GENTLEMEN, "PROTESTANT CATECHISM." I feel much obliged by your brief notice of my little Protestant Catechism, and I am thankful that your review of it enabled you to express so favourable an opinion. If, as you say, "the work might be re-cast to advantage," I should be happy to do it. You remark, that "a question extending to a third of a page, followed by a mono-syllable as the answer, appears to us scarcely deserving the name of a Catechism, nor does it appear the most likely method of arresting the attention of the scholar." Now, it appears that out of more than 260 questions, there are but three to which a mono-syllable is the answer. In preparing my Protestant Catechism, and in subjoining so many notes, I proposed to myself four objects. 1. To bring "The mystery of iniquity" within the comprehension of young persons. 2. To prove its falsehood and impiety from the Word of Truth and Righteousness alone. 3. To give such hints as might enable an intelligent teacher to give a great deal of oral instruction, And 4. To supply our schools of every descrip tion, with a Protestant Catechism, the learning of which could not be deemed a task," or be excluded from our highest schools, as interfering with other branches of education; and for these reasons, I endeavoured to throw as much information as I could into the questions, and to have them long, rather than the answers. Hoping this explanation will prove satisfactory to yourselves as well as to your readers, I will only add, that till a Clerical friend called my attention to the last Number of your "Sunday School Quarterly Magazine," I had no idea that there existed a work of so much value to all who are interested in the religious education of the rising generation. It is I am persuaded, calculated to do so much good, that I sincerely hope, that its numerous readers, "how many soever they be," will ere long be increased " a hundred-fold." I am, Gentlemen, Your's very faithfully, B. Richings. To the Editors. publication for teachers, something similar to the "Teachers' Monthly Visitor," formerly published by the Rev. Wm. Carus Wilson, might not again be got up, and put in circulation? I urge it the more freely, partly because I found great benefit from that little periodical during the time it appeared, and partly because several of the teachers in the school where I had the pleasure of being Superintendent, requested me to ask your sentiments as to the expediency of such a work being once more established. Since its discontinuance, there has not been any Magazine issued to supply its place, nor is there to my knowledge any other periodical for Sunday schools teachers, edited by members of the Church of England, except your Quarterly Magazine; which (although a host in itself) does not quite perhaps meet the necessity of many of our junior teachers, who require a more frequent stimulus to keep them from drooping, than comes within the province of, or can well be administered by, a work issued only once a quarter. I do not suppose it would be in your power to undertake the editorial department of such a book, nor is it perhaps desirable that you should have an additional burden of that nature laid upon you, but there may be friends interested in our Church Sunday schools, who would be both able and willing to make an effort in that direction, if it were deemed pru. dent to try, and the exigency of the case thought to require it. The smallness of the work would, I think, prevent its injuring the circulation of the Quarterly, which ought not on any account to be diminished. If you view the subject of sufficient importance, perhaps you can find room in your next Number to insert a few remarks, stating your opinions on the point; an opportunity will thereby be afforded for others to take up the question, and may satisfy my enquirers that the matter is under consideration. I am, Gentlemen, Yours, very respectfully, 2. Z. [After considering the above suggestion of our kind friend, we have determined on inserting his letter, with the view of drawing forth opinions from various quarters, as to the desirableness of the plan which he proposes. The convictions which led to our issuing this Magazine every three months, and of its present size, rather than a smaller monthly periodical, have been strengthened by experience, and we will take no step that may threaten to interfere with our present circulation; which indeed ought to be four times what it is. But when we commenced this Magazine, the well known and highly useful "Teacher's Visitor," was in existence. This has since been abandoned, to the great regret of ourselves, and (we are sure) teachers in general. We therefore shall be glad of the opinions of many friends, as to the expediency of setting on foot a monthly Magazine for teachers; and if so started, the character of the materials which would be most useful to them. We have already a monthly publication, our "Notes on Scripture Lessons," and it appears to us that a modification of that paper, embracing more lessons and of a more diversified character, would meet the wishes of Z. Z.