ness. These, then, are variously objects of your charity. These are they for whom you are bound to care; for whom you are bound to provide the means of that Christian instruction In which is the best relief of poverty. Among these, whether you admit the extreme, of the case of the poor, which I have stated, to be imaginary or not, there are enough to exercise your benevolence and your obedience to the precepts of your Lord. Among these are innumerable young, who, without your aid, may enter into life as a scene to them only of crime and misery. Among these, too, are adults yet practised in vice, and suffering the remorse which is its temporal penalty, whom you may reclaim, through your Christian lessons, to virtue and to peace. Among these may even be found aged sinners and sufferers, to whom you may convey, in the rudiments of Christian knowledge, never had before, the call, yet not too late, of the grace of God, which bringeth peace through the penitential seeking of the salvation that is in Jesus. Sunday Schools are the means by which you may exercise such important charity. They have been the means of its effectual exercise to thousands; and who shall say we indulge vain imaginations only, when we say that, through them, thousands from among those who have already been subjected to their influence, have been set forward into the path of life as a scene of moral probation, happy and rejoicing; thousands enabled to bear, in that path, the burden of sorrow which it had pleased the Lord of their being to impose on them; thousands helped to gain the end of it with gladness, and there rest in the peace of their Lord and Redeemer ! The claims of this charity, thus strong in the fact of the great amount of moral wretchedness upon which it operates in every community, derive peculiar force from some circumstances characteristic of our civil institutions. Religion here is universally alike free from any restrictive interpositions, and denied the patronising and protecting provisions of government. Whatever, therefore, may be the care which the Legislature may extend to the poor, with respect to general education, it is denied the power to institute any system of moral instruction founded in Christian doctrine. Hence, as in all conditions of life, men are left to provide themselves, at their own expense, the privileges of religious instruction and worship, so, in those conditions which deny the power of providing them, because of temporal penury, their enjoyment must, in every case, be the gratuitous result of charity. Circumstances such as these impose upon religionists of all denominations and sects, the obligation of exerting their benevolence for the religious and moral instruction of their poor. Our common schools may impart instruction, good and suff cient as to the temporal objects of educa tion-and we cannot be unaware how much is thus effected even of moral benefit to the poor. But there still remains much, to whose necessity and importance the Christian can in no wise be insensible, The poor, and children of the poor espe cially, are necessarily, as to their moral and spiritual condition, and its necessi, ties, the peculiar charge of their more favoured brethren: and, if the Christian cannot for one moment admit the idea, that there is no care for them in heaven, then can he not for a moment be at a loss to know where the care for them, correspondent to that which is entertained by the common Father of the rich and poor, should be cherished into a principle of active conduct among men. This, my friends, in our country, as to their moral wants, is the only resource of the poor. It is amply adequate to their wants, if we fail not in the attention which we know the commands of Christ to require.Rightly applied, it may fill the habitations of poverty with thanksgiving and the voice of melody for a knowledge of glad tidings of joy, brought even for them from the presence of the Eternal; and may nourish up very many of the children of the poor, whom it finds ready to perish, both temporally and spiritually, to usefulness, to honour, and to immortality. To every portion of the family of Christ in our land there pertains its own peculiar portion of this most interesting and most necessary duty. We have undertaken our's, I trust, in the spirit of love to Christ, and of the brethren, for his sake. The instruction of the poor of our own household of faith is our unquestionable dutyand so is the instruction, in the principles of the faith we hold, of those of our fellowcreatures, whom no other religious community claims for its proper and peculiar charge. We can apprehend no question to be made of the scriptural wholesome. ness of such instruction; and, deeply persuaded in our own minds, of the soundness of the doctrine of Christ, as it here is held, we cannot be justified in an indifference whether it be taught or not-nor can any reproach of illiberality towards any of our brethren who are not of our communion, attach to our concern, that the children of our poor should be reared in its peculiar nurture and admonition. We know scarcely any of our brethren who will question the soundness of the doctrine of Christ as we hold it; and, there can be no persuasion more reasonable, than that of the high advantage which consists to such as are subjects of this charity, in their being trained to the use, and the love, through habit, of a Liturgy which, like