The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-05-29

ccption Ofhis duty, no doubt drops though
on each recurring Sabbath in his instruC
tions, as warning to his class as to tn
degree of wretchedness and ruin to whicl
intemperance and lawlessness most surel
and inevitably lead.
You may take the map of the world, an
wherever you find good government
, wherever you find popular freedom enjoy
e ed, you will find Sunday Schools, and yo,
: Will hnd some respect accorded the Sab
bath Day. Switzerland, Scotland, Englan
and the United States, are the. .cOuntrie
which have the Sunday Schools, and whic
best observe the Sabbath, and it is scarcel
possible that the two go together by mer
accident or chance. 1t cannot be acci
dental
, In the great city, with its surgng thou
safils>of people, and its innumerable den
of vices and iniquity, all inviting th
presence of the young and inexperienced
the benign, moral, social and even physi
cal and political influences and results o
the Sunday Schools, are most practical anC
striking. The city is its grand field of ac
ton; and who can estimate the influence
for good which it directly and indirectly
eXerts upon the thousands and tens o
thousands who are drawn into its embrace
by the multitude of appliances brough
into requisition?
We endeavor, my friends, to make oul
homes tidy, comfortable inviting anC
attractive. We plant the pleasing shade
tree, the ever cheerful evergreen we cul
tivate the rose and the violet; while We
greatly prize the climbing wOodbine anC
the quiet ivy. Why do we, who have
passed the period of May Day enjoyment>
longer find personal enjoyment Ill those
trltles which perish with the hour-stil
labor thus to decorate and beautity our
homes? Unquestionably our labors thus
bestowed, for the greater part, find Il solu-
ton in this consideraton-it is all for our
| children-to awake in them, and keep alive
within them, II fondness for home, to iden-
tfy their affections and feelings with home
and home affairs; and to so gain their
hearts, best affections for the family circle,
that in all timo, however far they may
wander from the home of their childhood,
and the lessons which were taught there,
they may, instinctively, las it were, turn their
| thoughts back to the home of childhood's
pure and bright days--tllrn their thoughts
back to it with feelings of mingled love and
VeneratiOn, not only for all those who once
constituted home, but for home, happy,
joyous, delightful home itself. If we en-
deayor so to surround, so to beautify and
render dear our homes, that our children
may grow up around us with proper atlec-
tohs and desires, is it not equally our
duty as parents, as citizens, as christians,
to the Sunday School We must please
and interest our children, onr Sunday
School scholars, or our labors will accom-
pliSh nothing. We must make our Sunday
Schools enjoyable and attractive, or we
cannot get the scholar really interested in
its privileges, its duties, its lessons. In
word, in all our Sunday School plans,
arrangements and appointments we must
not lose sight of the fact that we have to
deal with children, and we must accom-
modatc ourselves to their minds.
The best mode of conducting the Sabbath
School, is question which presents itself
to each one engaged in its labOrs. We
may say, that the mode and manner in
which Il School should be conducted, in
order to secure for it, the greatest measure
of success in cultivatng the minds Of its
scholars, is by no means as well defined as
is the utility of the institution itself. The
great variety of modes adopted and i'll
practical use, indicates that the best plan
has not yet been developed; or if dcvcl- |
oped, has not yet been anything like uni |
versally approved or accepted. Perhaps |
the great diversity in the condition of the |
schools of the country and the outward |
and inward circumstances surrounding |
each, combine to render any uniform rule |
of procedure, impracticable if not impOs-
siblc. 1t is generally less difficult TO ascCr
tain the correctness Of the principles in ,
NOlNtu Ill Il lueOIy OF ludH W |
devise appropriate and wise means by |
which that theory or enterprise may be
reduced to practice, or may be successfully |
executed. In other words it is far easier to
announce what ought to be done, than to
discover how an Improvement can be most
and ctfectually accomplished.
The great utility of the end to be achieved
may be ever so obviOus-its results ever so
much dcsired-but the means by which ii
,an be most successfully, efficiently and
1ffeCtually achieved, often BATTLES the skill
IF the most skillful.
Michael Angelo, the wOrld-renOwned
lrtist, while walking with Il friend through
he streets of a crowded city, passed Il
arge white rock, which had been careless
v thrown upon the side walk, and which
lppeared to be neglected and uncared for.
Angelo paused, and with emphasis eN-
laimed: "Hhere's an angel in that rock,
md | must have it!" Soon he had
he rock, which proved to be very fine
Italian marble, at his secluded studio.
And there he brought his wonderful talent,
lis unerring Judgment. his fine chsel, to
he task, and soon he produced from that ,
nee neglected rock, the very image of
beautiful angel!
Among your Sunday School scholars,
here may be- there doubtless will he a {
Wesley, or Fletcher, or Calvin, or Wash
lgton, or Clay, or Webster, or Stonewall :
|
elves diligently, bringing to the task all !
ne instrumentalties afforded in our day
nd generation, and it is possible that some
f us may see our work As triumphantly
as was that of Michael [
.ngelO. '
Ladies and gentlemen, ] recognize you a
the practical Sunday School workers of q
le county of Kinds, and again welcome .
Du to participation in the proceedings Of =
lis occasion. | hope our meeting together
ill be pleasant, enjoyable, beneficial to 5
|, and lasting for good to the institution :
enterprise, in which we take so lively il
interest. q
As Sunday school workers-maes and /,
and heartily engaged :,
the work, truthfully and feelingly we :,
ay eXclaim ii
e are the reaLgrS, that garner in =,
The shCav, M good from the fields Of sin; =
it'll sickles of TRUTH to the work We come, y
And no one may rest, till the harvest home
out in the y-ways and search them ALL
lhe wheat may he there tho the weeOs are tall, n,
en search in the highway and pass none by,
But gather from al! for the home ON high.
are the reapars, oh, who will come,
Ind share in the glory Of the harvest home
who will help us TO garner in
rhe sheaves Of good from the field OF sin? II;