Sabbath Evening School

The accompanying text in the volume begins as follows:

"THE scene represented in the etching took place in 1799, during the French Republican War, when political feelings ran high, and when the essays of Paine, and similar writers, were believed to have gained many proselytes to the cause of democracy. At that time the benevolent plan of Sabbath School teaching, which had been recently introduced, was viewed by many in a very different light from that in which it is happily now considered. Having been first espoused and organised by sectarians, and its operations principally confined to the lower orders, the system was not only in some degree obnoxious to those who plumed themselves on more respectable connections, but was politically viewed as a hotbed of disaffection and sedition. Under this impression, the General Assembly bent all its influence against the practice; and, in the "Pastoral Admonition" of 1799 (alluded to in our notice of the Rev. Rowland Hill), the teachers of Sabbath Schools were described as persons " notoriously disaffected to the civil constitution of the country." The parochial clergy throughout Scotland were consequently opposed to such schools; and, in several instances, carried their authority so far as to order them to be suppressed.

In the case in question, the teachers, with the view of securing his approbation and patronage, had requested Dr. Moodie to visit the class. The Doctor accordingly came; but, without condescending to examine the pupils, or inquire into the motives of the teachers, instantly commanded the scholars to disperse. The friends of the Professor were afterwards anxious to hush up the matter; but the artist, who was an uncompromising censor of the times, produced his "Modern Moderation," and gave full publicity to the circumstance."