Mr. GEORGE BOOTHE read an essay on "Select Classes," consisting of young people who had passed through many of the classes in the school, and who had become old enough to be prepared for usefulness as teachers, or in the Church generally.

Mr. WILLIAM MORRIS, of Salford, having had considerable experience in the care of an adult class for several years, made some interesting statements on this subject. His class was composed of adults entirely; he had attended to the graveyard the remains of one of them, aged sixty-six years; the average age of the members of his class was nearly forty years; and some of them had been in the Sunday school. To carry on adult classes efficiently, it was indispensable to have private rooms. It was impossible for any teacher to gain the attention of grown men, or of | young men from fourteen to eighteen years of age, while they were put on the same bench with lads of eight or ten. For select classes, select rooms were necessary. The working men who were in his class were accustomed to subscribe for the relief of those in sickness or distress! a resolution to do so being moved and seconded among them in a business-like way.

After some statements and remarks from Mr. Platt, of Macclesfield; Mr. Ashton, of Manchester; Mr. Oakes, and Mr. Franklin, of Halifax; and Mr. Hemsley, of Sheffield,

MR. EDWARDS, of Halifax, made some observations on the difficulty of retaining children in the schools. It was fearful to look at the books of the schools, and see that, notwithstanding the number of new scholars admitted every year, there was no very material gross increase. This showed the teachers were not careful enough to interest them.

The CHAIRMAN concluded the discussion with some general reflections; and a vote of thanks to the gentlemen who had contributed essays was moved

by MR. ANDREWS, of Stockport, and seconded by MR. WILCOCK, of Salford. This having been acknowledged, the conference was adjourned.

A public meeting was held in the evening in the same place, after tea had been partaken of. Mr. Councillor Adshead was in the chair. In his preliminary address, Mr. ADSHEAD adduced figures and statements to show the large extent to which the moral and religious influence of Sunday schools has operated in this neighbourhood.

Mr. JONES, one of the secretaries of the Manchester Sunday School Union, read the twenty-ninth annual report of the union. In this document it was stated that twenty-eight schools were now included in this association, containing 912 teachers, and 9,568 scholars. Of the teachers, 659 are members of the Church, and 304 of the scholars; of the scholars, 54 have joined the Church during the past year. The libraries of the schools in the Union contain 10,465 volumes. As far as can be ascertained, 1,383 copies of Bibles, Testaments, and Hymn Books have been sold in the various schools in the Union. Four schools have been admitted into the Union during the past year. One school has been given up, owing to difficulties which have befallen it. Generally speak. ing, the schools have been found in a prosperous condition. One feature prominent during the past year, has been an increased desire shown to provide rooms specially for adult scholars; the advantage of such an arrangement is obvious. In the report, other facts connected with the operations of the Union during the year were refered to.

Mr. GRIFFITHS moved the adoption of the report, and its entry on the minutes. He said he was convinced that if day schools were opened in every street of the town, and if the Sunday schools were shut up, the change would be very much for the worse. In speaking of free schools, he said he was convinced that if established, they would

not be successful, because the people would not send their children to them. He spoke of a gentleman who offered to pay for the schooling of 150 children; the result of which offer was, that only one of the 150 was ultimately sent to school.

The Rev. GEORGE HIND seconded the resolution, and it was supported by MR. JOHN ANDREWS, of Stockport, and was carried unanimously.

Mr. JOHN EDWARDS, of Halifax, moved the appointment of the officers, and narrated anecdotes referring to Sunday schools, and to other matters, in the United States.

Mr. JOHN HEWITT seconded the motion, and was supported by Mr. CHARLES SWALLOW, who said that whatever might be the progress of day school education, in consequence of the efforts now being put forth by various parties, he believed that Sunday schools would not be the less needed than they had been, but he hoped would prove more useful than hitherto.

He was more than ever convinced that a prime duty of the Superintendent of a school was to look to the extremities; to see that the infants, as they joined the school, were at once (however young) thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the Gospel; and that the highest classes, while under the care of persons of intelligence and devoted piety, men "wise to win souls."

He also strongly urged the teaching of the Christian Evidences to the higher classes; and referred to an experiment made by the Church of England Sunday School Institute, by inducing the Rev. GEORGE FISK to deliver some lectures on the Christian Evidences to a class of Sunday scholars. These lectures had just been published, and would be found an appropriate addition to any Sunday school (Episcopalian or Nonconformist) in the kingdom.

One or two other gentlemen addressed the meeting before the termination of the proceedings.

THE remarks in recent Numbers of this Magazine, on the desirableness of maintaining a connection with our Sunday scholars after they have ceased to be children, must have great interest with all who have laboured in love for the souls of their pupils, and who feel that they too often cease to see them before any evidence can be given of the good seed having taken root. Among various plans for remedying this evil, I think some success has attended that of inviting all grown-up scholars as are within reach, to spend an evening together once a year; partly as a social meeting of old school-fellows, teachers, their superintendent, and ministers ; and partly to receive from the latter religious instruction and practical

advice.

