STANZAS,

WRITTEN AT THE ANNIVERSARY OF RELIGIOUS HOPE.

Years now have passed since first I prayed,

With untold agony of grief,

That God would wash my sins away,

And give my aching heart relief.

But, O, I never can forget

The twilight of that Sabbath day,
When calmly to my God I gave,
Myself and all I have away.

I could not call the work my own,
The Holy Spirit was my guide,
And the deep stain upon my soul,

Was cleansed from Jesus' flowing side.

Made willing by his blessed power,
I chose the Saviour for my friend,
And cast as worthless 'neath my feet,
All things that would his love offend.
And then, when solemn stillness reigned,
With holy fear, and sacred vow,

I ratified the seal of heaven,

Once placed upon my infant brow.
1 may not, cannot, tell the peace,
Which, like a river, deep and pure,
Welled forth within my new born soul,
By God's eternal word made sure.
That word, my joy, my life, my hope,
I firmly pressed it to my heart,
And felt that from its precepts true,
I never could or should depart.

O, would that thus my soul had dwelt,
By pastures green, and waters still,
And only cared to learn and know,
To do my heavenly Father's will.
But where is now that quiet trust,

That calm and sure repose in God,
Which once I felt in weal or woe,

Alike in joy, or 'neath the rod?

1846.]

Sabbath School in Abington.

If I am Christ's and he is mine,

What can I ask or wish beside?
Then why this weary, restless heart,
Which never can be satisfied.
I hear a voice of mild reproof,
It speaketh from afar, yet near,
"Backsliding one, return to me,

And I will wipe that bitter tear."
I come, on this my natal day,

The birth-day of my precious soul,
I come, O Saviour of the lost,

And at thy cross my burdens roll.

I know that thou canst peace restore,
The deep, dark waves of sorrow still,
While all above, around, within,

Becomes obedient to thy will.

From all the sufferings of the past,

O let me learn to trust in thee,
To rest in God my only hope,
For time and for eternity.

Charlestown, June, 1846.

SABBATH SCHOOL IN ABINGTON.

183

X.

THE Superintendent of the Sabbath school in the first parish of Abington, in his report, says, We have had a spirtual drought in our school, during the past year; but we have now some signs of a shower of grace. Some of the teachers begin to inquire, "Why has the Lord deserted us? Have we grieved away the Spirit? Have I been as faithful to my class, as I should have been?"

There are also many things to encourage us, on the part of the scholars. One is inquiring what she must do to be saved? There is an increased interest in the lessons. This, it is said, may be owing to a change in the Question Books, from the deep reasoning of Paul to the Romans, to the very interesting Parables of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The school has increased in numbers, the past year, from 143 to 179. The contributions for benevolent objects have been about double what they were the previous year.

VERMONT SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.

THE anniversary of the VERMONT SABBATH SCHOOL UNION was celebrated at Middlebury, in June last, in connection with the meeting of the General Convention of the State. After the reading of the following report of the Secretary, Rev. Mr. STEELE, of Castleton, the meeting was addressed by the Secretary of the Mass. S. S. Society. After which it was voted that the Union become Auxiliary to the Mass. S. S. Society.

The review of another year presents as usual, abundant matter for thanksgiving to him, on whose smiles depends the success of the cause of Sabbath schools. The past year has not been a year of revivals in the churches, neither has it been a year of revivals in Sabbath schools. Still the schools connected with this Union have continued, and so far as . numbers and interest in communicating and receiving instruction is concerned, with usual prosperity. Through the blessing of God, these nurseries of Zion have been remarkably preserved from the ravages of death. The system of instruction has been varied, and in a quiet manner, and with a constancy which cannot fail to make abiding impressions.

It is a cheering fact, that the system of Sabbath school instruction, after so many years experience, continues to enjoy the confidence of the churches, and has now come to be regarded as an essential part of the established means of grace. At the same time we are constrained to say that their real importance is not duly estimated; and it does not appear that the churches have any adequate idea of the good they might be made to accomplish, with united efforts and prayers.

IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING STATISTICS.

It is much to be regretted, that the statistics of Sabbath schools are so imperfectly kept. In no department of the Christian enterprise is there such deficiency, and yet there is no one where statistics are of so great importance,—and none in which they would be examined in after years with so

1846.

Vermont S. S. Union.

185

much interest and profit. The church will never know what might be done, by suitable attention to the rising race, only as she traces efforts to their results, and marks the connection. By reason of the constant changes of society, and the wide dispersion of those nourished together in childhood, as soon as they are prepared to exhibit a character, and also because in very many cases, the results are a long time in manifesting themselves; it is impossible the church should have any just knowledge of them, without some general system of statistics, by means of which annual returns can be made with readiness and accuracy, and each should be able to look back for years, and mark the history of those who have belonged to it.

It has seemed to your Secretary, that a system might be devised, which should secure this object, if its importance were understood, and some one connected with each school would perseveringly attend to it. For instance, let a common form for a roll of scholars be adopted by all our schools, in which the name of every scholar shall be inserted in alphabetical order, the time of entering the school, his character for attendance,- for good lessons,- for consistent deportment, whether his parents or guardians are pious,the time of leaving the school, and the reasons for it, and should he remove from the place, record the place to. which he removed, that he may be inquired after in time to come. Let there be another roll for teachers, of a similar character and plan, with this addition, that the names of scholars from time to time, be written under his name, so that by referring to the roll of scholars, his success as a teacher may be known at any time.

Such a system would be of invaluable benefit, but it can be secured only by means of uniform blank records, prepared and adopted by each school; and the appointment of a faithful secretary for each school.

Owing to imperfection in reports, it is impossible to form

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any definite opinion as to the proportion of children who are enlisted; nor yet of the actual amount of what is doing and has been done. The reports show that there is an interesting number engaged in the study of the Bible, and that considerable interest is felt. Some schools present the delightful spectacle of old and young engaging in the same work, and embracing a large part of the congregation. This is as it should be every where. The old are not too old to learn, and the young will be encouraged and stimulated by their good example. Several schools are cultivating the spirit of benevolence, by making stated contributions for some specified object. One school reports nearly six dollars, another ten, and another fifty-one; thus showing that these nurseries of the church may be made to bring forth fruit to God, even before the trees are grown.

THE SABBATH SCHOOL IN FITCHBURG.

A Sabbath school has existed in this town, in some form, for many years; but no records were kept of its organization or its proceedings, until the year 1825. A society was then formed, and a regular Board of officers and managers appointed. Of the first officers of the Society, nine in number, four have fallen asleep and gone, we trust, to their rest in heaven; of the others, two only are now members of this school.

The first school was placed under the care of a superintendent and four assistants. Of these, three are still connected with the school, one has removed to a distance and one has died. The number of teachers at the commencement of the school, was twenty-seven,-nine males and eighteen females. Eleven of these remain connected with us,-four have been teachers the past year. Of the rest, some are connected with other schools in town; some have removed; and few have deceased.

From its commencement, the school has had many warm