For the Signs of the Times.
THE ADVANTAGE OF SABBATH SCHOOLS
EXAMINED.
“We to the rebellious children, saith the Lord that take
council, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my Spirit,
that they may add sin to sin: That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not
asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to
trust in the shadow of Egypt!” Isa. xxx, 1, 2.
BROTHER BEEBE:—In the great quantity of Tracts that is
published there is none that does in presumption, blasphemy, and audacity, with
the one bearing the above title. The writer (who for this traffic has received
a premium) commences by informing us that he had “Sometimes tho’t that if the
Holy Spirit were again, as of old, to select twelve men with whom to finish the
great work of converting mankind, and for this purpose should direct them to
any special means, the establishment and constant improvement of Sabbath
Schools would engage a large portion of their attention.” Was there ever any
language made use of by man since the commencement of the christian era to
compare with this? Is it not blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Is it not
saying that the Holy Spirit that was given to the Apostles did not do as well
as it might have done? If it had it would have directed them to establish
Sabbath Schools! Is it not saying the Holy Spirit given them was “an unclean
Spirit?” If so we are informed in the 3d Ch. of John that it is “Blasphemy
against the Holy Ghost.” Does this writer not say in substance that the
Apostles sent out by Christ and their preaching the Gospel to every creature,
[Col. 1st Ch. 23] was nothing to what we are doing in our Sabbath Schools towards
converting the world?—He does say, if he should send them out again that he
would “direct them to let Sabbath Schools engage a large portion of their
time!” The conclusion then must be that the work of the Holy Spirit in
quickning and regenerating the Elect, would be of no more use, and all we
should have to do, would be to have the Law of Moses read in our Sabbath
Schools every Sabbath day which would facilitate business much faster than to
wait for the Holy Spirit.
But before I proceed farther I propose first, to show that
the object had in view by the founder of Sabbath Schools was the moral
improvement of the poor children. Second, will show that the mental improvement
of the children at this time is but a Subordinate object with the friends of
Sabbath Schools—that the design is to teach them religion, and that
sectarian—and that it is made the stepping Stone, in furthering all the other
Benevolent operations of the day.
Third, will show that prior to the establishing of Sabbath
Schools that the Jews, the Romans, the Episcopalians, and the Presbyterians
have all been engaged in teaching their children religion.
Fourth, will show that teaching children religion is
attempted to be done in this State [N. Y.] officially and legally. Fifth, will
show that Sabbath Schools as at present conducted, tends to raise a “christian
party in politics,” and to sap the foundation of our government.
Sixth, will close by showing that with all the religious
education that can be had at Sabbath Schools, that not one child will ever be
able to come to the knowledge of the truth,” unless “They shall be taught of
God.”
In proof of my first proposition we have the following facts
from Benedict’s History of all religions.—It says Sabbath Schools was first
instituted by Robert Raikes Esq. of Gloucester, England in 1782. The
circumstances that led him to this was his having business in the outskirts of
the city of Gloucester: and while attending to the same he was greatly
disturbed by a troop of wretched noisy boys who interrupted him while attending
to his business. He inquired the cause of those children being thus neglected.
The answer was that they were poor Fatherless children, and had no one to take
care of them. Mr. Raikes, then asked: “Can nothing be done for these poor
children? Is there any body near that will take them to school?” He was
answered that there was a person who kept a School in the lane who perhaps
might do it. He went and made a bargain with the school Mistress for her to
take a number of these children and teach them on the Sabbath. For this reason,
no doubt; that there was taken up on every day in the week but this. This
school was continued by Mr. Raikes for two years, and had for its object the
mental improvement of the poor children—which none will object to. But it was
but a short time that Sabbath schools was confined to the instruction of the poor
children. The dignitaries of the established church and many others soon found
that the poor children did not yield as great a venue to the church as the more
wealthy part; they took advantage of this circumstance to enlarge their
stipends. The rich was now invited to send their children to Sabbath school,
that they might be taught religion, which was readily assented to. By this
means the grand object of Sabbath schools was lost sight of viz: The mental
improvement of the poor Children.
As proof of my second proposition, I will make a short
extract from this famous premium Tract. It says, “The intellectual improvement
of its pupils” is but “a subordinate object, its great aim is to provide for
the thorough moral and religious education of the rising generation.” And I
adduce still further testimony from the last annual report of the Orange County
Sunday School Union. It says, “This society will not have accomplished its
object until ever individual in the County is brought under the influence of
religious instruction. Nor even then for its operations must continue through
succeeding generations, and till the last trump shall sound, its object will be
the religious instruction of the entire population.” Thus it is proven that the
intellectual improvement of the poor children is but a subordinate object with
them. It is quite an inferior object to be sure compared with that which has
for its design the training all the children of the land to a particular creed.
