SUNDAY ALL THE WEEK. A choice book,
full of the marrow of instruction and beauti-
fully embellished, 50 cents.

250 00 THE STRAIGHT PATH; or, The Story of Hope
Conroy. One of the most valuable books of
its class ever published. 50 cents.
SHORT STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES
AT HOME. These are the counsels to little
children of that most tender and loving apostle
of Christ, the late Rev. J. W. Alexander.
Printed in large type with cuts. 40 cents.
THE TEACHER TEACHING. A practical
view of the Relations and Duties of the
Sunday-school Teacher. By the author of
"Teacher Taught." 75 cents.

The first English and the second American,
and both abounding in valuable hints to women
who work to live or live to work.

10 00 THE WORD OF LIFE. A timely volume for
the aid of those who would know how to pro-
mote the interests of Christ's kingdom. 40 ets.

Orange, 2nd Pres. Ch. S. S. Missionary Asso... 20 00 JENNY AND THE BIRDS. A most entertain

ing and instructive volume, of which the reader
never tires. 50 cents.

PRINCIPLES AND RESULTS; or, Two differ-
ent ways of bringing up a family, and the end
of each. 50 cents.

30 00 DOING AND SUFFERING. A finished piece
of interesting biography. 40 cents.
COMFORTING PROMISES. A choice selection
of Scripture for the discouraged or despond-
ing. 25 cents.

300 00 RAGGED HOMES AND HOW TO MEND
THEM. The first of the interesting series of
works called out by benevolent labourers
among the poor of London. 60 cents.
WORKING BOY'S SUNDAY IMPROVED. An
admirable book,-fitted in style and matter to
interest boys. 45 cents,
TWENTY YEARS OF MY LIFE. A life-like
portrait which may be profitably studied. The-
narrative is well sustained throughout, 51 cts.
LIZZIE CLAIRE; or, The Last Penny.
Teacher's Temperance Story. 12 cents.

THE

SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORLD

VOL. II.-No. 5.

SUPPLEMENT.

AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION.

MAY, 1862.

AS "THE BIBLE READER," lately published by the Society, is attracting much attention, we again resort to a SUPPLEMENT, to enable us to lay before our readers the opinions of those who have examined, and in some cases practically tested it.

Copy of a letter from Rev. H. W. Pierson, D.D., pub- | in this way, I then said, "This is the first verse in lished in the New York Evening Post, April 11, and dated Washington, March 17, 1862.

Last Friday I called on Commodore Dahlgren, who is in command of the Navy Yard, with a letter from Rev. Dr. John C. Smith, (whose hospitality I have enjoyed since reaching the city,) requesting "a pass to the Navy Yard, to teach and do good to the 'contrabands.' He gave me and my work a most cordial welcome, and referred me to Lieutenant Parker, who would aid me in carrying out my wishes. He kindly offered to have the chapel lighted, and all the "contrabands" notified to meet me at 73 P. M. I visited the women at their rooms, and they expressed a strong desire to meet me and learn to

read. The men I was not able to see.

At the appointed hour, I found the "contrabands" assembled in the chapel, and Captain Morris with them, who remained and witnessed with great interest my service with them, to the close. I placed before them "Lesson I" of the tablet accompanying the Bible

Reader," which is as follows:

created in

God
the beginning and

heaven

I then asked them if they would know the picture of a horse, dog or cat, if they should see it, and they said, yes. I then told them these were printed words-the words they were using every day. I then pointed out the word "God," and they repeated it after me several times. I then pointed out "earth," "created," "and," etc., and asked them if they looked like "God." They at once said no. I then pointed out the other word "God," and asked them what that was. They all said "God." I then said, "Are you sure? look carefully." They said, "It looks exactly like it." I said, "Yes; that is It is the name of the God that made you, and you will always know it hereafter, as surely as you would know the picture of a horse or cow.'

the same.

In this manner I proceeded with each word in the

lesson, until they could name it as soon as I placed my pointer on it. The following line completes the first lesson: "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." I pointed out each word in order, commencing with the last, and went over it a few times

the Bible, and you can read it." I then pointed out each word in order, and they read, "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." It would be difficult to say which was most excited and delighted, teacher or scholars. The whole time occupied upon the lesson was little, if any, over half an hour.

