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The Board of Education of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States was organized in 1819. It aided during the year 1838, 414 young men preparing for the ministry at 95 different institutions of learning; and its receipts were $35,069. The Rev. Francis McFarland is Corresponding Secretary, the Rev. William Chester, General Agent, the Rev. James A. Peabody, Financial Secretary, and J. B. Mitchell, Esq., Treasurer.

There are three or four other denominational Education Societies in this country; but their operations as yet have been small.

Other Education Societies as the "National Education Society of England," and the "British and Foreign School Society" are societies of great usefulness, but are not strictly and exclusively religious, and have not in view the education of pious young men for the Christian ministry.

(G. p. 172.)

Sabbath School Societies.

As early as the year 1695 the Synod of Germany established a species of Sabbath school instruction, which was confined to the "unmarried youth of both sexes who had received confirmation." Before this period, schools for this purpose seem to have been formed in connection with some of the Roman Catholic churches of Europe. In the sixteenth century, Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, established schools, in which the Catholic faith was taught and its ceremonies were observed. These schools are thus described by the Rev. Daniel Wilson, in 1823, while in that country in his tour through Europe. He says, "After our English service, we went to see the catechising. This was founded by Borromeo, in the sixteenth century, and is peculiar to Milan. The children meet in classes of ten or twenty, drawn up between the pillars of the cathedral, and separated from each other by curtains, the boys on one side and the girls on the other. In all the churches of the city there are classes also. Many grown people are mingled with the children. A priest sat in the midst of each class, and seemed to be familiarly explaining the Christian religion. The sight was quite interesting. Tables for learning to write were placed in the recesses. The children were exceedingly attentive. At the door of each school, the words, 'Pax vobis,' (peace be unto you,) were inscribed on boards. Each scholar had a small pulpit, with a green cloth in front, bearing the Borromeo motto, 'Humilitas.'"

Though Borromeo may have been the founder of a particular class of Sabbath schools for his diocess at Milan, yet it remained for another greater than he in this work to establish them for the world. The present Sabbath school system originated about half a century ago in the benevolence of Robert Raikes, printer, of Gloucester, England. "One day," says he, "in the year 1782, I went into the suburbs of my native city, to hire a gardener. The man was from home, and while I waited his return, I was much disturbed by a group of noisy boys who infested the street. I asked the gardener's wife the cause of these children being so neglected and depraved. 'Oh, Sir,' said she, if you were here on a Sunday, you would pity them indeed. We cannot read our Bibles in peace for them.' Can nothing be done, I asked for these poor children? Is there nobody near who would take them to school on Sundays? I was informed that there was a person in the neighborhood who would probably do it. I accordingly hired a woman to teach these poor children on Sundays, and thus commenced the first Sunday school." The plan succeeded. Raikes died in 1811, and during the nineteen years from the time he commenced the first Sabbath school, up to the time of his death, Sabbath schools had multiplied in Great Britain to the number of 300,000.

As early as September 24, 1785, Mr. Cowper addressed a letter to the Rev. John Newton, from which is taken the following extract: "Mr. Scott, (Rev. Thomas Scott,) called upon us yesterday; he is much inclined to set up a Sunday school, if he can raise a fund for that purpose. Mr. Jones has had one for some time at Clifton, and Mr. Unwin writes me word that he has been thinking of nothing else day and night for a fortnight." The following extract is from a letter of Rev. John Wesley, dated London, June 17, 1787, and is very expressive of his views and feelings: "I am glad you have taken in hand that blessed work of setting up Sunday schools in Chester. It seems these will be one great means of reviving religion throughout the nation. I wonder Satan has not yet sent out some able champion against them."

Considering the condition and too often the character of those whom it was designed especially to benefit, the institution was at first unpopular with the upper classes in society. It was thought it might be very useful to the poor and ignorant, but that the more wealthy and better informed did not need its assistance. It was found, however, that all, of all classes, might be benefited, and it has now for a long time been common for scholars of all descriptions to attend these schools. The first adoption of the system in this country was in the city of Philadelphia. Something similar had been attempted by way of catechetical instruction, but this was all.

And now besides a more varied and efficient system of teaching, an entirely new field was to be cultivated in the way of providing more suitable books for the young to read.

The first Sabbath School Society in the United States was, "The First Day or Sunday School Society in Philadelphia," established in 1791; among the founders of which were Bishop White, Dr. Rush, Robert Ralston, Esq., Paul Beck, Jr., William Rawle, Thomas P. Cope, Matthew Carey, and Thomas Armat.

In 1803, Sunday Schools were formed in New York, by Mrs. Isabella Graham, in 1806, in Kent, (Maryland,) by the Rev. S. Wilmer, and in 1813, in Albany. Since that time, they have been in all parts of the country constantly increas ing. "Where there is a population, there is a Sabbath School." The system prevails throughout the length and breadth of the country.

The American Sunday School Union was formed at Philadelphia, out of the Philadelphia Sunday and Adult School Union, at its seventh anniversary, in May, 1824. Its officers are, a President, a large number of Vice Presidents, a Corresponding and a Recording Secretary, a Board of Managers, and several Committees, of which the Committee on Books is the most important, it being understood that it is always to be composed of men of different religious denominations, and that no book is to appear as a book of the Society, without having first received the approbation of each and every member of the Committee.