our's, is the repository of nothing but what the word of God plainly conveys or authorizes, for the counsel, the admonition, the reproof, the encouragement, or the consolation of man. It is, however, a peculiar practical character of Christian instruction, which it is most solicitously, I trust, the business of Sunday Schools, where we are concerned in them, to impart; an instruction which may powerfully constrain the conscience with respect to the obligations of domes tic, social, and civil duty. It is their first business to send the influences of Christian virtue into the family scenes of the hovel and the cottage, and substitute the graces of obedience, and love, and gentle ness, and faithfulness, for their horrid opposites of filial impiety and parental cruelty, reciprocal violence and brutal anger, and all the habits of mutual infidelity and fraud. It is their business next to transfuse the influences of habitual religious virtue from the domestic scenes to the social conduct of the poor, in all their intercourse and transactions with the world; to exhibit them there contented, humble, honest, pure, and apt to discern between moral good and evil; and then to capaci tate and dispose them to bear their part in the civil state, with that quiet peace. ableness and contentment, that will frustrate the machinations of evil men willing to employ the instrumentality of profligate and abandoned, because wholly unin. structed poor, for purposes of sedition, strife, and tumult. Such effects of Sunday School instruction, we cannot doubt, have, in a great degree, been produced; and you, doubtless, may witness them, if you personally inspect the scenes of life on which these institutions are intended principally to take effect. And who would not be a sharer of the happiness of witnessing such benefit done to society and his fellow-creatures? The man, whose happy lot it was to have first set on foot this charity, when only twenty years of its course had been run, by personal investigation ascertained that only one of the numerous inhabitants of the public prisons of his country had ever been a member of a Sunday School. Who would not hold the happiness of such a discovery precious beyond the price of any that earth and its interests can afford? Who that has a heart capable of entering into the real interests of humanity and his country, would not find a gratification in "having thus largely ministered to the di minution of crime and its misery, not to be exchanged for all that riches or ambition could supply him? Ambition! O that here, in the enterprises of a benevolence as efficacious, as pure, and disin Robert Raikes, Esq. a respectable member of the Church of England, whose name may still be unknown to some into whose hands this little publication may chance to fall. terested, it would oftener seek its object! The friend of the people bears an honour able title; but the name assumed often imports no real good to the people, either contemplated or done; and we may, without provoking any feeling in contradiction to it, at least hazard the assertion, that he is not half so much the friend of the people who inflames them to the strife of party questions-or who drags them from their labour, or their solitude, where they sit brooding over the misery of wanting labour to assert their universal privilege of suffrage, and contentiously prefer the pretensions of one to another patron of their rights, as he who firmly and steadily, but quietly faithful, to all their other seemingly greater, because more conspicuous interests, dedicates a portion at least of his time, and solicitude, and labour, to the real and important interest of the people and the state, which consists in creating, by means of religious and moral instruction, a character of peaceable, contented, industrious, upright, virtuous, and happy poverty.* You are labouring, then, permit me to say, gentlemen, who are engaged in advancing, by your countenance and personal participation in its business, the charity of Sunday Schools, you are labouring for the best interests of society and your country. The essential services which you are rendering to the people may not be a subject of popular acclamation, nor find the public favour and applause awaiting them. Such a reward, however, you are not looking for. It makes to you no obect of desire. The private consciousness of the pure intent of these services, directed only to the best, the moral, and immortal interests of your brethren by creation and by grace, is far preferable to it; and, even if this were not of force enough to encourage you to persevere in a work so arduous, and often exhibiting so little promise of present reward, yet the sense of obedience rendered to the commands of the Author and Lord of your faith, whose will it so plainly is, that the poor, and the children of the poor, be made, in such respects our charge, will not suffer you to be without inducement adequate to its demands. Most honourable is your work! Most ornamental to the profession which, as disciples of "It is our earnest desire, to the utmost possible extent, to make this charity available to the improvement of the moral state and character of people of colour; whose ease is, of course, involved in the general tenor of these reflec tions. While to highly respectable male members of our churches we are thankful for their superintendence and instruction of these schools, there