and anything like sugar, we do not think of, during this terrible war. I hope much depend on the shape of the room; it may advantageously be arranged with backs to lean against, and to keep the feet church will send you of the hinder rows from the dresses of a draft soon, but if they do not, I will those in front; it may also be lined with do my best to get along. Do not trouble matting, to lessen the noise of the feet, in yourself about me. We have learned to live case they should (uninvited) join in a kick-out West, and practice self-denial-I trust ing chorus. Some Scripture prints may with a humble and submissive heart. be introduced, sparingly, with advantage, May your appeals go up before God, provided they are well drawn, and not that the hearts of men may be awakened to calculated to excite ridicule, or create false the great subject of bringing the children impressions, as unfortunately has some of the whole world under Gospel instructimes been the ease. A black board and tion. This is our nation's future hope. Oh piece of chalk will be useful in the hands how we should labour for the children! of a skillful teacher. Some have been startled at the costliness of the apparatus; but when we consider the number that ean be taught, and the durability of the materials, which are handled only by the teacher, we think the infant class is the least pensive in the school.—Report to Midland Counties, (Eng.,) S. S. Conference. Do not for a moment think I am finding fault,-far be it from me. I am satisfied that God will take care of me. I ask no more salary, though my clothes are thin, not having bought a coat since I have been ex-here-5 years! The same clothes I wore then I wear now, but I know it is for the best, that I am thus tried. OUGHT SUCH THINGS TO BE? A very faithful and successful servant of the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ is labouring in Minnesota as a Sunday-school missionary. His efforts to bring the children of this young republic under Christian influences have been unremitted. When the circumstances of his employers required it, he cheerfully relinquished part of his scanty pay, and kept at his post. Shall we put upon record, the simple, touching, and most reliable account of the privations which he suffers? Will not a scoffing world say “Aha! so would we have it?" Shall one who is engaged in planting seeds to spring up at no distant day in intelligent, sober, industrious Christian families, and peradventure in flourishing and influential Christian churches,-shall such an one continue to be perplexed and harassed for the necessaries of daily life? Listen to his story, and then reply. P. S.-I have just had the promise of the one hundred dollars to-morrow, until your Society is relieved from present embarassment, (one and a quarter per cent. a month!) Surely such a statement will awaken warm sympathy, which will express itself, we trust, in generous deeds. AN ENCOURAGING SURVEY. From the address of William II. Watson, Esq., Senior Secretary of the London Sunday-School Union, at the Evangelical Alliance meeting at Geneva, in September last, we extract the following: It may be well to answer the inquiry, What have been the benefits arising from these institutions, (Sunday-schools) which now comprise more than three millions of the youth of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland? If this inquiry were addressed to our statesmen, they would refer to the increased intelligence of the people at large,-to the amelioration of their habits; and they would declare that it is to the extended influence of Sunday-schools amongst our large manufacturing population in the that we owe the preservation of the public counties of York and Lancaster especially, peace during seasons of great distress and addressed to the Christian, he will go a step political commotion. But if the inquiry is further; he will gratefully acknowledge all the benefits to which the statesman has referred; but he will also point to churches replenished with members; to pulpits supplied with faithful pastors; to missionary stations occupied by devoted agents; to the dying-beds of youthful disciples; to homes rendered happy by the Gospel introduced by Sunday-scholars. Eastern friends know of what we are called I often think how little our dear generous to pass through in this great work, and his all sustaining grace, we should often were it not for the blessing of God, and sink under our trials. The aid you have sent me in the last two drafts, came quite opportunely and relieved present necessities-the payment of debts. But it does not supply my winter provision or wood. I have been compelled to-day to borrow 25 cents to pay postage! But I am trying to sell my horse, which is a very valuable one and a great traveller, for the cash, and buy a cheaper one-a pony. I hope to succeed, But if I don't, I have a partial promise of a hundred dollars at one and one quarter per cent, per month, to relieve me from my present debts and secure my winter provision. Beef has been but two and three cents per pound by the quarter, but I could not get any, as