Education might check and refuse, but it could not elevate the old nature. The minds of children must be trained and cherished before they were contaminated by doubt and scepticism. The main question before the union was how to make the Sunday school more useful. He would give them his own opinion upon the matter. Let the source of authority be in the church. Let distinctions between the church and the school cease, and all envies and jealousies between them would cease also. The church officers would then take an interest in the school working, the church minister would carry the little ones of the school, as it were, in his bosom. Let them, therefore, no longer be two bodies, but one body, and then the school would truly become a necessary for the church. The Rev. W. H. Dalilnger seconded the motion, urging the Sunday school teachers to do their work with earnest life, if they would succeed. Rev. R. H. Lundie gave some interesting and very practical information on what he had seen in connection with Sunday schools in America. First, there was an air of comfort, not to say elegance, which was too absent from our Sunday school. Some of the schools were even carpeted. Then the conveniences were admirable. Instead of the long, straight forms which made a teacher's task so difficult in this country, the classes are arranged on horse-shoe forms, the teacher sitting near the opening. His seat was arranged to turn any way, and there was attached to it a little desk, that his book or arm might rest upon. To secure punctuality there was a large cardboard hung at the door, which, before school-time, showed an inscription in blue letters "In time." After the school hour it was reversed, and showed, in staring red letters, the words "Too late; " and it was wonderful how little either teachers or scholars appeared to like to have this hanging before them on their entrance. The problem of detaining the elder scholars also seemed to be to a great extent solved, and the explanation of this was that all classes and ages took their share in the work of teaching. Some of the most honoured citizens of America were to be found in the Sunday schools, and the children of the wealthy-so generally conspicuous by their absence from English Sunday schools -attended in America. BOSTON. Mr. Brain, of the London Committee, has just visited this Union. On Sunday, 7th February, accompanied by the Secretary, he called upon most of the schools in the town, and in the afternoon addressed the scholars from four of them in Grove Street Chapel, there being about four hundred present. In the evening the Rev. T. W. Mathews preached a very instructive and suitable sermon to teachers, from "Righteousness exalteth a nation." The teachers gathered for prayer afterwards. The annual meeting of the Union was held on the following day at Grove Street Schoolroom. The secretary (Mr. Bettinson) read a report, giving a résumé of the work of the union during the year, with the present position of the schools and the average attendance of the scholars. There are six schools in the town connected with the Union, and two in the villages, having a total of about one thousand scholars and one hundred and twenty teachers. The Mission School, under the superintendence of Mr. Cocks, was found to be in a satisfactory state for working, having considerably improved under his management. The deputation then gave a practical address on Sunday school work. He referred to what he had noticed in some of the schools visited by him in the preceding day, remarking upon the advantages of some and the deficiencies of others. A number of questions were put to him, eliciting real practical advice and suggestions. Revs. T. W. Mathews, J. Shaw, and S. Fisher and Messrs. Bothamley, Wood, Munkman, Bettinson, Porter, Simpson, Taylor, and Cocks took part in the discussion and conversation. The meeting was kept up to a late hour, the teachers being anxious to take every advantage of Mr. Brain's presence. SHEFFIELD. The annual meeting of the Sheffield Sunday School Union was held in the Nether Chapel Schoolroom, Norfolk street, on 9th February. W. Sissons, Esq., occupied the chair. Mr. Innocent read the fifty-seventh annual report, from which it appeared that there were seventy-four schools in the union, of which forty were in the town and thirty-four in the suburbs. Four new schools had been admitted during the year, and all of different denominations. The number of teachers in the town schools was 1,714, and 816 in the country schools, making a total of 2,530. There were 13,350 scholars in the town and 5,030 in the country, giving a total of 18,380. Mr. R. Leader moved the adoption of the report, and the Rev. J. Breakey seconded it. Mr. Brain, deputation from the Sunday School Union in London, supported the resolution in a practical speech, calling upon teachers to educate themselves for the work they had undertaken, in order that they might aim at what their Master aimed. He urged the