jewels. These young females are still living, and still as much engaged in the cause of Christ as ever; they still continue to adorn their profession, and to walk in all the ways of holy obedience, and the church to which they belong has never had any reason to regret their early admission; nor that its members were among the earliest patrons of Sabbath Schools.

SUNDAY SCHOOL AFFAIRS.

[From the Religious Chronicle.]

At a late meeting of the Association of Teachers in NewYork, the following question was the subject of debate, viz.What method would be most likely to retain the elder scholars within the influence of Sabbath School instruction? This is a very important subject, because at the time the scholars generally leave the schools they have arrived at an age most exposed to the snares and temptations of the world, and most need the advice and watchful care of pious friends. All present seemed to agree that the best method to be pursued to gain that much desired end was to interest the scholars in the course of instruction, and thereby attach them to the schools. Several different plans were mentioned.

A teacher stated that, in his opinion, to succeed in creating an attachment to the schools, the feelings of the boys must be interested; they must be made to act and think for themselves. From experience he could venture to say that nothing would link the boys to the school, to the teachers, and to each other, so much as the formation of societies. In our colleges, and almost every literary institution, societies are formed of its members, and though they may gladly bid adieu to the institution or their instructors, they never leave the societies without regret.

Convinced of the utility of this measure, he had formed a society of the boys in his class; its object was religious instruction -the illustration and explanation of short histories from the Bible. Fearing this would not be sufficient to insure their attendance for any length of time, he had formed a library of small books and religious tracts, which he entrusted to the care of

one of the society. From this library the officers were entitled to take three books at a time, those who behaved well in church and school, and attended punctually, to take two. The society had the power of electing its own officers, making its own laws and regulations, he being only a spectator to see that proper order was maintained in the commencement. He felt gratified in saying, that the result exceeded his most sanguine expectations. The boys attended more regularly, had behaved with more decorum in school and church, and their rapid improvement in the manner of conducting the society was a sufficient proof of the interest it had excited.

As an example of their jurisprudence, he related the following anecdote at the time the society was formed, the boys were much addicted to playing at marbles; at his instigation, it was unanimously resolved, that any member guilty of playing at marbles should not be entitled to hold any office in the society : at the next meeting, only two out of twenty-one had transgressed. This, he added, might be called a trifle, but he considered it laying the ax at the root of the tree, and it would not only retain the scholars at the Sunday Schools, but would likewise be a certain source of improvement.

Another teacher, belonging to the same school, mentioned that the other teachers having charge of the classes of older boys, were in the practice of holding meetings for instruction at the houses of the scholars, in rotation. The plan of conducting them is as follows:-The meeting is opened with prayer, after which a portion of Scripture (a parable or short narrative,) is read and explained, in a manner suited to the comprehensions of the scholars; and plates, illustrating the subject, are exhibited to them, which never fail to interest them, and to convey instruction as well as amusement. The exercises are occasionally varied, by reading tracts, or short histories of exemplary children; sometimes a short Scripture history is selected, read by each scholar, and explained by the teacher, after which they are required to give some account of it. The utility of the latter plan cannot fail to strike every one, as it must be obvious that great attention must be paid to what is read, and some thought bestowed upon the subject, or no account could be given of it.

A teacher mentioned, that in the school to which he is now attached, there was a class of elder boys, entitled the class of Merit, (in a school to which he had formerly belonged, a class of the same description was called the Teachers' Assistants,) towards whom the course of instruction was of a higher order than that of any other class; and that, in the absence of any of the teachers, boys were selected from this class to supply those vacancies, always, however, under the superintendence of the regular teachers.

A teacher stated that in one of our western towns, the elder boys of a school had withdrawn themselves entirely; their situation became the subject of anxious solicitude with the superintendent, and he resigned his office to a fellow-labourer, and called on all the boys who had left the school, and told them that he would become their teacher if they would return to the school and form a class. To return, under such circumstances, they considered would be an honour; for it implied a condescension on the part of the superintendent, and no sooner did he take the station of a teacher, than they resumed their places at school, and became attentive to their studies.

[To be continued.]

BELFAST SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

Extract from the Second Report of the Belfast Sunday School Union, Ireland, Sept. 1823. The Marquis of Downshire in the Chair.

The Rev. JOHN STEWART rose to move the following resolution : "That this meeting do earnestly recommend the formation of Sunday School Unions where they do not at present exist, as the most effectual means of promoting the improvement, extension, and permanence of Sunday Schools."