I had no money. Pork is worth three cents per pound in the hog,-dressed of course. Flour two cents per pound, wheat fifty cents a bushel. Butter twelve and a-half cents per pound. Yet we have done without meat and butter for weeks, paid. On these points it would be easy to quote individual instances, did time permit. But some general facts may be mentioned. From the schools in London connected with the Sunday-School Union, 1.281 scholars joined christian churches during the past year; while in one of these schools 42 of the scholars are church members, There are above 300,000 teachers in England and Wales; probably three-fourths of them have been By whose contributions the missionary is formerly scholars, and the larger proportion of them are church members. It is not surprising, in the face of facts like these, that the church should look with expectation to such a means of extending the blessings of the Gospel; that pastors should be increasingly disposed to foster these institutions; and that it should have been thought desirable to make them a special subject for consideration at this general gathering of the Christian Church. They are very dear to British Christians, who, having enjoyed their advantages themselves, rejoice to see them opening their doors to the youth of the continental nations,-in Switzerland, France, Germany, Sweden, and even Russia, where they have been recently introduced, although at present in an imperfect form. DANGERS IN RELIGION. We have often thought what a curious and instructive volume might be written on the Dangers in Religion. What a fine scope it would afford for discussing what we may term the Philosophy of Opinion ; showing how much natural constitution, temperament, habits of life, race, climate, station, peculiar employment, have to do with the religious systems which men either adopt or reject. It must have been noticed by most persons, that the members of all sects and churches are distinguished more or less, even outwardly, by some pewhole sect will be segregated from others, culiar characteristics, and that often a and composed almost entirely out of some one section of society, or from persons nearly all of one kind of employment. A peculiar natural disposition or temper almost invariably marks the professors of particular creeds, so that there can be very little doubt of its determining, in the first instance, the form of their religious pro fession. The Rationalist, the Pantheist, the Mystic, the devotee of Superstition, the lover of Infallibility, the Pharisee, the Sadducean Sceptic, the stickler for forms, found to take his place under some type of and the rejecter of forms, would each be under the ship's compass, to draw it aside diseased mind, to be the subject of some idiosyncrasy acting, like concealed iron region; but that is no reason why the refrom the right line of Truth. Psychological science leads, we know, into a misty gion should not be explored, and the pitfalls to be found in it, laid open to the view, of course, whatever may be its form or Each professor of Christianity, as a matter mode of development, persuades himself that what he embraces is the truth, and that, embracing that, he is safe. But then, it should never be forgotten, that it is not what he embraces is the truth,) but of the by the worship of truth (admitting that God of truth-that it is not by the worship of the just, but of the just God-that it is not even by the worship of mercy, but of the God of mercy, that we grow ourselves to be merciful, just, and good.-Lond. Ch, Observer. If thou risest from a low estate to a great one, it is like stepping from a boat or barge into a ship: thy dangers continue for thou art still upon the sea. A GOOD DAY'S WORK.. NEW GROUND BROKEN.-THE BEAUTIFUL SERPENT. A Sunday-school missionary in Indiana, says: On Wednesday of last week, I made my way into the valley of a little river in Jackson County, where the lands are very rich, but the people are very poor, and the climate unhealthy. They suffer from fever and ague, and other kindred diseases. Some of the owners of the land are wealthy, but they reside at a distance from this valley, on highlands. 66 As I rode along, I came up with two little boys who were driving a small yoke of cattle attached to a sled, with a sack of corn on it, taking it to the mill to get it ground. I handed them each a little Scrip; ture ticket, and asked them if they could read. They said, no, but they were to go to school this winter and learn." Well, would you not like to go to Sunday-school," I said; but they did not know what a Sunday-school was. I told them of the advantages of a SunWhen day-school they seemed pleased, and thought they would like to go. kind, about as thick as a large man's arm, and certainly the most beautiful creature I ever beheld; highly coloured with variagated spots, each of them about an inch in diameter. Our path through life is beset by deceivers; sometimes in the shape of human beings, and ever by the "old adversary," who often appears as an "angel of light;" and oh, how he loves to ensure the young. Let us not be deceived