By payment of $10 and upwards, from April 10 to May 13. Society, East Boston-Joseph Robbins, sup't., by the S. S. in Maverick Society, 10 00 10 00 10 00 10 00 20 00 10 00 10 00 North Falmouth.-Allen Crowell, Sup't., by the friends of Sabbath schools, Winchester, N. H.-Mrs. Henry Kingman, by her class of Misses in the 10 00 10 00 Rev. R. S Hitchcock, by the Sabbath school in North Congregational 10 00 DONATIONS TO THE SOCIETY, FOR ESTABLISHING AND SUSTAIN ING SABBATH SCHOOLS. From April 10 to May 13. James H Means, Sup't. Andover. From the Sabbath school in Rev. Mr. Jackson's Society, per 10 CO Attleboro.-From Miss Nancy Drown's class in Rev. Mr. Crane's Society, 100 Andover.-From Mrs. E. A., 200 Bristol, N. H.-From Mrs. R. Smith's class, 1 14 Boston-From Essex St. S. S., per Dea. Scudder, Sup't, 66 From a friend for Illinois, 12.00 2.00 Charlestown.-From Winthrop Sabbath school, their contribution for 1845, per Messrs. Skelton and Hyde, Sup'ts. 79 45 Cohassett. From members of Miss Maria Bates' class, in the Sabbath school of Rev. Mr. Babcock's Society, 10 00 Edgartown.-From Mrs. E. Bradley, per Rev. Mr. Cowles, 50 10 00 Haverhill.-From the Sabbath school in Rev. Mr. Hosford's Society, per 1.emuel F. Johnson, 15 00 Kalamazoo, Mich-From Rev. Wm. C. Dennison, money refunded on account of libraries, 1700 Leicester. From a friend, per Rev. Mr. Partridge, 10 00 Thaxter, Treasurer. Lowell. From the infant school in John St. Society, per Dea. Bancroft, Montpelier, Vt.-From the Sabbath school in 1st Congregational Society, Northampton. From the S. S. in Rev. Mr. Swift's Society, From Miss Phebe Parsons' class of young Ladies in do. Portsmouth, N. H.-From Mrs. Mary A. M. Bigelow's S. S. class, Phillipston.-From the ladies' sewing circle in school district No. 3, per Randolph, Vt-From Mrs. E. S. Clark's S. S. class of young ladies, Chamberlain, Treasurer, Stone, President, Saxonville. From the Ladies' Home Missionary Society, per Mrs. Dana 1851, Sept. 2. THE CONGREGATIONAL VISITER. NO. 6....JUNE, 1846.....VOL. III. THE SABBATH SCHOOL CONCERT. CELEBRATION OF FAST DAY IN MASON STREET SABBATH SCHOOL, APRIL 2, 1846. THIS well-ordered school assembled in the usual place of meeting at one o'clock, P. M. A bright assemblage it was. The apartment was thronged with parents and friends, rejoicing in the signs of lively interest around them; with teachers, smiling upon the fruits of their prayerful labors; and, above all, with eager children, whose animated looks lighted up the scene. The worthy superintendent, according to his custom, ever devising means to keep up the spirit of the school, had prepared a beautifully printed scheme of exercises. The first page bore a handsome engraving of a heathen family carrying their offerings to the idol, either parent, and each of the children, to the very infant, having offerings in their hands. It could not fail to suggest many thoughts, comparing the different conditions of heathen and of Christian children, and the contrast between their respective prospects for eternity. The exercises consisted in the reading of the Governor's proclamation calling for a Fast, singing, responsive readings VOL. III. 11 of selected Scriptures, appropriate to the day, prayer, recitations by the scholars, dialogues and remarks. All were heard with attention, and a very desirable state of feeling seemed to pervade the whole assembly. The closing remarks, occupying nearly fifteen minutes, were to the following effect. Dear Children and Friends,-Our excellent Governor, in his proclamation just read, expresses his hopes, that the pious custom of our fathers in observing this day, will not be neglected. But Fast days are not what they used to be. Our fathers held them much oftener than we do; sometimes, perhaps, when they would not; for scarcity of food occasionally forced the observance. Good John Cotton, at such times, spent five and six hours in praying and preaching without intermission. This was fasting "with a witness ;" for the dinner hour would be long past, before the people returned to their homes. Children, you have learned the catechism. That catechism was prepared by the Westminster Assembly of Divines. It is a lasting proof of their piety and wisdom. While they were preparing it, the earl of Essex marched his army out of London to fight for the liberty of the country. He asked the Assembly to keep a day of fasting, to pray for him and his army. There is a letter from a Scotch minister giving an account of the day which was kept. He says, it was the best day he had seen for a long time. They "spent from nine to five very graciously. After Dr. Twisse had begun with a brief prayer, Mr. Marshall prayed large two hours, most divinely, confessing our sins in a wonderful, pathetic, and prudent way: after, Mr. Arrowsmith preached an hour, then a psalm; thereafter, Mr. Vines prayed near two hours, and Mr. Palmer preached an hour, and Mr. Seaman prayed near two hours, then a psalm." Then Mr. Henderson made a short exhortation, and Dr. Twisse closed all with a short prayer and the benediction. 