Van Diemen's Land. JUVENILE DEMONSTRATION. [From the Hobart Town Observer.]

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 35, 31 January 1846, Page 4

Van Diemen's Land. JUVENILE DEMONSTRATION. [From the Hobart Town Observer.]

On Friday last, 26th Dec, the usual Annual Meeting of the Sabbath Schools helonging to the Wesleyan, Presbyterian, Independent, and Baptist churches, took place. The children of the various Schools were conducted by their teachers from their respective places of tuition, to St. Andrew's Church* where they were addressed by the Rev. ,Mr. Bell, of St. John's, in a very affectionate and appropriate discourse. There were estimated to be about a thousand children present on tins occasion ; and never, we venture to say, did the Church of St. Andrew's present so interesting 1 a sight, than when filled with this .juvenile congregation and their delighted friends. After the brief and simple service performed on this occasion was concluded, these little bands of Christian recruits deployed in rank and file under their respective banners, and marched with their teacheis to the Government Paddock. Here the little army formed a circle and offered up a hymn of praise to God, and asked his blessing on their schools. This done, they piled arms (to use a military phrase; and turned out to play. Iv their amusements also, they uerc aided and superintended in the kindest manner by their teachers, and it was pleading to see the symptoms of happiness and affection which their lundness and condescension inspired. It was truly a scene of innori'nee and joy befitting the occa-don, nnd long to be remembered by both young and old. The benevolent and unprejudiced mind could not witness it without an emotion of the most gratifjing sympathy and satisfaction. What au interesting as weli ac affecting train of associations and reflections was such a scene calculated to awaken. As we contempi ited the jiyousnmih and sportive gambols of the.c happy children, fliose beautiful lines and app.opriate reflections of one of England's most exquisite poets on a similar occasion, recurred to our memory, where he says : " Gay hope is theirs, by fancy fed, Less pleasing v. hen j)ossest! The tear forgot as soon as shed, The sunshine of the breast. Theirs buxom health of rosy hue, Wild wit, invention ever new, And lively cheer of vigour born ; The thoughtless day, the easy night, The smntspure, the slumbers light, That fly the approach of morn." Then follows the pathetic antithesis suggested by the anticipation of the danger and evil which await them in this world, and even now seem to hover over " the little victims'' as they play ; " Alas! regardless of their doom, The little victims play ! No sense have they of ills to come, Nor care beyond to-day. Yet see how all around 'em wait The ministers of human fate, And black misfortune's baleful train! Ah ! show them where in ambush stand, To seize their prey, the murd'rou* b*nd! Ah ! tell them they are men. This truly is poetry,—but it is the language and reflection of a deep and too real experience. These ex quisite lines convey at once the duplicate picture of,human life, and that lesson of admonitory wisdom which it so naturally suggests. Nor can anything illustrate more forcibly than this the vital and Invaluable importance of Sabbath Schools, for it is there that " the little victims" are told that •' they are men," and prepared by religious instruction and exercise devout, under the blessing of God, to meet the dangers and trials that await them in maturer years. It is in the Sabbath School that children are taught that knowledge which is more precious thau nil other knowlege, —that wisdom which is from above and maketh wise unto salvation. It is *' iv life's gay morn,"—" betore the poweis are yet by vice enslaved," that " the Creator's glorious name and character" should be " engraved" on the hearts of the rising generation. And if this were only more generally done, a moial ami religious race would grow up to redeem the character of tho colony, and cause vice and iniquity to hide its face. This is the sort of education whi< h has a high social and political importance! This, truly, is the best preventnlive, and most econou ical police. Are not then, we ask, these Sabbath Schools, and religious unions deserving of out warmest approbation, and of the sympathy aud support of nil who have the best interests of mankind and of society at heart ? Nor is it the lean important result that may be expected from them, that they will tend to soften, if not to supersede, the asperities of sectarian prejudice and zeal, aud give birth to a spirit of liberality, of harmony and co-operation among professing Christians of all denominations. But to conclude these few cursory reflections on this most interesting anniversary, we have only to remark that iv the evening the children had tea together, in their respective school-rooms, where they were countenanced and joined by their pare ins and friends; and the eniire proceedings of the day were wound up at the Weslejau chapel, with acts of worship and appropriate addresses ,by the Rev. Messrs. Mtiutuu and Beazley to the Sabbath School teachers, a numerous and respectable body of intelligent and piouj persons of both sexes, who may well magnify their office, aud rejoice in the aheady visible fruits or't'lipir good woik and labour of love. The address 'iclivcred by Mr. Beazley was an admirable one, and must have proved highly encouraging and instructive to the teachers. May they, therefore, go on and etill prosper—never wearied of well doing, always :t))i>utuling in their work, and iv due season they will leap, it they faint not