by appearances, but "watch and pray." ALLEN. GEN. HAVELOCK'S DAUGHTER. We have been interested in the fact that one of the daughters of this renowned English general, (who fell in repressing the Indian mutiny,) has recently died in the exercise of Christian faith and hope. She was, while a child, remarkable for her gentle and winning qualities. When in maturer years she engaged as a teacher in of benevolence, she evinced the same genial the Sunday-school and in various works and devoted piety; yet not her own righteousness, but Christ's; not innocence, but pardon; not a moral, lovely character, but the life and death, the doing and the dying of the Divine Redeemer, was her plea I resolved at once to make an effort to orga-before the face of the holy, heart-searching nize one. I hitched my horse in the shade of a large sycamore tree, rambled on foot, God. She left the world in peace and over fences, through fields of high weeds, and corn, through brush and briars, over marshes and swamps, giving notice to the I had started out not knowing "whither I went," but learning from these little boys that there were a great many children in this neighbourhood, and no Sunday-school, triumph. superintendent. "The Lord wants you. Go at once." And go he did. He visited the district to find it one of the most unpromising in that part of the county. Although the houses were few, scenes of noisy violence and drunken revelry were frequent in some of them. Sabbath-breaking and open vice prevailed. Even bold opposers of any movement for the good of the community were not lacking, and it required strong faith to attempt the organization of a Sabbath-school there. There was much to dishearten, and but little to encourage and cheer those who united in the new movement. But, on the afternoon of that same pleasant Sabbath, in the month of May, a meeting was held in the old brick school-house among the hills. Twenty-five persons were present, of all ages, from the infant in arms to men and women of middle life. Nine gave their names as scholars, seven as teachers! The school was organized, with earnest prayer, in humble, reliant, Christian faith. It did not, like many a similar movement bers within its sphere. But three houses in the perlicus of a great city, extend rapidly its influence and have large numwere in sight of the little school house, The roads were rough on every side, and the few children who could attend it, must come from a distance at some inconvenience. and the superintendent and teachers were The summer and autumn passed away, still faithful at their posts. Other schools were, many of them, suspended for the winter months; but not so with this. The spirit which secured its formation, ensured its continuance. Year after year passed number of those attending. The school assembled week by week, and with God's blessing did its appointed work. Slowly but surely a change was wrought in the moral character of its neighbourhood. From being one of the most unpromising, it became one of the most hopeful of the county. It was after a time, as remarkable for the sobriety, uprightness, and religious standing of its people, as it had been for the evil deeds of those who resorted there. The Sabbath-school became a very clear, if not a very brilliant, light. It people from house to house, that I would WHAT ONE SABBATH-SCHOOL AC- by, and without much variation in the talk to them on the subject of Sundayschools that night, and before I saw my horse again, or got any refreshment myself, I visited twenty-two families. I had a meeting of about forty persons young and old. The vote of the meeting was unanimous in favour of organizing a school; but as is frequently the case, I found it almost impossible to get a competent person to take the superintendency, and when I came to ask the parents to buy some books for their children, all they were able to raise for this purpose was as $1.55, for which amount, with a donation of $3.00, I gave them some New Testaments, some elementary books, tickets, &c. I left these poor people, feeling almost like returning my commission to the American Sunday-school Union, and confining my labours to this one point. But I promised either to return soon myself or send some one to see them. THE BEAUTIFUL SERPENT.-As I rode away from this place the next day, along a narrow path which lay through low and marshy grounds, I heard a peculiar rattling sound in the grass by the side of the path. My horse began to snort, stopped suddenly, and refused to go forward. I could not imagine what made the noise, but he being a native hoozier, knew very well what caused the rattling. Presently there appeared above the tops of the grass, the head of a large rattlesnake, I dismounted, and told my horse to stand still, while I procured a long stick, with which I very soon bruised the head of his snakeship. It was a large snake of the COMPLISHED. "The 8th district school-house, in Waterford, was burnt to the ground on the morning of the 4th inst. The fire is supposed to have originated from a defective flue." The above simple notice in a Connecticut paper, which