SABBATH SCHOOL VISITER. VOL. III. FEBRUARY, 1835. NO. 2. ON THE DEATH OF A SABBATH SCHOOL SCHOLAR, AGED 17 YEARS. I saw a bud, both fair and bright, It bloomed awhile, with brilliant hue, Nor flow'r, nor stem, nor root was seen, It was a plant of heav'nly clime, Its homeward course then speeding. My youthful friends, this blooming bud, This fragrance too, a lesson speaks Of virtues, and a spirit meek, Ye mourning friends lift up your eyes, Behold this spirit joining With angels, seraphs, in the skies, Heaven's hallelujahs singing. Hamilton, Nov. 1834. M. A. D. NOTE-All the articles in the Visiter, hereafter, may be regarded as original in this work where notice to the contrary, hy or otherwise, is not given.-The ae knowledgment, For the Sabbath School Visiter, greatly defaces the Vol. when bound, and will henceforth be omitted.-Ed. VOL. III. 3 FOR THE SABBATH SCHOOL CONCERT.-NO. III. Requisite for a good Concert. 2. A good Concert requires a general and punctual attendance. No one who duly considers the objects of this meeting, can doubt that it is one of the most important, and ought to be rendered one of the most interesting and useful religious meetings. The missionary Concert is important. But the great cause of missions depends, for its future success, under God, very much on our Sabbath schools. In these schools are to be trained our future Brainards and Martyns. Unless, therefore, the divine blessing which is implored in the Sabbath School Concert, be bestowed, and the dear youth in our Sabbath schools be converted, where shall be found our future pioneers in the missionary enterprise? The conference and the weekly prayer meeting are important. But unless God's Spit, in its regenerating power, is sent down upon our Sabbath schools, where, in a few years, will be found those who shall meet in religious conference and in the prayer meeting? The Sabbath School Concert, therefore, has claims on our attention that are hardly second to those of any other occasional religious meeting. Upon whom, now, do these claims rest? Obviously on the members of Sabbath schools, and on all interested in this flourishing Institution -on all; for the interests of all are involved in the future success or failure of this enterprize. If then, this obligation to sustain this meeting be general, be universal, it is, of course, uniform; and demands a uniform and punctual attendance. Have we felt these obligations? Have we realized when we have come into this meeting late, or when, for some trifling reason, we have neglected to attend it, that we were violating our duty? The presence of each pupil, at this meeting, exerts a real and important influence on every other member of his class, and on the other classes of the school, and through him and them, on the future success of this grand enterprise. The presence of every teacher is, or ought to be felt by his pupils; and so also the presence of the parent, by his children. His mere presence speaks to them in a language more sincere and persuasive, than ordinarily falls from the lips of mortals. It tells them the interest which he feels for them, and the desires of his heart for their spiritual welfare. The mutual and reciprocal influence extends beyond the compass of our most enlarged present conceptions. It will not be seen in all its transcendent, amazing importance till, in eternity's light, it shall flash upon our unobstructed vision. May we be found prepared to view it with delight! B AN INTERESTED TEACHER. The A teacher in our school, while recently absent from town on a visit among her friends, was urged to spend the Sabbath with them. She declined the invitation. principal reason she urged for returning home on Saturday, a distance of 12 miles, although the weather was rather unpleasant, was, that she could not willingly leave her Sabbath school class. O that all Sabbath school teachers were thus interested and careful in regard to punctuality. Maine, Dec. 1834. ADVICE TO TEACHERS; OR A TEACHER'S EXPERIENCE. F. Mr. Editor,-Permit me through the Visiter, to recommend to teachers, especially in Boston, who are complaining that their Sabbath duty is a task, and that they find no interest in their classes, to adopt a course somewhat similar to the one I have adopted with my own class, and which, I humbly trust, has been highly beneficial to them and profitable to my own soul. I believe from my own experience that it is of the highest importance for the teacher, if he would do his pupils any good, to ingratiate himself thoroughly into their good feelings and confidence. In order to do this, I suppose it indispensable that he become personally and familiarly acquainted with each individual of his class. He must give them full assurance that he feels an interest in their general welfare. The welfare of the soul, of course, should always come first; but I think it well for the teacher, so far as consistent, to enter into the feelings of the scholar in all his affairs and thereby evince to him, not only by the tongue, but by the eye, the heart, and the whole soul, that he cares for him, and is his real friend. When this mutual good feeling exists in the whole class, (which, by the way, can hardly be expected by merely meeting each other on the Sabbath) if the teacher be a faithful christian, there is certainly a very cheering prospect of success; but without this, very little or nothing can be done. We may sow; but neither we nor our successors will probably ever reap.