-THE EDITORS.] Sunday School Enstitute. ANNUAL SERMON AND MEETING. THE Annual Sermon was preached on Wednesday, the 24th of May, 1850, at St. Dunstan's Church, Fleet Street, by the Rev. William Harrison, M.A., Rector of Birch, Essex. The Sixth Annual Meeting was held on Friday evening, the 26th of May, at St. Martin's Hall, Long Acre; the attendance of members and friends was much larger than on any previous occasion. JOHN LABOUCHERE, Esq., the Treasurer, took the chair at 7 o'clock. A hymn having been sung, and the Divine blessing implored by the Rev. EDWARD AURIOL, the Chairman opened the business of the meeting, expressing the pleasure he felt in hearing, that the Institute had gained in strength during the time that had intervened since the last meeting, nor could he feel surprised that the ministers of the Church felt an interest in a Society, which had for its object the welfare of those who were their helpers in sowing the seed of the Word. Sunday schools were the nurseries of the Church. He dwelt on the value of the Institute to Sunday scholars, and on the great importance of Sunday school teaching. Mr. J. G. FLEET, the Corresponding Secretary, then read the Report* of the Committee, an outline of which we give to our readers. It stated that the Society had made considerable progress during the year. The number of schools in connexion with the Institute was 57, containing 1,642 teachers; some of these were country schools, which had joined with a desire to support a society that exercised a beneficial influence wherever it was known. The formation of associations in the country, similar to the Institute, was then strongly urged; in London, an auxiliary had been formed in the north-west. The It proceeded to point out to the friends of Sunday schools, that as great and laudable efforts were being made to improve day and parochial schools, and general education of a The Report, with a full account of the proceedings of the Meeting, may be obtained at the Offices of the Institute. P better sort was becoming universal, the question might arise, as indeed it had been already asked-what further need would there be for Sunday schools? this ought fully to be met, and the report went on to show, wherein the superiority of the Sunday school would always, and of necessity, from the very nature of the work, and the agency employed in carrying it out, consistthe teaching entirely spiritual; the station of life from which the ranks of teachers are supplied; the close contact of the teacher and the taught; the sympathy thus shown by the higher for the lower classes, exercising a most beneficial influence, not only on the children, but on the parents also. It dwelt too, on the good which teachers derived personally, from being employed in such a work; and contended that no day school, however good the system, or excellent the master, and well fitted the pupil teachers, could ever, in its spiritual teaching, compete with a well ordered Sunday school. It concluded with an earnest appeal on behalf of Sunday schools, to the clergymen, the congregation, and above all to the teachers, that they should give themselves to the work with a thorough dedication of themselves to it, as the service of their Lord and Master; to use all the means placed within their power, to work as though all depended on themselves, to be earnest in prayer and supplication for the life-giving Spirit of God, to bless the instruction given-" Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts." The resolution for the adoption of the report, and the appointment of the officers and committee, was moved by the Rev. JOHN HARDING, M.A., seconded by E. H. FITZHERBERT, Esq., and carried unanimously. The next resolution, affirming the necessity of preparation for the work, and the usefulness of associations as a medium of self-improvement, was moved by the Rev. J. KINGSMILL, M.A., chaplain of the Model Prison, Pentonville, seconded by B. HARDY, Esq., of the Chancery bar, and carried unanimously. The third resolution, that day schools cannot supply the influence so beneficially exercised by Sunday schools, was moved by the Rev. T. BAYLEE, M.A., Clerical Secretary of the Lord's Day Observance Society, seconded by the Rev. P. B. POWER, M.A., and carried unanimously. A hymn was sung, the benediction pronounced, and so the proceedings of the meeting terminated. QUARTERLY RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS. In addition to the account furnished above, of our Annual Sermon and Meeting, we lay before our readers a statement, (but necessarily a brief one) of our progress since the date of our last publication, March 31st. The whole tone of our anniversary was that of great encouragement, and with cheering hopes for the future, we have entered on another year of our labour. Will our readers bear in mind a request long since made to them, and (we feel sure) in many instances acted on, that those interested