their parents, teachers, brothers and sisters, and friends.
Consequently they think most of their _external_ conduct, which is all
that human beings can see. Their _hearts_ are neglected and become very
impure,--full of evil thoughts, and desires, and passions, which are not
repented of, and consequently not forgiven. Now what I wish to
accomplish in regard to all my pupils is, that they should begin to
_feel their accountability to God_, and to act according to it. That
they should explore their _hearts_ and ask God's forgiveness for all
their past sins, through Jesus Christ, who died for them that they might
be forgiven; and that they should from this time, try to live _near to
God_, feel his presence, and enjoy that solid peace and happiness which
flows from a sense of his protection. When such a change takes place, it
relieves the mind from that constant and irritating uneasiness, which
the great mass of mankind feel as a constant burden; the ceaseless
forebodings of a troubled conscience, reproaching them for their past
accumulated guilt, and warning them of a judgment to come. The change
which I endeavor to promote, relieves the heart-both of the present
suffering and of the future danger.

After endeavoring to induce you to begin to act from Christian
principle, I wish to explain to you, your various duties to yourselves,
your parents, and to God.

* * * * *

2. The measures to which I resort to accomplish these objects are three.

First. _Religious Exercises in School._ We open and close the school
with a very short prayer, and one or two verses of a hymn. Sometimes I
occupy ten or fifteen minutes at one of the general exercises, or at the
close of the school, in giving instruction upon practical religious
duty. The subjects are sometimes suggested by a passage of scripture
read for the purpose, but more commonly in another way.

You will observe often at the close of the school or at an appointed
general exercise, that a scholar will bring to my desk a dark-colored
morocco wrapper, containing several small strips of paper upon which
questions relating to moral or religious duty, or subjects for remarks
from me, or anecdotes, or short statements of facts, giving rise to
inquiries of various kinds, are written. This wrapper is deposited in a
place accessible to all the scholars, and any one who pleases, deposits
in it any question or suggestion on religious subjects which may o