Contemporary Events in the Kingdom of Judah and Israel arranged Chronologically. (Continued from December Number.)

HOW CAN SUNDAY-SCHOOLS BE BEST CONDUCTED?

Brampton School, December 11, 1856. SIR, A Sunday-school is a necessary evil-a fruitful source of heart-ache and annoyance to every earnest person engaged in it, from the superintendent to the youth, of either sex, just beginning to feel the responsibility of the teacher's office. A Sunday-school is an anomaly, striking at the very root of the moral code, and entailing Sabbath-toil upon those disposed to bear it, in too many cases to rid indolent or careless parents of the duties naturally devolving upon themselves.

It is an undeniable fact, however, that an immense amount of good has been effected by these institutions; and till England, as a nation, has arrived at such a pitch of moral cultivation, and parents to a proper sense of their great responsibility as such, well-disposed persons will always be found who, for the love of God and that of their fellow-creatures, will deny themselves the holy rest of the Sabbath, and the time-hallowed privilege of joining undisturbed in the public "worship of the sanctuary," in order that the "waifs" of the flock may be gathered into the fold. Such persons earnestly look forward to the time (alas, how distant!) when each parent shall be happy to take charge of his own children on the Sabbath, and lead them to the house of God, where, as one great family, the whole neighbourhood may join in worship. But as such a wished-for " consummation" seems as yet barely possible, Sunday-schools must still go on; and the question arises, "How can such schools be best conducted ?" Not being altogether inexperienced in such matters, I venture a reply.

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I have ever found that it is not good to mix week-day scholars and Sundayscholars together. The merely Sunday-scholars belong to one of two classes: they are either those who have but lately left the day-school, and are desirous of showing their late compeers what acts of disobedience and self-will they can now perpetrate with impunity, and how they dare set the authority of the master at defiance (conduct, without a single exception, they are more or less prone to); or they are overgrown lads who have had little or no school-training, but have had a regular course" of such vicious speech and manners as can be obtained, to the shame of employers be it spoken, at any colliery, brick-works, or factory, and therefore are little likely to succumb to the wishes of the schoolmaster, or any other person, except, indeed, to his work-day superintendent. One such subject in a Sunday-school will give the master more trouble than the whole of his week-day scholars put together; and will succeed so far in disorganising even it, that the teacher will feel the evil effects for the greater part of the ensuing week-so true is it that "one scabbed sheep infects the flock."

His

I think I may venture to assert, that there is no schoolmaster who would object to conduct a Sunday-school, if it were composed entirely of his own week-day scholars. To an earnest methodical teacher such a task is a pleasant one. pupils, free from the contagion of bad example, never dream of misbehaving either in school or church. If the children do not join with sincerity in the service, they are at least orderly, and do not interfere with the worship of others. It has been said that "we are all creatures of habit;" and if this be true of adults, it is more especially so of children and young persons; hence those who have been taken to church under a lax or imbecile discipline will grow up to respect neither the house nor the service of God; and if any good be eventually effected with such, it can only be by a providential interference. As to the other, I have shown, I trust, that it is otherwise with them: the soil is prepared and ready for the Gospel seed; and though some may fall by the way-side, and into stony places," &c., yet there is every probability, under God, of a fruitful harvest.

But if schoolmasters are to occupy their schools on Sabbath-days, and admit none but their week-day scholars, what is to become of all those who have left the schools, and others, who form the bulk of those requiring Sunday-culture? I will endeavour to answer this question. Let each teacher take his or her class at home as punctually as if it were at school; and after the usual routine of instruction, conduct it, with his own family, decently and decorously to church. He must not be ashamed to sit with them, either in his own pew or other convenient place, and set them the example of humbly kneeling before God in His own house. Each of those classes should be kept separate, even in church; but the whole might meet together once a quarter in the schoolroom to partake of tea, and, under the superintendence of the clergyman and their teachers, join in some harmless amusement. If there be one class of boys worse to manage than another, that particular class will be taken by the clergyman, as being most likely to be influenced by him; and kind feeling will do much towards this. His wife, if he have one, will take a similar class of girls, or

young women, in another room. Should the clergyman not take a class himself, his time may be beneficially employed by calling on each group on his way to church, and by his advice and countenance make the work pleasant to both teacher and taught. Teachers' meetings at the parsonage will, of course, be held monthly. Weekly meetings are perhaps unnecessary.

A library of well-illustrated books on interesting subjects, not "too dry," is a very useful appendage to a Sunday-school. Some roomy well warmed and lighted apartment should be chosen, where the young people might be encouraged to meet once a-week at least to exchange their books, and sit for an hour or so reading any other books or illustrated papers which may have been provided for them.

