"THE SILENT COMFORTER." MASSACHUSETTS. Winchester, Congregation Sunday-school...... 34 20 CONNECTICUT. Griswold, 1st Cong. Ch. $24; 1st Cong. S. S. $10. Hartford, State St. Union Sunday-school........ NEW YORK. Auburn, 1st Presbyterian Sunday-school.. 34 00 5 00 10 00 7 00 62 50 26 00 155 00 453 4 00 310 70 1 38 Fayetteville, Youth's Missy. Soc. Pres. Church, 1000 Fort Columbus, Col. G. Loomis.. Penn Yan, Pres. Ch., $32 57; E. B. Jones and family, $10; F. H Griggs, $5. 2. 00 31 42 649 69 37 50 Port Richmond, Ref. D. Ch. Sunday-school..... that they were not understood by him; lost all interest in his conversation, and could not speak before him. It was, in fact, only matured and experienced Christians, with views and tastes in unison with his own, with whom he really had a fellow-feeling, and who on their part were at home with him. He preached often specially to the young, and such sermons were often very interesting; but not to the young more than to grown-up people. The number of young persons who attended the chapel was very small in proportion to the congregation." If so good and earnest a man, and so thoroughly popular a speaker as Angell James failed in In the ancient town of Kildare, (Ireland) efforts for the young, need we wonder that there lives one of the best of men as curate-- which are read or liked by them? No, we do are few didactic religious works for the young the Rev. T. D. Harpur. He has established not wonder. We should only wonder if such a private printing press, and carries on all books were popular among the readers they prothe work of printing partly by his own fess to wish to benefit! Means must be adapted hands. From his press are issued a great to ends; and we find a woful lack of adaptation many valuable little works, and amongst in most of the tracts and treatises for the young these, one which he has prepared and pub- which come under our notice. lished, and called by him The Silent Com-like the "Rock." It concerns itself with a forter. It is printed in three parts, in large clear type, for the aged to read it. Last summer this little work was brought under the notice of Her Majesty, and she procured three copies of it. One of these was sent to Prussia to the Crown Princess, another copy to another exalted individual, and the Princess Alice carried the third copy with her own hands to a sick girl dying near the palace from consumption. Since the death of the Prince Consort, the Rev. Mr. Harpur has received an order direct from the Palace, for a number of this little work, The Silent Comforter, and an order for a large number for the use of all the household of the palace. The second series of selections by the same author, we now publish under the title of "Green Pastures," and shall follow it in a few days with a choice selection of hymns, printed and done up in the same Troy, 2d Pres. Ch. S. S., Missionary Asso...... 225 00 style, to serve as a companion for both. Utica, C. C. Keingsley.. West Fayette, Union Sunday-school... NEW JERSEY. 25 00 3 30 15 00 160 00 Bergen Point, Ref. D. Church Sunday-school.. 10 00 For the small outlay of 374 cents, either Blawenburgh, Reformed Dutch Sunday-school. 2000 A Useful Volume for Young Flaggstown, Sunday-school.... Griggstown, Union Sunday-school..... 5.00 9 25 20 00 PENNSYLVANIA. 10.00 Persons. The following notice of one of the recent pub- THE ROCK. With an Introduction by the Rev. We agree with Dr. Boardman that this work needs no endorsement from any quarter; yet we cannot help awarding it our meed of praise. Books for young people, though they abound in our day, are, after all, very few in number. Is not this assertion a paradox? Apparently: we mean, however, that there are few books for young persons which, written with the design of advancing their truest welfare, are calculated to promote it. The writers in many cases resemble Angell James, who could not sympathize with the young, and "was not generally appreciated by young persons, particularly not by educated young men, (we are quoting from his son's meFairfield, Ct, 1st Congregational Church.. 20 S8 morial sketch,) who needed and wished to have Philadelphia, A. J. Drexel, $50; L. R. Ashhurst, $100; John Ashhurst, $100; Pennsylbrought before them some special view of divine vania Female Bible Society, $150; Joseph truth adapted to their usual habits of thought Patterson, $50; Estate of A. Leimer, $124 50.. 574 50 and feeling; and this not being done, they felt It is therefore very refreshing to open a book young person's life through all its changes and trials, weighing carefully its responsibilities, and pointing its hopes to the Christian's joyful immortality. It is a book which could only have been written by one who had been much among the young, and had preserved a vivid memory of his own youthful realizations, and could feel young again. Comprehensive in its range of topics, able in its discussion of them, displaying much skill in moral analysis, life-like in every paragraph, affectionate and earnest in its appeals, it reads just as if the author were in a group of young persons whose eyes were fixed eagerly upon him, as they listened to one whose counsels were those of veteran experience, while his looks and tones proved that he still knew what it was to have "a young person's heart." The secret of this successful book is explained when the author tells us :-"It has been my privilege to be engaged for nearly fifty years in the religious instruction of young persons in Sunday-schools, and for nearly three-fourths of that time to have charge of one or two weekly Bible-classes of young ladies." We shall feel tempted to transfer some chapopportunity is afforded. At present we can only ters from this excellent treatise to our pages as make room for the incident, affecting, monitory, and consoling, which has furnished the title of the work.