the latter become naturally anxious to secure them, they will have acquired the power of reading and writing, and their minds will have become imbued with Christian truth, and, we may hope, with Christian principle; and there will be the less difficulty in allowing the parents to have either the partial or entire benefit of their children's services.

"It will, perhaps, interest the committee to learn something of the course of instruction pursued in our Infant Schools. Our great desire being to give the children, as early as possible, a clear and simple knowledge of the Saviour, and of the way of salvation through Him, they are taught such short verses as the following:- "Jesus Christ loved me, and gave Himself for me."-"The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." They likewise learn easy hymns, which, while communicating the same truth, introduce a variety in the mode of doing so, sufficient to sustain their attention. During the last two or three months, the teachers have been giving school lessons from "The Peep of Day," which I had translated into Tamil for this purpose. Along with these lessons they are gradually being taught to read, and are daily put through a variety of manual and bodily exercises, which,

whilst affording them abundant amusement, tend to form in them habits of order, &c. The results of the system in the Infant School at Suviseshapuram, commenced in November last, are very gratifying--indeed, much more so than I could have anticipated-and in the other schools, of more recent formation, a proportionate measure of success has been attained. Our success hitherto is, I trust, but the first fruits of an abundant harvest; and I cannot but hope, through God's blessing, that the early impressions made on the children's minds, by means of the constant teaching of Scriptural truth, may lead to many of them-those who are now heathen, as well as those nominally Christian-being brought into the true fold of the good Shepherd. It is a gratifying fact, that there are nearly 100 heathen girls receiving instruction in our schools, many of whom are infants. It would be conferring a great boon on our Infant Schools, if either the committee, or some friends interested in the education of the young, would supply us with a few sets of the prints generally used in Infant Schools in England.” [From the Rev. John Spratt to the Madras Corresponding Committee of the Church Missionary Society.]

GENTLEMEN,

As I feel deeply the importance of those who are engaged in the great work of Scriptural instruction freely .communicating to each other such plans as, under the Lord's blessing, they may have found useful, I would most urgently press upon those of my fellow. labourers who are engaged in scriptural

instruction (whether in the Sabbath school or not) to let their teaching be distinctively Protestant. They must, if they would be faithful, supply their scholars with arguments in defence of those truths which, as Protestants, they profess to believe in, and also enable them to reply to the subtle objections of Romanists.

I could, but that I am most unwilling to trespass on the valuable pages of your magazine, give more than one in ́stance, falling within my own ministerial experience, in which a neglect of this positive duty was fraught with the most painful effects. The consideration of them, indeed, was so much so, that I decided upon opening a "Protestant Class," for the express purpose of teaching what Protestants believed, and to bring the statements contained in our Liturgy and Articles to the test of God's word. In order to keep attention awake on this matter, I used always to give a sketch of some period connected with the early spread of the Reformation, and show that the "reformed doctrines" were not novel, but a mere return to those of the primitive Church in these countries. As the class advanced, I gave written questions, to be returned answered on our next night of meeting. In this way I was able to stir up a spirit of inquiry at the houses of the

scholars. I may mention, that I held this class on a week evening, and had an average attendance of 45 or 50, all of whom appeared much interested in the subject under consideration; and several adults, and some who were so advanced as to have left Sunday school, became regular attendants at the class.

I mention this plan as one I have found to work well, and would be glad to have any suggestion connected with such a class from those who may have tried a similar, or to afford any details that may be wished for.

I feel I cannot conclude without expressing my thanks for the many valuable hints that I have derived from the pages of the "Sunday School Quarterly," and to express my regret that it is not better known among our Irish Sunday school teachers, and that a similar Institute is not formed in Ireland. I am, Gentlemen, Your sincere well wisher, A Catholic Priest.

GENTLEMEN,

It

Among the various classes brought under instruction on every Lord's Day, I think there is still an important class uncared for, to whom such instruction is seldom offered, but for whom it is much needed-I mean the children of shopkeepers and other persons in the same rank of life in our villages and small towns. may be said that the parents of such children are capable of imparting religious instruction to them at home, and that, by forming classes for them on the Sunday, we should be taking their responsibilities on ourselves. It is possible that in a few cases there may be found parents who can and who do teach their children on the Lord's Day;

but I fear, generally speaking, we shall find the children of shopkeepers more deficient in scriptural knowledge than the children of the poor in our parochial schools, in many of which it is happily made the basis of all other learning. From the class above mentioned, the clergyman of a parish has not unfrequently to look for help in teaching his Sunday schools, and most valuable is such help when true piety is combined with intelligence and aptitude for teaching; but there are many whose willing services are rendered far from effective, for want of previous instruction.

If some of your readers who have leisure and opportunity would invite tradesmen's children to form classes, not in a School room, but in their own private

houses, for an hour, or an hour and a half, on Sunday mornings before service, I think a very powerful agency for good might be established, and, with God's blessing on the work, we might expect with confidence to see in time a goodly band of intelligent and wellinformed teachers to fill the ranks in our Sunday schools.

I would suggest that no distinction be made between the children of Churchmen and Dissenters, but that the invitation be given alike to each, the object being to make them Bible Christians. I would invite boys and girls, from the age of five years and upwards, and, under kind and judicious training, they will work well together. I have seen such classes on a small scale, and I make no doubt that were they generally carried out, where practicable,

the benefit would not only be felt among the children, but among the parents also. And again, if the plan recommended to teachers in your "School Register" were generally adopted-that of visiting the children at their own homesit would bring about a friendly intercourse with the parents, which would result in much good. The formation of such classes would afford good opportunities of bringing forward the claims of Missionary and other societies, at home and abroad, lending books, &c.; and in many ways opening out channels of usefulness.