One or two pleasure-excursions to neighbouring places should be "got up," and "things to be noticed" at each should be previously gone over; thus a great amount of healthy instruction and amusement might be imparted. I need hardly say that lectures on popular subjects, accompanied with experiments and illustrations, should be given as frequently as possible; and whilst the scholars should be admitted free, or at a very small charge, the price to the public should be such as to show clearly that there is a pecuniary advantage in being "on the books" of the Sunday-school. At the same time, the Sabbath attendance should be so strictly enforced by admonition, or even expulsion, if necessary, that no names would be found" on the books" but such as were bonâ-fide scholars, not nominally so.-I am, &c.

DRESS OF SUNDAY-SCHOOL GIRLS.

WILLIAM PEARSON.

Whittlesea, Dec. 11, 1856.

SIR,-Surely if the meaning of the texts 1 Pet. iii. 34 and 1 Tim. ii. 9, quoted by your correspondent "Belgrave" in this month's Number of your Paper be, what she would seem to imply, that women should not adorn themselves with "braided hair, or gold or pearls or costly array," the words of the holy apostle should be applied to Sunday-school teachers as well as children. And, no doubt, had this been the true meaning, Quaker plainness of dress would always have been adopted by every earnestminded Christian woman. But does not the second text quoted help us to the true meaning of both? "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning, but let it be the hidden man of the heart, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit." This is the adorning they are to spend their time and thoughts upon putting on, and which they are to feel will alone make them acceptable in the eyes of God and man. And I have found from experience that this deep and true principle is so understood by a class of girls whose ages average thirteen years, that I have no complaints to make of too smart caps or too expensive shawls. They see that such things would be inconsistent with the humble self-denying character they must be ever striving to become. I have said nothing to them about the impropriety of flowers (for how could I, when it would seem God has given them to us for the sole purpose of exciting our love and admiration?); but yet I have seen the "artificials" withdrawn from their caps, because they have felt that they put them there to draw attention to themselves. I do not mean that they exactly argued to themselves in this way, but that I could see such a working in their minds leading to such results. And I must say I felt better satisfied than if it had been done because I had told them not to wear them, because I hope the true principle was laid, which, by God's grace, may guide their conduct through life with regard to what certainly will never be considered unimportant a woman's appearance.-I am, &c. A S.-S. TEACHER. [We have now occupied as much space as we can well spare to this subject, and must, at all events for the present, close the correspondence.-Ed. M. P.]

SYSTEMATIC TEACHING IN SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

SIR,-Your correspondent " C. F. Secretan," who writes on the deficiency of systematic teaching in our Sunday-schools, will find much assistance in a very useful book called the Sunday-Scholar's Christian Year, by the Rev. Thomas Allbut, price 9d. Having made use of it in a Sunday-school for twelve months, I am able to say that it has fully answered my expectations; and I can thoroughly recommend it for general use. I remain, &c. GEORGE BRUINO.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"H. O. L.," "H.D.," "L. R.," "Cosy," and "Trent," are thanked for their communications. We must now devote our limited space to other subjects.

"J. M." and "Curate" are thanked. Their communications are under consideration.

THE Meetings of the Committee of this Society have not been numerously attended by Members during the last month.

Welsh Education Committee.

This Committee has just issued a very interesting Report of its proceedings during the ten years that it has been acting as the Welsh branch of the National Society, with an especial reference to the improvement of the state of education in the Principality. A large measure of success has attended its exertions; and it now renews its appeal for an extension of that liberal support with which it has hitherto been favoured. The Report will be forwarded to any promoter of education who may be desirous of furthering the object in view.

Half-Yearly Abstract.

The following particulars of the Society's proceedings are taken from the "Half-Yearly Abstract of Proceedings," intended for parochial distribution. Copies of the Paper will be sent to any friend of the Society disposed to pro

mote its interests.

Depository. It is satisfactory to report that the anticipations of the Committee with respect to a large increase of business in the Society's Depository, consequent upon the opening of the new salesroom at the Sanctuary, have been realised. The receipts for the year 1856 will, there is little doubt, show an increase of at least 2000l. over those for 1855. Meanwhile considerable additions have been made to the list of books and school-materials on sale.

It is also gratifying to announce that several fresh dépôts, in important towns, have been opened during the last year. By means of these dépôts it is hoped that the books and apparatus provided by the Society may be introduced into many small and outlying schools which have hitherto, from lack of opportunity, not enjoyed this advantage.

