_SUNDAY-SCHOOL ORGANIZED--LOCAL PREACHER._
At the appointed time, on the Holy morning, the missionary and Mr.
Brown were in the Sunday-school, ready for action. A number had already
collected, and after the opening exercises, the missionary delivered a
short and impressive address, in which he exhorted the teachers to aim
at the conversion of those placed under their instruction, to be always
punctual, to set a godly example, and, finally, not to grow weary in
well-doing, but continue the work through evil as well as good report;
and reminded them of the reward on the final day of reckoning.
Everything passed off well; the children were pleased, and the parents
greatly encouraged. The opposition could see nothing to condemn, but
Mr. Steele and a few others laughed at the “simple thing,” and hooted
at the idea of sending their children.
According to arrangement, Mr. Mason came with his horses and wagon for
the purpose of taking the missionary to the other settlement. It had
been announced to the people that an effort to organize a Sunday-school
would be made on the afternoon of this day. By 3 o’clock many had come
together; some for the purpose of taking part in the enterprise, and
others merely to look on. The school was started, though under less
auspicious circumstances than the one at Clear Creek; yet it was a
beginning. The result was in God’s hands.
During the week that followed, the missionary visited the families
of the settlement, urging the parents either to take or send their
children to the Sunday-school. His kindness and persuasive address won
him more friends than promises. The force of public opinion against
the school made many fear to take part in it; the most of the people,
however, began to treat him with respect.
On Thursday evening he again preached. He was prepared for the
occasion, not by a written sermon with rounded paragraphs and
beautifully-finished sentences, but by constant, fervent prayer, and
thoughtful meditation. He had contemplated the state of the people, and
the weight of immortal souls lay heavily upon his heart; and, above
all, he remembered his commission and his great responsibility, for the
Almighty had said: “If the watchman see the sword come and blow not
the trumpet, and the people are not warned; if the sword come and take
any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his
blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”
The opponents found that they had an earnest man to contend with; a
man with the whole armor on, and one who could wield the “sword of the
spirit” with power; that he was not only “mighty in the Scriptures,”
but “full of the Holy Ghost;” and they saw that if they did not
immediately “do something,” he would be “master of the situation.”
So they went to work, as is usual in such cases, to misrepresent
his language and misconstrue his meaning; to change the truth into
falsehood, by adding, distorting and detracting. His character, too,
was assailed, and scandalous stories invented and circulated in order
to ruin him; but he heeded them not; for the Saviour had said:
“Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and say
all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; rejoice and be
exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven.”
Whilst the missionary was still in this neighborhood, he was called
to the bedside of a dying woman. Now that the hour of dissolution was
rapidly approaching, she began to have misgivings about her fitness for
Heaven. She had been in the Church for a number of years, but was not
a lively stone in the building. After conversation and prayer with the
missionary, her faith was strengthened, and she felt ready to go at the
Master’s call. Thus did this servant of God do good upon every possible
occasion. Having learned that a local preacher, who lived a few miles
distant, was opposed to Sunday-schools, he determined to call upon him
and talk over the matter.
The missionary, upon reaching the home of the preacher, found him ready
to start out to fill an appointment at a place about six miles distant.
He treated the missionary coldly, and boastingly told him that he and
his people had gotten along for many years without Sunday-schools, and
he guessed they were as good as those who had them, and reckoned they
could still make out without his services; and to tell those who sent
him “to attend to their own business and let other people’s alone.” Not
waiting for a reply, the preacher gave his horse a cut with the whip,
and was off. There was consequently no alternative left the missionary
but to retrace his steps. This he did, and attended to the duties set
apart for the day.
Notwithstanding opposition, the work went on; and the friends of the
Sunday-school became daily more respected by its enemies.
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