LECTURES

was given on Wednesday, 2nd April, "The Importance of continued Dependence on Divine Aid in Teaching," by the Rev. E. Pizey.

The Lecture was very suitable for teachers, and calculated to do much good.

On Wednesday, May 28th, "The Book of Judges," by the Rev. John Harding.

We intend, through the kindness of the Rev. Lecturer, to give the whole of the series from Genesis (which has already been published), to Judges, in our Magazine.

Tuesday, June 24th, "The Principles of Interpretation to be applied to the Word of God," by the Rev. H. Garbett.

CONVERSATIONAL MEETING.

THIS was held on Wednesday evening, the 18th of June,-Subject, "Teachers' Meetings."

Mr. DOLLMAN took the chair, and having opened the meeting with prayer, he briefly called the attention of the members present to the importance of the question before them, and then read a communication from the North West London Auxiliary reporting the results of a Conversation in that district, on the question, which was to the following effect:

That such Meetings were indispensably necessary in every well conducted Sunday school.

Five kinds of meetings were recommended, viz., Committee, Conversational, Devotional, Social, and for the Study of Lessons.

Committee Meetings to be half-yearly or quarterly, on business matters, such as concern the internal management of the school lessons, rules, &c., to be confined to the teachers, and presided over by the Minister or superintendent.

Conversational to be at least quarterly, or, where practicable, more frequently; to be presided over by the superintendent, the subject

previously fixed. The topics to be-methods of imparting instruction, the maintenance of authority, how to engage the affections, and obtain a right influence over the scholars. Such meetings would be of the utmost value to young teachers, as tending to instruct, assist, and encourage them in their work. Suggested that such Meetings might consist of a union of two or more neighbouring schools.

Devotional Meetings for special prayer for the outpouring of the Spirit on teachers and taught. Such Meetings were regarded as absolutely necessary for the well-being of a school, but not to supersede private prayer for the class. Such Meetings to be monthly, and in case of need, to be held on the Sunday, presided over, if possible, by the Minister. Course to be followed,-Comment on a passage of Holy Writ, prayer for the officers and teachers of the school, then for the scholars; suitable hymns to be sung.

Social Meetings. Their object-to promote a spirit of fellowship; to be confined to schools; to be held at the house of the Minister or superintendent every quarter or half-year. To commence with tea, after which general conversation, a free interchange of opinion on all matters relating to the Sunday school, such as the characters of the different scholars, their families, &c.

Meetings for the Study of lessons to be held weekly. Subject,-The lesson for the following Sunday. Teachers to form a class. Lessons to be taught. Remarks at the close invited, or the more experienced teacher to be asked how he would give the lesson. Such Meetings most valuable to young teachers, and to be conducted by the superintendent.

Teachers of boys' and girls' schools to unite at such meetings, two of which might be held on the same evening; all to begin with prayer, and end with praise.

The CHAIRMAN said he thought teachers' meetings of great importance, in fact, abso lutely necessary, for the good management of a school. In the paper read, five were suggested or recommended. This number he thought too large. As to the Committee Meetings, he considered the confining them to the teachers not desirable. He then went through the list, slightly remarking on each, and said, he would first put it to the members as preliminary to the general conversation, whether it was desirable to have "Teachers' Meetings ?" This question was unanimously decided in the affirmative.

The CHAIRMAN then made inquiry as to the character of the Meetings in the schools of those present?

First stated that there were two, one held monthly at the Minister's house; this was for mutual friendly intercourse; another weekly, presided over by the superintendent;

this was for the study of lessons, the plan being to treat the subject as in class; remarks afterwards invited.

Second.-A monthly meeting of teachers of both sexes; the lessons for the following Sunday gone through; after which general matters were discussed.

Third.-Three kinds of Meetings, viz.,-a weekly one conducted by the superintendent for the study of lessons; chapter read; the chairman asks each in turn how he would treat the subject of it; what point would such an one take, &c.; concluded by a general summing up by the superintendent. Monthly Meetings for transaction of general school business; and a monthly Meeting of the teachers, male and female, presided over by the clergyman. The object, the mutual interchange of experience, and discussion respecting the children.

Fourth.-A Quarterly Meeting with the clergyman on general matters.

Fifth.-Once a week for considering the lessons of the next Sunday.

Sixth.-Once a month for lessons; being so far apart they languished; a drawback also was found in the want of an active interest in the proceedings of the Meetings by the clergy

man.

Seventh.-Once a month for lessons; but it was intended to have two, one for the present purpose, guided by the superintendent, and another for general business, under the presidency of the clergyman.

Eighth.-Only occasional meetings, when there was any business for discussion.

The General Meetings were stated to be principally for the purpose of fixing the lessons for specified periods; for changes in classes; forming or altering rules, and other matters affecting the internal management of the schools.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed taking the subjects in the paper he had read seriatim; and 1st., Committee Meetings,-that these were desirable seemed agreed to in practice; and 2nd., came the Conversational. Those for the study of lessons weekly, were indispensable; as such meetings ought to be accompanied with prayer for the aid of the Holy Spirit, it seemed the general opinion that the two might be blended. 3rd. Social Meetings at the Minister's or superintendent's house. Such reunions not to be omitted altogether, but might profitably occur about twice a year at the Minister's house, for friendly and free interchange of information, especially relating to the scholars.