On Sunday, at half-past 11 A. M., according to arrangement previously made with the pastor, I occupied the time usually devoted to the sermon at the Bethel (colored) Church in South Capitol street. I requested front of the pulpit, so that they could see the large the entire congregation to take seats immediately in card; and in about the same time that I occupied with the "contrabands" at the Navy Yard, I taught the most of them the same lesson. I particularly requested all the old women to take the seats nearest to the pulpit, assuring them that I thought I could teach any and all of them to read the blessed word of God.

When I had finished the lesson, I said to them, "Less than an hour ago you did not know a word of the language you have always spoken; now you can read the first verse in the Bible." No language can describe their gratification. One old "auntie," such as I have seen on hundreds of plantations, with her face all aglow with kindness of heart and love to God, wept tears of joy, and praised God aloud that she could read any portion of that Bible that had so long been the source of her highest joys.

At 3 P. M., I met the "contrabands" at the Navy Yard, and taught them the second lesson of the Tablet, which is the second verse of Genesis.

At 5 P. M., I met the "contrabands" at Capitol Hill, more than fifty in number, and taught them the first lesson as above described. Only three in the company had learned to read. At all these places they were delighted with my instructions, and expressed the strongest desire for their continuance, that they might

learn to read.

I need hardly say that the work appears more hope

ful and practicable than I had supposed.

From S. S. Randall, Esq., Superintendent of Public
Schools of New York City.

"I have examined with great interest and pleasure the little work, put into my hands a few evenings since, entitled 'The Bible Reader; or, Scripture Reading

Made Easy,' published by THE AMERICAN SUNDAYSCHOOL UNION, with the accompanying series of charts. The plan there pursued of teaching words in the first instance, and before any knowledge of the distinctive letters of the alphabet is communicated, is one which meets my entire approbation as an elementary process

of instruction.

"I have invariably pursued the same course in the early tuition of the members of my own family; and experience and observation have long since convinced me that it is by far the best and most effectual method of teaching reading. I would recommend in the compilation of text-books and charts of this description as great a number and variety of pictorial illustrations as may be practicable, as they serve to fix the idea designed to be communicated more strongly in the mind.

"I sincerely trust that the application of these principles to the study of the Bible may prove the means of effecting great good to the rising generation."

From the (Portland, Me.,) Christian Mirror. It is designed primarily for use among the "contrabands," and in the army; but is admirably adapted for all teaching in classes. Gifts to the Sunday-School Union for the above specific purposes would be well

bestowed.

From the New York Commercial Advertiser. Issued just at this opportune moment, its circulation must prove advantageous beyond estimate in the instruction of the thousands of "contrabands" in whose behalf our philanthropic citizens are moving.

Contributions for this object will be judiciously applied by the American Sunday-School Union.

From Rev. Dr. Wayland.

PROVIDENCE, March 24, 1862.

From the (Boston) Congregationalist.
Judicious selections from the Bible in large, clear

type, arranged so that by a pleasant repetition the words
in each selection can be easily learned, and by a few
lessons enough of the Bible be read to enlighten an
ignorant person with the knowledge of the creation,
the fall of man, the moral law, and Christ and salva-
tion. Just the thing, we should judge, for the freed
men of the South, as well as for more general purposes.

From the Banner of the Covenant.

We have felt a more than ordinary interest in the examination of this work. It proposes to teach persons to read by what is called, "The word method." The special object of this book is to qualify persons for the reading of the Scriptures in this way. It is believed that the art can be acquired with much less difficulty in this way, than by first going through the process of learning the letters in the first instance. We have not had the opportunity of subjecting this new plan to an experiment, but an examination of this work has made a very favourable impression upon our mind. It is designed more particularly for the instruction of adults, whose education in childhood has been neglected. Those that it is exceedingly difficult for them to learn to who are familiar with this class of persons, have found read. Indeed, the effort required is so great, that there are comparatively few who have the time and energy to prosecute it with success. The large number of freed-men who are unable to read, will afford an excellent opportunity of testing thoroughly the merits of this scheme. We have not a doubt that persons may be taught to call words at sight as well as letters.

From the Boston Recorder.

Its leading purpose seems to be, to furnish the best means of teaching adults to read the Bible. But it is based on a principle, which, if sound, will revolutionize the process of teaching children. It goes on the asof learning to read, by learning the form of words sumption, that it is better to begin the art and mystery rather than the form of letters. It jumps over the whole tedious process of teaching the child first the letters, and then to combine the letters into syllables; and then into words. It first sets before the eye several prominent words in familiar sentences, and habituates the child to call those words by their form, without regard to letters, till the sentence is made out-leaving the letters to be learned incidentally.

