Year: 1876

D Z
the trees Their growth will be in ac-
cordance with their training. "As the
twig is bent the tree will be inclined"
IL they have been properly nurtured and
cared for, they will be all that can be de-
sired morally, and perhaps religiously.
But on the contrary il they are neglect
ed, uncared for, the fruit will be bitter.
immortality and sin will prevail. The
so called trees will wither and die, and
the once firm roots. perhaps, shall decay,
and their existence lost in the sable
chaos Of worldly allurements


To conceive properly Of the grand inn.
portance Of the Sunday School. we must
reflect upon its extinction. Let US sup.
pose its non-existence Instead Of
breathing as we do the fragrance Of Sab.
bath School instruction. we would be en-
circled as it were by hordes OF youthful
'savages, the young who are now being
brought up under religious culture" and
sreceiving first Impressions instead Of
having their minds fixed upon the Sun
day School, its duties and obligations,
they would be engaged in all sorts Of
vice, following the inclinations Of their
own minds, which are naturally evil, and
in lieu Of the happy and prosperous COM
munities that now make up large por-
ton Of country, we would gradually sink
into n stall Of demoralization. heathen-
ism would almost take the place Of civil
ization, and sin and folly would stalk
rampant through the land What an
awful conclusionl But we are not thus
to consider. Let US as co-laborers in the
Sabbath School feel that we are engaged
in a noble work, let our banners be en-
blazoned with the motto, perseverance,
progress, more and better work" for the
cause, a disconnection with everything
that does not pertain to its promotion.
for / am almost forced to the unpleasant
conclusion at times, that certain class
Of individuals i'm the world, for the pur.
pose OF aspiring to certain positions in
political life" will stoop so low a. 10
make the Sunday School an incentive to
their selfish desires Then "disconncc.
tion, stand by the right" be the watch
word, and the time shall soon come when
the doctrines OF Christ shall influence
the whole world, and when His name
shall be worshiped in every Pagan tenn
pie in the land


As shown by the report Of the proceed
ings OF the Sixteenth Annual Meeting Of
the Sabbath School Union. there are
5,54j schools in the State Of Ohio 3l9.s
Sunday School scholars, OF which the
average attendance is 253.O75, total popu-
lation Of the State 2,665,OOO. We find
from these statistics the following inter
esting facts: That only one out OF every
seven inhabitants Of the State are at all
connected with the Sabbath School that
only one out of every ten aud half Of
the population Of the State are in regular
attendance. And what are we TO infer
from this report? That the prosperity
of the cause is all that can be desired ?
Nay verify, but a deeper aud more earn
est work is required at our hands, more
Of a united effort, less formality, and an
energy full Of inspiration. There are de
fciencies to be filed up, defects TO rem.
edy. and hopes to realize. The boys and
girls Of the present are to be the men
and women Of the future Committed TO
their care shall be the keys Of the com
ing welfare Of our country. Upon their
shoulders are to rest the foundation
stones Of government. Into their hands
shall fall the church Of the living God.
and last but not least Of all, shall be de
livered into their control the continua-
tion Of the great work Of the Sabbath
School How awful then the response.
bility Of the present generation


Let US make this. the Centennial Of
our country, a new era in the Sunday
School work consecratc our all to its pro
motion. espouse IL as the cause OF Christ.
sustain il by our united efforts. and final
ly il will be said Of us 1T is enough.
The same sun that smiled upon the hum.
ble birth OF the Sunday School in the
days Of Raikes, Luther and Ashbury, j.
smiling upon US to-day. but a small part
Of this exalted institution. What a
mighty progressi What wonderful de.
yclopment Of its true character While
perhaps the primary object or the origi.
nal object OF the Sunday School, was TO
protect the Sabbath, detract a rowing dis
position Of the children on that day. or
perhaps 10 secure a partial obedience to
the command, Remember the Sabbath
day to keep it holy we rejoice that Il
has been an institution Of Progress
that the Sunday School Of 1876 has for
its standard higher aspiration than that
Of merely teaching the first truths Of
morality. While this is commcndable In
every respect, yet the purpose Of to day
is to reach out and beyond these things,
mold deep into the hearts Of the chill
dren, the essential doctrines Of morality
lasting religious impressions, and pour
into their very souls the essence Of life


1t is argued by some perhaps, that time
will not admit Of so much attention in
this direction, but as has been SAID by
one who knew whereof he spoke, that
this is the very logic that fills our jails,
feeds our peniteniiaries, deprivcs society
Of what might have been its most inlu-
ential members. aud strikes deep into
community tire poisonous fangs Of ini-
quity.'


o for a baptism Of Sabbath School in
spiratiou


What We want is more zeal, more ener.
gy, more perseverance, more self denying.
and a more soul-stirring interest in the
work. when we remember that hun