has probably received hardly a passing glance from the general reader, while in the search for the latest and most stirring war despatches, suggests to some who see it a history which is worthy of permanent preservation in the columns of the Sunday-School World, and in the memory of all its readers, On a pleasant Sabbath morning, in the spring of 1836, a young man, in one of our eastern Connecticut towns, who had recently connected himself with the church of Christ, and whose heart was burning with a desire to do something for his newly acknowledged Master, applied to the superintendent of the Sabbath-school where he was a scholar, to know if there was an opportunity for him to help in mission labour in neighbouring country districts. The superintendent assured him that there was enough of that kind of work to be done, and that even then a door of usefulness was open to invite his entrance. A person from a scattered neighbourhood some three miles back, being anxious to have a Sabbath-school in his vicinity, was that very morning to call for assistance in the enterprise proposed. The young disciple was hardly prepared for an immediate move. He had only thought of doing something by and by, he said, "There is no time like the present," remarked the venerable cheered the hearts of those on whom it shone, even if it did not dazzle the eyes of the world. It was kept always burning; ever well trimmed, On On the 12th of last May, the twentyfifth anniversary of that Sabbath-school was held in the same brick school house where it was originally commenced. The report then presented gave facts for the encouragement of all engaged in the Lord's good work. In the quarter of a century, 1,305 Sabbath, had come and gone. 1,279 of these, the school had been in session. Only once in each year, on an average, had it been from any cause, intermitted. The good man who superintended it at the start was still at its head. On 1,099 of the Sabbaths had he passed back and forth the three or four miles which separated his home from the school house, to meet with his precious charge. Yet he was not a man of elegant leisure. Public and private business had crowded upon him. The responsibilities of a family, of large mercantile interests, of extensive financial trusts, and of heavy civil or legislative duties had combined to demand his attention, yet true to his first love, he had stood up for Jesus where first his stand was taken, and this even when he had the superintendence of another Sabbath-school upon his shoulders, and much of religious effort to perform in other directions. The average attendance during the whole twenty-five years, was barely twentynine scholars and eight teachers. The largest school was in August, 1853, when fifty-two scholars were present. The smallest was in February of the same year, when only four were there. Two, besides the superintendent, who assisted to form the school, were still in attendance. One of them had been present 1,185 Sabbaths; the other 1,142. Some 418 different persons had been at one time or another members of this school. Of these, only twenty-nine were known to have died. More than one hundred, or one fourth of the whole, had connected themselves with the church of Christ, although no church organization existed within several miles of the schoolhouse. Moreover, four persons who came in there as scholars were already in the gospel ministry or preparing for it. The order of exercises in this school has been as systematic and well designed as any in the land. A printed schedule of lessons is prepared for each year. A hymn book for it has been compiled by the active superintendent. An efficient missionary organization is connected with it. A full record of all its history and membership has been preserved from the start. The superintendent has had a Bible reading class, of thirty or more, the members of which read the same chapter, day by day, during the week, and on Sabbath ask questions of and answer them to their leader on the portions of scripture recently considered. On the last Sabbath in each year the entire school repeats in concert a full chapter from the Bible, previously committed. Once in seven years, a religious book is given to each scholar in attendance. The first distribution of this kind took place in January, 1837, the fourth in January, 1858. One of those who received a book at the last presentation, had received three before; four had received two, and twelve, one. What a record of desirable conservatism and of true progress! All this time the school has been conducted purely on the union basis, the basis of the operations of the American Sunday-School Union. How strong a testimony its history furnishes of the value of such efforts as that society is putting forth in every direction. On Wednesday morning, December 4th, 1861, the school house in which this remarkable school has for so long been held, was burned to the ground, as mentioned in the news item at the head of this article. The valuable library, the Bibles and hymn books, the settees and other fixtures were likewise destroyed. "Poor old school-house!" writes