number of persons we have lost by wear and tear, as a denomination, from our commencement in 1797 to the year 1882. The loss is as follows:-By discontinued, 101,465; by removals (totally lost to the Church of Christ), 62,440; a total of 163,905 persons, who have drifted from us as a denomination in the course of our history, and gone back into the world-perhaps rescued through God's mercy in after years, perhaps not. Estimating the Methodist membership of the world to be 4,000,000-a number which the Rev. L. Tyerman gives in his introduction to his Life of the Rev. J. Wesley -there is every year drifting from the Churches of Methodism into the world again the enormous number of 490,000 persons. A normal wear and tear of 5 per cent. would only require a deduction from that number of 200,000, leaving the enormous total of 290,000 souls who every year are lost to Methodism and the Church of Christ from causes that should be preventible. Could we, by carefulness, by prayerfulness, by increased efficiency in every part of Church life and activity, by brotherly love, retain that 290,000 in the fellowship of Methodist Churches, every Methodist denomination would have enormous increases to report-increases that would lift up every heart into intensest joy. As it is, there is a dark shadow clinging to all our successes. Our joy at the slight increases we annually report is dashed with sadness as we remember the thousands who, from various preventible causes, are walking no more with Christ. A glance at the sad condition of these thousands will surely heighten our sense of responsibility. Is not the last state of these people worse than their first? Would it not have been better for them never to have known Christ, than, having known Him, to turn back from Him? And can we think calmly of the fact that every year the Methodist Churches of the world are sending into society 290,000 of just such persons-persons who are the worse instead of the better for their connection with the Church? Oh, how anxious were Christ and the Apostles for those who were in danger of falling away, or who had fallen! How they prayed and beseeched and exhorted! Would that their anxiety might become ours! As Methodists we have enjoyed the grand privilege of winning many to righteousness, through the blessing of God upon us; but a solemn responsibility ever accompanies the privilege-the responsibility of doing all that in us lies, as Churches, to fulfil faithfully the command of the Great Head of the Church, when He said, Feed my sheep."

Armley, Leeds.

66

JOSEPH HUGHES.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

THE Sunday-school Committee have joy in presenting this Report, as the facts therein, while not realising all their hopes and prayers, give evidence that the increased interest manifested in the spiritual work of our Sundayschools, in recent years, is still growing. And the Committee, believing that the Connexion has as yet reaped but the first-fruits of a great harvest, beg the Conference to provide for a continuance of such labours as the Committee have heretofore put forth.

In October, 1882, the Committee addressed a comprehensive circular to the quarterly meetings and Sunday-schools of the denomination, urging more general attention to things bearing upon efficiency of school management, the holding of special services for the young, the delivery of sermons and addresses to them in connection with the public services of the sanctuary, the formation of classes for the fostering of child piety, and other matters of no less importance.

Rules for Sunday-schools having been prepared, 650 copies have been sent into the circuits as specimens, with the suggestion that wherever practicable they should be immediately adopted.

With the January number of the Connexional Magazine, a series of expositions of the International Lessons was commenced for the help of Sunday-school teachers. For this arrangement the Committee are grateful to the Editor, and also urge this new feature of the Magazine as eminently worthy the attention of our Sunday-school authorities. Schedules to hand from the English Circuits and the Home and Irish Mission Stations show:

This year

444

Schools. Teachers.
11,136

8,658

Teachers Scholars Scholars. Members. Members. 81,567

5,272

Last year

449

11,170

80,433

8,470

5,142

Increase.........

1,134

188

130

Decrease

This guide to Christian Doctrine is now touching the Connexion more widely than in previous years. From some Circuits-as Ashton, Birmingham, Dawley and Madeley, Hawarden, Dewsbury, and Ladywood-reports say that the Catechism is in partial use, or employed at the discretion of the teachers. Other Circuits-as Stourbridge and Halifax South, have recently introduced it. A few more promise to do so. The Superintendent of the Willington Circuit says:-" Truth Made Simple " is made use of in a large number of our schools with the best results;" and the Rev. J. Carter, of Sunderland, says :-" It is more extensively used than in previous years, and promises to be followed by a better understanding of the Bible."

