The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-05-29
KINDS COUNTY SUNDAY SCHOOL
CONVENTION AT EDWARDS.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Convention:

, moral and political, designed to advant
our civilization and Christianity-as cit
zen, confident in the belief that this 20,
ernmcnt of ours was founded upon til
Bible, and the great and precious truth
which glitter throughout its pages-I we
: come you on this occasion. And feel co,
fident that the good people of this publ
spirited and prosperous business centre
are gratified to have you among then
Both males and females have been invite
to attend. We could not think of exclud
ing woman-who was last at the cross an
first at the grave of the Saviour of tn
word-we could not think of excluding
our ladies-for the best and most efficient
and laborious Sunday school workers il
the land, may be found among them.
We regard you, who are assembled her
this day, as well wishers, as supporters, a
active workers, in the wide field present
ed by the Sunday School enterprise.
AT no past period in the history of thi
country, has the Sunday School attracte,
the attention, or received the considera
|
est in its behalf is co-extcnsive with thu
American continent. And this interest il
not confined to the church, for we fine
men and women, too, in almost every com
munity-not connected by public profes
sion with any branch of the Christian
church-men and women who make nc
| profession ofrcligion whatever, who appear
to have lively appreciation of tins insti-
tuition, and who delight, in word and in
action, to rank themselves with its most
active and devoted friends.
In taking II cursory view Of the Sunday
School field, and noticing the signs it pre-
sents, we find that there exist most COM
plete and thorough county State and Ma
tional rganizations-all working for II
common end and in harmony; with uni
formity and precision, and with influences
and results most gratifying and grand.
But, notwithstanding the onward and
triumphant march of the Sunday School
as an institution of the eland-notwthstand-
ing its friends have everywhere labored so
diligently and successfully-nOtwithst
ing the best talent of the country, and the
first ability in all branches of the Christian
church have brought their labOrs to the
task of making the institution assume
commanding position, and have certainly
succeeded to a large extent; nOtwithstand-
ing all these triumphs, still it is a fact, that
there are those in every community, who
do not comprehend or appreciate the use,
much less the value and importance Of the
Sunday School But, the reflection may be
indulged that the feeling of cool indifer-
cnce now so often shown, is rapidly passing
away, giving place to feeling o. positive
interest, and atlOrding fair promise that
ere long all will attach value to it as
leading instrumentality employed to bring
about that "Peace on earth and good will
toward men," which all Christian and
moral people desire to see triumphant on
earth.
1t is important that our children should |
&tut right on the great highway of life. |
While the hearts and affections of our
children are pure-while they are uncor-
rupted by the alurements, fascinatiOns and |
every day fOllics and vices of the thought
they may be approached, in order to afford
them 4 right start. Gas the twig is bent so
The tree inclines." While the mind is elias
tic, and on the constant lookout for new
thoughts and new subjects for thought
when, like the mountain air, it is pure,
rec and unfettered, it should be directed
II those channels and to those truths,
which are revealed in the sacred volume
o the teachings of the Saviour of the
if properly unfolded and en-
orced, cannot fail to make an impression
or good. Put the child on the right path,
impress his youthful mind with the
anctity of the Sabbath day, with the truth
hat it was instituted by the God of the
for the good of man, and that
t was designed to be fguratiye of that
ternal rest which remains for the pure in .
cart in the city of the Great King, and in /,
Id age even he will not entirely forget the
eaching, however far he may wander in
he paths of folly and vice. Start him in
he right road, and we will find that in all
fter life he will be much more inclined to
lorality, virtue and practical christianity
and much more likely to live an honor !
BILE and useful life as Il citizen and a Chris
if allowed to grow up to mans :
state unimpressed by such influences.
his right start can be obtained-is obtain '
i by the youth of our cOuntry-at the
unday School. y
Go to an adjacent brick yard; make an
npressiOn upon a freshly moulded brick. =
passes on through all the processes of the y
hat itaaFA
i'll there, and cannot be removed but by
altering the brick to pieces. And so with v
lie mind of the child. Form impressions
l his mind, and they will remain there i'm v
me form or other throughout life. Let
e impressions which we imprint, be e
ose which are sanctioned by a sound
orality, and by the God of the Bible. 1
In the catalogue of crimes, as it is pre-
nted to us in this country to-day-and it "
fearful to contemplate, and Il black stain
BON the civilization of the 18th century d
hich appears to predominant! Which ap-
ar to be the leading starting points for
c downward careery LdUlessaess and in
Rperdnce, most stunquestionably. Lawless-
IS and intemperance are the fruitful
urces and foundation of the great mass -,
the crime of the period. The crimes u
us to be traced claim their thousands ~
ION multiplied thousands of victims, in u
this land of ours, during every revOlV- pl
2 year; and how imperceptibly, how m
silly, our youth glide into them Often, dl
fore the 18th year is reached, the spirit N
lawlessness is the controlling spirit; y,
d often, before the 21st birthday, we VI
iinly see yitiated taste, and a morbid ca
rst for the intoxicating bowl Where. OF
would inquire, can the beauties Of tenn re
rance, and the cruel and dark abyss of sc
temperance be more appropriately and so
'cibly taught, than in the sunday Schoolg or
I'd where II the parent, whatever may be -,
practices. who would not have his son, 81
the earliest possible day, taught that the pr
tbs of temperance and sObriety are peace m
and delightful, while the ways Of the
emperate lead to distress and misery be-
nd the power of language to describe; a
And lawlessness-where NAV our youth II
taught to shun il, with a more promis- - -,
prospect Of success, than in the sunday VI
lOOl? co
These two great evils intemperance and IN
glessness. these two destroying crimes ily
growing in this country Of ours to sli
ming proportions. Indeed, they are mo-
il we may rely upon the pub Va.
led reports which reach Us, the very w
ndati0n Of society. Their fearful effects
around us at every hand. Truly they
the starting point for all the hideous wi
mes known to the period, and for their Dir