Page images
PDF
EPUB

and the benefits that result to the conductors of our schools. After attending a meeting of this kind, we feel our strength renewed, and are determined to persevere in the cause for which we have met together; It gives rise to emotions the most favourable to christianity, by exhibiting two of its most powerful attributes, love and charity: surely this is the way of life; so it must seem to all those who really interest themselves in it. It creates a respect for those who are piously inclined; for we cannot but think well of such as take so great an interest in the welfare of others. To the youthful teacher it is the powerful influence of example; habit will in a short time make such evenings as these most agreeable. As prayer meetings, they will ever be interesting, because the prayers that are here offered are for the promotion of an object in which at that moment he delights to know that he is engaged. It affords great facilities for religious improvements, for religious companions. It promotes the harmony that should exist between Sunday School Teachers, and powerfully strengthens the bond of union between them. It gives us proper subjects for meditation during the remaining part of the night, and will most undoubtedly prepare us the better to become religious instructors to others. And I hope some Sunday School Teachers who have never had an opportunity of knowing the benefits of attending such meetings may think of these, and test their truth by attending themselves, and determining to take an active part in the prayer meetings of the unday School Teachers.

[ocr errors]

WANT OF PERSEVERANCE THE CAUSE OF DECLINE IN A SUNDAY SCHOOL.

To the want of perseverance may be attributed the cause of the decline of more than one benevolent association. The following facts will prove that every assistance benevolence can render, all the aid that charity can afford to any institution, will be totally fruitless, unless a determined perseverance, and an unwearied application, be constantly given by those who agree to be its supporters. About three years since, to one congregation in this city, there were attached three Sunday schools; the

pages of their registers were adorned with the names of more than three hundred scholars; and the rolls of the teachers showed a list of more than fifty persons who had willingly consented to become the conductors.

An association of the elders of the church, and of persons favourable to the interest of Sunday Schools was formed; addresses were read, printed, and circulated; treasurers were appointed; funds were received; places suitable for instruction, were obtained; books and furniture were provided, and, under the most favourable auspices, the operations of the Sunday School commenced. Elated with the hope of success, they rejoiced in their undertaking. The novelty of the design kept alive, for a while, the energies of their minds. Plans for instruction were recommended, tried, and abandoned; rules for order were made and broken; regulations for the discipline of the school were agreed on to-day, and given up the next, as impracticable. The congregation thought the fault lay with the association; the association blamed the teachers; the teachers blamed the scholars, and the scholars left the school. About a year after the school was established, I paid them a visit the school was then on the decline; I saw a number of the seats vacant; and, as they had at first complained of want of room, I asked the superintendent if he had as many scholars now as when he commenced. No, sir, the boys do not attend regularly at all; we begin to be quite discouraged; the parents do not care whether the children come or not; they do not seem to take any interest in the improvement of their children. I am sorry for that, said I,as much depends upon the parents-but how many teachers have you in this school? We have on our list eighteen besides the secretary, superintendent and visiting committee-why there are only seven present; I am almost led to believe that they are following the example of the parents, and do not seem to care much about the improvement of their scholars, or take much interest in the school. Do your teachers visit the absentees of their classes?— No, sir, they have no time, our visiting committee do every month, I believe, but this month the secretary has been absent, and the list of absentees has not been given to the visiting committee. Your scholars do not seem to be very orderly to-day,

Want of Perseverance the cause of Decline in a S. School. 283

owing I suppose to the want of teachers, we cannot keep them very still, but we have a very excellent set of rules, said he, show. ing me a card of about fifteen regulations, most of them prefaced with, "no scholar of this school shall be allowed," and " every scholar must," &c. Did the scholars ever learn these rules, said I. No sir, I believe we never thought of that. Then, said I, you might as well put for a concluding one-every scholar is expected to obey these regulations, and no scholar shall be allowed to learn them; this appears a little like bad management.-Why yes, the association never told us to give them to the scholars to learn by rote. I see how this is, you depend upon the association, and the association depends upon yon, and between you, the main objects of the association and of the school are left undone. When I left the school, I then feared that the schools of that association would be of but little utility, either in advancing the scholars in religious improvement, or in acquiring regular or useful habits; one bad example would destroy twenty good precepts.

