Division II.

1. Point out the difference between melody and harmony.

2. Define modulation, transposition, thorough-bass.

3. Transpose the following psalm-tune into the key of D (re), fill up the harmony, and write a verse of words according to its metre, and mark where two notes are sung to one syllable.

4. Arrange the following for the treble, alto, tenor, and bass voices, prefixing the proper clefs and signatures.

5. Name the keys with four sharps, five flats, five sharps, and their relative minors. What does the term relative mean as applied to major and minor keys?

6. What is meant by common chord? In how many positions may the common chord be taken? Give an example. Can you write common chords to every note in the scale?

7. Write common chords to the scale of D (re), ascending only.

8. What are the progressions to be avoided in writing or playing chords?

How are these faults to be remedied in the given example of consecutive fifths and octaves?

Consecutive 5ths & octaves, with their corrections.

9. Fill up the following exercise, and add the radical or fundamental bass. Chords.

10. Mention some of the terms in most general use which denote the velocity in which a piece is to be sung or played, and explain the following signs, viz. >

Correspondence,

D.C.

[The Committee of the National Society are thankful for any communication likely to assist SchoolManagers and Teachers, or otherwise promote the work of Church Education; but they do not necessarily hold themselves responsible for the opinions of the Editor's correspondents.]

To the Editor of the National Society's Monthly Paper.

THE HISTORY OF A CHURCH-TEACHER IN HIS DIFFICULTIES, STRUGGLES,
AND SUCCESS.

[This series of Chapters was commenced in the Number for August.]

CHAPTER X,

It was only three days before the commencement of the Christmas vacation of the Elmton school that Sydney passed his last examination. The night before the morning appointed for the inspector's appearance he was sitting with his mother at the fireside, his head resting upon his hand. He had worked hard all that day, and it was rather late when he returned from the home of one of his private pupils, who lived at a distant farmhouse. A glance at his features was sufficient to prove that he was weary. His face was somewhat paler than usual, and he seemed restless. A volume lay open by his side on the table, and by chance his eyes fell on a passage which seemed to harmonise with the thoughts passing at the time through his mind. The book was one which Boyd had lent him, and which he himself had received as a present from the Principal on leaving his training college. Its title was Thoughts, Maxims, and Experience of Gerard Beckmann, schoolmaster of Bayreuth, translated from the German. The passage was as follows:

"There are times when thou who hast entered on this noble spiritual work, this Christian architecture, this sublime engagement, wilt be desponding, and wilt wish to turn back. Thou wilt say to thyself, why do I thus labour, while many about me, pursuing their mechanical employment, have much lightness of heart after the day's toil, and sink into quiet sleep unoppressed by thoughts and cares like mine? These mechanical duties of theirs are put off as a garment, and leave no cogitations behind of a profound kind. In such moments thou wilt say to thy heart, Happy should I be, and cheerful as a bird, if my work, like theirs, had been mechanical, easily forgotten after labour, and removed far from the spiritual.' But turn upon thyself with exceeding severity, and answer thy heart thus: 'Is not the spiritual far higher than the mechanical? and if thou doest thy best part, will not thy crown shine brighter than the stars; because thou, whilst the world hurried past in the race in material occupations, hast joined thyself to a spiritual work, to a sacred calling-the moulding and fashioning of the young?""

A ray of pleasure and consolation darted through Sydney's mind as he read and re-read this passage; and the desire which had just then seized him to be rid of school-work altogether and to enter upon some mechanical pursuit vanished as a morning cloud, or as a dew-drop in the sun's bright ray. He rose with a light heart and assisted his mother to prepare their evening meal; and was not disappointed to find that a spare larder afforded no better provision that night than dry bread and vegetables.

"I hope," said Sydney to his mother, as they were discussing their supper, “that I may pass the examination and become a Queen's scholar, and then I shall have to go

,,

Here he checked himself; for he recollected that when he was gone to a training college his mother would be left alone at Elmton, and that not even one being would be near her connected with her by natural ties.

"Go where?" said Mrs. Mowbray.

“I shall have to be trained somewhere," said Sydney, softening the effect of the last word.

66

66

And Edith," said his mother," will she also have to go somewhere to be trained?" I suppose so," replied Sydney, showing some little confusion, and dropping a piece of bread to the cat at his feet, as if to hide it.

The reader may remember that Edith, Job's daughter, was a pupil-teacher in a neighbouring village, and that she was apprenticed at the same time as Sydney.

The barking of a dog attracted their attention at this moment; and Sydney, starting up, exclaimed, "Why, surely that is Pincher, Mr. Boyd's dog!" Before he could get to the door it was thrown open, and Pincher bounded into the room, followed by his master, whose hair and whiskers were covered with hoar-frost.

"A cold night, Mrs. Mowbray," said Boyd; "but you and Sydney seem cosy enough, and I fear I disturb you at an unseasonable hour."

