Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-26

ing denOfninated infldels, is not denied; and IL
is admitted that there are still other few who
call themselves scientists, and who. by irving
to make the Word Of God subServient to
human reason, arraign Omniscience at the
bar of their perverted intellect, and by the
touchstone Of human experience and obServa-
ton, decide that the teachings of the
Bible are false. because they cannot explain
them. But while these exceptional cases do
exist, the great thinking mass OF enlightened
mankind throughout all lands where the Bible
is read, or its doctrines promulgated, not only
admit the divinity OF the Scriptures, but be-
lieve, embrace. and, to some extent. practice
the great leading tenets OF the Christian reli-
gion, as taught in the Bible. Furthermore, l
think l can safely assert that where the Bible
is read. where its promises are held up, and its
denunciations understood, where the only true
theme of the whole record is found out the
all-absorbing question is not whether the record
is true; but it is the momentous interrogatory
of Plate: Then what shall do with Jesus,
who is called Christ 90
All! that is the question that today chal-
lenges the attention of the world. Labor and
learning may toll for the answer; their toll is
vain. Science and reason may tax their
utmost researches to find the true response, but
all to no purpose TYrantS have endeavored to
destroy the Bible and to crush out Christianity:
all the powers of man have been arrayed
against it; but to-day more is being spoken
and written for or against Jesus Christ than
for or against any other man. object or topic
known. Why this great activity? Why cannot
inf1dels let Him alOneg 1t is because of the
teachings OF His Word. 1t is because in
that Word is found the only solace. the only
comfort ever offered to man whereby to satisfy
his longings. Thousands Of years ago Job
propounded the question, IF a man die shall
he live againY" All the wisdom. all the reason,
all the learning of all the ages, were sum-
mnned to answer it. Heather philosophy
afforded no reply. Science and learning found
no response. Human reason could not grapple
it, After all, the question went laundering on
down through the ages without an answer
until a glimmer Of light, caught up at the bier
Of fba of rho widow of Main hFi Obfor
at the couch Of the daughter of Jairus, became
more intense at the grave OF
Lazarus. and burst forth in respondent
beauty and dazzling glory from the Saviour's
own tomb. Now it is known that this is but a
transtory state, bounded on either side by
eternity: that what we call life Is but disci-
pleship, pupilage, wherein to train for the
great hereafter; that the Bible whose theme is
redemption from sin. whose great central
figure is Jesus, is the u erring guide of every
pilgrim through this world. Meeting us at the
tire hold OF life with the entreaty suffer the
little children to come unto me-" step by step
it directs our journey, wooing US, begging us
warning us, threatening us. Oh, the horror of
the world of woe from which the Bible begs US
to turn. and the glory Of the New IuFesaiem to
which it invites us to come
The object and aim of the Sabbath school is
to teach the truths of the Bible to young and
old and let the poor pilgrim through this vale
of trouble know what rich promises God has
given those who will love and trust him And
to-day thousands of the younger people of
this and other lands are being taught this
Word.
Then, with these truths staring us in the face.
what is the duty of the hour! Until com
paratively recent period in the worlds history
the Bible was treated as if it had been intended
only for the old, the wise, the learned. The
conduct of Christians. even, would indicate that
they believer the teachings of the Bible were for
adults, not for children-that to embrace Chris
tianity was the duty Of men and women, not of
youth. And it was reserved for our day to
teach the world that Christians can be raised
educated, trained, just as yeu educate the
mechanic. the merchant, the physician or the
follower OF any other calling or profession
That while a few exceptional cases NAV be
found of men who succeeded in life who com.
menced particular calling after arriving at
manhood, yet the rule IS that the sooner we set
out to learn, the more proficient we become.
So, too, the records of Christianity will show
The fact that of the thousands who to-day bear
the name of Christians, the best, the brightest
the purest, the happtest are those who In early
life accepted Jesus, and consented to be led
and instructed by him-who remembered their
Creator in the days of their youth, before the
evil days came nigh.
How, then. can any parent neglect or refuse
to educate his child in Gods eternal Wort?
Is there father or mother before me to day
who would not delight to see their children
all Christians, not in name merely. but in fact?
If so, how can you best attain that endg Are
you a believer in the truth of the Bible?
