this is the case in the Metropolis, and to such your "Notes on Lessons" may be useful; but as the great majority of Sunday school teachers live in rural districts where education has not made rapid advances, such helps are almost useless, and a much more explicit form of lesson is required; and to such I am convinced no books prove so acceptable (I speak from my own observations upon the various schools I have inspected), as those drawn out in the form of Question and Answer.

My experience tells me, that it is the young and inexperienced teacher who scorns the method of instruction I prefer, because, before lengthened toil and bitter results lead him to a differ

ent conclusion, he vainly supposes his own knowledge and skill of working out religious subjects, must be superior to the helps afforded by the writings of those who have devoted their time, their talents, and not unfrequently their lives, for the benefit of their fellow. creatures, to enable them to comprehend the word of God. Do we not find, on the contrary, that the painstaking, the indefatigable, the long experienced teacher, is ready to exclaim, Give me any help, the more explicit the better, if it will enable me, by God's grace, to reach the hearts and compre hension of my children.

Your obedient servant,

E. 3.

GENTLEMEN,

MANY schools, I dare say, like some I am conversant with, are susceptible of improvement in regard to noise and disorder; and there are others where quietness and discipline appear to be purchased by the sacrifice of efficient teaching.

In schools, like ours, where the Church Service commences in the morning an hour and a half after the opening of the school, and in the afternoon an hour and a quarter, the utmost economising of time will only allow of a short lesson.

Superintendents need reminding, perhaps, that any portion of time abstracted from teaching, prevents the solicitous and carefully prepared teacher from completing the lesson; and it is broken off at the point when it is most needed,

and most calculated to make an impres sion.

Short hymns, and short prayers are desirable, and no time should be lost by a variation of the school and Church clock; nor should the scholars have to wait in Church longer than is just necessary to compose themselves in prayer before the commencement of service.

Every interruption, from whatever cause, during teaching, should be considerately avoided by the superintendent. Notices could be given, or remarks made, at the close of the school; every call from the desk, every ringing a bell, breaks off the attention of a class, and pains the teacher, and requires time to regain attention. The visits of others, whether of one teacher to another, or of strangers, do the same. A

very unplea

sant interruption is caused if one or more scholars leave the class, either for paying money, library books, or tickets, and when other than the teacher collects the money. But when all, or many of these interruptions occur, say twice, or thrice, or oftener, let the superinten. dent be assured, from my experience, that it is impossible to give a lesson effectively; and frequently the teacher leaves, feeling no good has been done. Quietness and order are good, and desirable, and necessary; but the communication of knowledge is the main thing.

If sick-money, or club-money, cannot be taken on week-days, or at any rate out of school-hours, I believe the advantage of such plans is too dearly bought. In my opinion, no child should leave the class to go to another part of the school for any cause whatever. An useful motto for the superintendent is, "Do not interrupt the teaching." When the school is noisy, the teachers and superintendents should take council together and apply a remedy. It is within the teacher's especial province. If each would resolve to speak, and to be spoken to by the scholars, softly, and in a subdued tone-have one way of sitting and rising for the scholars, one place for caps or books, and one manner of procuring them, quietness and order would ensue. For a Sunday or two the superintendents might profitably give their watchful attention exclusively to this point, reminding the forgetful teacher, or the loud-speaking scholar,

I may mention one other defect,

which, like those I have already noticed, admits of an easy remedy. I mean when there is no fixed plan of lessons, nor even a fixed book for the lesson. I have sor rowfully seen a Testament class taught nothing, an entire morning, but hymns; another, nothing but Catechism; a third, Catechism, so long, as to admit of merely reading the lesson. If all teachers were capable of choosing lessons, it would be different; but very few are; and the consequence will be, that no regular course of reading is pursued, and little connected instruction is given. Your list of lessons renders any excuse on the point inadmissible.

These remarks might, with your kind permission, remind some superintendent, or teacher, of a fault, overlooked perhaps by himself, or herself, but very injurious to the school.

