The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-01-03
Origin Of the Surday-school.

EDITOR GOLD LEAF:-Several
friends on knowing that l was in pos
session Of the great historical fact OF
how and by whom the Sundayschool
system originated, have asked me to
give them the account of it in writing.
| have lost the book containing the
particulars, SO | have to write from
memory. ask your kind permission
to allow me to reply to each and all
of them through the GOLD LEAF.
The city OF Gloster, England, was
its birthplace; Robert Raikes was its
founder. Perhaps l may as we'll
inform my friends that l have stood
on the very spot where the first school
was started. The following letter
written by Mr.. Raikes to a friend
three years after the commencement
of the SYSTEM gives the full particu-
lars. The letter was dated 1888, con-
sequently the world renowned institu-
ton had its origin in 1880.
Very Respectfully,
RICHARD MARSTON.
GLosTER, ENG, 1888.
The commencement of the system was
entirely owing tn accident. Some business
leading me one morning to the suburbs OF
tie city where the lowest of the people,
who are principally employed in the pin
manufacture chiefly reside was struck
with concern at seeing group of children,
wretchedly ragged at play in the street.
7 i'll, hit hn-
longed to that part of the town, and la
mented their misery and idleness. All
sir, said the woman to whom l had adj
dressed myself, eff you could take view
of this part Of the town on Sunday, you
would he shocked indeed, for then the
street is filled with multitudes Of these
wretches, who, being released on that day
from employment, spend their time in
noise and riot, and playing at chuck, and
cursing and swearing in manner so hOr-
rid, as to convey to any serious mind an
idea of hell, rather than any other place. !"
I'VE have worthy clergyman continued
SOME of them to school but on the sabbath
they are all given up to follow their own
inclinatiOns without restraint, as their
parents totally abandoned themselves,
have no idea OF Installing into the minds
of their children, principles, to which they
themselves are entire strangers" This
COlIStlsdtlOu SuSScStCu W lC tAdt IL "OuAu
at least be a harmless attempt, if it were
productive of no good, should some little
plan he formed to check this deplorable
PROCLAMATION of the sabbath. enQuired of
the woman if there were any decent, we'll
disposed women in the neighborhood who
kept schools for teaching to read. l was
presently directed to four; to these l APP
piled. and made an agreement with them
to receive as many children as l should
send on the Sunday, whom they were to in
struct in reading and in the church cate
chism for this engaged to pay each of
them a shilling Ga cents) for their days
employment the women seemed pleased
with the proposal. | then waited on the
clergyman above mentioned, to whom l
impaired my plan he was SO much pleased
with the idea, that he engaged to lend his
assistance, by going round to the schools
Oh Sunday afternoon, to examine the prog
ress that was made, and to enforce order
and decorum among such set of little
heather. This sir, was the commencement
of the plan; it is now three years since we
began. A woman who lives in a street
where l had fixed a school, told me a short
time ago, that the place was more like a
Heaven on Sunday, compared to what it
used to be