In one Sunday school near London, this plan has been followed for about fourteen years, and has in many cases been found very useful. All young women above fifteen, who have maintained good characters, are invited by some of their teachers, who thus have renewed opportunities of observing their character and state. Tea is made in the school room by the ladies, on various small tables, every effort being made to break up the formality of a school party, and to give opportunities for private conversations. Books or tracts are given to each young person; some time is given for their own private intercourse; and, in conclusion, the Clergyman gives them an address on some Scriptural and practical subject. There is much pleasure in again singing the

hymns remembered well in the Sunday school, and the day is every year looked forward to with great interest. Some have constantly attended for several years, until they married, or have, in different homes or services, removed too far; one, now a lady's maid, rejoicing that her mistress allowed her to come to London just in time to be there. Another, who had been some years living far in the country, returned recently to live at about six miles distance, and hastened to attend the next time, having never forgotten the appointed day, or ceased to be in thought among her old friends and teachers whenever it had returned. The knowledge that all are excluded who have not conducted themselves well, has been much felt. "I shall never be allowed to go again! I shall never be able to look the ladies in the face, mother," was the sad saying of one whose conduct had not been in accord. ance with her teacher's instructions.

This annual meeting has been a source of great encouragement to the teachers also, as they have traced much good springing up; so many faithful servants, so many good schoolmistresses, who have been there formed; so much steadiness, modesty, and propriety of conduct in all, as must give hope that the living principle of piety is within. Many avail themselves of this time for seeking guidance to confirmation, and some are afterwards approaching the Lord's table. At one time, a Bible class was continued for some, and one has been held for the young men, who have been in the boys' school adjoining, and who meet on another evening in their superintendent's house and garden.

Many additions and improvements might, no doubt, be made to this plan ; but if even nothing more than this can be carried out, I feel assured much encouragement and much blessing will be experienced.

An Old Sunday School Teacher.

'

It may be urged, and that with some appearance, at least, of plausibility, that our Week Evening Classes, when formed, fail to reach that class for whose benefit they are especially designed, viz., Our Senior Scholars, "for," it may be asked, 'can it be expected that boys, after working early and late, will have a desire to grapple with the dry rudiments of writing and arithmetic, and that, at a time of life when any restraint, especially that of a school, begins to be felt with uneasiness. In reply to this objection, I shall offer the following interesting facts connected with the operations of a Week Evening Class (in its infancy at the time when my former remarks on this subject were written), and, let them speak for themselves.

A lad about 14 years of age, pre

sented himself for admission into a Sunday school, having previously received only one year's education, and that entirely at a day school, from the time that he was six to seven years of of age; he therefore was not sufficiently advanced to be placed in a very forward class, (his reading not being equal to that of many of half his age) but he was placed in a class better suited to his

years than to his attainments, where, being very attentive, and, seemingly anxious to get on, he soon became endeared to his teacher, who provided him with the primers used by the younger children, in order that, by reading at home, he might suit himself to his, at present, too high position. His teacher then devised means how he might be taught to write, and provided him with a copy-book, which was soon

filled with unmistakeable signs of improvement, though the course of instruction was as inconvenient to the teacher, as disadvantageous to the boy. His teacher then left the school, having previously consigned him to the especial care of a friend, who persevered in the same course, until he wrote his first letter to his former teacher, which was soon followed by a second, each conveying sentiments of love and gratitude rarely to be met with, even in connection with the Sunday school.

After a lapse of a few months his former teacher returned to the school, with his interest in this boy as strong as before, which led him to consider whether the most satisfactory step to take would not be to send him, at his own expense, to an evening school; this idea, however, was prudently given up for fear of awakening jealousy in the minds of the other boys. "What can be done for him ?" was the natural question which suggested itself to the teacher's mind, as he was wavering between an interest in the one boy and his duty to all the rest. At last, the idea occurred, that a Week Evening School, would, if formed, practically answer the question, as well as waive the other difficulty. It seemed a formidable step to take; but it was taken, though with great diffidence; the minister's sanction for the use of the room was asked, and readily given. The school was opened; two boys attended the first meeting; numbers, however, gradually increased, bringing with them the palpable difficulty of instructing boys of different capacities and attainments in one class; this, how ever, was removed by the timely help of another teacher, which allowed the school to be divided into two classes. Without fully detailing the gradual developement of this movement, which, as it increased in numbers grew also in

interest, I will merely state, that there have been now forty meetings, the last of which shewed an attendance of thirtysix. The school is held every Tuesday evening, at half-past seven; writing continues till a quarter-past eight, when the boys are subdivided into five arithmetic classes, which continue till a few minutes before nine; then, all having been seated round the room, a few verses of Scripture are read from the desk, a prayer offered, and a hymn sung; and all again resume their seats: then, under certain restrictions, are distributed some loan tracts, in accordance with the suggestions of L. H. S.

Soon after the commencement of this class a desire to meet on a second evening was expressed by some of the boys, and considered by the teachers, who, determined to form a Bible class, especially for the benefit of the elder and more advanced scholars. It is held on Thursday evenings, at eight o'clock, and is over at half-past nine. The average attendance of scholars has been about eleven.

I may mention, that while discipline is strictly maintained, the ruling law is love; and that one especial source of encouragement to those teachers who have assisted at these classes, is in the cordiality and friendship with which they are continually greeted by boys who previously were accustomed to pass them without even a look of recognition; so that if any tie be binding them to the Sunday school, that tie must herein be strengthened. These facts, doubtless, will answer the objection anticipated, and be interesting to many; but if this be all, my object will fail, my desire being to show, not only, "What can be done," but, what has been done; and, what yet might be done for, "Our Senior Scholars."

W. H. I.