In a book published by Harry Fish, a superintendent of Sabbath schools, we have
the following question.
1st. “What should parents learn from the example of Joseph
and Mary in presenting Jesus to the Lord?” If we turn to the 28th Chapter of
the Presbyterian Confession of Faith, where he has this question answered and
the duty of parents explained. It says, that it is the duty “of believing
parents to have their infants baptized,” and they learn that it is “rightly
administered by pouring, or sprinkling water” on them. The 2d question is “How
should those children behave themselves who are presented to the Lord when they
were infants?” The “Youths Religious Instructer,” contains an answer to this
question. It says, “Children who have been baptized in the name of Christ,” are
“To give a little of their pocket money for the purpose of sending the Gospel
of Jesus Christ to thousands of ignorant and wicked people, a great way off,”
and that by so doing it will be “very pleasing to God.” Yes says this premium
Tract, it is “The duty of all to sustain the Sabbath school cause and to extend
its benefits as widely as possible by their influence, their efforts, their
contributions.” Is it possible that there is any so purblind that they can not
see behind the throne “The woman arrayed in purple & scarlet with the
golden cup in her hand, and upon her forehead written mystery, Babylon the
great, the mother of Harlots and Abominations of the earth.” By training all
the children of the land in these sectarian schools they will all be taught of
course that it will be their duty to contribute as the Lord may prosper them to
his Treasury for the purpose of establishing Sabbath schools and the various
other institutions of the day.—Yes says this famous tract, “It exerts a silent
but powerful influence in uniting the hearts of christians, in furthering other
benevolent operations,” and says Dr. Rice, “it is the rail road for Christ’s Chariot
wheels”—and the report of the Orange Co. Sunday school Union says, “In view of
what has been done, and of what remains to be done, we are impelled to place it
in front of all our operations, and make it the stepping stone of our complete
triumph.” Yes says the Boston Recorder, it is the “nursery of the church; and
the most important institution in existence.” In proof of this here the Rev.
Dr. Cogswell of Boston, he says “He had recently visited 400 young men in the
various institutions, who were preparing for the ministry, the great proportion
of whom were converted in Sabbath schools.” Yes says the Dr. “Two thirds of the
Missionaries who had gone out from Great Britain, and nineteen twentieths of
the dissenting ministers of that nation were converted in Sabbath schools.”
Well may this institution be placed in front of all their operations, and as
their most important institution, when it is made the stepping stone, or
machine for making ministers, missionaries, dissenting ministers &c. Yes it
must be acknowledged that it “exerts a silent but powerful influence” over the
minds of the people to make them contribute to the support of those Theological
babies which have scarcely had their swadling clothes removed by their nurses
before they are sent snivelling & whining through the country in search of
a little more pap [money] to sustain them, and the rest of the young bantlings
in preparation for the ministry. It is this craft that the mendicants of the
day insure to themselves a good living—some are employed as ministers at
home—some are sent as Missionaries to a foreign land—some are employed as
Sunday school teachers at home, and some are sent as teachers to the valley of
the Mississippi, which by the by is a fine situation, as there was subscribed
in the city of New York, and Philadelphia, between thirty-five and forty
thousand dollars to establish Sunday schools in that place—and a writer in the
New Y. Observer informs us “That not more than one fourth probably of the
amount requisite to accomplish this great work in a proper manner has been
subscribed.” The Presbyterian, a paper published in Philadelphia, gives us the
following account of the manner in which this money has been expended.
It says, “In relation to the great and truly enterprize of
establishing Sunday schools throughout the valley of the Mississippi. The past
year has been chiefly expended in exploring, and other incipient operations,
pre-requisite to its final accomplishment! A sum of $24,417 12 has been
contributed to this object! and in addition the society has advanced $14,518 All
which has been expended!!”—
Thus it appears that there has been $38,936 97 expended in
exploring the Valley and no account that there has been one single school
established.
