Pacific Christian messenger., August 20, 1880, Page 2, Image 2

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"The Influence of the Sunday
- School in the Formation and
Development ' of Christian
Character.
PACIFIC CHRISTIAN MESSENGER, FRIDAY, AUG. 20, 1880.
Christian character.
I have heard Christian parents say
that they did not think it best to
bother the minds of children about
religion when they are young. I
have heard preachers say that the
wickedest men generally make the
best Christians, when converted. It
would be a fruitless task to try to im­
press such persons with a proper idea
of the influence of the Sunday school
work, while they maintain such ab­
surdities. But it is a happy omen for
the church that these hurtful theories
are finding fewer advocates year by
year. White the grand army of faith­
ful workers is
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9
come again. She said she would like
It is a fact that is well known that,
'io, but could not. I asked her what there are fewer backsliders from
difference It would make if she should among " those who come . into the
disobey the Priest She replied, “ He' church from the Sunday school than
would not let me come to mass.” from any other class of persons.
* AddreM delivered by E. B. W»re before the State
----- -- Sunday School Convention, at Santa Hoe*. Cal,
Suppose you don’t go to mass; I
We can account for this only on the
and publiabed by request of the Convention.
asked, what then ? She replied, “ He hypothesis that the previous training
It is not the purpose of this address
will excommunicate me.” I asked which they have received by years of
to discuss the various influences which
again, suppose he should excommuni­ study in the Sunday school has so
are brought to bear in the formation
cate you, what then ? She replied, fixed the principles of Christianity in
■ ,. and development of character.
“Then I couldn’t be buried in the their minds and hearts that they arc
I am aware that they are many, and
Catholic burying ground.”
What less liable to be led away by the in­
I haVe no doubt but one of the most
difference would that make ? I asked. fluences ot sin. A child that has been
powerful is to be found in the -natures
She answered, “ My motherjs buried brought up in the Sunday school has
we inherit. Nor
would I be under-
V
there, I want to be withLmother.’’ the principles ol Christianity imbeded
Stood as ignoring any of these potent
Thus a chain of links was formed in its very nature. The worship of
influences which are essential to the
which'rEStind that child to the the Lord’s house, the prayers, .the
formation and development of, Chris­
“Marching on with shield and banner Catholic faith, that no argument nor hymns,-and all that belongs to it be­
tian character. I mention especially
bright;“-
reason could break.
“ Man on the dubious waves of error
come a park of its very being, so that
the home influence, one .of the most
Iir the work of the Lord and are battling
tossed.
If the minds of children can be thus when it is broughtjpto the church it
important of all. Joshua knew- some­ TTis ship half foundered and his compass
for tho right.” .
irrevocably fixed in the principals of is rjot likely to be under the ephemeral
thing of the home influence in the
lost,
» Let us look at some of the elements
error
and falsehood, may they not ber influences of a protracted meeting, but
formation of character, when he Sees, far as human eyes may command,
which enter into the formation of
.equally fixed in the principals of from a sincere love of the truth .and a
A
sleeping
fog,
and
fancies
it
dry
land
;
formed the solemn resolution, to-“ let
Christian character.
truth ?
desire to obey it.
others do as they may, as for me knd Spreads all his canvass, every sinew plies,
1st. The moral principle must be
Pants for it, aims at it, enters it, and dies."
We will know that the Bible is our
(To Continue.)
ipy house, we will serve the Lord.’
laid broad and deep.
only text-book in the foranktioft of
But if there be a perfect formation
In this firm resolve of this man of
2nd. The. principle of faith.
A Democ&tic French Porter.
these great principles. To live ip
and an "imperfect development, the
God we have a worthy example for all
These two principles form the
residt will be the—same, an imperfect
ignorance of the Bible is to become a
Christian households. Furthermore
ground work of the Christian life. No
Few persons in Paris occupy a
body.
moial and spiritual dwarf. “The
we would not be understood as being
man has ever advanced very far in the
You have seen the trees along the
Bible (said John Quincy Adams) is whole house. A family rents a flat,
indifferent to the influence of the
s m mart where they are reached by
the book’ ¿fall others to be read at all whieh- comp r ises a s i tting room, bed­
,
church iy this great work. Fears
I
not
well
formed
and
largely
de
­
the’trade winds, their forms are bent,
' ages, and -in ail conditions of human rooms and a kitchen. A dozen families
have been expressed, by some, that
veloped.
