罪

HE Fitzroy schools were established about the beginning of this century, by a few young men, for the instruction of a limited number of poor children on the Sabbath-day. After the lapse of a short period, the carpenter's shed, which they had at first occupied in an obscure court, was found too small for the accommodation of the children. A meeting, therefore, was held, at which Drs. Waugh, Nichol, Winter, and other ministers were invited to be present, to take into consideration the propriety of providing a more convenient place of meeting. During the course of the discussion, as appears from a memorandum in Mr. Nisbet's handwriting, a penny a week subscription was proposed, and afterwards adopted by the committee, by which means larger premises

were engaged and fitted up for the reception of 300 children. In addition to the instruction imparted to them on the Sunday, they received lessons in writing and arithmetic during the course of the week; and eventually, the committee were encouraged to engage a master and mistress, under whose superintendence the children were admitted to the full advantages of a free day school. But the progress and prosperity of the institution did not terminate there. From the rapid increase in the attendance, and the liberal support obtained from many Christian friends, a larger building was purchased in Hertford Place, at an expense of £1650; and there, from year to year, the blessings of a religious education have been imparted to at least 600 children, of whom not a few have risen to the high and honourable position of ministers and of missionaries, while the great majority have joined themselves in communion with the church of Christ, and shown the advantages of early training, by the blessed fruits of a useful and godly life.

These are interesting facts. Evidently it was a day of small things when the schools were first established. At that time none of all the young men who resolved, after prayer and conference with one another, to open a little Sunday school in a shed, meanly furnished, and of small dimensions, could have formed the faintest conception of the swift progress it would make, and the grand results to

which it would lead; yet there is something interesting and instructive in the fact, that the little Sunday school has actually passed, in the course of time, into a great educational institute, furnished with a large library of books, having also a Friendly Society for the benefit of the children in times of sickness, and giving regular instruction to vast numbers who otherwise might have been left in a state of ignorance and vice; whilst, as appears from the Report of 1853, there have been sent out from the schools not less than fourteen thousand, fitted by Christian culture for a course of life, at once useful to others, and honourable to themselves, in the various avocations which, in the providence of God, have been opened up before them.

The success and efficiency of the Fitzroy schools have been owing, I believe, mainly to the energy and zeal of James Nisbet. At one time, most of the original supporters of the schools being removed by death, only two were left with himself for the carrying on of the work. But he continued to persevere. For the long period of forty years he acted both as treasurer and secretary, taking the liveliest interest in everything that was likely to contribute to the wellbeing of the children, subscribing largely to the funds that were required for the support of the schools, strengthening the hands and encouraging the hearts. of the teachers by his genial presence and his fatherly

counsels, and arranging for friendly meetings with the old scholars, which were held annually, and (perhaps without a parallel in institutions of a similar kind) for a period of at least eight-and-twenty years.

The example of this devoted man teaches an impressive lesson to the teachers of Sunday schools. Your efforts may not yield the same abundant fruit, they may not be followed with the same magnificent results, and many may be the difficulties and discouragements that meet you at every step. But continue in prayer. Guard against despondency. Rely upon the faithful promises of God. of your labours by immediate results. before you into the coming eternity. your might while the day lasts, and, depend upon it, you shall not be permitted to spend your strength in

vain.

Judge not

Look far

Work with all

The seed that is sown in the autumn is not lost, though it is laid in a cold grave, and all covered up and concealed by the winter's snow. It is only preparing for the coming change; and when the spring comes round, it displays the symptoms of life, and, bursting forth in freshness and in beauty, it brings forth eventually, in some thirty, in some sixty, and in some an hundredfold.

Therefore, in circumstances the most inauspicious, be not ye backward in using the appointed means. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening

6

withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.' And abounding in the work of the Lord, and never wearying in well-doing, in due season you shall reap you faint not. For 'to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.'

if

'Ye have not sowed in vain,

Though the heavens seem as brass,

And piercing the crust of the burning plain,
Ye scan not a blade of grass.

Yet there is life within,

And waters of life on high;

One morn ye shall wake, and the spring's soft green
O'er the moistened fields shall lie.

Went ye not forth with prayer?

Then ye went not forth in vain ;
The Sower, the Son of man, was there,
And His was that precious grain.

Ye may not see the bud,

The first sweet sign of spring,

The first slow drops of the quickening shower

On the dry, hard ground that ring.

But the harvest home ye'll keep,

The summer of life ye'll share,

When they that sow and they that reap
Rejoice together there.'

K