THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORLD Is published by the American Sunday-School Union on the FIRST WEDNESDAY of every month, and embraces the interests of Sunday-schools, and their improvement and extension at HOME and ABROAD. [WE have already apprized our friends of our intention to re-publish the essays on the cultivation of the benevolent principle in the young, to which generous prizes were recently awarded in England. The province which even little children may It contains a general survey of the Mis-occupy in the wide field of Christian and sionary field occupied by the AMERICAN SUNDAY- philanthropic enterprise is beautifully set SCHOOL UNION and kindred institutions in the forth in the following stanzas.] United States and other parts of Christendom. It presents a summary of Sunday-school intelligence from all sources within reach, and a view of the progress and prospects of religious education generally. Price Twenty-five Cents a Year. Samples of the paper will be sent gratuitously to schools or individuals upon a call or a post-paid order. INDEX OF PRINCIPAL MATIERS IN THIS PRACTICAL-FOR TEACHERS. LITTLE SOWERS; OR, THE CHILDREN'S PLOT. I gazed upon a busy field, Where nought as yet of verdure grew, But sowers hastened up and down The precious seed to strew; And in a distant corner there I saw that children, young and fair, Were busy sowing too. They sang and smiled upon their work, To press so young a brow, And in the sunny harvest time I sought that busy field again; But, 'mid the plenty all around, I wondered wherefore this should be. The world is all one busy field, In human hearts the precious seed, Shall soon put forth its tender leaves, Nor only so, the young are there, And childhood hath its little share pils-Room and Furniture.. 3 Dangers in Religion... 4 General Havelock's Daughter. 5 New Year's Eve.. 81 10 "In Jesus.". There is a work for all to do; The strong may help it if they will; And for the trembling hand of Age There is an office still. Of labour to fulfil. Oh! say not that it is too soon For those young, happy hearts to sigh Over the barren, heathen wastes, That all uncultured lie: Nor send them with a careless smile, And labour by and by! Oh! stay them not, for though the work Appears too vast for human might; Yet is it still an easy yoke, [JANUARY, 1862. Oh! stay them not! nor check the zeal Oh, stay them not! lest far away* Some poor benighted heathen slave Should find, from all life's toil and woe, A sad and hopeless grave; And souls should perish in despair, Whom now the effort and the prayer Of little ones might save. Oh, stay them not! lest in the day When angels, in their Master's name, Shall come to reap the golden corn, The harvest sheaves to claim; Tares for the quenchless flames. Should be their early choice. For The Sunday-School World. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WILL BE. Some forty years ago or more, your present correspondent was appointed to take charge of a class of boys in a Sundayschool, then the only one in a village of New England, which has since become a The class consisted of seven, famous city. but only six were regular attendants. Their faces, voices, dress and general appearance, as they occupied their place in school, are perfectly retained in my memory. It is not in my power to recollect a single incident connected with the teaching of those boys. What Scriptures we studied, what hymns were learned, what books were read, (papers, there were none), no recollection remains, But had the teacher known or surmised to what condition in life those boys were to attain, it seems to him all other occupations and interests would have been absorbed in the effort to prepare them for it. Of two of the six I have no present knowledge at all. Of the others, I believe the following to be a true account: One of them entered the Gospel ministry, and organized a flourishing church within *Or near at hand. gun-shot of the place where the class sat, and has received into it the children of those who were boys and girls in the same school! He has since become a Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in which position he is eminently useful. Another became a distinguished and most valuable missionary in Asia, assisting in the translation of the Holy Scriptures into many languages, and introducing the knowledge of the only way of salvation to communities sunk in idolatry and superstition. A third became an officer in the American Army-a warm hearted, zealous, active Christian, doing good to all as he had opportunity, and exerting a happy influence over those who were otherwise quite unapproachable upon the subject of religious truth and duty. In consequence of a severe disease, contracted in the public service, an hereditary tendency to insanity was developed and terminated in an act of self-destruction. The fourth is a prominent and very wealthy merchant in one of our Atlantic cities. He has been actively concerned in some of the most important public enterprises of the day and exerts a wide and salutary influence in the community. Now there will be thousands of classes of just such boys, assembled in the various Sunday-schools of the