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kept them, and entreated them to come and spend the evening with them previous to their baptism. They asked the Missionary whether they should go; he could not forbid it, and thus consented. They have, however, never been able to return. The Missionary has heard from them; they express their continued faith in Christ, but say they are kept under restraint by their heathen relatives.

Another case has occurred recently in connexion with the Church Missionary Society, at Benares, of which if you have not yet seen an account, you may be interested to hear. A boy of only thirteen years of age, of the highest caste, has expressed his faith in Christ, and desired to live with the missionaries, Messrs. Smith and Leupolt. The heathen were in a state of great commotion, and brought the case before the magistrate, (the boy being under age by law), in order that they might get him into their own hands. In consequence of his youth, the magistrate was about to deliver him over to them, when the lad seeing this exclaimed, "if you deliver me up to my relatives, my blood will be on your head; I am firmly resolved to be a Christian." The missionaries then applied for a postponement of the decision, in order that they might send down to Calcutta for precedents, of which there are happily two or three, of native boys under age professing a clear and intelligent belief in Christianity, being allowed by the Supreme Court to act according to the decision of their own judgments. Reports of these cases were sent up to guide the decision of the magistrate, but arrived just a day too late; the magistrate had ordered that he should be delivered up to his heathen friends, but in order to prevent their making away with, or removing him, as they often do, they are compelled once a week to bring him into court. On one of these occasions Mr. Leupolt met him in court, and asked him if he still wished to live with the missionaries; he replied

that on the contrary he was quite content to remain with his relatives! This, however, he said as a feint to mislead his friends. They in consequence, as he anticipated, gave him much greater liberty, and he availed himself of it one evening to pay the missionary a visit, told him the reason of his reply, and how he was still bent on being a Christian. An appeal has therefore been made by the missionaries from the magistrate's decision to the sessions' judge, and, though not yet decided, there is much reason to hope that the result will be in favour of the young Christian.

All these instances coming together, must I think be considered most hopeful indications of a coming harvest. The struggle has been long, and may yet be prolonged for some time. The difficulties are of no ordinary kind, but we know that the Lord Jesus shall see in India of the travail of the soul and be satisfied! nor is that time, I think, far distant. When shall we have more men from England? Humanly speaking, with only something like an adequate supply of faithful men, Hinduism would presently fall to nothing.

I still continue to study the Bengali language; but such is the pressure upon me of other avocations (being still responsible for half the duties at the cathedral,) that I cannot devote the time requisite for much progress. I have, however, now commenced some regular mission work, spending every Wednesday morning at the Mission School of Alipore, where I instruct the two senior classes in succession in the Scriptures, as well as occasionally give a lesson in Euclid. Last week I, for the first time, set the senior boys a subject for an English theme "Truth," which exercise will I hope prove very useful, both in the general developement of the mind, and more particularly in drawing their minds to Christian principles.

Believe me,

Your very affectionate friend, JOHN BLOMEFIELD.

Correspondence.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS FOR THE MIDDLE RANKS.

GENTLEMEN,

I am glad to find from your Quarterly Magazine, that you have taken up the subject of a class for the Middle Ranks, which have been much neglected. The plan, I think, would be to hold it once a day, say from half-past nine o'clock in the morning; it must be conducted by a man of very superior talent, or the minister. The instruction should be on the plan of a Bible class-conversational instruction on Scripture history, and geography.

It might be begun in the vestry of the Church, if a room could not be obtained; or perhaps some private school-room might be found, in the

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ECCLESIASTICAL CATECHISM.-AMUSEMENT AT SCHOOL FEASTS.

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ets of flower-seeds to the children attending a Weekly Evening Class in the country, and the result was most satisfactory. Both boys and girls were interested and delighted. In towns, a Geranium-slip, or a Hyacinth-root, will generally be much prized. Books and Lectures are in every way most desirable and valuable, but children require and will have something more stirring for amusement.

With many thanks for much encouragement and assistance from your invaluable magazine,

I am, your obedient,

Z. z.

SIR,

ON PREPARING NOTES OF LESSONS.

