the night, shining round about us, cheer us onward to duty.__The prince of wise men said, nearly three thousand years ago, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." To this rule there is no exception. Solomon had in his mind not occasional nor casual instruction in the oracles of God, but a constant training therein. Happy the child that has a well ordered, godly family for its father, and a peaceable, prosperous church for its mother. Under the hand and religious discipline of both these religious parents, the child will not fail of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ; and, becoming luminous with the light and love of the gospel, will "shine as a light in the world, and holding forth the word of life." It is an awful misfortune to be destitute of the training which each of these parents, and both of them united, confer. But what an orphanage, when the child has neither a godly family into which he may retreat and hide himself from evil, nor a peaceful, well regulated congregation of happy Christians, to take him up and nurture him for the skies! Grace, like Nature, operates through appointed channels, and operates constantly. The soil, the seed, dews, showers, and sunshine, seedtime and harvestall these we have in the kingdom of grace; and if we apply ourselves early, constantly, diligently to the implantation of truth in the minds of the young, this grateful and vigorous virgin soil, refreshed with heavenly dews and showers, and warmed by the rays of the Sun of Righteousness, will yield a hundred fold of blessing to them, reward to us, and glory to God.

All that has been or may be said in relation to a particular family, will apply with equal propriety to the church. For she hath many children and youths in charge, who, under her training, are growing up for her seats and for glory, or else under her neglect are abandoned to moral and religious desolation. Every church, therefore, ought to have an arrangement to take not only the children of her own members, but all that may come under her influence, and teach them as Abraham taught his children and wards; and devote them as Hannah devoted Samuel; and train them as faithful mothers trained Timothy.

This duty appears so clear, and the argument which sustains it so forcible, that it is difficult to believe there could be any plausible or serious objection urged against it. Yet there is an objection, often urged, and we doubt not, honestly urged, which, for the sake of many honest but scrupulous minds, will be briefly noticed. "I was spoiled by sectarian teaching," says one; and "I was led away by infidel teaching," says another; "I have not recovered from the perplexity of mind occasioned by creeds and catechisms," adds a third; and all unite in saying, “We will leave the rising generation free to seek the truth for themselves, and not cause them to mourn in after years, as we now mourn, that their youthful minds had been fettered and carried into captivity." Strange logic! Because I was spoiled with creeds, therefore my children shall not be taught to love the Bible! I, unfortunately, was persuaded to drink of muddy streams; therefore I will not lead the young to the pure river of life that flows, clear as crystal, from the throne of God! I ate of the bitter clusters of a poisonous vine, and I still taste the bitterness of

the grapes of gall; therefore I dare not put forth my hand and pluck the fruit of the tree of life, and furnish the appointed food for the hungering spirits of my children, that they may eat and live forever! Is there danger of sectarianism or infidelity, in teaching the young to love the Bible, and in furnishing them with the aids necessary to interest them in the facts, testimonies, precepts, promises, history, prophecy, philosophy, poetry, morality, and piety of the word of God? Be assured of one thing: the young will receive ideas and impressions from some source or other; and if you fear to teach them the truth, lest you should interfere with their freedom of thought, there are those who will not fear to teach them false principles, and bias their young minds against the simple truth of God, beyond recovery! If home furnishes no attractions, and the church affords nothing entertaining and profitable, there are false attractions, of which the world is full, to lure the young and inexperienced heart from God. If good books and good counsellors occupy not the minds of your children, bad books and bad counsellors will. And can it be doubted that this fear of enslaving the young mind, which abandons it, inexperienced and unwarned, to its own course, will eventuate in the sad and hopeless captivity of the youthful spirit by some of the enemies of truth and righteousness that throng the land, and diligently seek for speils?

Many and forcible are the reasons and motives to induce us to the diligent cultivation of the minds of the young in the Family, the Bible Class, and the Sunday School.

God has ever approbated the work of religious education. Read the following passages: Gen. xviii. 17-19; Ďeut. iv. 9 & 6: 6-8; Ps. lxxviii. 2-8, Eph. vi. 4; 2 Tim. iii. 14, 15.

God pronounced judgments on such as neglected it. 1 Samuel iii.

11-14.

