Orations in Early American Christianity: The Importance of Christian Education for Children in the Republic
George Washington Bethune's annual sermon,
"The Relation of the Sunday-school System to our Christian
Patriotism", given on behalf of the American Sunday-School Union and
delivered in Philadelphia on May 16th, 1847, opens with an excerpt from
Ecclesiastes. "Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish
king."[1]
Here, Bethune argues that the child is innately wise compared to that of the
king who has been regressed by age and his own obstinance, thus it is better to
be educated in principles befitting a strong foundation than fall to haughty
pride.
Bethune’s sermon relies heavily on bible verse
and staunch Christian principle as he argues in favor of faith and trust in the
divine. According to the gospel of Mark, as referenced in Bethune’s sermon, the
task of Christians is to bear witness to the truth, which is understood as
being eternal life with God. The second task, Bethune argues, is the task of
training children. Returning to that initial quotation from Ecclesiastes, the purity
of a child in the eyes of God and their capacity for this truth is
referenced by Bethune as similarly existing in the gospels of John and Luke.
Bethune posits, “While he [God] announced the glad tidings of salvation to all
who would listen, his main reliance was upon the young; nay, he suffered no
adult to enter his kingdom until, through a new birth, he became as a little
child.”[2] For
these two tasks are, to Bethune, the charters with which the Sunday-school
system was born and operates at this point in time.[3]
Bethune argues for the state of the growing republic,
stating that political power belongs in the hands of the people, and the
children who are raised in this environment with the understanding of their
virtue will grow to exert considerable influence over the government upon adulthood.[4] “Our
system has been, and still is, eminently one of experiment.”[5] The
truth in these words are as significant today as they were in 1847, and Bethune’s
strong belief in the importance of Christianity as the foundation of any civil
society is proven in his urgency, “Let Christians of our land be faithful in
the exercise of their citizenship, and the perpetuity of its welfare will be
secured.”[6] The
significance of rearing children under the tutelage and structure of
Christianity was imperative for the rapidly expanding nation and the changing
nature of its politics.
Children are the future, is an adage that is prevalent
in popular culture, music, and art. Bethune is adamant in his belief that
establishing Christian ideals in American children is the bedrock of the
republic, and this bedrock is immoveable.[7] In
defense of this education, the American Sunday-school Union is the organization
Bethune endeavors to provide support and aid for, as it is in his core beliefs
that the education of Christianity will be the key to success for the political
and social future of America.[8]
[1] Bethune, “The Relation of the
Sunday-school System to our Christian Patriotism.” 3.
[2] Ibid., 4.
[3] Ibid., 5.
[4] Ibid., 7.
[5] Ibid., 10.
[6] Ibid., 11.
[7] Ibid., 25.
[8] Ibid., 26.
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