United States next Lord's day. It is quite uncertain which of them will be called to occupy positions of influence and responsibility; and this very uncertainty lays upon us, teachers, the obligation to teach them ALL as we shall wish we had taught those that we may live to see occupying exalted posts of duty in future years. Whatever their destiny, there can be no doubt that the fear of God, faith in Christ, a thorough knowledge of Holy Scripture, habits of truth, sobriety, chastity, candour, benevolence and patriotism, will be essential to their happiness and usefulness. A good hope of immortal blessedness they will need, let their condition be what it may. And hence we may learn our obligation to teach all children; to furnish them with such knowledge, to form them to such habits, and earnestly to seek in their behalf the blessed offices of the Holy Spirit, that they may be fitted for whatever destiny awaits them. SEMPER DOCTOR. HOME HABITS OF THE YOUNG. Prominent amongst the temptations to evil, to which young persons are exposed, are their home habits; the want of vigorous self-respect which prompts to persevering industry and vigilance in making, and keeping, neat, clean, and comfortable, the place in which a considerable portion of their time ought to be spent; so that it shall be felt to be a home, a refuge, where to enter is to breathe the air of lovingkindness warmer, purer, and fuller than anywhere beside, Here is a wide sphere for teaching and learning; the young girl who delights in the respectability of her home, will have much to keep her out of mischief; and the young man who finds comfort in his home, will be far less likely to seek society elsewhere. Enough has not yet been done in attempting to instruct our young people in home duties, and to reform home habits; time and labour must be given, but the outlay will surely be repaid. We may assure teachers that in the relationship between you and your scholars; your influence for good is strongest when they are in your presence, strongest of all when they touch you; when in the nearness of affectionate intimacy, they are allowed to pour into your ear their confidences; when they feel that you are flesh and blood, subject to like passions with themselves, and therefore can understand and pity them. It would be well if the teachers of elder scholars would take upon themselves somewhat the character of confessors, listening tenderly to the story of their sins and sorrows, their difficulties and dangers; and though it may not be an easy thing to comprehend at all times, the merits or demerits of the case-to understand all the belongings of a mode of existence different from your own, yet you can always bring to bear upon their conduct, the yearning of a loving heart, te save from harm, and the elevating influence of pure thought and feeling. Go with them sometimes into the chambers of their darker experiences, that you may grasp them more firmly, and draw them up, more surely, into light; to keep oversight of them is a great responsibility; it may be felt to be a task, but shrink not from it, for assuredly, if you do, in too many cases "the virtue will die out." There is one formidable source of evil, I mean the sort of reading which is now so attractive to our young people. Most of them are readers, and the question is, how shall we induce them to read only that which is beneficial; how shall we keep them from that which is destructive to their moral life. It seems to me the only answer is, supervision, Let classes be instituted (where they do not already exist) for reading together, and circulating among the members such books as are unobjectionable; I see nothing so likely to touch all the points at issue, as classes or little communities, for prayer, for reading, for instruction, for entertainment and recreation; meetings, in little parties, for reading and studying the Scriptures with prayer.-T. Bantock, Esq., at Midland Counties, (Eng.,) S. S. Conference. HOW MAY AN ABUNDANT HARVEST BE SECURED. 66 66 As in the natural, so in the spiritual world, there is a close connection between sowing and reaping; one will be in proportion to the other. As a man soweth, so shall he also reap." He that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully." The teacher, then, who would reap a large harvest, must sow diligently, constantly and abundantly, the incorruptible seed. He must make Christ the sum and substance, the Alpha and Omega, of all his instructions. He must also watch with a jealous eye, lest anything catch away or tend to prevent the growth of the seed. But above all must he water it constantly with believing prayer. This must precede, attend, and follow every effort he makes for the salvation of souls. His place of prayer, if it could speak, should be able to bear witness to the frequency and holy importunity of his supplications on behalf of each child committed to his care. Feeling, also, that all his sowing and watching, will of themselves be in vain, he must depend solely for success upon the Holy Spirit's influences, knowing that it is "not by might, nor by power," but by the Spirit of the Lord, that any soil can ever become fruitful. Faith must likewise