-Rev. W. Meynell Whittemore, Rector of St. James within Aldgate, London, in Sunday Teachers' Treasury. MISS KATY'S LITTLE MAID. 18mo., 180 pages. We commend this to notice as a very "taking" volume, in which entertainment and instruction are happily combined, and the influence of which cannot fail to be salutary. THE BIT OF GREEN; or, The Story of Lame William and his Musk Plant. Though not bulky, it is weighty with precious truths, and withal a very touching narrative. To the discontented and querrulous, whether young or old, it will be a word in season. WEE DAVIE. 90 pages, 18mo., with two engravings from original designs. Our edition of this matchless story is in large type and more fully illustrated than any other in the market. MINERAL RICHES OF THE EARTH. A volume rich in valuable information for all readers. 50 cents. WINSIDE FARM; or, How a single family quietly revolutionized a whole neighbourhood. 50 cents. MY BROTHER BEN. An exhibition of the fruits of earnestly pursuing one object. 30 cts. THE BIT OF GREEN. A touching story of patience under severe trial. 12 cents. Opinion is, under heaven, become the arbiter of nations. Power is despoiled of all its mystified incidents and prerogatives. The spell of long-established systems, of hereditary orders, is AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, broken; and as the whole world is moving on from the quiet in MAY, 1862. Seldom does the providence of God allow us to pass an occasion like the present without some impressive admonition that our working-time is brief and our reckoning-time near. Within a few days, one of the oldest and most honoured members of our Board has gone from us to his rest and reward. The HON. THEODORE FRELINGHUYSEN, of New Jersey, was elected a VicePresident in 1825, (the second year of the Society's existence,) and continued in office until his death. the public meeting on the occasion of our eleventh anniversary, (1835,) he was present, and offered a resolution, declaring At "That Sunday-schools, by laying the foundation of public and private integrity and intelligence, provide the best preservative of our rights and liberties, and the best guarantee for the peace and good order of society; and that in this view they deserve the special patronage of the statesman and patriot." In urging its adoption, he used, in substance, the following language, to which recent and passing events give extraordinary significance : "There are considerations," said he, "connected with our country, that present causes for melancholy apprehension. The spirit of freedom, with all its rich benefits, is not without its dangers. Every mind in any measure acquainted with its own operations knows that there are propensities within us which require control,-that must be brought into subjection to wholesome regulations and discipline. "Now, one startling danger lies in the very heart of our blessings. We are too proud of our liberties and of our country. Selfconfidence is engendered, and a spirit of individual independence almost too strong for law.* We are our own rulers, we boast. Politically, it is true. The fear is reasonable, that we shall practically refuse or deny the authority even of our own rulers. There is a constant propensity to break away from all restraints. Resistance, liberty,' independence,' the rights of man,' are so familiar and so grateful too, I grant-that we are prone to forget, not only Him whose unspeakable goodness has made us to differ, but to forget, also, that these animating terms, and the glow of patriotism, and the love of country, if not sustained and cherished by sound principles, will become the mere watchwords for licen tiousness and all misrule. "I have not made this allusion for any purpose of severe censorship at this interesting season, when I would far rather mingle in the delightful sympathies that the occasion awakens; but I have given the hint, that we may perceive the benignant influence of the Sabbath school on this political tendency. Yes, every patriot should bless God for this agency that so admirably befits the service, that so wisely and seasonably meets the wants of our country. * * * * *The italics are in the original report. action of the one, to the active, restless, and, I may add, feverish excitability of the other condition, what a public mercy was it, that the Sunday-school should come up just as the elements began to quicken, and shed its healthful, purifying, forming influences over whole masses of mind, that were destined either to help forward, or with dreadful energy desolate, the hopes of piety and human deepest and where it will last the longest. It raises a shield to happiness! It supplies instruction just where it will sink the guard our dearest earthly privileges, and trains up a generation that will defend the cause of truth and liberty, when those who train them have done with the duties and the toils of time." We shall do well to take heed