Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II. THE ARRANGEMENTS IN METHODISM FOR THE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS TRAINING OP THE YOUNG. 1. The Sunday School is the oldest, the largest, and, on the whole, the most prosperous institution for education in Wesleyan Methodism. The first Sunday School was commenced by Robert Raikes, in the year 1781. That benevolent man beheld, on the Lord's day, "a group of miserable wretches," in the neighbourhood of a gin-manufactory in the city of Gloucester; and, being deeply affected by the consideration of their neglected and ignorant condition, he devised for their benefit a plan of Sabbath-day religious instruction. He placed them under persons competent to catechise them, and to read to them the Scriptures; and had them conducted to a place of public worship, on a part of the Lord's day. The beneficial results of this plan of instruction were soon apparent; and, immediately on Mr. Wesley becoming acquainted with it, he published an account of it in the "Arminian Magazine," expressed his full approval of it, and recommended the adoption of it by the Societies throughout the kingdom. In a comparatively short time, Sunday Schools were established extensively in connection with Methodism; and now, wherever there is a Methodist Chapel, whether in town or village, there is generally to be found a Methodist Sunday School. In some of the manufacturing districts the Methodist Sunday Schools are large and influential. In the Manchester District, for instance, they contain a very large proportion of the total number of children in all the Protestant Sunday Schools in that District. The moral and religious effect of these schools must necessarily be great in that densely-populated locality; and so, with regard to other parts of the country that might be...
