that, as Teachers and as private Christians, ours may be "the light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Hopes like these, joy like this, will gather deeper feeling whilst we gaze at our humble FRONTISPIECE, a sketch of the lowly dwelling where the Sunday School first took root. Let us ponder well on that modest home, and soon will our thoughts find utterance in the exclamation, "What hath GOD wrought!" THE sketch now presented to our Readers as the place where the first Sunday School was held, has been obtained at the cost of much labour and careful enquiry on the part of the Rev. F. T. Bayly, Vicar of St. Aldate's, Gloucester, to whose kindness we beg to offer this our public testimony. The following is an extract from his Letter: SUNDAY SCHOOLS IN GLOUCESTER." "The first Sunday school was opened at the house of James King, in St. Catherine's parish, in the month of July, 1780, by the Rev. Mr. Stock and Mr. Robert Raikes. Mr. Stock soon afterwards established Sunday schools in the parishes of St. John the Baptist and St. Aldate; the schools were held at the following places, namely, Mr. Stock constantly attended every Sunday at these schools, as well as at that in St. Catherine's parish: at two o'clock in the parish of St. John the Baptist, and at one o'clock in St, Catherine's parish, up to the time of his death, which happened in the year 1804. * * * * * * * "Mr. Raikes soon afterwards established a Sunday school in his own parish, (St. Mary de Crypt,) at a room in the 'Black Horse,' house. "The above-mentioned particulars I can state from my own personal knowledge." |