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U trao rctfnary , within this month , these little ragamuffins have in great numbers taken it into their heads to frequent the earl y morning prayers , which are held every morning at the cathedral . at seven o ' clock . I believe there were near fifty this morning . They assemble at the
bouse oi one of the mistresses , and walk before her to church , two and two , in as much order as a company of soldiers . I am generally at church , and after service they all come round me to make their bow * , and if any animosities have arisen , to make their complaint-. The great principle I inculcate , is , to be land & 4 good-natured to each other j not to
provoke one another ; to be dutiful to their parents ; not to offend God by cursing and swearing ; and such little plain precept * as all may comprehend . As my profession it that of a printer , I have printed a little book ) which I give amongst them ; and some friends of nine , subscribers to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge , sometimes
make me a present of a parcel of Bibles , Testaments , &c , which I ^ distribute as lewards to tke deserving . The success that has attended this scheme has induced one or two of my friends to adopt the plan , and set up Sunday Schools in other parts of the city , and now a whole parish has taken up the object ; so that ! flatter myself in time the good effects
will appear so conspicuous as to become faierally adopted . The number of children at present thus engaged on the Sabtorture between two and three hundred , and they arc increasing every week , as the benefit is universally seen * I have endeavoured to engage the clergy of my acquaintance that reside in their parishes . One hai entered into the sch « me with
peat fervour ; ancj it was in order to cxfite others to follow th « example , that I inserted in my paper the paragraph ™> idi I suppose you saw copied into " the London papers . I cannot express to you fhc pleasure I often receive , in
discover-Hgenius and innate good dispositions , » H £ this little multitude . It is hota-Blz » ng in human nature . 1 have often , | oo , the gatisfaction of receiving thanks ™ J » parents , for the reformation they Ptoeive in their children . Often I have 8 f » them kind admonitions , which I J ^ y * do in the mildest and gentlest th ?* ^*^ e £° * n £ amdng thenij doing ^ wlckindnesscs , distributing trifling 2 j ™> and ingratiating myself with ^¦ i * h * ar , have given me an ascen-
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dancy , greater than I ever could have imagined ; for I am told by their mistresses that they are very much afraid of my displeasure . If you ever pass through Gloucester , I shall be happy to pay nay respects to you , and to shew you the effects of this effort at civilization . If the
glory of God be promoted in any , even the smallest degree , society must reap some benefit . If good seed be sown in the mind , at an early period of liuman life , though it shews itself not again for many years , it may please God , at sotne future period , to cause it to Boring up ,
and to bring forth a plenteous harvest . " With regard to the rules adopted , I only require that they come to the school on Sunday as clean as passible . Many were at first deterred because they wanted decent clothing , but I could not undertake to supply this dtfect . I argue * therefore , if you can loiter about , without shoes , and in a ratgged coat , you may as "well come to school , and learn what
may tend to your good in that garb . I reject none on that footing All that F require , are clean hands , clean face , and the hair combed - , if you have no clean shirt , come in that which you have on . The want of decent apparel , at first , kept great numbers at a distance ,
butthey now begin to grow wiser , and all are pressing to learn . 1 have had the
good luck to procure places for some that were deserving , which has been of great use . You will understand that these children are from six years old to 12 or 14 . Boys and girls above this age , who have been totally undisciplined * are generally too refractory fo > r thu government . A reformation in society seems to me only practicable by
establishing notices of duty and practical habits of order and decorum at an early stage . But whither am I running ? I am ashamed to see how much I have trespassed on your patience ; but I thought the most complete idea of Sunday Schools , was to be conveyed to you by telling what first suggested the thought . The same sentiments would have arisen in your mind had they happened to have been called forth , as they were suggested to me .
u I have no doubt that you will trnd great improvement to be made on this plan . The minds of men ^ have taken great hold on that prejudice , that we are to do nothing on the Sabbath-day , which may be deemed labour , and therefore we ar « to be -excused front all » -p--
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Memoir of Mr . Robert Rdikes . 579
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1811, page 579, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2421/page/3/
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