the faithful superintendent, "If I had a spirit within me to respond to my heart's deep regret, I should certainly commemorate thine unhappy fate in poetic strains.” The Sabbath-school is for the present to be continued in the rooms of a private dwelling near the old site; but the conveniences and associations of the former gathering place will be sadly missed. Thanks be to God, neither the record nor the influence of that model Sabbathschool can be destroyed by fire. They will survive even the final conflagration when "the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up." They will be manifest in eternity, and saints and angels will rejoice over them together. H. C. T. Hartford, Ct, Dec. 1861. A FAMOUS SCENE IN JERUSALEM THREE THOUSAND YEARS AGO, RE-PRODUCED LATELY ON A SMALL SCALE UPON A WESTERN PRAIRIE. We read in sacred history that when Moses, by God's direction, was about to build the tabernacle, he made a call upon the people to contribute such materials as they could towards the structure. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered, offered an offering of gold unto the Lord. And every man, with whom was found blue and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goat's hair, and red skins of rams, and badger's skins, brought them. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord's offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it. And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair. And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; and spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.-Exodus xxxv. 22—28. And afterwards when king David called upon the people to contribute what they could for materials for building the famous temple, they brought of gold and silver and iron and brass and wood and stone. And they answered his call freely and in great abundance. The temple was built and stood for some hundred of years. Now, we have a truthful report of a scene enacted not long ago, on one of our Western prairies. A missionary of the American Sunday-School Union, labouring in Illinois, wanted to open a fountain of blessings in the midst of a destitute neighbourhood. This was no more nor less than a good Sunday-school. But to build it up there must needs be books of divers kinds, and how to get them, was the question. The missionary had the means of doing something but not all, so he followed in the steps of Moses and David, and called for contributions. But silver and gold the people had none. Such as they had, how ever, they gave freely, and what was it? Why, we have the specific things contributed, and who brought them. Jackson Davis brought 3 chickens. Sarah Davis brought of a pound of yarn. Frank Farnham brought 2 chickens. Nellie Farnham brought 2 chickens and 4 quarts of hazel nuts. Amanda King brought 6 bushels of oats. Mary Burk and sister brought 2 bushels of wheat. Charles Grant brought 24 bushels of corn. Perhaps there was no great sacrifice in these cases, except the labour bestowed in the conveyance of the articles to the place of deposit. But sacrifice was not wanting. Ellen Hicks really wanted a pair of shoes, and her father gave her a nice fat turkey to get the shoes with or to give for the school. "The school shall have my turkey!" she said, "and I will wear my old shoes till I can get them with the turkey in her arms to the superinsomething else," and the noble girl carried tendent's house, a good mile and a-half distant! David and Moses could work the contri butions they received into the structures they built. But what could our Sundayschool missionary do with poultry and nuts and grass seed and yarn? Why, he used what he could, allowing them what he would have to pay, and what he could not use he returned, giving them credit for their generous will. The school was opened, and the requisite books for a beginning supplied with the help of a donation from the missionary, which a Philadelphia Sunday-school had contributed. Perhaps it will be said, that no such magnificent result comes from the prairie contributions as the tabernacle or the temple. Not so fast, gentle reader. Greater results may be seen. Many and many a Sunday-school has spread out and grown up into a flourishing, evangelical church of the living God, where hundreds of souls have been born into his kingdom; and though the manifestation of the divine glory in the tabernacle and temple was sublime and glorious, have we not a Scripture warrant for saying that He is revealed still more sublimely and gloriously to the assemblies of His people in the light of the glorious gospel of his grace? So that in truth the Jewish tabernacle and temple, and the gorgeous ritual of their worship may be said to have "no glory by reason of the glory that excelleth.” We need not envy the people of Moses and David's day the privilege of contribut shadows. ing to those magnificent structures of noying habit? Just so in the Sundayancient times, if we may help to lay the school, as in the family. I would not refoundation of a New Testament church ward a child for obedience to his teacher or for general good