If, through the labours of your society, more spiritually-minded teachers are added to the number, and those already in the work are induced to give greater care in preparation, greater circumspection in their walk and conversation, it will be well for the rising and for the risen generation, and you will have a good reward. The thanks, and the cooperation of the Church are eminently due to you. Every school should take your Magazine, and join your Society, and every teacher who can spare the expense should take a copy.

I am, Gentlemen,

Yours truly, B. A.

THE LECTURES,

delivered during the last three months, have been as follows:

REV. THOMAS NOLAN, January 11th, "The Jewish Types, and Ceremonial;

illustrative of the Grace and Truth that came by Jesus Christ."

REV. VINCENT W. RYAN, February 23rd, "The Liturgy." Our readers will find this Lecture in the present Number of our Magazine.

MAJOR ROWLANDSON, March 22nd, "Christian Missions an Expansion of the Principle of Sunday Schools."

This last concluded the Winter Course of Lectures; and it is a pleasure to be able to state, that the attendance of Members shewed a sufficient interest in these instructive addresses to encourage the Committee to carry out the plan laid down of a course of Lectures at St. Dunstan's, during the winter months only.

It has been felt, however, that something more should be attempted for the benefit of subscribing schools and others in the districts around the City; the distance at which a majority of our members reside from the place where the lectures, and other meetings are held, effectually barring the majority from availing themselves of the privilege of attending them; it was therefore resolved, at the last meeting of the Committee, to try the following scheme during the ensuing spring and summer months :

First, a sermon without a collection, advocating the claims of Sunday schools on the support of the Church; the topic of the sermon to be varied according to circumstances.

The sermon to be followed by a lecture, to be succeeded by two lessons to classes; after each lesson a conversation on the manner in which it has been given.

It is hoped, that by means of the sermon, a general feeling of interest may be excited on behalf of our Sunday schools; and that teachers who are more immediately interested in their well-doing and success, will have their attention awakened to the improvement of their modes of conveying instruction.

The admission to the Lecture and

Lessons will not be confined to the teachers of schools in connection with the Institute.

Acting upon this scheme, we have to announce that its first trial will be made in the Borough of Southwark, where, at St. Saviour's Church, on Sunday afternoon, April 3rd, the Rev. W. CURLING has kindly and readily accepted the solicitation of the Committee to preach the proposed Sermon.

On Monday the 4th, at the St. Saviour's School Room, Mr. J. G. Fleet, our Corresponding Secretary, will deliver a Lecture on Sunday School Teaching.

On the following Mondays, viz., the 11th and 18th, two Lessons will be given by members of our Committee, the first by Mr. F. NORTON, the second by Mr. HARTNELL, to classes of Sunday scholars.

This is a practical experiment, not to be confined to our own subscribers. The Committee would have it to be remembered that their efforts extend to all; and in announcing the commencement of this new plan for the improve. ment of teachers, they would add, that not having at this moment decided upon the district in which next to go on with it, they are open to choose the one which might invite its trial. Under God's blessing they believe it will tend to the edification of both teachers and scholars, and to his grace they commend it. On Wednesday Evening, the 16th February, the

the benediction.

On Wednesday, March 9, the

SUPERINTENDENTS' MEETING

A member objected to this, on the ground that in the absence of a teacher the children got hold of the books and damaged them.

A member observed, that in the school with which he was connected, there was a desk set apart for the teachers, to which they went for the purpose of marking the class registers; from this desk they were never permitted to take them but each teacher had a away; card, on which were the names and addresses of his scholars. Every Monday evening the books were made up, as so many changes took place in the abodes of the children. The addresses were filled in in pencil, a box holding the class books was placed at the door of the school, and each teacher on entering took out those belonging to him.

Referring to the fittings-up of a school, the chairman had seen a school at Liverpool where every class had a little table of its own, and a box for each class, to hold the books used in teaching.