1846.] Sabbath School Concert. 123 There was a fast day for you! One reason why the Puritans delighted in such long services might have been, their living in a day of persecution. Their opposers wanted to stop them from praying and preaching as they liked hence it was natural for them, when they could have their own way, to make the most of the opportunity. The Sabbath was spent much in the same way. They began in good season and the services of public worship were long. The intermission was short; and then the afternoon services lasted two or three hours more. Then came their Sabbath schools; which were of the best kind, though very different from ours. They had a Sabbath school in every family. The father was the superintendent, and the mother was teacher, and all the children and servants were scholars. The first thing done was to "say the catechism." Then each one repeated all that could be remembered of the sermons preached that day. That one who could repeat the most, was the best of the lot. They looked upon this exercise as of great importance to fix the instructions of the pulpit on the mind. What came in at one ear, had to stay some time in the head before it went out at the other ear: and much of it would not go out at all. To help them in this exercise, they took notes of the sermon. Each one, old and young, was furnished with a blank book; and as they all wrote after the minister, they looked like a congregation of "reporters," reporting with all their might for the morning papers. Many of these old note-books are found lying in dusty garrets. The only part of the good old custom which has come down to our times, is the practice of "bringing home the text:" and it is to be feared that even this is going quite out of use. Every one ought to carry home at least the text, which is the fountain-head and best part of the sermon. But too many children and older persons are like the dog, whose master took him along to church. The dog was not allowed to run up and down the aisles, to the annoyance of the congregation, but was obliged to lie down on a little mat at his master's feet, where he slept as sound as any of the hearers. At last the master died, and the pew was sold to another owner. But the dog had been so well trained, that as soon as the second bell began to toll on Sabbath morning, he trotted off to meeting, and scratched at the pew-door till it was opened for him. The new owner was a good-natured man, and always allowed the dog, as long as he lived to claim it, to occupy his accustomed place. But he said, "he didn't see as it did the poor fellow any good, for he never carried the text home!" This story is almost too much of a “tit-bit” for a fast day but we tell it for your good. We fear that too many of the children are no wiser than the poor old dog. It is to be hoped, that you will all "stick to the text." It is a good habit, both for preachers and hearers. Our Sabbath schools have this one advantage over those of our forefathers, that they gather in the children of numerous families, which would have no such school at home as we have described. Such families, where there is no prayer, and no catechising, are much more numerous than they used to be. It is a great mercy that this provision is made for them. Dear children, never forget what all these things are meant for. They are to help you to get to heaven. Do you not wish to go there? Have you no dear friends there, waiting for you? Do you not wish to meet them once more, and be happy with them for ever? Some of you have a father gone there; and some a mother; and some a dear little brother or sister. Oh that you may all be pilgrims to the blessed city where they live. They wait for you to join them there. They are all ready to sing the last strains of that beautiful song in which we united just now ; "Lift up your heads, ye golden gates, And let the little travelers in." M. |