has not been wanting in their service the patient persevering charity which characterizes the other sex. Christ, you bear; and certainly, may we not presume, acceptable in his sight, who has said, that a cup of cold water only, given to one of the least as such as there, in the name of a disciple, how much less the nourishment of the soul for life and for heaven, which you are imparting, shall in no wise lose its reward? On the particular conduct of our schools, I would beg your permission to submit, on this occasion, some reflections in the way of counsel, were I not fearful of abusing the indulgence of your attention; and, were I not sincerely persuaded of the better capacity which those indi vidually experiencd in it possess, than myself, in most respects, to judge of that which appertains to its usefulness and efficacy. I would but suggest, that while we receive as subjects of Sunday School instruction (for the sake chiefly of counte nance and example) the young, whose pa rents and pastors are most properly, and by indispensable obligation, their religious instructors, it were well always to bear most anxiously in mind, that the great primary design of these institutions, and that from which they mainly derive their interest, is the religious instruction of the poor, and most especially the children of the poor. We shall thus be led to estimate our numbers in a manner less likely delusively to satisfy us with the exertions we have made; and shall find much left for us to do in gathering into our schools the proper subjects of their influence: I mean, such as have no resort except such schools for any religious in struction, or any knowledge of their Maker and their happiness. There is reason to apprehend, that we have far fewer of this description of pupils than we ought to have; and I could wish to urge the seeking of them as a laudable and most important exercise of active benevos lence. May I be permitted further to suggest the great utility of familiarizing the young in these schools (care being first taken, that, by means of judiciously selected portions of them well learned, "they know the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make them wise unto salvation") with the various use of our Liturgy, and charg ing their memories with much of its language of prayer, adoration, and praise. While we thus may induce an attachment to it, not easily to be lost, as the best epitome of Christian truth and duty which we know, we shall possess them with the capacity, of all times and in any varying circumstances of their life, to address themselves suitably to their Maker. The temptations and trials of life will await them when they are no longer objects of your attention and care. Against these you will not have guarded thein; although you may, to a great degree, have fortified them to meet and endure them. And by what means can they so well be fortified to meet and endure temptation and trial as by the spirit and habit of prayer? This spirit and habit they can derive from no better source of earthly instruction than the Book of Common Prayer. From this you may fill their memories with sentiments and words of devotion suited to every conceivable exigency of their moral life; and from this you may convey to them that ability to pray, the want of which is often a most unhappy hindrance to the sinner, exhorted and almost persuaded to repent and turn to God; which is always the best solace of the wounded and contrite spirit; and which, under the sorrows of life, is the soul's best means of holding fast its integrity, and staying upon the Lord as its sure and steadfast trust. Amidst all the varieties, too, of res ligious opinion and conduct, to which, in a manner, in our estimation, to say the least, unnecessary to their good, they may be tempted, what fortitude and encou ragement to continue in the faith of primi tive, sober, scriptural, sound, and practi cal Christianity, may not be furnished them in the habit of resorting to this repository, instituted by the most learned and pious of the earliest days of the reformation, of all that is good and necessary to the use of edifying! I will not detain you longer, except to exhort that you be not weary of well-doing in the service of this charity. That the burden of it should rest upon so few in comparison of those who might be expected to be willing, if not glad to share it, is a circumstance deeply to be lament ed: and most earnestly would we beseech all who would testify their love to Christ as his disciples, or their love of their fellow-men, as brethren of the same family of nature and of grace, to be persuaded to give evidence of it in this excellent work of charity. Unquestionable as is its merit, and universal as is the testimony which experience bears in its favour, it has not among us its due portion of regard. Very many scarcely yet know of its existence: and very many of those who at our altars make public declaration of their faith in Christ, and their sense of the obligation, "while they have time, to do good to all men," yet withhold their attention from the repeated calls which have been addressed to them to patronise and promote it. Is this because of insufficient pains taken by ourselves personally to interest more of our brethren in its objects? Or is it because of a real incapacity on their part to care for them? The latter, surely, cannot be admitted. Let us endeavour that