“No apologies, I pray,” said Mrs. Mowbray, glancing at the plates on the table in her anxiety lest any remains of their meal should indicate their poverty at that

moment.

And here we may remark, that her sensitiveness in this particular may appear to some minds to savour too strongly of unlawful and unnecessary pride. Far be it from us to coincide in this opinion. There is a certain kind of pride which is deserving of praise rather than censure; and those who are most worthy of our sympathy and commendation are generally those who do not parade their wants before their neighbours. When the world in its fancied wisdom condemns that decent need which shrinks from the public gaze, it is at least bound to show by what authority it claims to be informed of the exact circumstances of its fellows.

"I have just been with our squire," said Boyd; " and some conversation which has passed between us is not unconnected with you, Sydney. The squire's brother, the rector of a parish near Buckingham, is staying at the Hall, and on his return to his living will open a new school. He has been so much pleased by the report given him by your young pupil, and by what I have said in your favour, that he has authorised me to offer you the mastership of the school at W-. The salary is only 50l. per annum, but there are several important advantages connected with the situation."

"If I accept it,” replied Sydney, "I shall of course lose my residence in a training college."

"Of course," said Boyd; "but you will nevertheless be doing good in your generation."

"It seems to require consideration," said Mrs. Mowbray.

"Undoubtedly," replied Boyd; "and there is no hurry for an answer, so you can turn the matter over in your minds. It is late now, and I must be going. In the meantime I wish you as bright and cheerful a Christmas, Mrs. Mowbray, as a good intent, good fare, and sparkling holly-berries can give you; so, good night. Pincher," said he, and away he went.

"Come,

CHAPTER XI.

It is natural to premise that the outward development of a great idea will in itself be great. The pyramids of Egypt, defying as they do the ravages of time; the cromlechs of Normandy, Brittany, and the West of England; the huge Druidical remains of past days; and the numerous specimens of ancient art scattered here and there throughout this country,-that is to say, our venerable cathedrals,-are indeed the outward symbolism of different ideas held at various periods of the world's history, and intended to be commensurate (as far as men could make them so) with the inward emotions and belief which called them into existence. But Church education, viewed in connection with the religious training of a nation, is the centre of a collection of hopes and aims as exalted in nature as any we can name. It demands the sympathies of all good men, and the efforts of the most vigorous minds. Can we wonder, therefore, that those who feel its importance should seek to enshrine their ideas in a befitting temple? At least, such must have been the wish of those who planned and reared the structure before whose gates the conveyance which brought Sydney Mowbray to his chosen training college stopped one cold night about the end of December 18- He had completed his period of apprenticeship, he had also refused the mastership of the school near Buckingham which had been offered him, and had now come to a well-known college to compete for a Queen's scholarship. The college buildings were of a very imposing appearance, and admirably adapted to impress the young men who entered them with a due sense of the importance of their work, and with a befitting appreciation of the interest attached to it by society in general. A substantial Gothic lodge guarded the entrance to the college grounds. After you had passed through the gates and proceeded a short distance up a gravelled road, having huge laurels on each side, the magnificent front or inorthern elevation of the building presented itself to view. A gateway with a pointed arch, surmounted by the arms of the diocese, admitted you to a spacious quadrangle, with open cloisters running round three sides of it, in which the students took walking exercise in wet weather. The windows of the college-chapel and those of the lecture-rooms and dormitories looked into this quadrangle; and it was here that the cab-driver set down Sydney, not forgetting, of course, to charge him a fare too great by about 1s. 6d., and an additional sum of 6d. for (to use his own expression)" a drop of summat to drink." The night was clear, cold, and frosty; the heavens seemed studded with brilliants; the cloisters threw deep shadows across the quadrangle; and, as Sydney had to wait some time before he could introduce himself to any of the inmates of the college, he had ample time to be impressed by the spirit of the scene; and ever since he has connected with his first night spent from home thoughts of a clear winter's evening, and shadows cast in the moonlight by Gothic arches. On entering the quadrangle he observed lights in the windows on one side of it. He ascertained that the students were at prayers in the college-chapel; for soon after the cab-driver had left him, he recognised the words of their evening hymn, which he had frequently sung himself:

"So we, when daylight fades away,

And darkling night comes round again,
Free from the world's pollution, may
Sing, Lord, to Thee our joyful strain."

This was the concluding verse; and soon after it had ceased the principal, vice-principal, and students, issued from the chapel in a body. Sydney introduced himself to the principal, and before retiring to rest was informed that the inspector would arrive at the college early in the morning, and open the examination at ten o'clock.

It seems unnecessary to trouble the reader with copies of the examination papers for the Queen's scholarship, or to state in what manner Sydney applied himself to the task of answering them. It is with the result that we are principally concerned; and this was not made known for about sixteen days, or nearly three weeks, after the examination. During this time he and the other students remained in the college, and much anxiety was evinced for the publication of the class-list. In due time it made its appearance; and the position in which Sydney found himself may be best understood from the following letter, written by him to Boyd, his old master, on the day on which the list found its way to the college. The reader will of course make due allowance for the feelings which dictated the communication.

