SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

THE Clergy and Teachers who are Subscribers to the Monthly Paper are respectfully requested to bring it under the notice of the Church Sunday-school Teachers and others in their parishes who take an interest in Sunday instruction, and invite them to become Subscribers. It is hoped that as Sunday-school Teachers will, through this separate portion of the Paper, be supplied with hints and plans bearing on their labours, they will not be slow to promote the object in view (see July Number), and become regular Subscribers. The outside wrapper contains full instructions how to procure the Paper.

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the National Society's Monthly Paper.

THE DUTY OF SUPERINTENDENTS TOWARDS THE SENIOR SCHOLARS OF OUR

SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

SIR,-My object in writing the following observations is to extend the work of Sunday-school instruction; and by connecting with every Sunday-school a class for the senior scholars, to render this important field of usefulness more efficient than I think it has hitherto been. It has frequently been asked, What can we do with our senior scholars? they are leaving the school; what can we do for them? how can we retain them? I answer, form them into separate classes, and let them have a separate room, and provide a teacher whom they can respect and look up to for advice-one whom they can love and confide in. If this be done, I am confident they will be induced to stay in the school, and afterwards prove a valuable help as a preparatory class for young teachers. The necessity for such classes will appear from the following considerations. The greater number of our senior Sunday-school scholars are employed during the week, and the chief object for which some of them attend the school is to learn to read; and having attained this, they think it is unnecessary to attend longer. As far as the religious instruction is concerned, the conscience is easily silenced by the reflection that such instruction can be obtained at any time by occasionally going to church. Others, again, do not trouble themselves about religious knowledge: these leave school at a most important and critical period of their history, just as the passions begin to develop themselves, and when the allurements of the world are spread out before them. I remember the late Rev. Thomas Newland (a most efficient minister of the Established Church) had an adult class in the schoolhouse of his parish for the senior scholars. I was at that time a teacher in his Sunday-school; but I sometimes had the privilege of forming one of his senior class. The manner in which he won the attention and gained the confidence and sympathy of these young men proves to me that there is in general some attraction wanting in our Sunday-schools, that something is lacking, which ought to be and might easily be done, to keep young men and young women attached to the place in which their early religious impressions have been for the most part received.

Of the paramount importance of forming such classes there can be no doubt. The question arises, by whom are they to be conducted? I answer, let the clergyman, or the superintendent of the Sunday-school, make the beginning. If he once gather such a class together, he is sure to find one, if not more, of its members who is willing and anxious to devote his energies to teaching children at the Sunday-school. By this means a regular supply of such teachers will be formed, and the actual work of the Sunday-school to himself will in proportion be diminished. He will, in fact, reap the fruit of his labours in two ways: first, in attaching the rising members of the parish to the Church; and secondly, in providing a constant supply of Sunday-school

teachers.

I would add, that it will be necessary to form distinct classes of male and female adult scholars, and also to separate the elder boys and girls of the Sunday-school from such adults, as they do not work well together. An ignorant adult becomes ashamed of his ignorance before the intelligent answers and observations of a quick-minded and well-taught senior scholar; while, on the other hand, a timid boy will be nervous and backward in the presence of one so many years his senior.-I am, &c. JAMES B. CLARKE,

Master of St. George's National School, New Mills, Derbyshire.

ROUTINE FOR SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

SIR,-Having read with much pleasure the letter in your last Number on Sundayschools, and the notice which you prefixed to it, I beg to be allowed to contribute my share of experience in connection with Sunday-school work.

I have generally found it advisable to open the school at nine o'clock on the Sunday morning, although there may be many "late-comers." In the school with which I am best acquainted the superintendent (who is one of the teachers) reads prayers, except, of course, when the minister is present. A quarter of an hour is allowed for the prayers. We leave off teaching exactly at a quarter before eleven, so that we have about one hour and a half for real work. This hour and a half is divided into three portions of half an hour each, so that we can take according to this arrangement of time three distinct lessons in each class. The five classes change lessons at the same moment-that is to say, at the end of each half-hour the superintendent, who is also the teacher of the first class, sends one of his scholars round to the classes to tell the teachers that it is time to change the lesson. This is noiselessly done; and I need not say that such a method conduces very much to good order and system. No subject gets more time than it ought to have, and we are sure of having our three lessons in each class. I have compared this plan with the desultory kind of system pursued in most Sunday-schools; and I have no hesitation in saying, that if any clergyman or superintendent of a school will adopt it for only one month, and give it a fair trial, he will not be inclined to discontinue it. We endeavour in arranging the position of our classes to let them stand or sit as far apart as possible, so that they may not interfere with each other. It is a rule with us that each teacher should speak just above a whisper.