the other be not verified by our too little or too easily wearied or discouraged zeal. The Third Annual Report of the Board of Managers of the Charleston Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Society, made at the Anniversary of the Society, on Whit sun Tuesday, May 28th, 1822. THB Charleston Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Society having arrived at its third anniversary, the Board of Managers are called upon to express their gratitude to God for its continued usefulness to his Church, and for the flourishing condition of its schools. There is not, perhaps, in the compass of our experience, a charity which has higher or purer claims on the pious and benevo lent than Sunday School institutions. No personal feeling can be interested in their success. A love of self cannot influence any individual to devote his time, his labour, or his pecuniary assistance to their cause. This can only arise from the purest love of God, and the most disinterested love of man; from a thorough conviction that every Christian can, with the means which God has graciously given him, be instrumental in promoting the Redeemer's Kingdom, by the religious instruction of the rising generation. We are the almo ners of his bounty, and must dispense it in every way in which it may do good. And where can there be so much good done with the same means as in Sunday School institutions? Where can means so small produce effects so important? The religious education of children is not merely a temporal concern. It embraces in its awful consequences both time and eternity. It has respect to the eternal destiny of the soul, and influences the moral condition of society. Let any number of children grow up in the lawless gratification of their sinful appetites; in the uncontrolled indulgence of their passions; in disobedience to parents; in disregard of religion; and in the profanation of the Lord's Day, and it is easy to foresee the demoralizing influence of such examples over the community in which they live. On the other hand, let us contrast such examples with the effect of character produced by those who were early instructed in the knowledge of God their Saviour, and in the duty which they owe to their fellow-creatures and to theinselves. Piety and virtue guide them on their heavenly way, and the exercise of every benevolent feeling marks their intercourse with society. God is in all their thoughts, and the eternal happiness of his creatures in all their prayers. The Patriot, therefore, as well as the Christian, is deeply interested in the success of these institutions. Sunday Schools were originally de signed for the children of the poor: and Sunday Schools were first established at Gloucester, in England, in the year 1782, by they are still the primary object of their care. Many of these unfortunate beings, during the week, were closely employed in various occupations for the scanty support of their parents and families. The Lord's Day was a day of idleness and amusement, but not of religious rest. The day consecrated to Jehovah was profaned. not reverenced. During the solemn services of the sanctuary they were permitted to remain idle at home, or to riot in the streets. But Sunday Schools have given a new direction to their pursuits; have produced a train of new feelings; have improved their hearts, and given instruction to their minds. The improvement which this class of children were observed to derive from these institutions, in their moral deportment and religious attainments, confirmed the general usefulness of these schools. Children of the other classes of society joined them, and received a proportionate benefit. And, may it not be asked, are not these institutions calculated to be nearly as great a blessing to the children of the rich, as to the children of the poor? The natural propensities of children are every where the same. The piety and humility of the Christian are required of both; and education will give them to one as well as to the other. Are the rich then unwilling to give a religious education to their children, because it is freely bestowed upon the poor? Are not the souls of both immortal, and to be trained for a happy éternity? Does not the word of God deciare, that "the rich and poor meet toge ther;" that "the Lord is the Maker of them all?" Is it not, then, delightful to the finest feelings of the humble and the pious heart to see, in the sanctuary of the Lord of Hosts; in the temple of the meek and lowly Jesus; in the schools for the religious instruction of the rising genera tion, the children of the "rich and the' poor" meeting together as candidates for heaven? Surely "God," who "is no respecter of persons," will equally bless them all. Ah! if riches and honours should be allowed to operate against this union of feeling and of duty, how must we be humbled at the recollection, that the Lord of life and of glory condescended to mix with the poor; sat at table with sinners; associated with all whom he could make happy, and took their children "into his arms, and blessed them." The advantages resulting from these schools, to the children of the rich, are too important to be overlooked. Do they not prepare them, equally with the poor, for a life of piety, virtue, and humility? Do they not strengthen and enforce the re ligious instructions which their pious mo Robert Raikes, Esq. a zealous and pious mem ber of the Episcopal