importance of watching and cherishing indications of religious impressions among the young, so that religious convictions may be deepened. After speaking in favour of teachers cultivating an extensive knowledge of the Scriptures, Mr. Brain advocated their interesting the children by teaching them the rudiments of botany or natural history, and he gave an instance of the success which had attended this mode of teaching at Portsmouth, where a young man who was so bad a cripple that he had to be carried, had a class at his own house numbering upwards of thirty, all of whom were converted to Christ. Mr. B. then dwelt upon the necessity of teaching singing in Sunday schools, and concluded by hoping that the influence of the union would be increased so that the society with whom he was connected might be aided in its endeavours to spread scriptural knowledge among the young. The remaining resolutions were moved and seconded by the Rev. Jas. Smith, the Rev. C. Short, the Rev. W. Hubbard, Mr. Allott, Mr. Adam Wood, J. M. Fenton, &c. Obituary. HENRY SPENCER, ESQ.-This respected and useful Sunday School teacher died at his residence, Oakhill, near Bath, on the 1st November, 1868. He was brought to God early in life, and forty-two years ago became a member of the Independent church at Shepton Mallett. From that time his life was that of a most consistent Christian, and he was known as the friend and helper of every good werk. His love for Sunday schools was always great, and even when at school at Glastonbury he became a teacher. Thirty-six years before he died he commenced the first Sunday sehool in Oakhill, with twelve children, in his own house. The history of these twelve cannot be traced, but two of them often sat with him in after life at the table of the Lord, and were among those who heard his funeral sermon. For many years he was deacon of the church, and superintendent of the school at Oakhill. His kind, loving spirit endeared him to a large circle of friends, and his holy life was a daily proof that he loved God and strove to do His will. A large company followed him to the grave. His friend and pastor, the Rev. F. J. Perry, preached his funeral sermon, from the words, "Perfect love casteth out fear." 66 TRUE to the purpose for which it was originally established, "to ascertain those situations where Sunday schools are most needed, and to promote their establishment," as well as to stimulate and encourage Sunday school teachers, at home and abroad," the Union has always maintained its character as a missionary institution, not for Great Britain only, but for the world at large. And if home proceedings have seemed to absorb a disproportionately large share of the attention of successive committees, the causes are to be sought in the miserably small amount of pecuniary support annually afforded to the Society by the Christian public, and the consequent necessity of doling out foreign grants by shillings, when hundreds of pounds might have been well bestowed. During the last few years, however, some advance has been made towards a better state of things; and the Continental missions of the Union-commenced, not without fear and trembling, in conjunction with a few warm-hearted American brethren in 1864-have been at length established as a permanent department of its labours. Still, there is ample room for a far wider measure of sympathy and support, and no better means can be devised to secure this than the diffusion of APRIL, 1869. E 126 The Mission-work of the Sunday School Union. on. information respecting the operations which are actually being carried The "logic of facts" will prove more eloquent than rhetorical appeals or faultless syllogisms; and it is that kind of argument which we intend to employ. Let it be understood, then, that the Union is seeking simply to aid in the extension of the Sunday school system on the Continent of Europe, by promoting the establishment and efficiency of schools in France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. And in doing this, it interferes with the operations of no existing societies or individuals. The field is vast, the labourers are few, and there is room for ten times the present amount of evangelistic effort. The work is also peculiar. Sometimes, when a Sunday school is commenced in a dark and uncultivated village or hamlet at home, everything has to be supplied-books, money, information, and perhaps even agency as well; and this not for one year, but for many. But the Sunday school missionary has a very different work to accomplish in a German town or Italian city. There he has to seek out the godly few, it may be in the humbler ranks of society, but very often among the wealthy and educated. To them he has to expound the idea of a Sunday school as his first duty. The instruction and catechizing of children are no novelties. Even the name of "Sunday school" may not be unknown; but the "class system" of England and America— the regular tuition of children in