The noblest feelings of the heart prompt to this work. Surely it requires not argument to convince the parent that every tender feeling which he indulges towards his offspring will be gratified in their religious advancement; and that through every scene of life and in the dying hour it will cheer the heart to reflect that he has imparted to them that wisdom which is better than rubies, whose fruit is better than fine gold, and its revenue than choice silver.

Christian benevolence finds here an appropriate field of labor and usefulness. Look around upon the multitudes growing up to manhood without the knowledge of God. How welcome to the benevolent heart the task of enlisting these in the study of the Bible, and thus to snatch them from destruction, and train_them for usefulness and honor in the service of the Redeemer! Facts could be given in large abundance, were it necessary, to prove that great things have already been accomplished in this way, by the benevolent, through the agency of the Sunday School.

The prosperity of the church will be increased by it. How many in the churches, who are now remaining almost idle, with faculties and energies undeveloped, could be called into usefulness in the Bible Class and Sunday School, and taught to do good to their SERIES III.-VOL. V.

40

fellow-creatures in this quiet, unassuming way? And how many of the young would be brought in, through these calm and gentle teachings, to the church of Christ, to grow up to strength and dig. nity in the divine service.

Deeply penetrated with the necessity of an arrangement that might secure greater efficiency and success in imparting religious instruction to the young, and with the great and growing evils originating in the want of it; many preaching brethren, assembled at Newton Falls, from different parts of Ohio, resolved, after much earnest consultation, to make an effort in behalf of a system of Sunday Schools. They agreed to awaken, if possible, every church to its duty in relation to this subject, that a Sunday School may be established under its supervision. For the accomplishment of this work, it was deemed indispensable to obtain a library of suitable works for the young-works that will impart truth and not error, facts and not fiction. To select, revise, and originate volumes to compose this library, a committee of sixteen brethren,* from different states, was nominated and requested to act. All that remains now to carry this important work into suceessful operation, is to gain a treasury of funds sufficient to publish the works.

Confident that this appeal will be cheerfully responded to by the brethren, all of whom are entrusted, throughout the entire extent of the church, east and west, north and south; we commit the enterprize to them in the fear of the Lord. Donations are solicit ed; also, advance payments on subscriptions for libraries. It is hoped that against the meeting of the committee, on the 14th of November next, a sufficient amount will be raised and reported, to enable them to prepare and publish the library without delay. Payments can be made to any member of the committee, or remitted to the Treasurer.

By request and in behalf of the brethren assembled at Newton Falls, Ohio, May 16, 1848.

A. S. HAYDEN,
ISAAC ERRETT.

* The following brethren compose the committee:-A. Campbell, R. Richardson, Bethany, Va.; D. S. Burnet, Cincinnati, Ohio; Wm. Hayden, Chagrin Falls, Ohio; A. Raines, Paris, Ky.; Dr. E. Parmly, New York city; T. M. Allen, Columbia, Boon county, Mo.; Samuel Church, Pittsburg, Pa.; L. H. Jameson, Indianapolis, Ia.; Wm. Brown, Springfield, Ill.; G. W. Cone, Millersburg, Rutherford county, Tenn.; James Mitchell, Rutland, Meigs county, Ohio; J. E. Gaston, Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio; J. J. Moss, Mogadore, Ohio; A. S. Hayden, Euclid, Ohio; Isaac Errett, New Lisbon, Columbiana county, Ohio. The officers of the committee are:-Wm. Hayden, Chairman; A. S. Hayden, Recording Secretary; Isac Errett, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer.

Will our other periodicals please copy.

NEW SCHOLARSHIP PLAN.

THE plan submitted to the public of endowing Bethany College by selling 2500 scholarships, at 50 dollars each, has been objected to by a considerable portion of the community on the following accounts:-1st. By making education so cheap and extending it to so many as 2500 persons in one college, the number of students would be too great to be well accommodated and well educated. In the second place, the right was too complex or had too many provisions in it. In the third place, it was too limited in duration. Although not to all, to many these objections were satisfactorily disposed of by our agents; still it has been judged expedient to change the scheme; and, accordingly, at our last meeting the Board of Bethany College took up the subject and resolved as follows:"Resolved, That one thousand scholarships in this College shall be disposed of, at the sum of one hundred dollars each; and that when one thousand are disposed of, then each purchaser shall forever thereafter have the right of sending a scholar to this College, free of all tuition fees; and that the Faculty draw a proper subscription paper in accordance with this resolution, and procure all necessary agents to dispose of said scholarships."