School-Library. It is proposed to add to the Society's Depository a selection of standard secular books suitable for a school-library. The books thus selected have been recommended by some one or more Diocesan Boards of Education. They will be uniformly bound in a strong binding, and will be offered to the members of the Society at a considerable reduction from the cost-price. The first selection will consist of about twenty-five or thirty volumes; and among them will be found,

White's Selbourne.

Joyce's Scientific Dialogues.
Tales of a Grandfather.
Robinson Crusoe.

Sandford and Merton.
Bruce's Travels.
Thomson's Seasons.
Cowper's Poems.

Monthly Paper.-The sale of this Paper is steadily on the increase; and it is expected that during the year 1857 at least 7000 copies will be printed each month. It will be found to be of especial service to managers of schools who may require a teacher at any other period than at Christmas in each year. As teachers can now be procured from training-schools only at the close of each year, the advertisements in VOL. XI.

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the Monthly Paper afford a medium of communication at other times between managers and teachers, which is of great service.

A portion of the paper has, during the year 1856, been set apart for special information and correspondence upon Sunday-schools. There is reason to believe that this part of the Paper has been heartily welcomed by many Sunday-school teachers, who have long felt the want of some channel for communicating among each other advice and suggestions upon the peculiar work of the Sunday-school.

Parochial Collections Fund.-Collections, under the authority of the Pastoral Letters issued by most of the Bishops in favour of the Society, continue to be received. The Committee cannot at present calculate on the aggregate amount which they will obtain towards the Parochial Collections Fund; which will be strictly applied to the same purposes as the sums formerly raised under the authority of a Royal Letter. The amount, however, collected in the majority of those places from which returns have hitherto been received exceeds that remitted under the last Queen's Letter. But it must be remembered, that in most instances a moiety of the collection is handed over to the Diocesan or Local Board.

The Committee, in full confidence that funds will be supplied to them for carrying on the great work of school-building, have voted grants in all the applications made to them. During the last six months the sum authorised to be paid by the Treasurer towards school-buildings, duly completed and conveyed, has amounted to 22661.

Inquiry into the State of Church-Education throughout England and Wales.-The Committee are now prosecuting this inquiry by means of the Diocesan and Local Boards, and in some cases of private individuals. The necessary forms are supplied by the Society. The result of the whole will be made public at the earliest opportunity; but there is reason to think that the returns from some dioceses will not be received until towards the middle of 1857.

Diocesan Inspection and Organisation of Schools.-It is satisfactory to report that the demand for the inspection-forms, issued from the Society's office, continues steadily to increase. This is a proof of the increased value attached to diocesan inspection, and of the earnestness and reality of the work done by the Bishop's inspectors. The requests for the services of the Society's Organising Masters are so numerous, that the Committee have lately added an additional Organising Master, and have also given instructions that inquiry should be made for another well-qualified candidate for this important office.

Battersea Training College.

The examination was conducted by her Majesty's Inspectors, the Rev. F. Temple and the Rev. M. Mitchell. In the Students' examination there were 38 candidates of the second year, and 67 of the first year. There were 91 candidates in the Pupil-teachers' examination, of whom 83 were successful.

Mr. James Marsland has been appointed Vice-Principal of the Diocesan Training College, Winchester. For other appointments from Battersea see

page 56.

Whitelands Training Institution.

COPY OF ANSWER FROM BISHOP BLOMFIELD TO THE ADDRESS OF THE COUNCIL OF WHITELANDS.

to me.

Fulham Palace, 2 December 1856.

MY DEAR MR. BABER,-I have been much gratified by the resolution agreed to by the Council of the Whitelands Institution, a copy of which you have transmitted The council only do justice to the earnest wish I have ever had to promote the success of that most valuable institution. Considering the influence which the female sex must always exercise upon the moral and social character of the community, no design, I think, can be better calculated to benefit society than that which proposes to train those who are to undertake the duty of female education in the principles of sound religion and in habits of usefulness; to communicate to them a practical knowledge of whatever may afterwards be useful to them in the relations of domestic life; and to give them the faculty of imparting that knowledge to others. This has been attempted at Whitelands, and we have great reason to be thankful that it has pleased God to bless the attempt with so large a measure of success. That success, I am persuaded, is in great measure to be ascribed, under the Divine blessing, to the unity of purpose which has actuated the Council, and to the mutual forbearance, candour, and courtesy, which have characterised their deliberations, and which have rendered it so agreeable a duty to assist at their meetings.