grasp firmly the abundant promises of encouragement given in the Bible; such as,-"Doubtless he shall come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him,"-" Ye shall reap, if ye faint not,"-" Be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord,"- My word shall not return unto me void," &c. "Let those that sow in sadness wait Union Magazine. For The Sunday-School World. A WORKING WOMAN. A missionary employed in Illinois says: I once gave some account of a visit I made to some Sunday-schools I organizod a little more than a year ago, in Bcounty. I have thought that perhaps a further account of those schools might not be uninteresting. It is a German district entirely destitute of religious privileges and much given to Sabbath desecration. The teacher of the public school, as he learned my business, said with much emotion, "God sent you here," to organize a Sabbath-school, for it seems to me to be just what is needed in a place like this. That Sunday-school was well sustained while the teacher remained there, and afterwards as there was no praying men to attend, they had a Sundayschool without praying on singing, seemed like a strange Sunday-school, but I thought it much better than none. school had already accomplished much good, and I look for greater results. It That That earnest Christian female teacher is, this season, labouring in another country district, where previous to her going thther, there never had been a Sunday-school and they knew very little about them. Soon after opening her school, she invited all to meet in the school-house on the Sabbath, and they united in a Sabbath school. For a time she was superintendent, principal teacher and all. She raised money sufficient to procure a good library, and when I was there they had a large and exceedingly interesting Sunday-school. THE LITTLE CRIPPLE. During my stay in that section of country I became much interested in a poor crippled boy who lived in a district where I had organized a Sunday-school. Previous to his severe illness he had been a constant attendant upon the Sunday-school; and in his affliction, the good seed which had already sprung up in his heart, was bringing forth precious fruit, as all saw who witnessed his patience in suffering: and his strong faith and trust in God. O how he prized those Bible verses he had recited in the Sunday-school. Though scarcely able to move he could read, and spent most of his time with his Bible in hand, trusting his soul on those precious truths and pro " The third observed the existence of two Notices to Correspondents. tendencies: Approved communications on any subject connected with the improvement and extension of Sunday-schools, or the religious instruction of children and youth, will be welcomed to the columns of The Sunday-School World. They should be forwarded at least a week before the first Wednesday of each month. teachers or friends of Sunday-schools, which may be regarded as of general interest, are particularly desired. Members of the Society and contributors to its funds, who desire it, and are willing to pay postage, will be furnished with the paper gratuitously. mises which never fail. He said he never-Brief Reports or notices of meetings of expected to get well, and was willing to remain a cripple, if it was God's will. 'Or," said he, "I feel ready to die, when it shall please God to take me." I gave him the highly interesting volume "Chloe Lankton,' one of the books of the American Sunday-School Union, and left him, asking myself the question,-"Could I lie thus on a bed of suffering rejoicing in God."— Could our young friends in more favoured Sunday-schools, if God should cripple their active limbs, say without a murmur “Thy will be done, O Lord." Surely not without the same sustaining grace-the comforting presence of our blessed Saviour. IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY Family intimacy should never make brothers and sisters forget to be polite and sympathizing to each other. Those who contract thoughtless and rude habits towards the members of their own family, will be rude and thoughtless to all the world. But let the family intercourse be true, tender, and affectionate, and the manners of all uniformly gentle and considerate, and the members of the family thus trained will carry into the world and society the habits of their childhood. They will require in their associates similar qualities; they will not be satisfied without mutual esteem, and the cultivation of the best affections, and their own character will be sustained by that faith in goodness which belongs to a mind exercised in pure and high thoughts.-Silvio Pellico's Duties of men." 66 ALL THE INFLUENCES SHOULD BE CHRISTIAN. Seek to prepare for and to pursue your aims. Do not be satisfied merely with interesting and instructing your children; but strive so to interest and so to instruct them as to be the means, by God's grace, of promoting within their souls the spirit of a simple, childlike, and joyous piety. They are not too young to love their Father in heaven; to be told of the friendship and mercy of Jesus; and to begin to love good ness for its own sake. The seeds of evil cannot be too soon crushed; the seeds of godliness cannot be too soon planted. From your looks, your tones, your manner, your instructions, your character, influences-silent and unobtrusive, yet strong and lasting-are poured into their minds and hearts. It is to be your high and lofty purpose to make all these influences christian in their origin and in their tendency.