S. S. AND M. M. CONCERT.
REV. J. W. CHICKERING, D. D., BOSTON, MASS.
These numerous initials form the shortest mode of designating an interesting, if not unique, meeting I had the pleasure of attending yesterday, in the Congregational Church at Amesbury, Mass., Rev. Pliny S. Boyd, pastor.
They stand for “Sabbath-school and Missionary Monthly Concert”; the plan being to let the scholars do the reporting and the singing, with prayers from several teachers, and remarks from the superintendent, pastor and a visiting brother.
The triple work of the American Missionary Association was assigned for this occasion; and it was encouraging for the future of benevolent effort in the church, to see how promptly class after class repeated the answers allotted them.
Each will probably remember through life his or her part in the programme; and, from the whole, a very clear outline was furnished to the assembly of the numbers, needs, and capabilities of the Indians, Mongolians and Negroes within our borders.
I was happy to be able to confirm and illustrate some of those statements, and to urge upon that intelligent church, and the flourishing Sabbath-school, from which seventy were received into communion last year, the pressing, may we not say paramount? importance of that department of missionary effort.
If the “four millions” are suffered to live in vice and ignorance, and the superstition which is already seeking to overshadow them like the old fetichism of their ancestors, the American Church—yes, the nation—will find too late what a mistake they have made.
Ten thousand such “Monthly Concerts” as this would go far in the direction of instructing the children and awaking their parents, respecting one of the great duties of the hour. Why not let it be tried?