-For nearly three years I occupied the place of a teacher in different schools; and I verily believe all that time and labor lost, or nearly so, for want of that cordial sympathy which should always exist between the Teacher and his scholars. I engaged in the school because I felt it a duty, and could not quiet my conscience in neglecting it. This I fear, is the fact with too large a portion of our nominally christian teachers. My class came from Sabbath to Sabbath, more to obey their parents, I presume, than from any real love to the school. We met, to be sure, face to face; but I fear not heart to heart. At length I became nearly discouraged. It seemed to be "up hill;" and for a while I left the school, and gave my class into other hands. ANOTHER ATTEMPT. About a year since, I was requested to take charge of a class of six boys 14 or 15 years of age, in another school, which I consented to do. In my new class I found the same discouragements which no doubt my successor found in my old class. No seriousness, no attention, no interest. they appeared to care but very little about me, or what I said to them, as they probably, thought I should care little or nothing about them. I had now new cause for discouragement, and began to reflect, if this be the result of seven or ten years' instruction on these minds, what prospect can I have of doing them good. We went on a few Sabbaths in this way. I occasionally rebuked them rather severely for their inattention and disorderly conduct, but found it did no good, and that it was a poor way to gain the confidence and good will of my class. I then resolved to try a different course with them; and if possible, to gain their affections by treating them kindly at all times. I told them I should no more deal in hard words, let their conduct towards me be as it might. I referred them to the kind, yet melting rebuke of Christ to Peter after he had denied him. John 21: 15-18. I told them I desired to do them good, and should try a few Sabbaths longer, hoping there might be a change in the appearance of things. And 1 am now very happy to say there is a change and a happy one. Instead of inattention and sport, there is now good attention and a degree of seriousness. I need not say I have become very much attached to my scholars, and that I believe the attachment is mutual. We generally meet with a cordial smile; and what is better, one of these youth has recently given good evidence that he is already on the way to 'Mount Zion above.' He told me a few evenings since, he believed he had given his heart to Christ, and that he had set his face toward heaven never to turn back. INFLUENCE OF FAMILIAR ACQUAINTANCE: I became intimately acquainted with my scholars by inviting them to my room to pass an evening, where we have spent many pleasant, and I trust, profitable hours. I always received them cordially, and endeavored to entertain them with as much respect and attention as any friends whatever. In this way we became intimately acquainted with each other. The evenings were generally spent in religious and moral conversation. I found, to my full satisfaction, that I could get a much nearer access to their minds by inviting them into my own ground than in any other way. I could there talk with them about their temporal concerns, their future prospects for life, and their occupations; and give them advice on these subjects, and the result of my own experience. By pursuing this course, they have been made to feel that I am indeed their friend and interested for their good. And now, when I apply the truths of the gospel to their hearts, they seem to feel its power, and the prospect is cheering that they will yet become Christians. Now Sir, I would that all the teachers who are complaining of cold hearts, and cold, uninteresting classes, would really set themselves to work, to win the affections and hearts of their scholars, which, nineteen cases in twenty, they may easily do, and they would no longer find the duties of the Sabbath school a task, but a pleasure—a luxury to the soul. Their hearts would then be warmly engaged, their ChrisVOL. III. 3* |