The conversation then turned upon the discipline to be observed in dismissing the children. The chairman had seen, at Weymouth, the children of a national schoolmarched to the corner of the street, and then dismissed. It seemed to He thought, that in a Sunday

answer.

school each teacher was bound to see his class to the door of the room. A member said, that in his school a monitor was appointed to each class, who went to the door at the head of the children, the teacher at the end, and so the dismission took place. The time allotted for the meeting having

took place; Mr. HARTNELL presided; who, after opening the proceedings in the usual manner, called upon Mr. NORTON to speak to the subject, viz., 'Sunday School Examinations;" who, in taking up the question, advocated them, and observed that they might be both private and public; the former by the superintendent, for his own information as to the state of the school, both as regarded classes and teachers; and public, by any well qualified person; in order that the teachers might obtain a better insight into the teaching; that the subscribers and congregation might be aware of what was being done in the Sunday school, and also that the parents of the children should be able to judge of the instruction given to their young ones; and hear, during the examination, truths, which perhaps but for that opportunity they might for ever be ignorant of. Having touched upon many points of detail, he remarked that he should like to see several schools unite, and have an examination of their senior classes. He thought such a plan would be attended with advantage.

In the course of the conversation it appeared that weekly and fortnightly examinations at the close of the day's teaching were rather usual. In one case, the minister, once a month, on Sunday afternoon, examined the school, instead of preaching a sermon. only objection offered to examinations in public was, that they fostered the vanity of the managers of the school, and were intended rather for display than for any beneficial purpose.

The

The Chairman having made a few observations, the meeting concluded with doxology and the benediction.

LIBRARY.

The Commiteee have been enabled to make several valuable additions to the

library, during the last few months. Among these they would be happy to bring under the notice of the members, Chalmers' works on Natural Theology, and the Christian Evidences, and his Lectures on Paley, Butler, &c., and on Romans also; Life of Wilberforce; Macaulay's Critical and Historical Essays; Boswell's Johnson; Hooker's works, and Trench's Lectures on the Study of Words; Greswell's Dissertations on the Harmony of the Gospel, and Mimpriss' Treasury Harmony, have been added to the works of reference, and several additional Serials have been placed on the table in the reading room.

THE DEVOTIONAL MEETING

for the quarter will take place on Wednesday evening, April 13th, conducted, as heretofore, by the Rev. EDWARD AURIOL. Time-8 o'clock. Place-the Rooms of the Institute.

PUBLICATIONS.

In one volume, cloth, square 16mo, "The Four Lessons on Christian Evidences;" given by the Rev. George Fisk, to a class of senior scholars. The price at which these lessons are brought out ought to insure for them a wide circulation.

The back volumes of "The Quarterly," (except the first year,) and the first year of "The Teachers' Monthly Magazine,” in cloth, are offered to teachers at half-price.

The Committee hope shortly to announce the publication of a selection of Hymns for the use of teachers at their various meetings-committee, devotional, Bible class, and a volume of Prayers prepared expressly for the purposes, &c., &c.

FINANCE.

Since our last publication the following have become subscribing schools to the Institute :

St. Peter's, Walworth; Freshfield Sunday School; All Souls, Brighton; St. James' Pentonville; West Fordington Sunday School; St. Jude's District, Whitechapel; St. Pancras.

During the past quarter there has been received in

Having received a request from the Rev. A. Handley, of West Fordington, near Dorchester, to send a deputation to a meeting of the Church Sunday school teachers of that neighbourhood, in January last; the Committee appointed Mr. J. G. Fleet, their corresponding Secretary, for that purpose. He was received in the most cordial manner, and took part in the proceedings of the meeting, which was well attended by Clergy and teachers. It was the first time that such a meeting had been held there, and the result was very gratifying to all the friends of the cause whilst it is a matter of thankfulness, to find so large and active a body of intelligent teachers engaged in the Sunday schools of that neighbourhood. Arrangements are in progress for other deputations.

very