in the welfare of our Society, should remember it in their prayers. Tuesday morning was especially pointed out as a time, when numbers who know not each other in the flesh, might in the unity of one spirit, pour forth united prayer for this work. Let them pray for the managers, clerical, and lay; that they may have wisdom to form plans, zeal, and perseverance to go on with them, patience and faith to meet and overcome diffi culties, devotedness to God's glory, and a single minded desire to feed the lambs of the flock. Let them pray for all our teachers, that they may grow in grace and usefulness, and for all the countless little ones that receive their labours, that they may be led to the living streams and lie down in green pastures. The Prayer of Faith-where is the limit of its power? LECTURES have been delivered, as announced, on the following subjects:— "The Discouragements which Sunday School Teachers meet with in their Work."-Rev. W. H. Jones. "The History of the United Brethren, or Moravians."-Dr. Mortimer. "The Nature of the Instruction to be given in the Sunday School, and the manner of giving it."-Rev. C. Phillips. A DISTRICT LECTURE was also delivered in the School Room of St. Peter's, Islington, on the 10th of June, by the Rev. W. W. Champneys, on "The Influence of Sunday School Teaching on the world at large." All these have been well attended. A CONVERSATIONAL MEETING was held on June 12th, at the Rooms of the Institute; subject: : "The Advantages of a Regular System of Instruction throughout the School, and the benefits of Collective Teaching." The attendance was but small. We subjoin a few minutes of what passed at the meeting. The CHAIRMAN opened by observing that the first part had been discussed at a previous meeting, (25th March). As to the second part, Collective Teaching, it was the fixing at the same time the attention of the entire class to one lesson, reading, repeating and listening together. The advantages, he considered, were, that it economized time, diminished labour and trouble in preparing lessons--one being easier to prepare than several-it lessened opportunities for idling and trifling with time by the class, and it also enabled the teachers the more effectually to apply the lessons. The Chairman then read the minutes of a Conversational Meeting, held by the Norwich Church Sunday School Union on the subject. NORWICH CHURCH OF ENGLAND SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. "At a meeting of Sunday school teachers, held in St. Stephen's District School Room, on the 22nd of April, 1850, Chairman, Rev. J. F. Osborne, a conversation took place on "The Advantages of Regular System of Instruction throughout the school, and the Benefits of Collective Teaching." There was some difference of opinion as to the precise meaning of "a Regular System of Instruction," but it was generally supposed to imply, that one set of lessons should be used throughout the school, as far as they can be adapted to the different capacities of the children. The advantages of this plan were thought to be : 1. That the teachers would be better able to meet together and consider the lessons before giving them to the children. 2. That as all the teachers would be prepared to give the same lesson, the absence of one teacher from the school would not be so much felt, another being ready to take his place. 3. That the minister connected with the school would be better able to examine all the children; and might, if he thought proper, give an address, or a sermon upon the subject which all had thus studied, with good effect. 4. That children from the same family, although in different classes, would have an opportunity of studying and talking over their lessons together, before coming to school. 5. By this means, the scholars would be more easily classified, and their progress in learning more easily ascertained. 6. If the lessons were given out beforehand in a regular and systematic manner, both the parents and children would be more impressed with the importance of them, and it would in some degree conduce to bring the scholars into regular habits, "The Benefits of Collective Teaching," were considered to be : 1. That a great saving of time would be thereby effected; and a small number of teachers would be able to manage a large number of children. 2. That the faculties of the scholars would be more exercised, and that consequently thier progress would be greater. 3. That this plan promotes mutual instruction; and excites a great interest in the minds of the children, through the sympathy of numbers; and the correct answers of some of the children would make a deeper impression on the minds of the rest, than an explanation by the teacher. 4. It promotes emulation among the scholars which, if carefully guarded so as to prevent envy and jealousy, is likely to be beneficial. 5. The more timid and backward of the children would be encouraged to speak out, by hearing the answers of the others. 6. By this system, the teachers themselves |