conduct, nor for learn(which our Sunday-schools so often being a number of verses so great that they come) where Christ and his cross shall cannot be remembered or understood, be exhibited as the refuge of lost men, the which is a profitless feat of memory; but substance of that of which the Jewish I would offer a reward to all of the scholars temple and ritual were expressive but faint who should be punctual, or only regular in attendance for a given period; to all who should show care and thought in the use and return of library books; to all who should add one permanent scholar to the school in a given time; and for similar merits. In these acts it is not the moral quality that I would reward, but the special effort to please the school-authorities in a way which they have pointed out. Here too, as in reference to the former objection, the distinction between approval and the expression of approval must be borne in mind. The desire of the approval of wise and holy beings is the highest motive for action, for it is the desire of doing what is right. It is the motive recognized by God in his invitations to men, and expressly stated in his testimony that Enoch pleased him, where also he calls himself "a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. xi. 5, 6.) Who can condemn the motive of a child who lets his mother's approval or disapproval decide in a debate whether he shall do a selfish act or not? Let the approbation be the prominent thing, not the expression of it, and the motive will not be a wrong one. For The Sunday-School World. THE QUESTION OF PRIZES. The use of prizes in Sunday-Schools has been made a subject of question in these pages. The principal objections to it may perhaps be summed up in these two; that it excites wrong passions, and that it furnishes improper motives for good actions. It is said to excite undue love of praise, from which follow naturally emulation, envy, anger, and other forms of sinful feeling. It is said also to encourage children to do good actions from desire of reward, which motive makes the action itself no longer good. These are serious objections, and, if applicable, ought to be conclusive against the system. But are they necessarily applicable? Can we not find a way of giving prizes which does not involve these consequences? Let us see. Suppose the prize offered is a mere expression of approbation on the part of the teacher and officers of the school-say a printed certificate or small book, which is valuable mainly from the way in which it is given. Suppose it is given for some action which is quite possible to every scholar because independent of natural endow ments, or ciucumstances in life. Suppose it is the same for all without degrees of merit, and given for some definite act, which at least two scholars out of each class will be likely to preform. Such a simple prize appeals only to the love of approbation which is natural to human character in its best estate, and, if offered with such conditions as have been stated, will, it is believed, excite that love of approbation in no undue degree. No one will be prevented from taking the prize by another's success; no one can be much elated by an honour which is shared among half the scholars: and no one can feel that he is wronged by losing what a little more care or effort would have gained for him. The love of approbation in itself is not a sinful emotion. It differs from the love of praise, for that is a desire for the expression of approval, without regard perhaps to the sincerity or desert of that expression. In the giving of such prizes as we have in mind, the feeling of approbation from the teacher should be made prominent to the scholar's mind, but the fact of its expression made entirely subordinate. To obviate the second objection, that a prize system offers a wrong motive for good conduct, care is needed in choosing the act or acts for which the prize is offered. It would be unwise and wicked to offer a reward to a boy for habitual kindness to his younger brother, or for honesty and truthfulness; yet who would object to giving him a small reward for faithfulness and diligence in keeping a path clear of snow, or struggling to overcome some an I would not deny that a scholar should be led to come to the school regularly by interest in the teaching, but to supplement the deficiencies of this motive, to carry the machine over the dead points where its main motive-power fails, to counteract a momentary impulse of idleness or temptation, to correct the tendency to irregularity, I would introduce some such prize system as I have described, furnishing a slight but steady motive to regular attendance, So it seems to work in the trial we are making of it, in our school. MATHETES. THE RETENTION OF OLDER PUPILS. The question is often and innocently asked, how it is that our boys and girls are so unwilling to stay in Sunday-school just when they most need and ought most to profit by its influence and instruction? We say "innocently" asked, because we charitably suppose that many who ask it are not conscious that the responsibility for the evil