lar improvements in other schools. We are pleased to notice the simplicity and appropriateness of its arrangement, and commend the judicious selection of the epithet "Instruction meetings," while the well-adapted verses of Dr. Watts, and the expressive little vignette, declare the object of these meetings to be in accordance with the views of Sunday Schools, to direct the youth to consider the necessity of prayer, and to lead them to the God and father of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

These meetings are held alternately at the homes of the children, at the appointment of the teacher, who prepares himself to instruct them from some previously selected portion of scripture, either a parable, an account of a miracle, or a portion of sacred history. After it is read, the children are required to give an account of it in their own words, when the teacher explains, inviting them to ask questions on the subject so perused, and narrated. He then concludes by relating some anecdote, or reading some tract, illustrating the subject, or naturally connected with it. These meetings are opened and closed by a brief prayer, either a selected form, or extemporary, as adapted to the views of the teacher that conducts them. We feel confidently assured, that this proposed method of instruction, will prove eminently useful to the scholars. The features of it are making religion a prominent part in the system of instruction, and conveying it to the pupil, not as a task, or burden to the memory, but it is addressing the heart and feelings, while it informs the judgment, and is a plan in which the children take an active part, and it brings also the youngest of them familiar with the beautiful precepts of religion, and infuses at least a devotional sympathy into their minds; to quote the words of an amiable writer, (Mrs. Barbauld,)" devotional feelings should be impressed as early as possible on the infant mind, being fully convinced that they cannot be impressed too soon; and that a child, to feel the full force of the idea of God, ought never to remember a time when he had no such idea." We would suggest as an improvement, in conducting these meetings, that a portion of the time of each meeting be devoted to read¡ng a course of scripture history, in abridgment from the Bible; of which there are many prepared for the use of children.

It would be desirable to select such as are chronologically arranged, being a continuous history, with dates to every remarka ble epoch. A very useful book for the purpose is "Sampson's Beauties of the Bible."-We have been at particular pains to give the little card in fac simile, feeling assured that much more depends on the nicety and minute of all things connected with the early instruction of children, than many even of experience, who are engaged in the pursuit, are aware.

A. L.-Teacher.

"Take fast hold of instruction."-Proverbs, xiv. 13.

The following is the reverse of the card,-at the foot of this the scholar's name is written.

TO PARENTS.

Ever anxious for the improvement of the dear children you have intrusted to our care, and watchful for their present and

eternal welfare; we have inquired among ourselves, what new thing we could do for their good; and we now inform you that we have established meetings for moral and religious instruction, on Sabbath and week day evenings, and hope to make them engaging and profitable. We invite you to send your children to the meetings when appointed by the Teacher of their class. Peace and the blessing of God be with you.

Sunday School New-York Union.

"Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom, and with all thy getting, get understanding."--Prov. iv. 7.

The purpose of these cards are to notify the parents of the teacher's appointment, and to obtain the privilege for the ch to attend; and as they are passports to the meetings, (being given in at the door,) they tend to enhance the importance of the meetings in the minds of the children, and in some measure, tend also to heighten the influence of the instruction given.

Discipline at Friars' Mount Sunday School, England.

"This school contains upwards of 700 scholars. The classes are subdivided into divisions of fifteen scholars each, and to each division a monitor, as well as a teacher, is appointed: besides these, there are a general superintendent monitor, and a secretary-monitor, who is assistant to the secretary. The monitors are chosen from the higher classes, generally from among the elder scholars. It has been remarked. that a monitor has been appointed to every division of a class, and a superintendent monitor appointed over them-through whom all directions from the superintendent or Secretary of the school, are convey. ed." [London Teachers' Magazine.

Note.-By class, must be here understood the several grand divisions of the school on the collegiate plan-each class considered as pursuing different studies. In the Friars' Mount school there are six; this we think injudicious. A system of more simplicity is followed in our American schools. The classes are only four 1st. All such as are learning the alphabet and elements of spelling; 2d. Easy spelling lessons; 3d. Easy reading lessons; and 4th. Such as read fluently in the Bible, (Old or New Testa ment;) these classes are again divided into what are usually calle

classes of ten. Over each such division, the above plan preposes that a monitor should be appointed from the elder scholars to assist the teacher. The report, whence this extract is taken, is of great length, detailing a monitorial system, little differing from the Lancasterian plan, to the introduction of which, (in its general features) into our Sunday Schools, wel are opposed, as we think the office of teacher and disciplinarian, too important to be entrusted in the hands of youth. There may be some exceptions; but their characteristic heedlessness and indiscretion forbid it. They might, however, with much success, act under the direction of the teacher in much of the detail of the class, but should never be invested with authority; in a Sunday School, this proposed monitorial plan might be partially practiced with success, on the following arrangement :There might be a class of distinction for the elder scholars, and their station in the school differing from the usual forms and seats. They should have a covered table with benches, for which should be regularly provided Bibles, tracts, religious papers and pamphlets, that, by their continued novelty, might entice them to attend, under certain privileges, but yet under the usual discipline of the school. Their first duty, on arriving at their station, should be to read a portion of the scripture, and to copy, in a blank book, provided for each, some sacred promise or precept, from the Bible, of one or more verses, commit to memory continually they might then be engaged in reading tracts, &c. till called out by the respective teachers to whom they have been appointed permanent monitors. Their duty under the teacher might be to arrange, distribute and collect books, and any other minor duties of the class in which they could assist the teacher without being clothed with any brief authority that might poison their minds through vanity, and give rise to envy and malice in the bosom of their school-fellows. They might continually inspect the conduct of the classes in school and church, and keep a record to that effect for the teacher. It will readily be perceived that this proposed improvement, (so desirable for promoting the welfare of elder scholars) besides relieving the teacher of some burdens, will act as an incentive to retain the youth longer in our schools, and be a farther VOL. I.

32

to

means to them of Sunday School instruction, by giving them such privileges and such employment in the school as may excite a very laudable ambition, tending to improve and elevate their minds and character. Two monitors to assist the superintendent, and one to assist the secretary, should also be chosen from this class; one might personally attend the superintendent, while the other might be stationed at the school-door to announce visiters, and to receive passports of such as pass out of the school at the consent of the superintendent; the monitor so stationed might be engaged in reading or learning for recitation; the secretary-monitor to assist him in the minor details of his duty. Such a plan, (of which these remarks may only be considered as hints) well matured, would doubtless much increase the facilities of teaching our Sunday Schools.

Card of the Ten Commandments for the use of S. Schools.

The following card of the Ten Commandments has been handed us with a request that it may appear in our pages; in this we cordially acquiesce, esteeming it a useful improvement. We would draw the attention of our readers to the manner of its arrangement,-it is intended to inform the young mind that the Ten Commandments are the word of God. This card therefore presents them as an extract from the pages of the Bible; with such other portions and scripture references as point out the nature and design of them, and the attendant circumstances of the declaration of them to the children of Israel at Sinai. We should be pleased to see this, as a lesson card in all our Sunday Schools.

THE LAW OF GOD,

Given in Ten Commandments by his prophet Moses, as they were spoken by the Lord from Mount Sinai, and written with the finger of God upon two tables of stone, as you may find in the 31st chapter of Exodus, 18th verse, and chapter 34-28.

Verse

19th CHAPTER OF EXODUS

16. And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp, trembled.

19. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.