Should these remarks be found wor thy a place in your valuable Quarterly, and be instrumental in exciting an interest for the class in question, it will be matter for thankfulness to

An Old Sunday School Teacher.

"WE were favored with some of your addresses, to which I have given free circulation. Your Report, also, with the excellent Sermon accompanying it, has been perused with pleasure, and I sincerely believe will prove of great benefit to the cause of Sunday Schools in this Colony, the faults and shortcomings of which appear to be precisely of the same nature as with you, only I fear in a greater degree-nevertheless, we must not faint. True it is, that the effect of Sunday training has not been what it ought; but seeing that God's word is the fountain from whence the teacher derives his matter of instruction, it cannot be the principle that is in fault; the defect will be found either in the manner in which the system is put in force, or in the negligent use made of the knowledge inculcated-perhaps both. The publications of your valuable

Society are eminently calculated to correct these evils; but, notwithstanding the prevalence of those evils, there are frequent occasions when we may be thankful and rejoice over favorable results, which may be traced by a reflecting mind to the Sunday School. In my own limited sphere of observation I can mark many individuals whose correctness of conduct and usefulness may be fairly attributed to that source, and I think the fact of scholars in after years voluntarily undertaking the office of teachers-which has been to a considerable extent the case at the two Church schools in this Town, as you will perceive by the particulars subjoined—is highly encouraging.

According to the census of 1851, the population of Launceston was:Church of England, 4,833; Church of Scotland, 685; Wesleyan, 614; other

Protestant Dissenters, 600; Roman Catholics, 1,498; Jews, 100; Pagans, 3-total, 8,333; of which 1,372 were convicts, and, of course, adults. All the sects, except the two last, have Sabbath Schools.

"The Church of England schools are Saint John's and Trinity. The first has on the books 63 boys and 75 girls, with an average attendance of 90, conducted by a superintendent, a secretary, 8 male and 11 female teachers; 7 of the latter, and 6 of the male teachers, have been scholars. The school of Trinity has on the books 86 boys and

65 girls, with an average attendance of 100, conducted by a superintendent, who also acts as secretary, 4 male and 5 female teachers; 3 of the latter, and 3 of the male teachers, have been scholars. A much larger attendance would be procured, if regular visitors could be obtained; but the difficulties to be now contended with, under the recent discoveries of gold to an extent unprecedented, are of no trifling nature; Friends, therefore, who are watching our progress, must not, when they perceive short-comings, judge too harshly."

THE DEVOTIONAL MEETING, conducted by the Rev. EDWARD AURIOL, was held 13th October. We much regret that our Members, by their slack attendance, seem to think lightly of these important services. It should be borne in mind, that they have for their object supplication of the Divine blessing, not only on the labours of the Institute, but also that a greater measure of success may attend the effort of Sunday school teaching generally.

THE LECTURES,

during the past Quarter, have been as follows:

On the 12th October, by the Rev. W. CADMAN, "Counsels to Sunday School

Teachers."

On the 23rd November, by the Rev. W. W. CHAMPNEY'S, "The Reflective Influence of Sunday Schools."

On the 28th December, by the Rev. R. H. DAVIES," Jesus Christ the great Example of Sunday School Teachers."

We are happy to be able to record,

that these Lectures were very numerously attended by our Members.

THE TEACHERS' CONVERSATIONAL

MEETING

took place on the 10th of November; about thirty-five Members were present. There were no communications to report from our country friends.

Mr. J. G. FLEET took the chair, and having opened the Meeting in the usual manner, said, that the subject for discussion was, "The Internal Arrangements of a School Room."

He conceived that the subject included the mechanical arrangements of a Sunday school, and the classification of the scholars; classes, he thought, should be so arranged as not to inter. fere with each other, and the superintendent's desk should be in a position to command a view of the whole school. As much disorder arose from want of a proper place for hats, caps, &c. he thought a porch, or ante-room, to be used as a cloak-room, would be a very desirable addition to a Sunday school.

Such a convenience would tend greatly to promote a more orderly demeanour in the children, on entering, as well as leaving school.

As to the placing of classes, he would have them arranged round the room. The luxury of separate rooms, he feared, was unattainable. The children should form three sides of a square, the teacher the fourth. Rules should be laid down for the form of kneeling during prayers, the superintendent's eye should be able to see all that is done. He concluded by making some remarks on the mode, &c., in which the books should be distributed.

Mr. FREWER recommended, as a cloak-room could not in most schools be secured, that moveable frames for hats and caps should be provided, one for each class, suspended over it, and let up and down by a weight and pulleys.

It was recommended, that the scholars should take their hats and caps to their teacher, who should take them under his charge.

The question as to the best posture to be maintained during prayers was next brought under consideration; it was recommended that the teacher should stand and the scholars kneel; upon this point much discussion followed, and the opinion among those present was against such a practice.

The time for closing having arrived, and the subject not being exhausted, the question was put whether it should be resumed at the next Conversational Meeting. This was generally agreed to; and the benediction having been pronounced, the Meeting terminated.

THE SUPERINTENDENTS' MEETING

was held on the 22nd December, when the Chair was occupied by Mr. J. G. FLEET, and an interesting conversation took place on "The Influence of the Superintendent over the Teachers." The attendance was good, and an interesting

conversation took place on the subject announced in our last Number.

FINANCE.

In presenting this list, we would refer our friends, or rather the friends of Sunday school instruction, to the few remarks we made in our last Number, on the subject of Annual Subscription to the Institute. We receive from various quarters cheering testimony to the valuable assistance afforded by the publications of the Institute; many more would be issued, but the Committee cannot, in prudence, go beyond a certain limit; they feel that their work in this department of their labours is but half done, while they can scarcely do anything towards the help of poor schools.