rests on their own heads or hearts. They really suppose it is the perverseness or folly which is bound up in the hearts of children, and which leads them to loathe instruction and restraint. Whereas in truth, it may be their own indolence, indifference or incapacity, which these pupils have impatiently borne till they were old enough to make their escape. We believe that the human mind craves knowledge as a hungry man craves food, and that there is no more grateful emotion known to the human heart, than that which is felt towards a loving, patient, competent teacher. We cannot persuade ourselves that a dozen girls or boys, aver. aging fifteen years of age, who prize the opportunity to surround an intelligent, earnest, sensible teacher, should happen to fall into his or her class, while a dozen others, of whom another teacher has the care, are so totally different in character and disposition as to desert the class upon the first shadow of an apology. No. The difference is not in the scholars but in the teachers. We recently noticed a report of a discussion of this subject, at a meeting of the New York City Sunday-school Society, (Methodist.) It seems to have “awakened emotions of keen sorrow and disappointment among the teachers, to find among the loiterers about our streets, the grown up children of our (Sunday-school) care." It is stated as a "fact long apparent, that throughout our Sunday-schools thousands of scholars, after a tuition of several years, just when ripe for usefulness, and when the labourers looked for abundant fruit, drift away into the world, and are either lost sight of entirely, or are seen following 'the multitude to do evil.'" Such a "fact is certainly worthy of the attention of the noble assembly of pastors, officers and teachers" gathered under the auspices of the New York City Sundayschool Society of the Methodist Church. Among the remedies suggested for the admitted evil were: 1. More care and interest on the part of parents. This is certainly of great im portance. But does not the neglect of teachers to visit their pupils at home ac count for much of the indifference which parents manifest? Are we not bound to use the means of exciting their interest, and are any means so effective as a weekly or monthly call to express a kind concern for the welfare of the children? 2. The countenance and assistance of the intelligent and influential members of the Church would promote fellowship, and secure scholars who already begin to feel that a stronger hold on those large they are the equals of their young teachers. Is it not surprising that an institution of such vital importance as the Sabbathschool should be left to the control of the young and inexperienced, while the wise and aged seldom cross the threshold of the school-room to look after the welfare of the hundreds on whom the Church depends for its recruits? We give this suggestion in full and without comment, inasmuch as the employment of quite young persons as teachers, is a striking feature in many Methodist Sunday-schools which we have had the opportunity to see. Indeed it is much too common an error in most of our Sunday-schools. 4. A fourth suggestion we regard as highly judicious. It is one we have often urged and it has almost always been met with the objection of impracticability, We are glad to find it adopted by such practical people, as we presume those to have been who engaged in this discussion. It is that a "great regard should be paid to gradation in the arrangement of the classes, so that scholars of equal attainments and ages, as far as practicable, may be placed together, instead of being unequally yoked, as is so often the case in nearly all our schools. This would greatly tend to satisfy restless children, and attach them not only to their classes, but to the school." We have not room to dilate on the vast importance of this suggestion, to the order, harmony and success of a Sundayschool; and we must defer a reference to other points in the discussion to a future number. something adapted for each scholar, a dis- As may be seen, the material of a dozen lectures are condensed in order into a single These meetings are enlivened with much Among our important anniversaries excited so much interest as that of the during the month past, none I think has missionary association of the 13th Street Presbyterian Church. Rev. Dr. Burchard's. This school is very large, about 600 pupils, and is orderly and systematic in all its arrangements. They not only support a missionary of the American Sunday-School Union every year, but also raise some thirty of the ten dollar libraries for the West, beside some other minor contributions. This comprises a very large amount certainly, and besides the 14th Street Church, I hardly know of any, that raises so much for the Union, and yet it is all done so quietly, and so legitimately that I think that their plans and efforts meet with universal approbation. Their anniversary was so largely attended as to crowd every aisle as early as the hour of seven o'clock in the evening, and hundreds left unable to gain access to the