Church. thers or relations may give them at home? Do they not teach, in some of the classes, a course of instruction which the scholars would not be taught at home? And are not the kind attention of the teachers, not being members of their families; the general superintendence of the clergy; the rewards bestowed upon merit; the force of public example; the pleasure derived from the use of the library; all of them powerful inducements to exertion in the minds of the children, which private instruction at home would not be able to excite! Let parents examine the course of instruction in our schools, and then deter. mine for themselves, whether their children would be likely to acquire the same important information at home. Let us take the school at St. Michael's for an example, and we shall find the following plan pursued:-The first class, being youngest in years, or in religious attainments, learn the Church Catechism thoroughly, and the Collect for the day. The second class recite the Collect for the day; some portion of the Old or New Testament; a portion of the "Evidence from Prophecy for the Truth of Christianity and the Divinity of Jesus Christ, in a course of Catechetical instruction;" a Hymn, or part of a metri cal Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer; the order and arrangement of the several books of Scripture; and find the text of the preacher. The third class recite the Collect for the day; a portion of the Exposition of the Church Catechism, &c. published by the Protestant Episcopal Society; a Hymn, or part of a metrical Psalm. They are taught the use of the Book of Common Prayer in the service of the Church; an explanation of the Calendar; the method of finding the Lessons, &c. Some portion of the Gospel or Epistle for the day, and one or more of the Articles of Religion, are recited, and the text of the preacher found. Higher classes, with other exercises, are established as occasion may require. The extent of the exercises is in general prescribed; but a discretionary power is given to the teacher to regulate them according to the ability and opportunity of the scholar. Several classes of coloured children are likewise instructed by some elderly coloured members, under the inspection of the ministers of the church. Their instruction consists in a knowledge of the Church Catechism; some portions of the sacred writings, and the Psalms and Hymns. No secular instruction is given in this school. In reviewing the transactions of the Board of Managers since the last anni versary, there are some of sufficient importance to bring to the view of the society. The children of the poor, beside religi ous instruction, have derived, from their VOL. VI. admission into our schools, other important benefits. Some have been happily brought to the baptismal font, and "made members of Christ, and children of God;" others have been placed in the public secular schools; and several have been provided with decent clothing. The inclemency of the weather on so many Sundays during the last winter, prevented the attendance of several children, and oftentimes interrupted the exercises of the schools; but the classes are again filling, and all the exercises are resumed. It has always been an object of primary importance with the Board of Managers, to procure accommodations for the children in our churches. The Sunday School exercises are not intended to supersede, but to be an auxiliary to the public in struction of the sanctuary. The want of pews in St. Philip's and St. Michael's Churches, as was stated in the last report, operated in a considerable degree against the admission of the poor. But, with a spirit of Christian feeling towards these interesting innocents, the vestry of St. Michael's Church have generously appropriated to their use some pews in the gallery, where, under the immediate superintendence of some pious members, the children now enjoy the blessings of public worship. There is no reason to doubt, that the same liberality will be displayed by the vestry of St. Philip's, as soon as they shall have any seats at their disposal. Since the last report, a library has been established for the use of the children, by the name of the "Church Sunday School Library." It at present consists of about 170 volumes of religious, moral, and other instructive works of a moral tendency, which the superintendent at St. Paul's has obligingly taken under his charge as librarian. The use of the books is extended to all the children who do not for. feit that privilege by irregularity of behaviour. This highly interesting and useful addition to the schools, has been principally effected through the liberality of St. Michael's congregation. Further exertions, however, are necessary, to pay what is still owing for the books, as well as to increase their number. It is sincerely to be desired, and we trust there is no reason to doubt, that the other Episcopal congregations, who take an equal interest in the schools, will be equally liberal in their patronage of the library. One dollar only as a douation is solicited for this useful object. Donations of bocks to the library were received in the course of the year from the Right Rev. Bishop Bowen, the Rev. Dr. Daicho, and Messrs. Jacob Rapelye, Thọmas S Grimke, and E. Thayer, jun. The "Protestant Episcopal Society for the Advancement of Christianity in SouthCarolina," have presented, for the use of 39 |