Train up child in the way he she uld CO.
says the Book. How are you to do thisy Are
you trying in any way to do sos What train
ing are YOU hestowing upon your child
Father. do you not know that that boy trusts
you, honors you, loves you, above all others?
Do you not see him watching you,
copying you, following you in every
particular? All, how truly you are training
him! But is that training him in the way he
should go? An infidel has said Give ne the
training of child until he is I'VE years old aud
/ will give you all his after life What folly
one would say, to try to make symmetrical
tree of the gnarled, scragged oak; but who
would question the result when the effort is
expended on the tender scions Then l entreat
parents this day to tranfer the little ones from
the nursery at home to the infant class in
Sabbath schools, without an i1terregnum, be.
cause the child's whole future may be warped
for time and eternity, even by short time
delayed
What shall l say to you, young men and
young ladies? What great opportunities for
good are you wasting day by day? The Sab.
bath school needs you; the church needs you;
society needs you. You are lured by what the
world calls pleasure. You are ambitious for
the worlds hOnors. You neither know, nor
care to know, what great benefit you could
bestow on your fellow man by life devoted to
ascertaining what you are to believe concern
ing God, and what duty God requires of you.
You little reckon Of the influence you are ex-
ertiDg on others by the life you are living. The
world it is true may honor you; companions
may applaud and toast you; but let me remind
you thai
The boast of heraldry, the pride of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave
Await, alike. the inevitable hour.
The path OF glory leads but to the grave"
The statistical report to the Third Inter
national Convention at Toronto made in June
of last year, showed total of Sabbath schools
teachers and scholars in the United States of
1881 lS. Truly grand army But what is it
compared to what it would be- if all the pro-
fessed Christians in the United States should be
added? And then sgain how insignificant the
number when compared to what it won d be-
II all the children at Christian parents were in
the schoolsf
When we consider that faith comes by hear
ing, and hearing by the word of God; when we
are asked why stand ye here all the day idleY
when we hear the Master say go work to-day
in my vineyard, how can the Christian, the
child Of God, he content TO let this great work
laDguish for lack Of his help?
Are you ignorant of the teaching OF the
Word? Then from this good day become a
pupil in YOUR school are you learned in the
Word, Then 90 teach it to the thousands
around you who know nothing aboutit
The Sabbath school s the nursery Of the
church. the source wherc e the depleted ranks
of the Soldiers of the Cross are to be filled.
Let the church arise, put on the armor, take
the Sword of the Spirit, and go forth to save
for me and my house, we will serve the Lord
Let the Bible be taught to the children at
home, by the way, in the Sabbath school, in
the church.
The work is going bravely On. All we lack
is the aid and the cooperation of all of Gods
children. II all the Christians would but enter
the field, inquiring what wilt thou have me to
doy il the grown I'D people would but reflect
how much they could help by precept, by ex-
ample, how many sheaveS they might gather
for the Master! if every parent would accept
the truth that God has entrusted immortals to
him to train for either heaven or hell then in
deed would the mission of the Sabbath school
be appreciated and its work be understood.
Then would we sing with the Spirit
Watt, wait, We winds the story,
And you ye waters roll,
Till like Sea of Glory,
1t spreads from pole to pole.
When our children shall all be taken from
the nursery to the Sabbath school, aod theuce
to the church; when tie VOID OF God shall be
learned in the homes around the flresides, like
other familiar lessonsi when all sh Ill know
what God has promised, and that he is not
slack concerning his promises-then shall we
apprehend the truth that God is our father,
Jesus is our brother, the Holy Spirit our com
forter, the Bible our guide, and Heaven our
home-then can we sing In faith:
All hail the power of Jesus name,
Let angels PROSTATE fall
Bring forth the royal disdem,
and crown him Lord of oil.
After short remarks by Rev. W. F. Gull
liam, Rev. NJ II. billiard and Rev. j. b. K.
Smith, the song was sung, "Oh what are we
going to do, brother ?"
The next subj ect discussed was announced
by the President, "The Best Methods of
Conducting a Sunday School or Glass;" and
Mr.. J. C.. Courtenay, Secretary OF the Con-
vention and Superintendent OF the First
Methodist Church Sunday School OF Atlanta,
in a lecture unique, Logical, forcibe and
beautiful, charmed and delighted the au-
dience for thirty minutes. 1t was a black
board illustration, interpreted with beauti-
full illustrations and vivid word paintings of
- 81 q. !