to the words which this Christian patriot and statesman, "though dead, yet speaketh;" for in the most auspicious turn of public events there will be a gigantic work of correction and repression to be done in our land, of which only moral forces are capable, and that, chiefly, when applied to the plastic minds and hearts of children and youth. The grand principle of subordination to lawful authority the Lord's sake--must rule from the cradle to the grave. -to God as supreme, and to every ordinance of man for It is the only safeguard under such a government as our's; and, to insure its supremacy, it must as surely begin at the cradle as it ends at the grave. A review of the year affords us abundant occasion to congratulate our friends and contributors. Though we have severely felt the general prostration of business, it has been less severe than we anticipated. Had we been assured at the beginning of the fiscal year that our sales and contributions would be half what they were in the preceding year, we should have been relieved of much anxiety; but we have done far better than that,--the diminution of our sales being only about thirty per cent., and of our contributions still less, or only twenty-three per cent. We have indeed been greatly favoured; and our success shows the inherent vigour of the institution, and the extent and depth of its hold on public confidence and good will. I. THE BOOK DEPARTMENT. During the year we have placed upon our general catalogue twenty-eight new books,-three of which are of the largest class. Twenty are from original manuscripts,-a much larger proportion than usual. Among the publications of the year is one which promises to be extensively useful in the instruction of adults. It is called the BIBLE READER, and is based upon what is well known among teachers as the word-method. The application of this principle in acquiring the art of read ing to a volume composed exclusively of selections from Holy Scripture, gives it a peculiar value; and, being accompanied with lessons on cards, or tablets, by means of which large numbers may be instructed at one time by one person, its introduction as a text-book for the use of ignorant adults as well as children seems to be very generally approved. Those who have been engaged for the past few weeks or months in teaching the freed blacks in the custody of the government of the United States have found it admirably fitted to their purpose. The engagements in this department promise a supply of superior books during the coming months. The multiplication of this class of publications, the sharp competition of publishing societies and houses, and the methods employed to secure a market, have led to many evils and abuses, which time only can correct. Though intelligent and discriminating purchasers may not abound, vapid and trashy Sunday-school books, like all other inflated things, find their true level as soon as the puff of air that keeps them afloat is withdrawn. It is, indeed, much to be regretted that the craving for new books, which this very excess of them helps to foster, is regarded with so little anxiety by those who cannot but see its mischievous tendency. There are thousands of unexceptionable, instructive, and admirably-written books, as new to the present generation of Sundayscholars as a book which left the press yesterday; and yet the weakest of the latter are eagerly sought, while the former are left to dust and cobwebs! There will surely be a reaction; but it may be too late to prevent manifold evils. It would seem from the way in which many teachers treat the subject, that their voices cannot be heard nor their wishes heeded in the boisterous clamour of their classes for new books. This insatiable greed of novelty naturally leads to the hasty preparation of books; and we need not say that the printing-press, though a giant in power, is a blind, heartless deaf-mute, doing the meanest and silliest as well and as readily as the noblest and wisest work. And when its productions are thrown upon the market, there are not enough careful sellers or buyers to present much of an obstacle to the success even of such as may be positively hurtful in their character or teaching. Whatever evils may be felt or apprehended on this score, however, seem to be inseparable from that freedom of action in which we so greatly glory, and must, perhaps, be left to work their own cure. The Committee of Publication have endeavoured to do their part in supplying, to a reasonable extent, the demand for this class of books. Of the much more delicate, repulsive and offensive work of rejecting well-meant offerings, they have also had an unusual share. The morbid appetite for novelty, to which we have referred, has stimulated many persons to try their hand at authorship; and many have been compelled, by sad reverses, to resort to this employment for their own livelihood, or for some charitable purpose. If the average standard which Sunday-school books at this day reach were accepted, most of these rejected manuscripts deserved a better fate, and many of them would have found their way through other channels to juvenile-book marts. The inspection which most of them pass before their admission to the family and the Sunday-school is not very rigid, if we except that elaborate and discriminating notice which is stereotyped for the newspapers,-" Ă pretty little volume for the