As proof of my third proposition I will make a short extract
from Morrison’s ecclesiastical history. It says “That prior to the coming of
Christ that the Jews appointed learned men in their schools to instruct the
youth in the knowledge of divine things.” And the Rev. C. Buck informs us that
prior to the establishing of Sabbath schools that the Roman church had officers
in it called Catechists; their duty was much like that of the Sabbath school
teachers in these days. Their principle business was to prepare and qualify the
children for baptism. The children who were instructed by these Catechists were
called catechumens. Before they are admitted into the church there is a strict
examination as to their proficiency under the several stages of their catechetical
exercises. After their examination and before they were baptized they were
obliged to fast for twenty days and it was customary for some of them to be
veiled the whole time. And in agreement with this we are informed that
according to the rites & ceremonies of the Protestant Episcopal church,
that the Godfathers and God-mothers who stand as surities for the child that is
presented for Baptism, promise, that the child shall “renounce the devil and
all his work,” as soon as he shall be able to learn what a solemn vow and
promise hath been made for him by his sponsors. “And that they may know these
things,” it is made the duty of the sponsors to learn the child “The Creed, the
Lord’s prayer, and the Ten Commandments.” And as still further proof on this subject
I adduce the following from the Presbyterian Confession of Faith. It says pge
436 that “Children born within the pale of the visible church, and dedicated to
God in baptism, are under the inspection and government of the church; and are
to be taught to read, and repeat the Catechism, the Apostles’ Creed and the
Lord’s prayer. They are to be taught to pray, to abhor sin, to fear God, and to
obey the Lord Jesus Christ. And when they come to years of discretion, if they
be free from scandal, appear sober and steady (have joined a Temperance
Society) and to have sufficient knowledge to discern the Lord’s body, they
ought to be informed, it is their duty and their privilege, to come to the
Lord’s supper.” Thus it must be apparent to all that from the earliest ages
teaching children religion has been made a science of, by Jews and Romans; and
continued by those claiming themselves to be Protestants down to the present
time.
I now come to my fourth proposition which is to show that
teaching children religion is attempted to be done officially and legally. The
Hon. J. V. N. Yates, superintendent of common schools for the State of New
York, in a circular directed to the Commissioners, Inspectors, Trustees, and
teachers of common schools in 1824, informs them that “He has already had
occasion to recommend the introduction of moral Tracts into our schools.” And
accompanying this circular there were instructions for establishing common
school celebrations. The second article in the instructions informs us that
“The celebration in each town shall be placed under the direction of the
Commissioners and Inspectors of common schools therein; and they shall
establish such regulations as they may think proper for appointing the day,
place, and manner of holding the same: for distributing honors and premiums;
for establishing religious and other exercises.” In agreement with this there
was an act passed at the last session of our Legislature (N. Y.) authorizing
the superintendent of common schools to furnish each school district in this
State with a copy of Hall’s Lecturer on school keeping.—In the second Lecture
page 14 we are informed that “There is a want of christian effort to raise the standard
of moral influence in schools. The impulse of christian enterprize, at the
present day, has led to associations for benevolent effort on almost every
subject but this.” Thus it appears, that it has been attempted officially to
send Tracts into our common schools—to establish religious exercises under the
direction of official officers—and we are legally told that there is a want of
moral influence in our schools; and to raise the standard of morality, we must
enlist the friends of benevolent effort,—so says Mr. Hall, and so responds our
Legislature.
As proof of my fifth proposition, I will proceed to show
that the friends of Sabbath schools have also in view the training all the
children of the land to believe in Dr. Ely’s “Plan of a truly christian party
in politics.” The Rev. Samuel C. Aikin, pastor of the first Presbyterian church
in Utica, says, “I have been surprised to see the apathy of our enlightened
Statesmen upon the subject of Sunday schools. I have been surprised that they
seem to look upon them only as a religious institution, when it is so plain
that their POLITICAL ENERGY must very soon, if it increases with the ratio it
has for fifteen years past, TOTALLY REGENERATE OUR LEGISLATURES, and the very
HALLS OF CONGRESS.” And to assist in this plan the friends of Sabbath schools
are eliciting aid from Members of Congress &c.—At a Sunday school meeting
held at the city of Washington, the Hon. Felix Grundy, member of the Senate of
the United States, from the State of Tenn. was called to the chair and Matthew
St. Clair Clark, Esq., Clerk of the House of Representatives was appointed
Secretary.—The meeting was addressed by the Chairman and by a number of
Representatives from the different States. Among those were the Hon. William
Wirt, (by letter)—He said the Sabbath school “viewed in a political light
merely, deserves the strongest support from all who wish the continuance of our
free and happy institutions.” Mr. F. S. Key, Esq. D. C. said that “In a
political point of view, this scheme of benevolence is evidently of great
worth”—and says this premium Tract, “To the patriot it affords the surest
pledge of the permanancy of those political and civil institutions.” And the
Honorable Theodore Frelinghuysen, of New-Jersey, says, “He is unfaithful to his
country, who would seek to impair its influence.” The prophet Hosea x, 13,
cautions us against trusting “In the way, in the multitude of mighty men.” And
we are informed in the xxxii, 9, of Job that “Great men are not always wise.”
(To be Continued in our next.)
LEBBEUS L. VAIL.
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