TEACHERS' PREPARATION CLASSES.

In some Circuits, as Alnwick and Birmingham, Mutual Improvement Classes, Senior Classes, and Classes for Adults answer the object of Teachers' Preparation Classes. In some towns, as Bradford and New

castle-on-Tyne, teachers avail themselves of the help offered by Young Men's Christian Associations and Sunday-school Unions; and in a few places, as Mossley, an exposition of the lesson for the following Sunday afternoon is given by the minister at the week-night service. The Committee are thankful for this, and recommend all the Sunday-school workers in the Connexion to do their best with the means and opportunities at command; keeping in mind, however, that the Committee desire that classes for the sole purpose of preparing teachers for their Sabbath duties should be established as extensively as possible. Hence the Committee learn with much satisfaction of classes of this kind at Oldbury, Tunstall, Hunslet Carr, Park-place, Liverpool; Bethel and Stepney, Hull; Lynn, Dukinfield, Hollingworth and Barnsley, &c.

COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS.

An examination has been conducted at Unett-street, Birmingham, on "The Bible, its evidences and excellencies," many of the scholars taking part therein. Considerable knowledge of the subject was displayed, and some valuable prizes were given to the young people who exhibited most proficiency. In Bridgetown, Cheslyn Hay Circuit, examinations are conducted quarterly, on the Sunday, on which occasions papers with printed questions are supplied to the children at the opening of the school to be returned with written answers at the close. Schools in Halifax North judged it wise not to have examinations this year, in the hope that, after a brief rest, interest would be quickened. A few scholars connected with Hanover and King Cross Schools, Halifax South Circuit, presented themselves in the Sunday-school Union examinations, and most of them passed in the first class. In Bradford a number of scholars passed successfully. Hanley Circuit reports that scholars have submitted to examination with encouraging results. Longton, Dewsbury, Leeds Second, Hull, Oldham, Nottingham, Sheffield North, Sheffield South, Sheffield West, and Stafford, &c., the same. All the scholars from our Shrewsbury school who took part in a local examination, with one exception, won certificates-five with honours, and one prize. Scholars from Salem, Wallsend, and Scotswood, Newcastle-on-Tyne, took part in an examination, and of seventeen scholars from Salem twelve passed, some of them receiving first-class certificates. Report from Sunderland says:-"A few scholars entered the local examination, and distinguished themselves by their knowledge of Scripture truth." For the first time scholars at Lindley have been induced to submit to examination, and one only failed to obtain a certificate; while the scholars at Paddock, in the same Circuit, have more than maintained the good position of former years. Scholars at Boston have done well. Scholars and teachers connected with our Derby school have availed themselves of the provision of the Derby Sunday-school Union, for examination, and Mr. A. J. Crofts, a teacher and local preacher, has received one of ten prizes given in all England, and the only one in the Derby Union. Two other teachers have won certificates of honour. One prize and six certificates have been secured by scholars at Ladywood; and, in an examination conducted by

the Rev. G. Wheatley, in our Gloucester school, twenty scholars passed creditably and received prizes.

THE RECOGNITION OF THE YOUNG IN THE PUBLIC SERVICES OF THE

SANCTUARY.

The presence of so many young people in the Sabbath services of the Lord's house, in many of our Circuits, is exceedingly gladdening, and whatever can be done in those services to interest and instruct the young with a view to their immediate and permanent benefit should be cheerfully undertaken. And the Committee are assured that the adult portion of our congregations are mostly in kindly sympathy with those parts of our public worship and teaching intended chiefly for the children. In Halifax North Circuit children continued to receive attention from all the ministers in a brief sermon or address every Sunday morning. In the Lindley Circuit such sermons and addresses are given occasionally. At Shrewsbury a children's sermon is preached on the first Sabbath morning in each month. Guernsey has now a monthly sermon to the young, which is much appreciated; Salem, Manchester North, and Mossley Circuit, also. Something is done every Sunday morning in Oldham, Rochdale, Stockton-on-Tees, and Stafford. At Crewe a short address is given in the school every alternate Sunday, and occasionally a sermon preached to the young in the chapel. Alnwick has a scholars' service on the first Sunday afternoon in every month, and Belfast a quarterly service conducted by the Rev. J. W. Williams, and well sustained. The Rev. J. E. Walsh, of Rochdale, writes:-"Every Sunday morning I preach, instead of reading a second lesson, a ten-minutes sermon to the scholars. We have also at Molesworth-street, on a Sunday afternoon once a quarter, a service in the chapel for the scholars, when I preach a longer sermon of an Evangelistic character." And the Rev. G. S. Hornby, bearing testimony to the result of children's sermons, &c., in Oldham, says:-"I have reason to believe that they have been the means of inducing numbers to give themselves to the Saviour."