Plan renewed of going through the classes, after general business was finished, the superintendent calling on the teacher of the 1st class to begin; who then gave a short account of the progress of each boy; perhaps three classes finished in an evening, at the next the 4th began, and so on through the year. Thus the

superintendent acquired a knowledge of the character and attainments of every lad in his school.

Fourth.-Devotional Meetings. A strong objection was felt to multiplying Meetings: a rough estimate was made of the number of Meetings as proposed in the communication laid before the Meeting, and it was found they would amount to nearly 100 in the year: it was considered an important object, but one that might be attained at the Meetings for study of the lessons.

Noticed, that a suggestion in the Magazine to set apart a particular day and hour in the week, for private prayer for the children, was carried out in one school; in another, a meeting for prayer was held for half an hour every Sunday.

A Member noticed, that the suggestion in the Magazine was, prayer for particular children on particular days: this, when he was a teacher, he had done; he was now a superintendent, and he substituted teachers for children.

Such opportunities were thought to supersede the necessity for devotional Meetings.

The discussion now closed, and the Chairman in summing up remarked, that the prevalent opinion was, that the number of Meetings proposed was too many, two might answer every purpose, viz:-a Meeting for business to be held monthly, and weekly for the study of lessons; these were highly important, the one, preparation of the lessons being of great consequence, and they would naturally assume a devotional character; the place of Meeting wherever practicable, to be the school room. A hymn having been sung, and the blessing pronounced, the meeting terminated.

NORWICH, CHURCH OF ENGLAND SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

The following minutes on this important subject, had been forwarded by our Norwich friends, with their usual active interest in the proceedings; but through an oversight on the part of a Member of our Committee, did not come to hand till after the Meeting.

At a Meeting of the above Society, held at St. Stephen's District School Room, Thursday evening, May 22nd., 1851, a conversation took place on the subject of Teachers' Meetings. Rev. J. F. Osborne, in the Chair.

1. It was the opinion of the Meeting, that it is much to be regretted, that there should be any schools, in connection with which no such Meetings are held.

2. That teachers' Meetings are desirable, because they are calculated by the interchange of sentiments to promote union among teachers, and to secure an uniformity of plan in conducting the school; because they must tend to the improvement, and encouragement of the teachers, and to the strengthening of the bond of union between them and their Minister, if he preside at the meetings, as it is very important he should; and because the united prayer which is offered on such occasions cannot fail to bring down a blessing, both on the scholars and those who instruct them.

3. That when it suits the engagements and duties of all parties, it is advisable that such Meetings should be held weekly, but that under any circumstances, they should be at least monthly.

4. As a general rule, business and devotion might be combined at every Meeting, but

5. Quarterly, or special Meetings might be held with advantage, expressly for the consideration of matters of business as occasion might arise.

6. That all teachers' Meetings should be opened with singing and prayer, and when there is business to transact, it should be considered first, but should not occupy so much time as to interfere with the reading of the Scriptures and other devotional exercises.

7. That at these Meetings, new teachers should be admitted, all matters connected with the discipline of the school discussed, difficulties which the teachers may meet with in their work considered, and any encouraging or discouraging circumstances regarding the school, should be stated. The best means of increasing the number of scholars, and of promoting the general efficiency of the school, should be conversed about.

8. That in regard to those schools in which there is a uniform system of instruction, the lessons for the following Sunday should be gone over at the Meetings, if they are weekly, and any difficulty which may occur in the interpretation of the portion of Scripture which forms the lesson, should be explained.

9. That whether the Meetings be weekly or monthly, some chapter, or part of a chapter of the Bible should be read and commented on. 10. That minutes of the proceedings of every meeting should be taken in writing, and read over at the following meeting, and any business arising from them, should take precedence of all other matters.

11. That all the Meetings should be closed with prayer, or singing and prayer.

THE QUARTERLY PRAYER MEETING, was held on Wednesday evening, April 8th, conducted by the Rev. E. Auriol.

SUPERINTENDENTS' MEETING.
This took place on Wednesday, June

11th. The subject considered was the duties and responsibilities of Superintendents; two hours were passed in a well sustained and profitable conver sation, on this important matter.

FUNDS.

We are compelled to reiterate our appeal on behalf of the Funds of the Institute. A reference to the subjoined list will shew that the receipts during the last quarter are considerably below those of the preceding; the Annual Sermon and Meeting collections were much below those of 1850; the neces sary expenses for the hire of the Hall, printing, &c., are barely, if at all, covered by the receipts on those occasions. They are not, as might naturally be supposed, productive of pecuniary help.

The expense too, of the Meeting on Whit-Tuesday, will be felt inconve niently, the sale of tickets and the collection, not defraying one-half of the outlay.

We therefore hope that our next announcement of Subscriptions and Donations, will exhibit an increase. A little exertion, we feel convinced, would add very materially to the receipts of the Institute; and we wish to impress on our friends the great help afforded by Annual Subscriptions; they are a certain source of income, the value of which need not be dwelt upon.