I have received and examined the "Bible Reader" which you kindly sent me a few days since. The manner of teaching to read by the use of words instead of first commencing with the alphabet, I am ashamed to say, is new to me. I see in it many advantages; among the most important is this, that the learner is conscious of an increase of power at every lesson, and finds himself at once able to read something. A consciousness of this kind must add greatly to his interest in learning to read, and this must render the work specially suited to adults. I can conceive of nothing better suited to We commend it especially to all teachers of young the wants of many of the soldiers of our army. It is, I think, also exceedingly well adapted to the case of the children, and to all persons who have been so unfortucolored people at the South, whom many of our bene-nate as to reach an adult age without learning to read. volent friends are teaching to read.

But the crowning excellence of your Reader is, that there is not a word of it that is not pure truth-truth from heaven-and truth enough to lead a sinner to Him that came to seek and to save that which is lost. It is a tract, every word of which is taken from the living oracle. May God make it useful to multitudes

of souls.

From the New York Evening Post.

A book very neatly got up by the American SundaySchool Union, as in fact most of the books published under its auspices are. It is accompanied by a circular describing the manner of using it, and stating the advantages of its method of teaching adults to read without going through the laborious process of first familiariz

May, 1862.]

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORLD.-SUPPLEMENT.

ing them with the intricacies of English orthography. This book is on the plan of those which begin by accustoming the pupil to name the word by looking at its form, without repeating the letters of which it is composed, leaving that analysis to be performed afterwards. We have known children taught to read in this way, and can testify that they learn to read much sooner.

From Rev. Noah Porter, D.D., Farmington, Conn. This little book, I am sure, must be true to its title, "Scripture Reading made easy." If I could collect half a dozen adults who have not learned to read in a Sunday-school class, I should like to make a trial of it.

From the Independent.

"The Bible Reader; or, Scripture Reading made easy." Philadelphia: American Sunday-school Union. 12mo., pp. 168.-A simple text-book, with which a set of large lettered charts are to be used, and intended as a manual for teaching adults how to read by letter and word exercises from the Bible, nearly on the "Ollendorff System," as it is called, which has been so successful in teaching modern languages.

From the New York Observer.

3

From the Presbyterian Standard. We have received from the American Sunday-School Union the "Bible Reader; or, Scripture Reading made easy," with an accompanying series of charts. This book is particularly intended to assist adults in learning to read the Bible, but it may also be used for children capable of understanding the Bible when read to them. The object aimed at is an important one, and the expedient for accomplishing it must, we think, be successful when rightly used. S. S. Randall, Esq., Superintendent of the Public Schools of New York City, testifies that the plan is one which meets his entire approbation as an elementary process of instruction.

From Robert B. Collins, Esq., New York.

I have looked over the "Bible Reader," and see that it is well calculated to facilitate the teaching of reading to adults as well as children. Indeed I think the system might be introduced into the primary schools of our country. My own daughter learned to read very easily upon this very principle. We had a very interesting story-book which they loved to hear read many times over, and in fact never were tired of it. In the course of time they knew the story, and when we pronounced a word they could from memory, tell what came next, and so learned the printed symbols of the sounds readily and quickly. JUST PUBLISHED,

OR,

SCRIPTURE READING MADE EASY.

The advantage will be specially great in the case of those adults to be found in almshouses and prisons, and 66 THE BIBLE READER;" among the thousands of our negro population who cannot read, and who may rapidly acquire the art by this process. "The Bible Reader," published by the Union, contains all needful directions and furnishes a series of lessons that will lead any person of ordinary intelligence to become a tolerable reader in a single month, with a little help, an hour every day from any well disposed teacher.

From the (Philadelphia) North American. The plan on which this work proceeds is to teach words in the first instance before any knowledge of the distinctive letters of the alphabet is communicated, just as children are taught to speak before they can spell. It is the reverse of the time-honored plan of beginning with the alphabet, and would, we think, be found eminently useful in the case of adults who have not learned to read. The "Reader" is a small and cheap volume, printed in large type, suited to attract the attention of beginners, and under the auspices of the Sunday-school Union is destined to work much good.

From the Philadelphia Daily News.

This is an attempt-and a successful one, too-to put the art of reading within easy reach of adult learners. For the teaching of "contrabands," it is a providential idea; and for those adults who have been deterred from attempting, the effort of a few hours will place reading within their reach. All the words in this book are found in the Bible, so that while reading is learned, the Bible is impressed upon the mind.