Scripture truth on the Lord's Day by Christian laymen and godly women-this is a scheme which often appears both novel and startling. Old prejudices have to be combated; when these are shaken or overcome, the agents have to be gathered together; the machine duly organized, and the mode of working it clearly demonstrated. But when once the idea shall have firmly rooted itself, extraneous help will become less and less needed. The seedling will become a full-grown plant, sending out its runners and offsets, and extending its influence in all directions. Such has been the pleasing result of past efforts in many parts of France and Holland; and in this direction the Sunday school system is progressing in various towns and cities of Germany. Such also, we trust, will hereafter be the case in Italy and Switzerland. But a large part of each of these countries has yet to feel the influence of Sunday school instruction. Many difficulties, besides those attending the introduction of a new department of philanthropic effort, have to be encountered on the Continent; and the friends of evangelical education need tact and patience, as well as zeal and prayerfulness. Happily, the Union has been highly privileged in securing as its agent in Germany so judicious and devoted a Christian worker as Mr. Brockelmann. To his ability, earnestness, and prudence, the supporters of the Sunday school cause are indebted, under God, for much of the success which has crowned the efforts hitherto made. The system seems to have found a congenial sphere in the Prussian capital. The labours of Count Andrew Bernstorff, Mr. Neuhauss, and The Mission-work of the Sunday School Union. 127 other influential Christians have not been in vain; and Mr. Brockelmann recently reported with something of exultation that Dr. Hoffmann, the court preacher, was about to take part in the anniversary meetings in Berlin. Mr. B. has lately made two tours in Würtemburg, and sends many interesting jottings respecting the progress of Sunday schools in Ludwigsburg, Stuttgart, Cannstadt, and other towns. In some of these places, as in other parts of Germany, a prejudice prevails against male and female teachers carrying on their work in the same room. Thus, in Reutlingen, a small school is taught by four members of the Young Men's Christian Association in rotation. The missionary found many ladies willing to engage in similar work, but only on condition that a pastor could be found to superintend them. This delayed the commencement of a school, but the tact of Mr. Brockelmann at length surmounted all difficulties. At Stuttgart there are four schools. One has four hundred children and fifty teachers, only ten of whom are young men, while the three other schools contain five hundred scholars and sixty teachers, all the latter being ladies except one. The correspondence maintained by Mr. Brockelmann with those whom he has visited affords many pleasant glimpses of the work as carried on in Germany. One lady writes to him from Cassel : "By the grace of God we have been enabled to open a second Sunday school. The number of boys increased so much in the autumn, and the use of the hall was granted to us only for girls, that we had to look out for another room. We succeeded in getting the Lutheran Confirmation Hall. Rev. F, a new and most valuable acquisition for Cassel, opened the Sunday school there with ninety boys and four male teachers. Rev. P―― continues to be our superintendent. We have now one hundred and twenty girls and twelve female teachers. Our teachers' meeting we have in common with the male teachers; but we could not find any other time but from half-past four to half-past five, directly after our session." From the curious and ancient city of Cologne an earnest worker, Rev. A- —, reports thus to Mr. Brockelmann : : "You will be delighted to hear that in the name of the Lord, and quite successfully, I have opened the Sunday school in the large hall in my own house. On the first Sunday in Advent nearly one hundred children were present in seven classes, with five female and two male teachers. I have found splendid workers. Our teachers' meeting is every Wednesday at five p.m. We want more male teachers, and our hall ought to be double as large. Every Sunday I must clear out my study and place there two classes of boys. I have had hard fightings with those who would put the new wine into o'd bottles,' but the Lord gave the victory." Many equally interesting extracts might be given, but space forbids. Enough, it is hoped, has been cited to show how wide and how inviting a field of labour is thus opened out. Who can tell what good things may yet be in store for Germany, when in a bigoted and priest-ridden city like Cologne so encouraging a commencement has been made? Who can tell but that the humble Sunday school may prove like the stone seen in vision by the prophet, and become the means by which the image of superstition shall yet be smitten and overthrown ? W. H. G. |