Lynchburg Virginian

RELIGIOUS.

From the National Intelligencer

A large and respectable meeting of the inhabitants of Washington, of both sexes, and various denominations, was held at the First Presbyterian Church recently, to take into consideration the resolution passed at the last Annual Meeting of the American Sunday School Union, to supply, in reliance upon Divine aid the Valley of the Mississippi with Sabbath Schools, in two years from the adoption of the resolution, (May, 1830.)

On motion of F S. Key, Esq. Hon. Felix Grundy, of Tennessee, was called to the Chair and Matthew St. Clair Clarke, Esq. appointed Secretary

The Rev Mr. Walton, of Alexandria, being called upon by the Chairman, opened the meeting with prayer.

The Chairman then made a few remarks approbatory of the object about which they were assembled, and wishing it every success.

Rev. Mr. Breckenridge, of Baltimore, appeared on behalf of the American Sunday School Union, and addressed the meeting at length, rebutting in his argument the accusations made against the friends of this Union, of a design to unite Church and State.

It was announced to the meeting that the President of the United States was unavoidably absent, but that he had sent his best wishes for the prosperity of the cause

A letter was received and read, from Wm. Wirt, Esq. enclosing a liberal donation, and expressing, at length, his views of the great importance and beneficial effects of the operations of the American Sunday School Union. and his regret at being prevented from attending by previous engagements.

On motion of the Hon. Mr Whittlesey, of Ohio, seconded by the Hon Judge Crane, of the same State,

Resolved, That the resolution passed by the American Sunday School Union, in reliance upon Divine aid, to establish, within two years, a Sunday School in every destitute place, where it is practicable, throughout the Valley of the Mississippi, is highly commendable, and demands the joint efforts of the religious, moral and patriotic portion of our citizens, to carry it into effect.

On motion of the Hon. Mr. Coleman of Kentucky, seconded by the Hon. Mr. Haynes, of Georgia,

Resolved, That, this meeting does highly approve of all systems of education, designed for the diffusion of useful instruction, and especially such as contemplate the moral cultivation of man.

Resolved, that viewing the plan of the American Sunday School Union for the diffusion of pious instruction throughout the United States. and especially in the Valley of the Mississippi, as such, this meeting approves the benevolent designs of its patrons and friends

On motion of the Hon. Mr Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey, seconded by the Hon. Mr. Wickliffe, of Ky.

Resolved, That the objects contemplated by the late resolution of the American Sunday School Union. adopted in May last, commend themselves to the patronage and best wishes of every American statesman, patriot and Christian.

On motion of F. S. Key. Esq. seconded by Hon. Mr. Webster, of Massachusetts.

Resolved, That the Directors of the American Sunday School Union have justly estimated the piety and patriotism of their country-men, in relying upon them for the accomplishment of the great object they have resolved to execute--and that Committees be appointed to solicit donations throughout the District in their behalf.

On motion of Rev. J. N. Danforth, seconded by Walter Lowrie, Esq. both of this city,

Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting it is the solemn duty, as well as the inestimable privilege of American Christians, to offer their fervent prayers to Almighty God for his blessings on the efforts of the American Sunday Union to supply the Valley of the Mississippi with Sunday School instruction

The most perfect harmony pervaded the meeting, which was eloquently addressed by most of the gentlemen who moved resolutions. Mr. Whittlesey spoke for some time on the benefits of Sabbath Schools in the West. Mr. Coleman went at large into the importance of Sunday School instruction in the Valley of the Mississippi, and answered objections to Sunday Schools in general. Mr. Haynes briefly advocated the truth and power of Divine Revelation. and declared the Bible to be the basis of our country's happiness and prosperity

Mr. Wickliffe bore his testimony to the excellent effects of Sunday Schools, which he had witnessed. He deprecated the idea, advanced either in ignorance or malice, of the union of Church and state being the aim or the consequence of these pious exertions. On the same ground we might object to most or all of the literary institutions of the country. as having this object.-Messrs Key, Frelinghuysen, and Webster, severally addressed the meeting, at length, in favor of this plan of benevolence Mr. Webster, among other remarks, observed to the Chairman, that, though they politically differed. here was common ground, on which there could be no difference of opinion.

The addresses of these gentlemen, with the proceedings of the meeting. will be published in a pamphlet form, for the gratification of the public

The meeting was concluded with prayer by Rev Mr. Post

MR WIRT'S LETTER

The following letter from the Hon. Wm. Wirt, late Attorney General of the United States, to the Rev John Breckenridge, enclosing $50 to promote the cause of Sunday Schools, is filled with sentiments which all good men approve, and which ought to be written on the hearts of the people The letter was read at the late meeting in behalf of the American Sunday School Union. held in the city of Washington

Washington, Feb. 16, 1831.