We commence with the schools which have joined the Institute since our last record.

NORTHAMPTON.

An invitation having been received by the corresponding Secretary of the Institute, to attend the Annual Meeting of Sunday school Teachers at Northampton, on Whit Monday, he accordingly was present.

We have been favoured with a Northampton paper, containing a full account of the Meeting but are sorry to find ourselves quite unable to give it a place in our crowded columns.

The Meeting was one of much interest, as indeed it always is, about 250, or 270 teachers and friends being present. The Rev. Chancellor Wales presided, and the Meeting was addressed by the Revds. Guest, Hamlet Clark, Saumarez, W. L. Scott, Hutton: by Messrs Stockburn, Law, Pierce, Payne, Phipps, and Muliner, Superintendents; and by the deputation from the Institute.

CHRIST CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL

MARYLEBONE.

The Annual Examination of these schools was held on Monday, the 23rd instant. The Rector of the parish, the Rev. Robert Walpole, presided.

These schools maintain the discipline

we have witnessed in them during the last three years. The answers of the children on these occasions, to the variety of questions from the whole range of Scripture narrative, and also as to its spiritual bearing, were very gratifying.

There were about 120 present, who were questioned in their respective classes, in the Old and New Testament, and Elementary Class Book. The foundation of true Scriptural knowledge which the latter book appears calculated to lay, has received an illustration in the junior class of this school. Taking therefore, the first twenty-six lessons as the subject for examination, the little children who had been taught from it, were able to give such a true and correct outline of Scripture truth, that the superiority of it, as contrasted with other Elementary books, could not but be noticed.

Let us hope that the teachers will not slacken in their zeal in the good work, and seeing that their labours have not hitherto been in vain, they will continue to do their utmost, relying on the blessing from on high.

ON WHIT-TUESDAY, June 10th, a Meeting took place in Exeter Hall of Scholars from the various London schools in connection with the Sunday School Institute.

It is our duty, and a most pleasing one it is, to record this event. We feel

that we shall best discharge it by simply chronicling what then and there took place; the next Report of the Committee will, we trust, give fully the reasons for holding this most interesting Meeting, and details of the plans for carrying it out. The suggestion to hold such a

Meeting is not of recent date, it came from one of the office bearers of the Institute;-not till this remarkable year, however, was it carried out. The result

was of a nature the most gratifying; but we must endeavour to confine ourselves to a narration of the proceedings.

The Meeting was to be opened at a quarter past five, by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph, who, on being applied to, at once consented to take the Chair; we need scarcely say, that his lordship's devotion to Sundayschool work, pointed him out as the dignitary of our Church most fitted to preside over such an interesting assembly.

By the time specified in the order of proceeding, about 2,500 Sunday scholars had in an orderly manner (speaking well for the discipline of our Sunday schools) taken their seats: the numbers were augmented to about 2,800 in the course of the evening, the state of the weather being unfavourable to exact punctuality, and it also tended to lessen the numbers. The rain set in steadily all the afternoon, otherwise the Hall could not have contained all who would have come; by the appointed time the great Hall presented a most animated and most interesting sight, it was nearly filled with children. We will not attempt to describe such a gathering: there was something overpowering in the thoughts that crowded one after another into the heart, when it contemplated this sea of young facesfaces beaming with the light of immortality;-there before the eye were nearly 3,000 children! representing ten times the number under instruction. What a weight of responsibility on Sunday-school teachers!

Before detailing the proceedings, we must notice that all the daily papers spontaneously reported the Meeting, and in such a manner as to show that the feelings we experienced were shared by those to whom the chronicling of stirring and important events becomes

a habit. The best report was in the "Morning Post," and was as follows:

GRAND ASSEMBLAGE OF SUNDAY

SCHOOL CHILDREN.

"Yesterday evening, the Church of England Sunday School Institute assembled 3,000 of the children taught in the Church Sunday schools of the metropolis, in Exeter Hall. Famous as this place is for meetings of all descriptions, and particularly for the sectarian rancour of some, we can safely affirm that never was there a more interesting assembly held within its walls. The whole of the vast area may be said to have been filled with infantine faces, as care was taken not to spoil the effect by the introduction of too many teachers, four to every hundred being the maximum, and the coup d'ail from the plat form was perfectly unique. In the annual assembly of charity children' beneath the dome of St. Paul's, every school is there distinctly marked by the diversity of dress-blue, black, gray, green and yellow, marking out each division of boys as clearly as possible, even when the mobbed caps and white aprons of the girls do not serve as boundary lines; but at Exeter Hall, dwelt eye yesterday, the the "human face divine" in one unbroken sea. A closer inspection might have revealed many a diverse trait of poverty, the wanness of want, and the sickly hue of untimely disease; but, as a whole, it represented only the innocence and joyousness of infancy. The chair was taken by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph, who was accompanied by three of his nieces and a few clergymen, and the remainder of the orchestra was occupied with the pleased yet anxious features of that useful and self-devoted class, the teachers of Sunday schools."

upon

It also adds, after giving the order of opening the meeting,

"The children next sang a hymn,
"Come let us join our cheerful songs,