I understand from your Magazine, that the subject of "Notes of Lessons," is beginning to attract attention among

Sunday school teachers, as well as among national school masters and mistresses. It seems a token for good that it should be so, for although many teachers be

stow much care and study on the preparations of their lessons, yet I fear they often fail in producing an abiding effect on the mind of children, from a deficiency in arrangement. It is not enough that the matter be good, and suited to the understandings of children, unless it be also so arranged that a child of moderate intelligence could give, at the close of the lesson, its principal heads, and the leading points of application to be derived from it. This plan will not be found to fetter the teacher, or to prevent him from pressing home the most striking truths to the minds of his scholars, but will rather help him to do so with double force.

Having recently given some attention to the drawing up of "Notes," I venture to send you the enclosed, to be inserted in your next number, if you think them likely to be useful to any readers of your most valuable and use

ful Magazine. I gave the lesson last Sunday to a class of girls, from about ten to fourteen years of age, and found them well able to enter into the subject, and to express their ideas on it. They are mostly well taught during the week.

Allow me to take this opportunity of thanking you, on my own behalf, and that of many of my friends, for the encouragement afforded to teachers by a work like yours; so admirably suited to strengthen their hands, by assuring them that they are not alone in their work, and by recording the many instances in which the Lord of the vineyard has gotten himself a victory over the sinful heart of some wayward child, by the feeble instrumentality of one of their body. Trusting that your labours will be yet more abundantly blessed, I remain, your sincere well-wisher,

Isabel.

A WORD ON BEHALF OF YOUNG TEACHERS.

It is a well-known fact, that the least efficient teachers are generally appointed to the junior classes, which are often the most disorderly and inattentive in the school. Suffer me respectfully to claim a little more help and direction for the teachers who, with the smallest power, have frequently the most difficult work to perform.

There are, no doubt, very many able teachers in our schools. Cannot they do more than they do to help their weaker brethren? We must bear one another's burdens, if we would fulfil the law of Christ.

The following plan, if practicable, and approved of, would give you the means of learning what is the kind of instruction generally given in our schoolswhat the deficiencies and difficulties of our teachers, and how you could best assist them. It would also give the

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they can do. For the sake of mutual improvement, and under the secresy of anonymous signature, they need not be ashamed to show how much they need instruction, however imperfect and feeble they may feel their efforts to be.

Although all teachers be earnestly solicited to send specimens of their teaching, I think you need not fear being overburdened with communications. False shame, indolence, want of time, not seeing your Periodical, and other causes, would probably prevent a large number of teachers from sending a specimen. In order to keep the Articles distinct from your other correspondence, a request may be made that the word specimen, or any other deemed more appropriate, be written on the

outside of the envelope, above the adaddress.

The best of the lessons would form a store of instruction for the unskilful; and it would be useful for some of the inferior ones to be published, with remarks showing how they could have have been made more practical and effective. We should thus learn lessons of practical experience from the success of those who are wise, and from the failure of those who are unwise or inexperienced teachers.

Thankfully acknowledging the assistand instruction already received from your Magazines,

I remain, gentlemen,
Your's obediently,

A Teacher who wishes to be Taught.

[We commend this letter to our readers, and shall be very glad to fall in with the plan, if any number of them think it likely to be useful, and will prove their interest in it by sending such specimens.

We would suggest, however, that, as a first step, notes of a lesson (and not a complete lesson) should be sent. That is to say, let our readers send us notes of what they purpose shall be their lesson on the following Sunday. This will enable us to direct attention to the method of preparing a lesson, introductory to the equally-important inquiry how that preparation should be used in actual teaching.

Our idea of notes of a lesson is, that they should embrace all the leading ideas which the teacher intends to bring before the children, and drawn up in such a way that any other intellgent teacher would be able to grasp the lesson as it was formed in the mind of the first originator. We wait the result of this appeal with much interest.-ED.]

Sunday School Institute.

QUARTERLY RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS.

On the evening of the 8th of October, was held the

DEVOTIONAL MEETING,

presided over by our valuable friend, the Rev. E. Auriol; the attendance of Members, it is gratifying to note, was good;

And on November 19th, the

LECTURE,

Subject-Simplicity is Strength, applied to Sunday school teaching, was delivered by the Rev. E. Auriol. This

instructive address, through the kindness of the Lecturer, appears in our present Number.

EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY.

During the quarter, eight Lectures on this most important subject, have been delivered by the Rev. J. Ketley; the following were the points selected: Oct. 29. Introductory Lecture. Nov. 5. External Evidences, Miracles credible.

12. Historic Proof of the Chris

tian Miracles.

19. Christian Miracles the basis

of the Christian Religion. 26. Argument from Prophecy for

the Divine Origin of the Christian Religion. Dec. 3. Internal Evidences, Doctrines, Duties, and Motives.

10. Christian Mysteries credible. 17. Summary and Conclusion. Commence at a Quarter Past Eight, P.M. TRAINING CLASSES.

These have been suspended for a time, from various circumstances; but they have now been resumed, and one has been held (conducted by Mr. J. G. Fleet,) in the School-room of Woburn Chapel. Arrangements have also been made for holding another in the School-room of Trinity Church, Isling ton, during the month of January.

On December the 6th, was held the

SUPERINTENDENTS' MEETING,

and we have reason to hope, that the discussion of the question on the paper, viz., Separate Services, will be attended with a practical result.

The Rev. Thos. Jackson, D.D., Prebendary of St. Paul's, preached a

SERMON

on behalf of our Society, on Sunday evening, December 21st, at St. Clement's, East Cheap.

On Friday evening, the 21st of November, a Meeting was held at

CHELSEA,

in St. Luke's school room, by permission of the incumbent, the Rev. John Patterson, for the purpose of making known the objects, &c., of our Society.

Admiral V. Harcourt took the Chair, he was supported by the Rev. A. A. Robinson, C. Money, F. Rogers, &c. &c. F. Dollman, and S. B. Power, Esqrs., attended as a Deputation.

Letters of apology, which expressed great anxiety for the success of the Society, were read from the Revs. W.

Cadman, J. Patterson, Hamilton, and J. A. Leakes. Prayers having been offered by the Rev. F. Rogers,

The CHAIRMAN opened the Meeting, and dwelt much upon the importance of combining religious with secular teaching: the mind will be active for good or evil, the necessity therefore of instructing the young in the truth. He adverted to the active efforts of the Romanists to ensnare the young. They should be taught as a defence the use of the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. In Ireland even, the benefit of such teaching had been made mani. fest; children from having a knowledge of the Bible, had been enabled to confute the priest.

In conclusion, he dwelt upon the benefits of the Sunday school to teachers, in making them aware of their own want of instruction, in employing their time most profitably-and then to society generally, as it brought rich and poor together, and bound them in a tie of love and brotherhood.

The REV. W. W. ROBINSON, moved the first resolution. He expressed his gratitude to the Society, for having called the Meeting. He remarked that every one was doing either the work of God, or the work of the devil; there was no neutrality in this warfare. What would be the feelings of the founder of Sunday schools, could he but behold the effects of his unpretending effort: half a million of children reading the Word of God, through the instrumentality of these schools. Moreover, Sunday schools were economical, they saved the country a great expense, in deterring the young (from the fact of their being taught to fear the Lord,) from committing crime. In Liverpool, it cost £889 to apprehend, prosecute, and punish fourteen juvenile offenders; a tenth part of this large sum, would have sufficed to educate them. He strongly recommended teachers to study their lessons, for in so doing they derive instruction themselves.

F. DOLLMAN, Esq., one of the Deputation, having apologized for the absence of Mr. I. G. Fleet, who was to have addressed the Meeting, but was prevented attending, in consequence of a painful family bereavement-seconded the resolution, and in so doing, fully explained the objects, and detailed the operations of the Institute.

The resolution was carried unanimously. The REV. C. MONEY, in moving the second resolution said, that he looked upon the Church of England Sunday School Institute as an eminently practical Society: it supplied the wants of Sunday schools and of Sunday school teachers; he honoured the Society because it honoured the Lord's Day.

The REV. F. ROGERS, Chaplain of the Penitentiary, seconded the resolution. He remarked that, in ccaversing with criminals hardened

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