An inquiry was made from the chair, as to whether any one present had had experience in distributing tracts on the subject. Mr. Tarn, jun., remarked, that children must have something to employ their minds on Sunday; he had given his children books especially adapted for reading on Sundays in the evening; they were kept out of mischief morning and afternoon, and required something to employ their minds, in the latter part of the day. A general conversation then ensued, embracing the general arguments used to induce shop closing on the Sabbath; viz., the appeal to self-interest, that a man would not be a loser by it; the chairman held, that higher ground should be taken, and it should be pressed on such persons, that supposing a temporal loss followed, it would be fully compensated by the gain in peace of mind. Next, the way of dealing with parents whose children are uniformly late at school, not to do it through the child, but to make a point of visiting the rents, and judiciously calling their attenion to the injury they were inflicting on their children. pa On the subject of scholars being employed in carrying out goods on the Sabbath, it was urged by one that the closing of shops was not the business of the teacher so much'; his was with his children; the right way was for every school affected by this practice to petition the Clergyman to mention the matter publicly to his people, and also in his private ministrations, and in doing so to let it be known that such a request had been made to him. Mr. Dockerill mentioned as a means of obtaining a better observance, the assembling together the parents of the scholars for this special purpose. Mr. Tarn remarked, that in those schools where the parents were called together periodically, this subject might be urged on their attention. A member dwelt strongly on the great importance of example in the teachers. The Chairman having summed up, and briefly pointed to the practical results of the conversation, the meeting broke up. THE TRAINING CLASS is continued on Wednesday evenings, and in addition to the usual plan of studying a lesson, a class of children will occasionally be introduced, to give a practical exemplification of the method of teaching aimed at. It is much to be wished that the attendance at this class, (though satisfactory even now) were more numerous; it will be found a really useful preparation for teaching. THE TRAINING CLASS FOR FEMALE TEACHERS, announced in our last Magazine as to be commenced in September, was deferred a month, but will be commenced on Monday, October 1st, if a sufficient number of names shall have been received by Mr. Broadstock. It is intended to meet the circumstances of ladies who, from distance or otherwise, cannot attend the Wednesday evening class. It is proposed to hold the class on alternate Mondays, from three to four p. m., only ladies being admissible. THE QUARTERLY PRAYER MEETING was held, as proposed, on July 5th, conducted by the Rector of the parish in which the rooms are situate. It was much enjoyed by those present, and the plan will be continued; the time, however, being probably altered, at the suggestion of some of our members. OUR PUBLICATIONS since March last, have been confined to the Second Part of the Elementary Class Book, (the key to which, we regret to say, is not yet completed) a Class Register, 16mo. to correspond and bind with the Teachers' Note Book, and a Conduct Card Register, or Teachers' Book to correspond with the Conduct Cards previously published. The Monthly Notes have been issued as usual. We have in preparation, an Almanack for 1850, continuing our present double Series of Scripture Lessons; an Index, and blank Register for Sunday school Libraries; a Series of Scripture Reading Lessons for one year, embracing as as far as possible the chief topics of the Bible; a Catalogue of approved Reward and Library Books, which we hope to issue before our next Number, and to which several Publishers have recently made addition, by kindly sending us packets of books appearing suitable; a tract for parents of Sunday scholars, on the observance of the Sabbath; and a Tune Book for use of Superintendents and Teachers in leading singing. The Lessons on the Collects will be issued in one pamphlet, and those on the Gospels will be continued quarterly. We are glad to report that the following schools have joined us since March 31st. Society is much impeded by the want of necessary funds, a want which meets us at almost every step of our progress, and which we feel the more because the sum that would suffice for an efficient working of our plans is but a very moderate one. Our Annual Subscriptions are scarcely more than £100. Five times that sum, would place our Society in a far different position, and enable us to carry on with energy the work demanded of us. May we appeal to our friends for help in this matter, and especially by means of collecting boxes and cards, an example of which is seen above? Lastly, we ask for that help which all can give, whatever their circumstances, PRAYER, that the Divine Wisdom may direct all our plans, and that a rich blessing may rest on the execution of them; "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts." DEAR SIR, Plans and Progress. SCRIPTURE LESSONS. I gladly comply with the request so strongly urged on your recent official visit to this town, that I would furnish you with a letter, on the subject we then talked over, for the September number of your very excellent periodical; one object of which, if I am not greatly mistaken, is to afford a satisfactory and responsible medium of communication on practical subjects, for Sunday School Teachers of every grade, and in every clime. The subject to which I allude was, I believe, first brought before your readers, in your September number for 1848, pp. 260; when you announced your intention to publish a "Sunday Almanack," and series of "Scripture Lessons," for Sunday schools. This was carried into effect in October, and contained a double series; one comprising the chief events recorded in the Pentateuch; the other, the narratives of our Saviour's life and ministry, arranged chronologically from the four Gospels; and subsequently, Notes of a very valuable and practical character have appeared, well adapted to assist the teacher in acquitting himself as a skilful workman. Your series of lessons are arranged for two classes of scholars, those who can read "tolerably," and "those who can with attention master any chapter in the Bible." In reference to the former, I content myself with remarking, that it is admirably arranged, and will, I trust, prove of lasting