THE "WORD METHOD" APPLIED TO THE BIBLE.

This work is constructed upon the principle familiar to many teachers as the "WORD METHOD." Several elementary books on this plan are in extensive use in this country and in England. By it the child or adult is introduced, AT ONCE, to the knowledge of words as signs of ideas, instead of acquiring a knowledge of letters as the elements of words.

And

In the proper use of this method, a competent knowledge of the art of reading can be obtained by children the advantage of it is specially obvious for ADULTS, or adults in a very few days or weeks at most. who have neither time nor patience to endure the tedious and seemingly useless process of alphabetical and monosyllable instruction which is usually adopted.

"THE BIBLE READER" is published in a cheap form, for general use, at 15 cents. The TABLETS, which are of use in teaching large classes, may be had in sheets for 4 cents each, or on cards for 17 cents each.

A Circular, explaining and illustrating the principle, and containing the opinions of eminent teachers and philologists, will be forwarded upon postpaid application.

Samples of the Book and Tablets will also be furnished by mail to teachers-especially of Mission and Adult Schools-who will remit fifteen cents for payment of postage.

THE UNION BIBLE DICTIONARY.

New Edition, 690 pages, with SIX fine Coloured Maps, SIX uncoloured, and ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY illustrative wood cuts. Price 75 cents.

A new edition of this valuable and popular work is now issued, with SIX superior maps, viz., Countries mentioned in the Bible; The Acts of the Apostles, and the remaining Books of the New Testament; Palestine (Syria) under the Maccabean and Idumæan Princes, and illustrative of the period of Christ and his Apostles; Canaan as divided among the Twelve Tribes, from the time of Joshua to the accession of David; Journeyings of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan; and The Kingdom of Israel in the time of David and Solomon.

The following notices of the work, which we have never before copied, will serve to show its title to the attention of

SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHERS AND BIBLICAL STUDENTS.

From the Episcopal Recorder.

This is a new and much improved work which even in its former reduced state had no equal in the work of exhibiting, in a brief compass and at an attainable price, the main points which it was necessary to refer to in the course of ordinary Biblical instruction. In the present volume the improved collection of engravings, as well as the great expansion of the details, fit it in a still more eminent degree for the important work for which it is designed.

From the Biblical Recorder.

To all Bible readers this Dictionary is invaluable. It not only should be in the hands of every Sundayschool teacher and advanced scholar, but should be found by the side of every family Bible. It is so cheap as to come within the reach of all. Our estimate of it is so high, that within a few weeks we have introduced over fifty copies to the families of our charge, and shall continue to put a copy wherever we find it possible.

From the (Baptist) Watchman and Reflector. The engravings are not only illustrative of the text, but are beautiful as productions of art, and the whole volume is so arranged, so comprehensive as a popular, scriptural reference book, so well digested in its matter, as to make it specially suited to its design.

From the American Courier.

For Bible classes, Sunday-school teachers and scholars, and readers of the Bible of almost every description, it is the cheapest, the most convenient, and the most complete vade mecum to be had anywhere.

From the New York Observer.

From the New Haven Palladium.

The present is a new edition of this well-known and most valuable work. The first effort of the kind was exceedingly useful and well appreciated among all Proallowed in the work which could be regarded as sectatestant denominations of Christians. Nothing has been rian. The present edition of the Dictionary is greatly enlarged, and the pictorial illustrations are all engraved anew. The editors have availed themselves of information furnished by modern travellers in the East, and especially by American Missionaries. Every article in the work is complete in itself as far as it can be. The references of most of them to various portions of Scripture, as well as to other authorities, make the book a most excellent assistant in the study of the Scriptures. It is designed for the use of schools, Bible classes and

families.

From the St. Louis Presbyterian.

This Dictionary, published by the American Sundayschool Union, holds a distinct and important place, This, in our judgment—and we speak advisedly--is constructed on the Union platform, and free from a de- the best Bible Dictionary in the world. We have carenominational character. Many of the articles in this fully compared it with others published by different edition of the Dictionary are entirely new and strictly boards of publication, and we unhesitatingly say, the original, combining all the latest and most important Bible Dictionary, published by the American Sundayinformation which modern travel and study have ob- School Union, is the most comprehensive, conclusive tained to illustrate the sacred records. As it is speci- and satisfactory of any we have ever examined. fically designed for the aid of teachers, it will be found We believe it to be unrivalled by any in the United admirably fitted for the use of Sabbath-schools, fur-States.