About three months since, I entered the same school, it was the mere shadow of what it had been, a few scholars taught by three teachers, was the melancholy proof of the former mismanagement. One of the schools attached to the congregation had been discontinued for some time; two remained, one male and one female, about sixty scholars, three male and five female teachers, were all that were left to tell the tale of their want of. success. A new superintendent had been appointed in the male school; with him I had some conversation relative to the affairs, of the school; I was pleased with his ideas; he appeared to understand the subject. Much might have been done here, said he, if they had only proceeded in the right way. Much may be done, and through the assistance of divine goodnes, we intend to perform our duty better, or at least, work harder than our predecessors. They had a very erroneous idea of the management of Sunday Schools. To attend to the duties of the school on Sunday, they thought was performing their duty. They imagined there was no necessity of meetings for business; they could not see much utility in preparing themselves for the lessons they had to teach. And time has proved that they failed VOL. I.

35

in another point,—that of visiting; they thought it made no difference who visited the absentees, and for those who attended regularly, it was sufficient to see them once every sabbath, without spending time to visit them during the week. Now we are pursuing quite a different plan. We have had meetings for business, and shall continue to have them. We intend to visit every scholar in our school, at least once a quarter. We intend to make our teachers visiters of their respective classes: if a boy is absent from his class, we hope his teacher will pay him a visit before the succeeding Sunday. To all those who have charge of our testament or bible clesses, we have earnestly recommended to prepare themselves, by studying the portion of scripture they intend to read. We have earnestly reminded our teachers, male and female, of our prayer meetings. I can only say, answered I, if you continue to apply your shoulder to the wheel, you will meet with unqualified success. By your visits to the parents, you will prove to them that you think of them and their children on other days besides the sabbath, and in time, will certainly gain their love and good wishes, together with that which will be of the greatest benefit-their co-operation. When a scholar absents himself one Sunday, if he is visited before the next, it is very probable he may attend more regularly. If your teachers come into school prepared, you may rest assured more good will be effected in one sabbath than would be given in four without preparation; and I doubt whether you can find any better employment for your teachers than the study of the scriptures. If they attend the monthly prayer meetings, it will promote union and harmony of feeling, and many a one may have a sufficient cause to bless him, who liveth and reigneth for ever, for the eternal benefit they have there received. Go on, you are now in the right way; your school will increase, and your labour will not be in vain. Although advantage may not immediately result; if you persevere, it will be certain." All things are full of labour," and he that expects success in a Sunday school, and stands with folded hands, shall surely be disappointed. Indifference, cold indifference, so opposite to perseverance, has actually sometimes been called perseverauce. When a man passes through the world without noticing this thing

he meets, or that which obstructs him, but plods his weary way, without even inquiring whether the sun that warms him, shines on any other than his own habitation, he is indifferent, not persevering. And when a Sunday School Teacher for months goes in and out of his school, without even noticing whether there is any other there than himself, and plods his weary way for years, without ever inquiring whether his plans are successful, or sometimes whether he has any or not depend upon it that man is indifferent, not persevering; and his labour will very likely come to nought. But once more let me request you to persevere, and I am certain that success awaits your undertaking.

AN OBSERVER.

How painful the duty that devolves upon him who notices the obituary of a friend. It is a task that awakens every feeling of sorrow; the soul, tremblingly alive to the slightest impressions, finds all its grief renewed. Assured of the sympathy of every christian friend, we can only hope for a portion of that resignation to the divine will that filled the breast of him to whom we pay the last tribute that friendship gives to the object of its affection.

The death of Thomas Jarman, late Editor of this Magazine, will be as deeply felt by his relatives, his friends, and the christian world, as it will be sincerely deplored. A soul susceptible of every finer feeling, endeared him to bis relatives; his suavity of manners, his disposition ever ready to oblige, made his friendship desirable; his company a source of refined pleasure to his friends Endued with brilliant talents, exerted for the benefit of mankind, he will be admired by those who may have the pleasure of reading his productions. In the pages of this Magazine, of which he has been the editor, and among the papers of those societies to which he was attached, will be found the best eulogy of his character.

We give place to the following Obituary from the Religious Chronicle, as it entirely expresses our own sentiments, and seems to be a faithful notice of his departure from this transitory scene.

For the New-York Religious Chronicle.

OBITUARY.

THOMAS JARMAN, ESQ.

"In the world ye shall have tribulation," was the declaration of our Saviour, and it was one which the experience of all that have loved him, since he tabernacled in the flesh, has verified. Of this tribulation few have partaken more largely than the subject of this memoir. But possessing naturally a mind of great strength, and to the highest degree

« PreviousContinue »