pay my respects to you, and
to show you the effects OF this effort at civ
ilization. II the glory of God be promoted
in any, even the smallest degree, society
must reap some benefit. II good seed be
sown in the mind at an early period Of hu-
man life, though it shows itself not again
for many years, 1t may please God atsome
future period to cause it to spring up, and
to bring forth plenteous harvest
With regard 10 the rules adopted, I only
require that they come to the school on
Sunday as clean ~ possible. Many were
at first deferred because they wanted decent
i L. 4 I 4 4.
ply this defect. | argue, therefore, il you
can loiter about, without shoes, and in a
ragged coat, you may as well come to
school, and learn what may tend to your
good in that glrb. / reject none on that
footing. All that require nre clean hands.
clean face, and the hair combed; If you
have no clein shirt, come in that which you
have on. The want ot decent apparal at
first, kept great numbers Mt distance, but
they now begin to grow wiser, aud all are
pressing to learn. | have had the good
luck 10 procure places for some that were
deserving, which has been OF great Use.
You will understand that these children
are from ak years old to twelve or four
teen. Boys and girls above this age, who
have heen totally undiciplined, are gener-
ally too refractory for this government. A
reformation III SOtltlN Nctlle W Illt
only practicable by establishing notices of
duty, and practical habits Of order and de-
coruH, Mt an early age. But whittier am
running? | am ashamed to see how much
| have trespassed on your patience, but
/ thought the most complete idea Of Sum
day Schools was to he conveyed to you by
telling what first suggested The thought.
The same sentiments would have arisen
-, t,.,., Iu,,ro,,oI -,
been called forth, as they were suggested
to me.
have no doubt that you will find great
improvement to be made on this plan. The
minds OF men have taken great hold on
that prejudice that we are to do nothing on
the Sabbath dsv which may be deemed
labor, and therefore we are 10 be excused
from all application OF the mind ns well as
the body. The roofing out OF this prejudice
il the point aim at a. my favor ite object.
Our Saviour takes particular pains to man
ifest, that whatever tended to promote the
health and happiness of our fellow-creat-
urea were sacrifices peculiarly acceptable
on that day.
do not think have written 80 long a
letter for some years. But you will excuse
me ;my heart il warm in the cause, think
| NDlN 10 lHt hlnu VI HOsi
ite in this kingdom. Let our patriots EN-
| pioy themselves in rescuing their country
men from that despotism which tyrannical
| passions and vicious incliuations exercise
over them, and they will find that true
| liberty and national welfare are more es-
senlially promoted than by any reform in
parliment.
As often as have attempted to conclude
! slo,. L. M, :,
as am writing to person whom I never
and perhaps never may see but | have
ielt that we think alike; | shall therefore
only add my ardent wishes that your views
OF promoting the happiness Of society may
be attended with every possible success
conscious that your own internal enjoy.
ment will thereby be considerably advanc
ed. have the honor to be, Yours, etc.
R RAIKEs."
This letter was published in the Gentle
mans Magazine, in 1884, and drew the at
tention Of the general public TO the Sunday
School work. Numerous schools, formed
upon the plan laid down by Robert Raikes
sprang up in all the principal toyns il
England. In l7s5 society was formed
] lt LlbAADHt lbl tue GoblOllHiIlGHl anu u
port OF Sunday Schools, and in fourteen
years had expended about $4,000 in pay
ment OF teachers. Teachers were paid IN
til about 1900. This may be regarded a
the first stage Of the Sunday School, ant
the expense of paying so many teacher
was great impediment to it's prosperity.
duced, the Sunday School started on a ne,
career OF success. The schools increase
rapidly in England and Scotland. In ls0
Sunday Schorl' were started in Ireland
and in 1916, through the exertions OF som
benevolent ladies they were introduced i
New York, from which they have sprea
thraughout the United States. They nr
now to be found wherever the English Ian
gnace isspoken.
Robert Rnikes died in 1911, but hi
grand work lives after him. 1t isan in
perishable monument more enduring tha
granite. Side by side with the church, i
influence under God, tor the elevation {
humanity is beyond the power Of tongu
or pen TO deliueate. lis aid in the distr
button of the Bible is duly acknowledged
for up to the beginning Of the present Gel
ury, only 100000 volumes had been ci
culated. Since that time, however, 100
100000 have been distributed
Within the last decade the Sundl
School may be said to have entered upon
third stage Of it's history, and the brighte'
intellect, the greatest wisdom the ripes; eI
perience, the most profound schOlarshi
and the most devoted hearts in the cause {
Christian progress are enlisted in this grea
work. In 1880 Robert Raikes' little Sun
day School, comprising little urehins gath
cred from the streets Of Gloucester, was tn
only one in Great Britain. In 1880, $50
900 teachers in Great Britain are instruct
ing more than 5000 900 scholars. In tn
United States 100000 teachers are engage
in the work of imparting instruction 1