During the first half-hour our two first classes repeat the collect, and answer questions thereon: they repeat it clause by clause round the class. The three remaining classes repeat after their teachers one verse of a simple hymn and the easier portions of the Catechism. All this is done very softly.

The lessons are then changed, and during the second half-hour the two first classes read the gospel for the day, and answer questions thereon. If the gospel be a long one, they read only a small portion of it. In the afternoon, when we have not, of course, so much time as in the morning, a portion of the first lesson is read and explained instead of the gospel. This is our first lesson, too, in the afternoon; for we begin at two and teach until a quarter to three, giving the odd quarter of an hour to texts of Scripture, which are repeated. The third and fourth classes during this second halfhour read a portion of Bishop Short's Sunday-School Book, and answer questions thereon; and the fifth reads from Simpson's Primer: all cheap and easy books.

During the third or last half-hour the two first classes repeat, and answer questions on, the Catechism; while the third, fourth, and fifth repeat their private prayers. I may remark, that on the third Sunday in every month the two first classes say their private prayers (which are provided for them) instead of the Catechism. I beg to embody this matter in a time-table:—I am, &c.

Routine for Sunday-schools.

(Appendix to letter.)

Ελπις,

PARENTS AND SUNDAY-SCHOLARS.

SIR,-If we needed a striking exemplification of the vitality which attaches itself to a truly great and good idea, we have it in the fact brought to light during the past month, that the great organ of Church-education-the National Society—has taken up in a public manner the question of Sunday-schools. Since the days of Raikes, the founder of these important institutions, they have constituted most valuable adjuncts to the operations of the Church; but I fear they have never been made sufficiently prominent in this character. The National Society, I know, has always recognised them; but now we have good hope that, by its devoting a portion of the Monthly Paper to the subject, and selling books adapted to Sunday-schools in the Depository at the Sanctuary, we may derive as much assistance in our Sunday works as we do in our day-schools from the Society's efforts.

I beg to ask those clergy who value Sunday-schools, and who read your Paper, to afford me information on a point which I believe they equally with myself must consider important, viz. the possibility of promoting social worship in the church by allowing Sunday-school scholars to sit in the same pews or seats with their parents. I have heard of parents being induced to call at the school on their way to church, in order that they might take their children with them; but I have not yet seen the plan in operation. It is, without doubt, a very desirable measure to introduce; but it is very important to have a clergyman's testimony as to its working.

I should feel obliged, therefore, if some one who has experience in the matter would kindly benefit a fellow-labourer.—I am, &c.

M.

P.S. Can any Sunday-school teacher kindly recommend a series of coloured pictures on Bible subjects, which one could have in a portfolio by one's side when teaching Sunday-scholars?

TAKING YOUNG CHILDREN TO CHURCH,

SIR,-The newly-created Sunday-school department of the Monthly Paper affords me an opportunity of inviting discussion on a very interesting point in Sunday-school management. We occasionally hear it remarked, that young children, suppose of five and six years of age, ought not to be taken to church with other scholars. Now, I must say, I have certainly felt some compunction for having suggested a rigid observance of the old custom of duly marshalling and marching them to be ready for divine service, when I have seen them sitting like so many automata in a straight line on a high seat in church. At the same time, I must also say, that, on considering the question in all its bearings, I could not reasonably bring myself to believe that I was wrong in suggesting so much strictness. We are all more or less creatures of habit; and though at first we may do things because it has been our habit to do them, it is equally true that when our habits lead us within the influence of what is good in itself, we may derive incalculable advantage from following what is mere habit. Goldsmith speaks of those who came to scoff remaining to pray. An unworthy object brought them to church; but they reaped a rich harvest of blessings ere they left. Your readers will perceive that I am taking the very lowest estimate of the custom of taking young children to church. Supposing the building and service to be what they ought to be, I have said nothing about the effect and awe which these create in a young child's mind. I say nothing, too, of that work which the blessed Spirit can do in a child's heart. I merely say that it is something to form a habit of attendance in God's house, and that we may do so by taking young children to church. I am not infallible, however; and I should like to see your correspondents discuss the question.-I am, &c. X.

DRESS OF SUNDAY-SCHOOL GIRLS.