building. After an interesting report, spirited and instructive addresses were made by the Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler, of Brooklyn, and the Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, Jr., of this city. Several new and original pieces of Sunday-school music were sung, as is usual on their anniversary occasions, and the sweet songs of the children still linger in our memories. ual tone of the meeting on Monday evening, was every way delightful, and all seemed to feel it a great privilege to be there. The Sunday-school intelligence was also very cheering. The teacher's association of Brooklyn and New York will hold a special concert at the Lee avenue rooms, on the 5th Monday evening, the 30th of December, inst. New York, December 10, 1861. OBSERVER. For The Sunday School World. And his eye is pale and bleared! The music had ceased, and the merry company, which for several hours past, had mingled with the measured tread of the made night joyous with gleeful laughter, dance, and the tinkle of glasses as the toasts went round, were now dispersing to their several homes. Dainty figures, which a moment before glistened in the gas light, in all the splendor of silks and jewels, now hastened down the marble steps, wrapped in cloaks and furs, and stepping into the sleighs which awaited them, were hurried jingling to their homes. It had been a festive night. The old when one of that joyous company, a girl of year was growing weaker, and weaker, nineteen, entered her chamber for the night. Her face was pale and a sad light beamed in her eye. Laying aside her rich robe, and glittering jewels, she threw herself into an arm chair before the glowing embers, murmuring with a sigh. "It is all empty, unsatisfying! Oh God! is there nothing real,-nothing substantial to this heart's veid. Her head sank upon her band, and immediately she fancied herself on a narrow road leading up the steep side of a mountain. Just before her was a gate, and behind her, along the mountain path, she could count nineteen gates, which she knew she had passed since her pilgrimage began. A cloud covered all before her, but enthroned on the cloud sat One, in the likeness of the Son of Man. On his head was the crown of thorns; in his hands and on his feet, the print of the nails, but the eyes which looked into her's, were beaming with love and compassion, as, stretching those wounded hands towards her, He said, in a voice, how inexpressibly sweet and tender, For The Sunday-School World. NEW YORK SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. There is one special feature of Sundayschool progress in this city and Brooklyn at the present time, that affords much encouragement. I refer to the meetings of teachers for practical improvement in their duties. During the past month or six weeks I have attended more than a dozen such meetings, each one comprising the teachers of ten or fifteen schools in the neighbourhood. These meetings are entirely devoted to the consideration of the schools, then the superintendent, his power of ruling, his character, his habits, his spirit and temper as affecting, elevating or depressing the school, making it very much what he himself is. Connected with this many errors of theory and practice The Brooklyn Sabbath-school Teachers are referred to in so practical a way, that Association, met last evening in the Warren at least one superintendent of a large im- Street Chapel, Mr. A. D. Matthews in the portant school told me, that the one meet-chair. The house was crowded in every ing to which he referred, had caused him part. Good delegations were present from entirely to remodel his whole plans of con- the East Brooklyn and New York Associducting his Sunday-school. Others have ations. They were also invited to attend frankly acknowledged themselves as greatly the organization of a similar association, benefitted. Then, the subject of the Sun- in our sister city of Newark, N. J., on day-school teacher's work is introduced Wednesday evening, and delegates were and detailed, information is drawn out appointed. These associations of Sabbathbriefly on some such points as these: the school teachers are multiplying on every organization, classification, and order of hand, and they are now so conducted as to the school, the preparation of the lesson-command a very great interest. The spirit-dead; but that night a soul was born into Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' Thou hast culled earthly roses, but the thorns have wounded thee; thou hast drunk at earthly fountains, and still thou thirstest. Ask of me, and I will give thee living water, whereof, if thou drink thou shalt never thirst. My child, give me thy heart; take my yoke upon thee, and thou shalt find rest for thy weary soul. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." And the listener's heart was filled with a joy hitherto all unknown. Kneeling, she clasped the hand extended to bless her, and answered earnestly, eagerly, "My Lord and my God,-oh help me to come to Thee." She awoke. The fire had gone out; the clock was striking twelve; the year was |