My Lord, said Mr. S. the day has been when the utility of Sunday Schools might be questioned; but that day, like other gloomy days, is gone never to return. One of the advantages of this institution is, that it keeps active children employed on the LORD's day, and prevents them from running into mischief. In a late conversation, it was remarked that cherries were likely to be scarce; a lady, who disliked Sunday Schools, exclaimed, "yes, we may thank Sunday Schools for that."

"Why? what connexion," said one present, " can exist betwixt Sunday Schools and the growth of cherries ?"-The lady replied, "Before such schools were established, the boys went on Sundays and robbed bird's nests; so their numbers were thinned, and our cherries allowed to grow; but there will soon not be a boy left to look for a bird's nest, and we shall not get a cherry to eat!"-I am confident there are but few in this respectable assembly who sympathize with this cherryloving lady. Now, I look on this lady's censure as a perfect eulogium on the institution. We sometimes justly deduct from the praise of friendship; but when the same sentiment flows from the lips of prejudice, in the language of blame, we may give ample credit to its truth, without involving a tax on our gratitude. These schools do more than prevent from mischief; they enlighten the young mind; and it is remarkable what degree of Scripture knowledge some acquire. In a late Sunday School examination, the teacher mentioned that direction of the wise man," buy the truth and sell it not." He remarked, that he that buys the truth makes a good bargain; and inquired, if any of them recollected any instance in Scripture of a bad bargain? I do, replied a boy, Esau made a bad bargain, when he sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. A second said, "Judas made a bad bargain, when he sold his LORD for thirty pieces of silver." A third said, "our LORD tells us that he makes a bad bargain, who, to gain the whole world, loses his own soul." Sunday School instruction goes farther still; in many cases it renews the heart and life. Some time since, two little boys decently dressed, the elder about thirteen, the younger about eleven years old, came to Warrington, called at a house appointed for strangers to lodge in, and requested to obtain a night's lodging. The account they gave to the keeper of the house was at once interesting, affecting and true. A few months before, they had resided with their parents in London. The typhus fever, however, deprived them of both in one day; and left them orphans in a wide world, without money, and without a home! After the last sad tribute was paid to their parents, having an uncle in Liverpool, they determined to throw themselves on his protection. Faint and weary they arrived in Warrington, having walked all the way from London. Two small parcels contained their little all. In the bundle of the smaller boy, neatly covered, and carefully preserved, was a Bible. The man addressing the boy, said, as you have neither money nor meat, will you sell me this Bible? I will give you five shillings for it. "No," answered he, the tears starting from his eyes and running down his cheeks, "I'll starve first." O, there are plenty of books to be bought besides this, why are you so fond of your Bible?" No book has stood my friend like my Bible." Why what has your Bible done for you? "Ah! when I was a little boy about

seven years of age, I became a Sunday Scholar in London. In my Bible I learned, that young as I was I was a sinner; it also pointed me to a Savionr, and I thank God I have found mercy at the hand of CHRIST, and I am not ashamed to confess him before the world." Six shillings were then offered him for the Bible. "No, said he, for it has been my support all the way from London-often hungry and tired, I sat down on the way side to read my Bible, and I have felt what the sweet Psalmist did when he said, 'In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul." But what will you do when you go to Liverpool, if your uncle will not take you in? My Bible tells me that when my father and my mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up." The man could go no farther, tears stopt his utterance, and they both wept together. The little boys had tickets in their pockets, as rewards for their good conduct, from the Sunday School to which they belonged. And farther still, my Lord-Sunday School instruction has taught the young how to die. In Roscrea, in the South of Ireland, walking in the fields one evening, I observed a little girl watching clothes which were drying, while she read in a book. I asked what book do you read? "The Bible, Sir," So you are fond of reading the Bible. "I am, Sir." Where did you learn to read the Bible? "In the Sunday School." In what boook are you reading now? book of Job." To other questions satisfactory answers were returned. Some time after I was called on to visit a sick person, and I was greatly struck at finding my little Sunday School friend sinking under a rapid decline. She had learned the grand outlines of gospel doctrine, what we call the plan of salvation, but she had not obtained the consolations of religion. She was encouraged to look for these, and she soon obtained them, and continued in possession of them till her last hour. Observe the process, my Lord:-the Sunday Scoonl led her to the Biblethe Bible led her to JESUS CHRIST, and JESUS CHRIST led her to Heaven.

"The

At a meeeting of the Board of Directors of the Albany Sunday School Union Society, held on the 12th day of December, 1823, the following resolution was unanimously passed:

Resolved, That we highly approve of the publication called by the name of The American Sunday School Teachers' Magazine, and Journal of Education, now publishing in New-York; therefore we recom mend it for support to the attention of the Members of this Society, the Teachers of the Sabbath Schools, and all who are interested in this institution,