—
;
life.”
—
* may live in the same house-; the only'
and bowed to tbeedrth. their branches
the Sunday school is being exalted at
But
we must- ever be careful that
things common to all being the en­
are twisted and snarled, and their
Tim-sweet singer of -Israel- under­
the expense of the church ; that the
we don’t teach the former to the ex­
heads all pointing in one direction.
stood the value of the word of God trance and stair case. A concierge
►
friends of the school seek to appreci­
clusion
of
the
latter.
One
of
the
most
There was nothing wrong in their
when he said, “ The entrance of thy (porter) has charge of the door. He
ate the school by depreciating the
destructive
forms of infidelity to-day
formation, but the?surroundings have
wort] giyeth light, it giveth under­ receives all bundles and letters, and
church.-
„
-j.
is that which makes morality every­
been unfavorable to their development.
standing to the simple.” And again, allows no unknown .person to pass
Such feat's are as groundless as they
thing
and
faith
nothing.
'
Faith
is
the
without inquiry.
,
From the day that they first put forth
“ The law ol the Lord is perfect con­
-are ridiculous; they are the out­
mainspring
of
the
Christian
life,
once
As a class, these concierges are
their heads from beneath the virgin
verting the soul.”
.
growth of denominationalishi, and are
planted
in
the
human
heart,
in
all
its
peculiar.
Unusually taciturn for a
soil, they have been influenced by the
Jesus has said that “man shall not
founded upofi denominational bigotry
power
and
lovelineas,
the
gates
of
Frenchman,
they are democratic in”
winds, which have beat'upon them,
live by bread alone, but'by every word
■
or an ignorance of the true, character
Hades
are
unable
to-prevail
against
it.-
their
notions.
Ari anecdote told of'
thereby preventing them from attain­
that proceedeth out of1 “the mouth of
of the Sunday school work It would
I speak not of the more1 assent of the !
one
of
them
by
Mr. Henry Wikoff
ing to that state of beauty and per- j
God.” He who would be" perfect in
be quit-1 ,is sensible to say that the
mind to the truths of Christianity, but '
illustrates
their
application
of the
fection to which under, more favorable
the Christian life ‘and '“ thoroughly
■exaltat).'
the citizen is degrading
circumstances they might lfave at­ rather that principle of trust in God furnished unto every good work,” can threb words,.farfiqujj.in French politics,
to the State—that to encourage one
and in Christ, which causes us to feel
tained.
‘only attain to that exalted character " Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.”
,
branchy. !'
or philosophy is to
.
that
ip
him
we
live
and
move
and
Decamps, a celebrated, painter, oc­
si
J S» VitTi Christian character, the '
through a constant study of the word
cupied 'the fourth flat. One day a
discourage alt others—that ip preaC.i
have our being, and leads ijs to cry of God.'
formation may be perfect, but if-not
gentleman called and asked the con­
obedience?» to weaken faith.
properly developed, the result wif £ _ out in the hour of suffering and trial,
I need not call your attention to
cierge" if the artist was at home.
J “ Though he slay yie yet w ill I trust
The answer t these objections is
the influence of the Sunday schoob in
spiritual decay ami death.
“ Yes,” said the porter, and added, -as
I in him.”
found in th act that the friends of
the study of the word of God.
Christian character has its forma­
the .visitor was about mounting the
with
a
brother
the Sunday school are the greatest tive and its development periods. i In v conversation
"‘*7“ «‘oiioi
A prophet of olj foretold of a time
...
, . , .
,. . . I preacher, a few davs ago, fie remarked when a “ knowledge’ of the Lord stairs, “ As you are about visiting M.
lovt rs an l »»»porters of the church.