After the lapse of two or three years, the business of the Society increased to such a degree as to require more extensive accommodations, and in March, 1827, the buildings now occupied by the institution in Chestnut street, Philadelphia, were purchased at an expense of forty thousand dollars; sixteen of which were contributed by the citizens of Philadelphia, and nearly twenty thousand are still due.

The general objects to which the funds of the American Sunday School Union are appropriated are two fold.

1. The establishment and support of Sunday Schools in destitute places, especially in the Western and Southern States.

2. The distributing of the Society's publications at the lowest prices, or gratuitously.

Not less than 16,000 schools, 115,000 teachers, and 800,000 pupils have been reported as auxiliary; and of the teachers and scholars, upwards of 50,000 have been reported to have connected themselves with the church of Christ.

On the printed catalogue of books for the year 1826-7 there were 60 containing 3,500 pages; for the year 1832-3 there were 300 containing 26,000 pages; for the year 1836-7

there were 500 containing 45,000 pages. The expenses in the department of publications in 1825 were $7,500; in 1836 they were $38,597. The amount of sales in 1825 was $5,563 93, and in 1836, $72,776 85. The number of pages of stereotype plates in 1825, was less than a thousand; in 1836, not far from fifty thousand.

The Society published for several years a monthly periodical called the Sunday School Magazine, but in its stead it now publishes a weekly paper entitled, Sunday School Journal, and Advocate of Christian Education. It also publishes the Youth's Friend and Infant's Magazine.

The officers of the Society for 1838 were Alexander Henry, Esq., President; Paul Beck, Jr. Esq., Treasurer; Frederick W. Porter, Esq., Corresponding Secretary, and Frederick A. Packard, Esq., Recording Secretary, besides Vice Presidents and a Board of Managers.

The Society has made special exertions in behalf of the Valley of the Mississippi, and the destitute parts of the country generally. The resolution which was adopted at the Anniversary of the Society in 1830,-"That the American Sunday School Union, in reliance upon divine aid, will, within two years, establish a Sunday School in every destitute place where it is practicable, throughout the Valley of the Mississippi," has, to a very considerable extent, been carried into effect.

The Massachusetts Sabbath School Union, composed principally of the Congregational and Baptist denominationswas formed, auxiliary to the American Sunday School Union, May 24, 1825. The Board, having decided that it was expedient for the Union to publish books in addition to those furnished by the Parent Society, appointed a Publishing Committee in May, 1828, and during that year they issued nine new books, and the sales of the Depository were more than double what they had been any preceding year.

In February, 1832, the Secretary, Rev. Artemas Bullard, in resigning his office, presented various reasons to the Board, why he regarded it expedient for the Union to be divided. The Board approved of these reasons, and appointed a committee to make arrangements for a division, which was harmoniously effected at the annual meeting in May, 1832. The Baptists, immediately after the division, organized themselves into a State Society, retaining the old name of Massachusetts Sabbath School Union. In 1836 they extended their organization and adopted the name of New England Sabbath School Union.

The Massachusetts Sabbath School Society was organized, by the Congregational Life Members and Delegates of the old Massachusetts Sabbath School Union, May the 30th, 1832. Hon. William Reed, of Marblehead, who had been President of the Union, during the whole seven years of its existence, was chosen President of the Society, and continued to sustain that office, in a manner highly commendable, till his decease, February 18, 1837. The objects of this Society are much like those of the Union, only less restricted. The officers are a President, three Vice Presidents, Secretary and General Agent, Treasurer, Auditor and twelve Managers. The Board of Managers are divided into three Committees, viz., one on Agencies, one of Publication and one on Depository. The present year (1839) Hon. Samuel T. Armstrong is President, Rev. Asa Bullard, Secretary and General Agent, and Charles Scudder, Esq., Treasurer.

There are connected with this Society, not far from 450 Schools, embracing between 8,500 and 9,000 teachers and superintendents, and from 55 to 60,000 scholars; of whom from 15 to 20,000 are over 18 years of age. During the first six years of this Society, there were reported 1,068 teachers and 6,943 scholars who had become hopefully pious, most of whom had made a public profession of religion.

The prosperity and usefulness of the Society has been steadily increasing from its commencement. The amount of sales at the Depository, for the last three years, has been from 18,000 to $22,000 annually. No branch of the Society's operations has contributed more to its efficiency than its Publishing Department. The present number of its publications, exclusive of its cards, maps, &c., is 212. During the last seven years, the schools in this State, have contributed for the gratuitous circulation of these books, between $3,000 and $4,000. The publications of the Society are sold more or less extensively in nearly all the States in the Union. The monthly periodical, the Sabbath School Visiter, also, has a wide circulation.

The Society is sustained, in its pecuniary operations, wholly by the business of the Depository and Life Memberships, without calling on the churches for public contributions and subscriptions.

The only Sunday School Society of other countries, from which a report has been obtained, is the Sunday School Society for Ireland, formed November, 1819. From the twenty-first Report of this Society, its receipts for the year were £3,330 3s. 3d.-£2,771 11s. 8d. by subscriptions and donations. The number of schools connected with the Society, January 1, 1831, was 251; gratuitous teachers,

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