-Union Magazine. work as a teacher, with higher and nobler young KNOW YOUR PUPILS AT HOME!-A teacher loses much of his pleasure and reward, who only knows his scholars in the school room. THE In certain cases, parents place their children entirely under the influence of grace; they only speak to them of Christian love. It would appear to me that the conscience is not thus sufficiently laid hold their children almost exclusively under the of and developed. Other parents place law; they uniformly enforce obedience, but then nothing is developed in the child; the end is, that fear becomes his only motive. Now, I find that we ought to impress on the child obedience without reserve; but on all possible opportunities we ought, above all, to insist upon the love of God, and to develope in his heart the motive of love; allied these two motives will lead Sunday-school Worll the child to Jesus. Let us maintain between JANUARY, 1862. For the convenience of our friends who commence their subscription with the new year, we make this the first number of Vol. II. The reduction of the price to 25 CENTS A YEAR, will, it is hoped, enable all who desire to avail themselves of such a publication to obtain a copy. FEAR AND LOVE. We learn, on apostolic authority, that 'perfect love casteth out fear." There is a fear however, which is consistent with perfect love. It is that fear which is the beginning of wisdom. The most blessed promises of Holy Scripture are to such as fear the Lord. His salvation is nigh to such as fear Him, and great is his mercy towards them. This fear leads to an abhorrence of all sin, and to a living and cheerful obedience to a holy law. To inculcate those views of the divine character which will give to the concurrent emotions of fear and love their appropriate influence, is a primary object of the religious educator. At the last meeting of the Evangelical Alliance at Geneva, one of the French pastors said: We ought to imitate the method of Jesus Christ. On every occasion our Saviour lays down a truth, causes an idea, a sentiment to penetrate the conscience deeply; whilst, on the other hand, He attaches His hearers to His person, and makes them desire to know Him more. We ought to make Jesus Christ pass entirely before the hearts of the children. Another said : The object of Sunday-schools is to lead children to Jesus. A child brought to the Lord is a converted child, if, by conversion, is understood turning from sin to turn to wards Jesus. As for the means, I am of the opinion of those who seek to make the school a joy,—a holy joy. The question, however, is not the amusement of the children, but of their salvation,-of life and death. the two a just and wise balance. INFANT CLASSES OR SCHOOLS. NUMBER AND AGE OF PUPILS. Few teachers find themselves able to manage more than one hundred infants, and the arrangements must be good to make that an easy task. Of course the boys and girls are together, as whatever diversity of opinions may exist, as to mixed classes among the elders, there can be no reason for separating the little ones. It will be found that the age of three years is about as early as most children can profitably attend school, though we need not refuse any who are sent; the necessary qualifications being, the power to walk and speak; and I have pleasant recollections of some admitted at the age of two. They should big dunces, of whom most schools have a be passed on at about seven years of age: few, should on no account be put in the infant class; they will be a trouble to the teacher, and not likely to learn reading or anything else; and on every account will do better with children of their own age, even if they skip their turn in reading. The teacher will often be tempted to retain an interesting scholar who is quite fit to pass on; it will very rarely be wise to indulge himself thus; send the scholars on, and though it is not pleasant to part with them, your intercourse need not terminate yet, and they will like you all the better by-and-bye, for sacrificing to principle and duty. APARTMENTS AND FURNITURE. comfortable and commodious as possible. A separate room should be provided, as We decidedly go in for a good sized room, class may neither be checked in their work, apart from the general school so that the It should be well ventilated, have a fire in nor become a nuisance to their nighbours. winter, as little children are especially susceptible of uncomfortable impressions, and the general order of the class is wonderfully dependent on their personal comfort. But every infant class room is incomplete without its gallery of raised seats, where, in regular rows, the children are all able to see and hear with ease, while the teacher has a space in front, large enough to place his lesson stand, &c., and to walk about freely while giving the lesson, The form of this gallery will |