Those principals which form the basis 1 1 -
•
°
Decamps, perhaps you will be so kind
' that one of the things which he had
“i. f .d th“ii highest joy,
should cover the earth as the waters
of the Christian life must be cut and
They prize bar heavenly ways.
i learned to do in the time of trouble is j I cover the sea.” In my candid judg- as to carry up his trousers which I '
engraved in the heart, if we would
Her sweet commnnion «olemn vows
have just’brushed.”
| form a character which time cannot • to hold on to God, that God had never | 1 ment, the Sunday school has done
Her hymns of love and praise.
“Certainly," said the stranger;
disappointed him yet. Such a faith is j more in the last half century to hasten
effacé.
For ber their tears do fall.
“most happy to render yon so small
worthy of imitation, and is generally
that glorious time than all other
Now at wliat period in life can this I
For ber their prayeTS ascend,
a service.”
,
the effect of early impressions and
human
agencies combined. The Bible
formation work be most easily and |
For her their cares and toils be given
When Decamps answered the* bell
constant
training.
We
have
a
beauti
­
• — Till toils and cares shall end.”
societies have printed their Bibles by
^effectually accomplished.
of his apartment, great' was his aston­
ful illustration of this principle Of
the thousands, but the Sunday school
It is simply the object of this ad­
If a sculptor should undertake the
ishment to see the -Duke of Orleans,,
faith and the influence of early train­
has circulated more of them than all
dress to notice the influence of the moulding of a beautiful statue, he |
the
heir to the throne, holding out the
ing
in
producing
it,
in
the
life
of
the
Sunday sclu tl in the formation of! would not select for his material a
’other agencies. Let us look at a few
trousers tho lazy concierge had con­
beautiful queen Esther, who, when
statistics in this connection, they will
their princip! .»¡rich form the basis form that had been spoiled, by the I
fided to him.—AV.-
called upon to_ risk her life for the
help to impress our minds with an
of the Christian life, and its influence rough hand of some inexperienced J
salvation of her people, said, “ I’ll go
idea of the magnitude of this work.
in the development of that life when workman, but he would prefer the !
—The final examination of the New
in before the k\ng, and if I perish 1
I quote from the report of the In­ Testament Revision Committee is held
pure white marble, fresh from the • Irish'’
formed. We notice then
I. The influence of the school in quarry, and untouched by other hands. I * ' Another forcible illustration of this ternational Sunday School Conven­ at New Haven this month. TS»e whole
So in the moulding of Christian char-1 principle and its durability, when tion, held at Atlanta, Ga, in 1878. Revision Committee embraces fifty­
the formation of character.
- 'Webster, tells» usj that the word acter, the material upon which to planted in the heart of the young, is The re|»ort includes only the United seven British scholars, and twenty­
character is derived from a Greek , work is the plastic mind, and the found ip the life of the little Hebrew States and Canada.
seven American. Their great work
word winch signifies to cut into fur­ heart that is pure and tender, before maid, who was carried away captive,
There were at that time 83,441 was begun in 1870. No changes have
rows, to engrave; hence the definition it has been corrupted by the constant from her native land, by the Syrian Sunday schools in the f\ited States been made for the sake of changes;
“a distinctive mark, a sign." The- habits of sin.
..
hosts ; though in a foreign land, in the and Canada; 894,703 teachers and and no change has been adopted but__
A great thinker has com;>ared the rhidst of an idolatrous nation, brought oflicers, and 0,843,997 scholars, making by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
third definition which he gives is
“ the shm of qualities which distin­ mind to à sheet of pure white paper, in contact with those who were wor­ a grand total of 7,738,790 who are Committee. It will be, as it ought to-
guish one person or thing from upon which are made -»p, the records shiping false gods, she did not forget engaged in the constant study of the be, an eminently conservative revision
another. The fourth definition is of life. Oh, how important it is that the God of Israel; but had faith word of God. No period in the his­ of the Scriptures. Nevertheless, we
“ good qualities or the reputation of the very first records imprinted there enough to say to the wife of an idola­ tory of the church has ever witnessed are assured by those who have the
possessing them.” The word character be of a religious character, for when trous general, “ Would to God my such a grand army as this engaged in means of knowing, that the revised
is often used as synonymous with once made they can never be effaced, Lord were before the prophet in a systematic study of the word of New Testament, when published will
reputation, but there is a vast differ­ they will go With us to the judgment Samaria, for he would recover, him God.
be found to contain chftngoa th&t msy
ence between the two Character is bar of God. You take an ax and from his leprosy.”