This is simple, and we hope will be satisfactory to all who desire to secure a college education for themselves or their families.

But one thousand persons can procure this privilege in Bethany College the privilege of having himself, his family, or any one else, educated, one at a time, at the expense of six dollars per annum, or the interest of one hundred dollars. In the second place, the right is perpetual and absolute, and while the College stands will be good property to every holder of it; for when the holder of it has educated himself or his family, he may sell it for the same, or, perhaps, all things succeeding well, for a greater sum than he paid for it. In the third place, while every one secures to himself this advantage, he also puts it in the power of 999 other persons to secure to themselves the same. It is, therefore, as we conceive, the most feasible and popular scheme yet laid before the public; and it is certainly benevolent on all hands-on the part of the seller and the purchas

er.

This scheme itself needs no argument, illustration, or proof, other than its own provisions, to commend itself to all persons either desiring an education for themselves or for any one else. We shall only add that to those not purchasing scholarships, education must continue at its present price.

Those who have purchased scholarships under the former arrangement, can, if they please, authorize their names to be enrolled among the subscribers under the new plan; otherwise they are not bound.

To save time and to render it immediately accessible to all, the following subscription bond can be copied off by any person, and signed before a proper witness, and sent to us; for which a certificate of a scholarship will be issued immediately on the event of one thousand names being obtained. To those who could not in proper time be visited by agents, this arrangement will afford an equal chance. Should all the friends of this scheme of education take

this plan, it would save much time and expense of agency. Will the friends of Bethany College take an immediate interest in this benevolent scheme, and simultaneously send on their subscription bonds, or those of their friends?

Here follows a copy of the Subscription Bond:

"For and in consideration of the right of one scholarship in Bethany College, according to the terms and conditions of the resolution passed by the Board of Trustees of Bethany College, at their annual meeting on the 3d of July, 1848, the undersigned promises and obliges himself, his heirs, executors, and administrators, to pay to the Treasurer of said College the sum of one hundred dollars, to be paid so soon as one thousand rights as aforesaid have been sold, and the undersigned has been notified of the same; and should the undersigned fail to pay at such time and on such notice, then this note shall carry interest at 6 per cent. from the time of such notification till paid. The right of said scholarship to accrue as soon as said hundred dollars are paid, and to continue thereafter forever. For the faithful performance of which, I hereby bind myself, my heirs, &c., as witness my hand and seal hereunto affixed, this day of in the year of our Lord

Attest

of

(L. S.)"

Upon the execution of the above bond, each subscriber shall receive a receipt for the same; and upon the payment of $100, he shall receive a certificate of scholarships in the following forms:-"This is to certify, That having paid to the Treasurer of Bethany College one hundred dollars, is entitled to one right of scholarship in said College, in perpetuo, according to the terms and with all the privileges expressed in the following resolution of the Board of Trustees of said College, ordering one thousand rights of scholarships to be sold, and passed 3d of July, 1848:

Resolved, That one thousand scholarships in this College shall be disposed of, at the sum of one hundred dollars each, and that when one thousand are disposed of, then each purchaser shall forever thereafter have the right of sending a scholar to this College free of all tuition fees; and that the Faculty draw a proper subscription paper in accordance with this resolution, and procure all necessary agents to dispose of said scholarships. A. CAMPBELL, Presdt. of the B. of T. of B. C.

W. F. M. ARNY, Sec'ry. of the B. of T. of B. C.” Another provision of the Board, passed at last meeting, shall appear in the September number.

A. C.

BETHANY COLLEGE.

AMOUNT of Subscriptions and Donations to Bethany College, published July, 1847, $40,979 18 $29,067 93

Amounts obtained and collections made since July, 1847.

A. S. Knote, Minor's Nursery, Ten.

R. Dulin, Christian county, Kentucky,

Thomas Wheatly, Clarksburg, Ia.