M-Training College, January 21st, 18-.. MY DEAR MR. BOYD,-After a very unpleasant journey of six hours, I arrived here late on the evening of December 29th. I found about twenty-four candidates for the Queen's scholarships, all of whom had of course completed their term of apprenticeship in the schools in which they had served. The examination commenced on the day after my arrival. It lasted three days; and during the whole of this time I felt excessively nervous. It was only this morning that the class-list was submitted

our notice. How shall I attempt to inform you of the result? and still further, how can I ask you to communicate it to my poor mother and the vicar! I fear I shall for ever forfeit all your good opinions, and dispose you to look upon me as unworthy of your esteem and sympathy. My heart is well-nigh ready to break, for I have failed. I can now expect nothing more than to be as useless as a log of wood, as one doomed to float as a dead weight upon society. And yet, amid all my severe disappointment, I feel that I have tried hard to do my best. But why do I say "best," when I have disgraced you and all your teaching? Gladly would I lie down and die. I cannot return home and look you all in the face. Even if I could summon courage to do this, I have not sufficient money to defray my travelling expenses. What is to become of me I know not. Write to me and advise me, for I know not whither to turn; and if you can furnish me with the funds necessary to my return to Elmton, I shall feel deeply indebted to you all for your kindness. The examination seems like a dream, and I cannot imagine how it is that I have failed.-Ever yours affectionately, SYDNEY MOWBRAY. To this letter Boyd returned the following answer:

Elmton, January 24th, 18-.

MY DEAR SYDNEY,-I waited most anxiously for a letter from you, and expected to hear from you at least three days after your arrival at the college.

An examination is a lottery. One never knows whether the questions may fall into the vein of one's reading. I have known very clever men (of whose talents and extensive information there could be no doubt) who have completely failed in the formal examinations which they have undergone. Yet these men have done wonders in their way, and have proved most valuable members of society. Such you may be yet, though you have failed. Indeed, we all expect great things from you; and, though at present you seem to be under a dark cloud, be assured, if you are energetic and persistent, you may yet become an ornament to your profession.

I have laid your case before the vicar, who has spoken to the squire about you. The result of their consultation is, that they agree to pay your expenses for two years at the college in which you now are; and the only return which they expect is, that you will endeavour to perfect yourself in your studies, especially in your knowledge of school-work. I send you a post-office order for 5. for the present.

Your mother leaves your case in good hands. You will write to her as cheerfully as possible. I shall write in a few days. The vicar has written to the principal. Keep up your spirits, and be reverent, staid, and studious.-Yours ever, R. BOYD.

Sydney kept this letter by him as a precious treasure; and the reader must now consider him as a student in the M- College for Schoolmasters.

[To be continued.]

PARISH-SCHOOLS A HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS SINCE.

SIR,-Having much respect for the parish schoolmaster's office, and some practical acquaintance with the way in which the duties of it are faithfully performed, whether by certificated or uncertificated teachers, I should be sorry to rest under the imputation laid upon me by "J. A. C.," of reflecting upon modern schoolmasters in remarks which (for want, perhaps, of a more definite word) he calls "invidious." I do not, on a re-perusal of my remarks at page 292-294, see any thing "invidious" about them; but, as others of your readers may possibly have misconstrued my meaning as well as "J. A. C.," I beg to say that the observations I made on the hours of work in modern schools had reference to indirect labours compulsorily laid upon teachers, and which seem to interfere in some cases with the direct work of teaching the children, and not to any want of diligence or energy on the part of the teacher. It is, I know, a question on which much may be said on both sides; but, for my own part, I rather incline to the view that the teaching of teachers by the parish schoolmaster is an occupation which takes so much out of him physically and mentally as to hinder more or less the full application of his powers to the teaching of the children themselves. I am disposed to class the system among those necessary evils to which the Church has been driven to submit through the poverty of her parochial endowments for educational purposes; but which might be remedied if the National Society were more munificently supported.

"J. A. Č." will see that his remarks on the qualifications of teachers, and the rules made for schools in the last century, are only an echo of what I said myself when putting them before your readers. A little more careful reading may another time save him some unnecessary suffering, and you some space. I may also inform him that one of your correspondents has obligingly sent me a copy of some rules very similar in character to those of 1710, which are now in use in a country school, and "which appear to work well, though better attention to them may be well wished for." J. H. B.

DIOCESAN INSPECTION.

Fixed Subjects for Examination.

Frant Rectory, Tunbridge Wells, December 1856. SIR,-Having been favoured by our clerical superintendent with a sight of the list of subjects selected for the examination of the Central Schools of the National Society next year, with his permission I ask of you the favour to insert it in your Monthly Paper for January.