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Philadelphia.—The second anniversary School Fund Ball took place on the 29th of February, at the Museum building, in South Ninth Street. We were there for a short time during the evening, and found a numerous company assembled, intently waiting for the arrival of the Hon. Henry Clay, who had promised to honour the occasion with his presence. He made his appearance about half-past nine, and was received by a committee, and conducted into the hall, where the company was ranged on both sides to receive him. On his entrance, the band struck up a patriotic tune, we believe the Star-Spangled Banner, which soon was changed to Hail Columbia. After Mr. Clay had walked walked round the room a short time, he was conducted to a seat expressly prepared for him, while the company passed several times before him; at ten o’clock he again left, accompanied by most of the persons who had come with him. The ball was conducted under the management of Messrs. John D. Jackson, Chairman, Alfred T. Jones, Treasurer, David Van Beil, Secretary, and B. Blum, J. Langsdorff, <<58>>M. Nathans, Theo. Pincus, M. H. De Young, Joseph Levi, Sol. Isaacs, S. Sternberger, S. M. Klosser, S. Gans, Mayer Gans, H. Pincus, S. Frank, Isaac Nathans, L. Shloss, and L. S. Elkus. The amount received was $837.50; that expended 467.05; balance 370.45. The whole sum accruing to the fund was 427.15, which has been deposited to the credit of the trustees, in the Pennsylvania Life Insurance Office. Mr. John D. Jackson was to have been floor-manager; but was compelled to be absent on account of the sickness of his eldest daughter. Mr. Jones discharged the duties thereupon thrown upon lime so unexpectedly, with due care for the success of the evening’s entertainment.

Meeting at Philadelphia in Behalf of Education.—On Sunday the 19th of March, a meeting was held of the Israelites of Philadelphia, to hear the report of the ball committee; after the presentation of which, the meeting resolved to call in the amounts subscribed at various times for the establishment of a school, preparatory to an adjourned meeting to be held on the 1st Sunday in May, (the 7th,) when the subject will be more fully discussed, and perhaps initiatory steps taken to organise some system, which will ultimately lead to the erection of a school for a general and religious training. A resolution was offered by the Editor of this magazine, to form forthwith an education society; but it was withdrawn for the present, as the agitation of the question appealed premature at the moment.

Sunday Laws in Pennsylvania.—We regret to see that a petition from some parties in Chester and Lancaster County, asking for certain changes in the law relating to Sunday, hats met with an unfavourable reception by the House of Representatives of this State. We are not acquainted with the nature of the petition, and were only informed of its existence at all, froth a communication in the North American of this city, which contains the subjoined report of the committee on Vice and Immorality, a singular committee, by the by, to judge of the rights of conscience. The petition probably demands the repeal of the penal clause for working on Sunday, and this is refused upon the old plea, as our readers will observe. We do not mean to offer any comment now; but only wait a suitable time to express our views.

Mr. Redick, from the Committee on Vice and Immorality, to whom was referred a petition from inhabitants of Chester and Lancaster Counties, asking for certain changes in the law relating to the Sabbath, reported:

That they have given the subject that careful consideration which its importance demands, and are of opinion, that the petitioners mistake the character and bearing of the laws relating to the Sabbath. That while we agree with the petitioners that it is not within the power of legislative bodies to enact penal laws compelling the observance of religious ceremonies, and also agree that such laws are contrary to the spirit of the Constitution of the State, <<59>>and a gross violation of the rights of conscience, we cannot see that the laws relating to the Sabbath partake in the slightest degree of that character. Nor can the law which sets apart one day in seven for man to rest from his weekly labour and worship his Creator, be a violation of the rights of conscience, inasmuch as that express portion of time was divinely imposed, and made perpetual in its obligations by the Creator, who placed the conscience in every man as His vicegerent, to reprove or else excuse in things pertaining to morality, and who also made the Sabbath for man. The committee believe, moreover, that to grant the request of the petitioners, “leaving all persons at liberty to observe such days as may seem to them best,” would be in effect to abolish the Sabbath; without the privilege of which that knowledge and virtue cannot be diffused which is necessary to the purity and permanency of our free institutions, which might well cause every enlightened patriot, and especially every Christian, to tremble.

The labouring portion of the community would also be deprived of those waymarks of their lives to which many can look back upon, and forward to, with delight, being weekly refreshed thereby, are thus cheered on through life, who, were it abolished, might be doomed to toil on in perpetual gloom, dragging out a miserable life of ignorance and vice, comparatively shortened for want of those periods of rest so wisely arranged by our Creator, who knew the wants of the human frame. The committee believe, that as ours is emphatically a Christian Commonwealth, there can be no difficulty in fixing the day in which it shall not be lawful to disturb the devotion, moral instruction and rest of the people, by unnecessary secular business, inasmuch as the resurrection of the great founder of our Christian religion is the event commemorated by the observance of the first day, and the command requiring a specific day of the week is a positive precept

The change of the day from the seventh to the first does not interfere with its unchangeable obligations, but is a most appropriate commemoration of that event, which, together with the example of the Apostles and early Christians, and the countenance of the Redeemer after his resurrection, has fixed the Lord’s day to be the Christian Sabbath beyond a doubt. The committee feel satisfied that it is the duty of the civil magistrate to enforce a cessation from all secular employment, amusements, and public vices, on that day, with suitable penalties; but as regards the observance of religious ceremonies, that belongs to the conscience, and is beyond the jurisdiction of civil laws. The committee further believe that there can be no loss to temporal pursuits from the rest of man and beast on the Sabbath day. We know that any spring which is continued long on a strain loses much of its elasticity; much more so is it with animal nature when it is deprived of its proper time of rest, it loses its capability of endurance. This familiar principle is equally applicable to man and beast. As the committee can see no possible benefit that could accrue, but incalculable injury and, wrong, therefore,

“Resolved, That it is inexpedient and would be wrong to grant the request of the petitioners, and that the committee be discharged from the further consideration of the subject.”

And on motion, the said resolution was read the second time, considered and adopted.