EVANGELISTIC SERVICES FOR THE YOUNG.

Children, even as adults, are often won to Christ in numbers, the decision of the few helping the decision of the many; and those who, apparently, have been unmoved by appeals made in ordinary services, respond to such as are given in special or Evangelistic services. Such services have been held during the past year in the Dawley Circuit, and at Lightmoor the entire select class of sixteen scholars has been converted. In Halifax North, Bradford, Hanley, Dewsbury, Bethel, Leeds Second, Breckfield-road, Liverpool; in Hawarden Circuit, Sheffield North and South Circuits, and in Thorne and Nottingham Circuits, Evangelistic services have been held and scholars gathered into the Church. Of additions to the Church membership in Batley Circuit during the past year, eighty-one are connected with the school as teachers and scholars. Twenty-one scholars have been brought to Christ in Evangelistic services in Ripon Circuit. Report from London Third says that Evangelistic services have been held, and though "no accessions were secured to the

Church by means of them, they were sufficiently encouraging to prompt the desire to arrange for another series as soon as opportunity will allow." At Mount Tabor, Stockport, a large number of young people have given themselves to Christ, and "have generally remained steadfast." Eighteen scholars have been brought to Christ in the Blyth Circuit, fourteen at Stafford, and in Sunderland and at Barrow-in-Furness a few scholars have joined the Church after special services. At St. Ives, Sunday afternoon services have been held, and occasionally prayer-meetings, with good results. At Chyangweal, five scholars expressed a wish to become followers of Christ and commenced meeting in class. In other parts of this Circuit many young people give signs of grace, and inspire the hope of abiding devotion to the Lord Jesus. During a week of special Evangelistic services at Ladywood many children sought and found Jesus. These are being nurtured by the Church in classes in charge of Mrs. Robinson and other competent and zealous friends.

CLASSES FOR THE YOUNG.

These classes are not nearly so numerous as the Committee desire, and certainly far less numerous than they should be; for "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few." May the Lord send forth labourers into His harvest! A good work has been going on for some time in the Shrewsbury school, and a short time ago the Rev. J. Graham had the joy of publicly receiving nine scholars into Church fellowship, and others are preparing for the same precious privilege. A "Christian Band" has been formed at Bethel, Hull, in which about thirty scholars who give evidence of desire to live a godly life are under the direction of suitable leaders. In Ripon Circuit classes have been formed for confirming the faith of the young people blessed in special services. Classes are being conducted at Breckfield-road, Liverpool. In two classes at Lynn, one for boys and one for girls, encouraging work is being done. Manchester North, Stockport, Blyth, Shields, and Stockton-on-Tees possess classes of this order. In three societies in the Bolton Circuit, juvenile classes are held in which eighty-two young people are meeting. From thirty to forty "little girls" are meeting in class at Hurst, and a class for boys has been recommended. The members are transferred, as they grow up and develop in religious knowledge and experience, to adult classes. this way the garden of the Lord is being enriched and made more fruitful." Much is being done in the same direction also at Hyde. At Salem, Newcastle-on-Tyne, two classes are conducted, one for boys and one for girls. "The girls offer up heart-stirring prayers, and their experience is of constant and steady growth." Barrow and Leicester report classes which are an unspeakable blessing to the young people attending them, and a source of increase to the Church.

CONCLUSION.

"In

Some brethren complain because the Sunday-school Committee ask for statistics, as, in their judgment, one return of the number of scholars and teachers, &c., should suffice. The Committee have to say that their chief concern is not with statistics, and yet it would be difficult to estimate