And what adds to the grandeur of be thought to be of a radical character.
what a man really is, reputation is thrust it into the side of a young and
This principal, if once planted in these figures is, that this great army A reviser has said that where the
what others think he is. A man may tender oak, time may serve to heal the ¿he heart of the young, can seldom, if of learners is not engaged in the Study manifest meaning of the original
have an extensive reputation and yet wound, but it can never remove the ever be eradicated. No class of people of the discipline, the catechism, the Greek is not expressed in our present
a poor character, or be may have a scar.
understand this fact better than the confession of faith, or any of the version, the Revision Committee could
good character and a limited reputa­
It is an old adage that the first Catholics, hence their great efforts, musty creeds of the past, but they are know no other rule than to express
tion.
'
impressions are the most lasting, and worthy of a batter cause, to gather the studying the pure word of God, the that meaning' in the English, of the
Christian character is our real it is as true of religion as anything
children into their schools and nun­ fountain of eternal truth ; and further­ revised version, and some of these
standing before Goff, Christian reputa else.
more from this field of workers there changes would bo found very ilfipor-
» , neries.
tion’ ini our standing in the eves of
As<n Illustration of the influence of had been gathered into the garner of tant. The new version will Boon be
A learned Catholic bishop once said,
men. Henca the formation of Chris­
“ Give me a child till it is twelve early and constant training, in the the Lord 123,471’ ^ouls. Still these issued, and then we shall see what we
tian character consist» in the en­
years of age, and the world may have formation of Christian character, I grand results choil'd awaken no sur­ shall see.— Evangelist.
graving upon tho tablets of the
■—The World says that Baroness
it afterwara ; it will remain a Cath­ will refer to a circumstance which prise, wlieh w^htness them, for one
- human heart the fundamental princi­
olic." The history of Catholicism the came under my observation. There of England's greatest poets has truly Burdett Coutts will soon marry Ash­
ples of the Christian life.
mead Bartlett, her secretary and almo- ' '"
» .
world over has proven the statement was a Catholic child, of eleven years, said that
ner, though she will lose £100,000 a
There are two periods of existence
who had just been taken from a con­ “ Religion, if in heavenly trnth attired,
only too true.
year by it. When the Duchess of.
in all organic bodies, let The forma­
vent, where ______
she had
been for aix . Needs only to be seen to be admired."
Stalbans left her property to Miss
We
dwell
upon
these
facts
for
the.
------------------
tive. 2nd. The development - Upon
We
can
not,
in
my
judgment,
over
­
Coutts, she decreed that the heiress
i-
rxL-:
___
_
_
»
ydhrs;
she
commenced,
through
the
the wofk of these two periods depends reason that a realization of their great
should lose her interest in the Coutts
estimate
the
influence
of
the
Sunday
influence
of
a
Protestant
sister,
to
•' the state of perfection to which .all importance is essential to a full con­ attend our Sunday school; the Priest school, in laying broad and deep these bank and other pro|*erties if she mar­
ception and a proper appreciation of
ried a foreigner or a naturalized citi-..
organic bodies attain.
great
which form
heard of it, and forbade her doing so. B
___ r principles
____,
T the basis zen. Bartlett is an American, but was-
Within the tiny shell of the smallest the mighty power and influence of the
I called upon her and asked her to ' of all true Christian character.
naturalized a short time since.
•corn we witness the formation of the Sunday school in the formation of
*
infant oak, and from this infant oak,
in the process of time, we witness the
development of the ■ monarch of the
forest, in all his stately majesty, and
in all the beauty of his wonderful
perfection. If the formation is imper­
fect. the chances are that the body
formed will never reach maturity.
Fruit, imperfectly -formed upon the
most healty tree, soon withers and
falls to the ground; so with Christian
character, if there be radical defects
in the formation of it, those defects
will, in all probability, continue
through life. The experience of the
world has proven how hard it is to
change the mind arid conduct of men
when once fixed in a certain channel.
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