Dear Sir,

I regret that it is not in my power to be with you this evening, that I might have united my humble efforts with those of your fellow citizens who will be present', in advancing that great, and, as I believe it, heaven-directed cause That " Liberty and Learning lean on each other for support," is a truth which has long been known to the wise, and of which we are all becoming convinced by fearful experience. It has been the ignorance of the people which has so long enabled tyrants to hold the world in chains, and they have never failed to burst those asunder whenever light has broken in strongly upon them. But if they are permitted to relapse into ignorance and its natural attendant, grovelling vice. tyrants will rise again, under the name of patriots, and we shall see the world re-plunged into Gothic darkness and despotism. It is not in the nature of things, that a popular government can long subsist, except among an enlightened and virtuous people , nothing else can shield them against the designs of wicked and intriguing politicians, who always come in the name and garb of patriots, and, calling themselves friends of the people, cheat them into their ruin. Every effort, therefore, to enlighten the people, deserves the zealous support of every genuine friend of liberty ; and I had witnessed with unaffected joy, the ardour with which this great and philanthropic plan has been everywhere received.-Viewed in a temporal and political light, merely, it deserves the strongest support from all who wish the continuance of our free and happy institutions at home, and when we see the effect that our example is producing on the world, the motives for our exertions rise to a far loftier and nobler sentiment. It is the cause, not of the United States only, but of the whole earth, It is the cause of man throughout the world; and who is there so poor and sordid of spirit, as to think only of himself', when the great question is, whether this earth shall be inhabited by enlightened and virtuous freemen, erect and firm on the basis of independence, or by hordes of ignorant, grovelling and prostrate slaves, hugging their chains and licking the dust from the feet of their oppressors ?

But in connexion with these great temporal benefits, your society has a still higher and holier aim-spreading the light of the Gospel and advancing the kingdom of the Redeemer In relation to the world at large, I believe that public virtue has no solid basis. but in Religion. I mean by public virtue, that which impels a man, in all his public acts, to look solely to the good of his country, without any view of personal aggrandisement I believe that the Fathers of our revolution were, for the most part, such men. A great crisis called them out, and the common danger, as well as the common hope, supplied a great motive of action--which held them together, and directed their united efforts to the liberation of their country. But that crisis once passed, and the object achieved, the natural passions of men came in to play, and then came personal ambition, with all its disastrous retinue of faction, intrigue, injustice. barbarity, slander, contention and strife, until our whole country presents a scene from which every honest and peaceable man recoils, without a ray of hope, except from the power of the Almighty. Private vice always keeps pace with public immorality. Principles and manners descend naturally from those who occupy distinguished places, to those who dwell in the humble walks of life This is an admitted truth in monarchies, and we have experience enough to know, that it is extensively true in republics. One distinguished man is able to corrupt a whole neighborhood by his example and machinations ; and the sphere of his pernicious influence becomes enlarged, in proportion to the eminence to which he has risen The only correction is that which you seek to apply, and the plan is laid in the profoundest wisdom. Begin at the other end of society, with the rising generation, in the humble walks of life Plant in them the seed of that Gospel, to whose power the world of civilized man bears witness, and you raise up a great antagonist principle which will overwhelm corruption, though seated on high They in truth hold the upper place among us. They are the spring-head, the natural fountain of all power. Purify the fountain, and its streams will be pure. And what is there so efficacious. nay, what is there that has any power at all to produce such an effect, but the Gospel of the Redeemer, carried home to the heart by his spirit? Mere human virtue is a cheat-a scintillation at best, which we see continually extinguished by temptation. It has no power to resist the calls of selfish ambition, and the tissue of vile means and agents which such an ambition never fails to employ. It may make a show, in public; but it has no power to resist the temptations which solicit the passions of man in private, and which have already poisoned all the springs of moral action among us.-Nothing less than the living conviction of an ever present God, before whom we are acting and speaking, and that we have a future state of never ending existence, dependent on his approbation, can impose a moment's restraint on the indulgence of human passion : and nothing can reconcile man to such a restraint, but the formation of a new spirit within him, which will convert that restraint into liberty and privilege, and make the service of God his highest happiness here, as well as his only sure hope, hereafter.-This is the spiritual work of the Gospel of the Redeemer, which has brought life and immortality to light, and furnished to man a motive and a spring of action, which enables him to tread the earth and all its vile pursuits beneath his feet, in the contemplation of that immortality to which he is hastening. With these sincere and deep convictions on this subject, it is delightful to anticipate the change that will. in all human probability, be wrought by this great and magnificent scheme of Sabbath School. in the rich and populous valley of the Mississippi. It is happy to see that there is nothing sectarian about it. but that the whole christian church unites in its advancement. And it is not less happy to see that the narrow spirit of political party. or of temporal dominion to the church, has no concern in this case: that the great objects in view are of universal concern, diffusion of light and knowledge, and the deep and wide dissemination of that pure religion, without which human virtue degenerates into an empty show, or a hypocritical instrument of ambition. That this truly noble and benevolent plan may be placed under wise and judicious direction, that it may be crowned with success by Him alone who has power so to crown it, and that the kingdom of the Redeemer may come, is the fervent wish and prayer of

Your fellow-citizen,

WM. WIRT.

The Rev. MR. BRECKENRIDGE.