Year: 1862

Delivered at the Mt. Zion Sabbath


School Celebration, held August Esd


1869:


LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND YoUrH
OF TIE SABBATH ScHooL:-On occa-
sions like the present il we direct our
remarks to those of mature years alone,
the main object of our assembling. will,
in measure, be overlooked. 1t is well
to please the little ones especially, when
they:are engaged in so good cause as
that of Sabbath Schools. They are
here with their young minds Just open
ing IKE the bud in the dews of the
morning, for the reception of truth aud
good principles, and shall not the rays
Of truth divine fall encouragingly there
to strengthen the soul for the paths Of
virtue. there laying the foundation for
proper thought and action? impress
sions are now 10 be received which are
to determine the course Of action
through life, and those impressions are
to be given before they are received
Hence children Of the Sabbath School,
we are glad to see you here, in order
that you may be encouraged in the
good work of receiving instructions
from your teachers. 1 can to my mind
draw no more pleasing picture than
that of little boys and girls with smi-
ling faces, leaving their respective
homes for the Sabbath School. It
NAL es us think that all those little boys
and girls are good children, and that
they are going to learn how to be good
men and women when they shall have
grown up. 1t looks as if your parents
loved you, and felt deep interest in
your welfare. And we wish that all
parents felt the same deep interest in
the welfare of their children. We hope
you will continue 10 love your sabbath
school and your teachers, and engage
in that which is pure in order that your
lives may be pure likewise. How many
little boys and girls there are who do
not attend the Sabbath School. They
roam about from place to place. and
break Gods holy day in many sinful
pleasures, and are thus laying the
foundation for miserable lives in this
world, and wretchedness to all eternity
in a world to come.


None Of you wish to be like them
I know you all want to be happy and
good, let me tell you my young heroes,
you can only be so by seeking to do
good, and by having your young minds
and hearts trained to love that which
is pure and good. And those who have
me training of those young minds,
what a responsibility rests on them
The young mind, like the tender vine,
cannot bear itself upward. 1t must be
supported. The tendrils of the young
mind, like those of the vine in its attach
ments to its support, must be attached
to the important principles OF truth and
morality. Hence the importance Of
the teachers mission. Whoever assumes
this responsibility, should consider well
the undertaking. Interests not only
for time, but eternity are effected by it.
But what an excellent field for the truly
noble minded young man or womanl-
II is a course when once decided upon,
should be strictly adhered to. No de-
pressing circumstances of labor or toll
on part of the teacher, can remove the
responsibility. 1t is a work Of vital in
terest, and its rewards not OF this world
ga work of faith and labor of love-"


Here in the nursery of the church,
the truly devoted young man or woman
wields and influence and power, which
will tell as much or more on the vital
interest of the church of God, as the
ablest minister Of the Gospel of Christ.
Let, then, my young friends of more
mature years, nothing deter you from
entering upon, and adhering to this
good work, no matter how gloomy the
times or how slack the interest in spirit
ual affairs. To you are entrusted, in a
great measure, the guardians of future
civil and religious liberties, when the
present generation who are passing
through fire as it were, to uphold and
maintain the right shall have gone to
their final resting place. The church
with all her interests must be upheld,
and more than likely the rising genera
ton can WELD An influence for the fur
therance of the Gospel that no pre-.
ceding generation ever welded. Then
to your duty young man and young
woman, if the hour seems dark and
perilous, it needs only the greater ef'
fort and the closer watching, and the
blessings of heaven will rest upon you


1t will require no argument to prove tC


every anxious mind, that the present il


to US as nation, time of trial.


The joyous scenes of prosperity tha


we have enjoyed, have seemingly passed


away. To-day with the American


people. is the day of adversely, yet no


the day of despair.


The threatening storms of evil hav'


spread over our once happy and peace


full land, and brings home to every


heart the sad reflections OF the day o


trial. Every heart bows beneath it


burden, and every eye longs to pierce


the future, when the time OF relief-th'


day Of prosperity and peace, shall COM


again in its brightness.


Every class of society, every occupa


ton and pursuit in life is held subjec


tive, and lies almost helpless beneatl


the mighty incubus that holds all in it


absorbing grasp.