SIR,-Can any of your correspondents give me any practical rule for dealing with the dress of Sunday-school girls? The increase in the smartness of dress is a great evil. It tends to vanity, and ultimately, I fear, to evils of a much graver kind. The rule here is to allow no artificial flowers; but, though good in itself, as being clear and intelligible, it does not work satisfactorily. 1. The teachers and mistress wear flowers; so that we cannot well forbid as a pomp and vanity in the children what they see their teachers wear, some of whom are scarcely above them in rank. The remedy for this would be, that no teacher should wear flowers; but this, the ladies tell me, it is impossible to enforce. 2. Girls often leave the school solely on the ground of being forbidden to wear flowers; hereby we lose from our control some that would otherwise be fairly satisfactory. It seems to me a great inconsistency to dismiss girls for doing what they see their teachers do; though, unhappily, the inconsistency does not strike the teachers. On the other hand, to have no rule about it seems unsatisfactory, as allowing too much license. I should be glad to know what others have done, who no doubt have had to cope with the same difficulty. I am, &c. G. W.

THE Committee of the National Society has adjourned for the Autumn recess, after making the necessary arrangements for the issue of the Society's Triennial Letter, and a renewal of the Society's Decennial Inquiry into the State and Progress of Church-Schools throughout England and Wales.

Triennial Letter.

The Society has received great encouragement to persevere in the course they have adopted to secure collections throughout the country in lieu of those hitherto made under authority of a Royal Letter. Most of the Bishops have already addressed special letters recommending the Society to their clergy.

Church-School Inquiry.

Ten years have now elapsed since the Committee of the National Society instituted an inquiry into the state and progress of Church-schools; and they are anxious that a similar return, although perhaps not on so large a scale, should now be procured. They have considered the objection which may possibly be urged against the necessity for such an inquiry at the present time, in consequence of the returns upon Education made by means of the census taken in 1851. They have, however, reason to think that the census returns, although generally accurate as far as they go, do not exhibit a complete statement of the efforts made, and the results produced, by the Church in the matter of education. It seems to the Committee to be important, especially at the present time, that at least one other inquiry should be instituted under the sanction of the authorities of the Church. A full and accurate return would place before the public in their true light the exertions which have been made, and the results which have been produced, in the important work of education.

The Committee have invited the co-operation of the Diocesan and Local Boards in this undertaking, and have already secured a very general response to the circular which they issued on the subject. The Committee trust they may look to school-managers for an equal measure of co-operation in filling up the returns when they reach the schools in which they are respectively interested. The work affects the Church at large, and is not confined only to schools in union with the Society.

The Society's Annual Report.

The Society's Forty-fifth Annual Report, with the Appendices, will be ready in a few days, and will be sent by post with as little delay as possible to every Subscriber to the Society.

VOL. X.

K

New Subscriptions.

The following Donations and new Annual Subscriptions have been contributed since the last announcement, and are hereby thankfully acknowledged. The List is made up to the 20th August.

Contributions may be paid to Messrs. DRUMMOND, Bankers, Charing Cross; to Mr. HENRY STRETTON, the Society's Receiver, 67 Lincoln's Inn Fields, to whom all Remittances should be made; or they will be received at the National Society's Office, Sanctuary, Westminster, or by any of the Local Treasurers to the Society, or by the Society's Travelling Agents.

Lichfield Diocesan Board.

To the subjoined Seventeenth Annual Report of the Lichfield Board is appended the usual Reports of the Archidiaconal Boards and the Training Institution at Derby. These reports, among other matters, record certain grants in aid of building and maintaining schools; and particularly notice the value of the services of Mr. Jones, the National Society's Organising Master, and those of Mr. Flint, in holding school-conferences, and in organising and visiting schools with the Diocesan Inspectors.

"THE REPORT.

In submitting their Annual Report to the consideration of the members of the Board, the committee desire, in the first place, to state the reasons which have prevented them from carrying into effect the resolutions of the Board agreed to at the annual meetings of 1854 and 1855, relative to the erection of a new building at Lichfield for training schoolmasters. A most eligible site had been secured, and plans were approved by both the Committee of her Majesty's Privy Council and by the members of the Board. Unexpected difficulties, however, arose with regard to disposing of the site and premises of the existing training school, on the sale of which the committee had relied for a portion of the funds necessary for the new building. The committee were further influenced in favour of the course they have since adopted by the wellascertained fact, that with the exception of two or three institutions in the neighbourhood of the metropolis, of the schools for masters not any had secured their full complement of students, and some of them were scarcely half full. Setting aside, then, the difficulty of leaving the present site, the committee entertained very grave doubts whether they would be justified in incurring the vast expenditure of at least 10,000Z., for a moiety of which they would have to make an appeal to the diocese at large. Under these circumstances, the committee passed the following resolution at the November meeting:

'That this committee, after carefully considering the subject, and gaining fuller information as to the difficulty of leaving the present site, and as to the number of pupils now in attendance at other training schools, deem it undesirable to proceed with the plan for a large training school on a new site.'

They now submit to the Board the expediency of continuing the training school on its present footing; but they would suggest the necessity for separate dormitories for a greater number of pupils than are now in residence, and an increase, if necessary,