assistance in our Sunday schools. I am at present however, more especially concerned with the series from the Old Testament, which I observe you intend to carry on another year. Do not suppose that I am about to find fault with this portion of your plan, nor even to suggest the substitution of another; but from experience, I know it is the case in some schools that the teachers are more in favour of series of lessons which is capable of completion in twelve months at most. I do not apprehend you will be able (if indeed you propose) to complete your Old Testament series in a second year, but, even if so, the difficulty to which I have referred still remains; your plan strikes me as more adapted for a National school, where the Scrip tures are read daily, than for the Sunday school, where a very short space of time, once a week, is capable of being thus employed. To meet the case I wish to describe, I have seen this plan successfully adopted; Scripture subjects are previously selected for three months, and then a change; for example, one quarter, or perhaps half year, prominent Scripture characters, then the chief prophecies respecting our blessed Saviour, chronologically arranged, and so on. You well know that we have to interest children, even those of a larger growth who may be in our Bible classes, and it requires a teacher possessed of more than the average attainments, to do this with a series so long extended; at least in my opinion. But this is not my main point; we have to aim in Sunday schools, at imparting as much Scriptural knowledge in as necessarily limited time as possible, without doing it superficially; children are often migrating, and at the best, the average of duration is very short indeed. Hence, I should like to see in the pages of your Magazine a table of lessons, which, in fifty two Sundays, would bring before the children the great leading points of the Bible; Genesis to Revelations included. Such an one your Committee could with great ease arrange, and no member of it better than yourself. Dalton's course of Scripture lessons, and some published by the "Sunday School Union," would assist in this, though none of them contain exactly what I desire. I remember meeting with a series of lessons when in Scotland, a few years ago, and these I slightly altered for use, in a Sunday school with which I was then connected. This I subjoin, but in doing so, beg you will understand, that I do so, more as a specimen of what I mean than as Subject of Lesson. The Creation Institution of the Sabbath, and Man's innocence... The Fall Cain and Abel... The Deluge Portion of Scripture for Reading. Gen. i. ii. iii. iv. vi. & vii. viii. & ix. 1-17. xi. 1-9, xii. 1-10. xvii. xxii. xxvii.. xxviii... Joseph sold by his brethren xxxvii. Your's truly, Text for Genesis i. 29-31. Romans v. 18-19. 2 Peter ii. 5. xxviii. 20-22 Matthew v. 21-22. Psalm cv. 17-19. Genesis xlii. 21-22. 1 Timothy v. 8. 1 Corinthians v. 7-8. Hebrews xi. 29. iii. 14-15. Revelations xiv. 13. Matthew vi. 24. Hebrews xi. 32-34. 1 Samuel iii. 10. Hosea xiii. 9-11. 1 Chronicles xxviii. 4. 2 Samuel xii. 13-14. 1 Peter ii. 5. 1 Kings xii. 10-11. ii. 11. 1 xii. 2 ii.... 2 2 iv. 2 2 xvii. 2 iv. 34-35. Israel carried into captivity... Jerusalem taken The temple rebuilt at Jerusalem. Christ's birth foretold The birth of Christ... ... ... xvii. 5-6. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 1-25. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 20-21. Of course this plan, as well as the best that could be devised supposes, the intelligent teacher will take care and pains, briefly to inform the children of any connecting links, rendered necessary by the omission of some chapters. e. g. The plan includes. “Joseph in prison," and then goes to "Jacob sending to Egypt for corn," omitting the "dreams of Pharaoh :" The ellipsis is easily supplied by an interesting relation to the class. MILITARY SUNDAY SCHOOL. We insert with much pleasure, the following account just received through a Correspondent. We think our readers will feel interested in the welfare of a Sunday school thus planted beneath the British flag, in one of our Southern Dependencies. I CANNOT deny myself the pleasure of informing you, that a Sunday school has been established for the first time, in the regiment I mentioned to you, stationed at * Perhaps it would be as well to give an extract from a letter just received by me, from that part of the world. ' * * "You will be glad to hear that a regimental Sunday school has been established, which Mrs. C. (the wife of the Adjutant,) and myself, attend every Sunday afternoon. I found there were more Protestant children than I had expected; but Mrs. C. saying she thought that many Roman Catholics would be glad to send their children, I drew out the following memorandum, for the information of all those soldiers and their wives, who have families." "It is proposed to form a Sunday school, to be attended by such children of the * * * * Fusiliers, as may be sent by their parents; the instruction given to all the children, whether of Protestant, or Roman Catholic parents, will be the same, and it will be in accordance with the principles of the Church of England. After the children have been once sent to the school, it is expected their attendance will be regular." I was not very sanguine as to the number of Roman Catholic children I might have, after this plain announce ment; however, two days after, I received a list, containing the names of thirteen Protestant and eleven Catholic children, who now form the school. Mrs. C. instructs the very little ones, and I teach the nine eldest ; it was fully explained to the parents, that they are not compelled to send their children; and the remark made by two Romanist women was this. "Our Priest does nothing for our children, they had better be taught something than nothing." And indeed, I find that most of these poor children have never received any religious instruction; however, the system of the week-day school is now so far altered, that the children learn during the week, a lesson for their Sunday school, and I hope further to have it arranged that the children shall receive daily religious instruction." Thus far my Correspondent; and though it is but a small beginning, yet if "the continual dew of the Divine blessing," nourish the tender blade, we may hope it will eventually bring forth fruit to the glory of God. At all events the effort proves the usefulness of the instrumentality of Sunday schools. How do we know, but some of these Romanists, children may be the means, under God, of turning their parents from "darkness to light." S. G. |