young folks, and worthy of a place in every Sunday-school library in the land." In this connection reference may be properly made to our present periodicals. The Sunday-school World was commenced in March, 1861, and has already attained a circulation far exceeding that of the Sundayschool Journal at the period of its discontinuance. It promises to supply a want among our Sunday-school teachers that no other publication meets. THE CHILD'S WORLD, which took the place of the Sunday-school Banner, has already secured a circulation as large as its predecessor (The Youth's Penny Gazette) had in its palmiest days. These are the only periodicals published by the Society. II. MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT. From March 1, 1861, to March 1, 1862, the whole number of persons holding the commission of the Ameri can Sunday-School Union and acting as missionaries under its direction, has been 64. One thousand and seventy-five new schools have been organized, and three thousand two hundred and fiftyfive visited and aided. By this labour the influence of our missionaries has been brought to bear on some 30,000 teachers and upwards of 250,000 children. Add to this the religious influence of 22,000 visits to families; several thousand public addresses on parental duty and religious education; and the distribution of hundreds of thousands of Bibles and Testaments, and numberless library and text books, and periodicals, and we have the basis of an estimate of the value of such an agency in those districts where it is principally employed. Comparing the statistics of this year with those of March, '60-61, the result does not, at first sight, indicate much advance. But, when the circumstances by which we have been surrounded are taken into consideration, it becomes a matter of wonder that so large a measure of success has attended our efforts. Since the commencement of the fiscal year, our country has been convulsed with civil war; interests of every character have been prostrated; disaster and ruin have overtaken thousands, among whom are to be found many who were before our most willing and liberal contributors. The chief difficulties we have encountered are: First, A large diminution in our accustomed receipts, which required a new adjustment of our missionary force and threatened its reduction. For this we endeavoured to prepare so far as we could. To all our suggestions bearing upon a reduction of expenditures, our missionaries responded with a promptness and cheerfulness that were truly gratifying. While the call for their services was so urgent, we could not entertain the idea for a moment of abandoning the ground and allowing the work to cease,-especially while their language was. "We will bear each other's burden." "The work must go forward." Some replied, "If a further re June, 1862.] THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORLD.-SUPPLEMENT. 99 duction becomes absolutely necessary, make it." "We broken down, so that they which pass by the way do will go without tea, coffee, and other luxuries." And pluck her. The wild boar out of the wood doth waste we know that there are those among their number who it, and the wild beast doth devour it. Every missionary have actually denied themselves these and other comforts. we had, labouring in those two States, was compelled to When it is considered that the average salary paid leave in June last and seek employment elsewhere." our missionaries does not amount to more than one dol- Here are reasons enough to account for a decreased lar and twenty-five cents per day, and that nearly all number of schools organized and aided. Our missionof them have families to support, it will be seen what aries have gone into neighbourhoods where not one prayestimate they put upon the importance of the work in ing man was to be found, and we have reports from them which they are engaged, and what sacrifices they are of children gathered together on the Sabbath, and Sunwilling to make rather than have it interrupted. In day-schools organized, where the opening exercises this connection we call to mind with peculiar gratifica- consisted of simply reading a chapter in the Bible. tion the generous sympathy of contributing schools, They have gladly embraced such opportunities, rightly societies, churches and individuals, whose donations judging that the leaven of God's word would exert its have in many instances been largely increased. own blessed influence for good. Second, Another very serious embarrassment arising from the same cause was our inability to meet the wants of destitute neighbourhoods. Our mission is to the poor districts,-not only such as are without religious privileges, but such as are oftentimes equally destitute of this world's goods. Sunday-schools cannot be organized, with any hope of permanence, without books, papers, &c.; and these cost money. If the people are unable, or even unwilling, to purchase and pay for them, shall the children be allowed to grow up without a knowledge of God and his word? Our Society (wisely, we think) provides for emergencies of this character, by giving-so far as the means are put into our hands to do so-books and papers and the other needful appliances. The urgency of these appeals in former days, unfortunately, induced us to anticipate our receipts; so that at the beginning of this year we were considerably in advance of them. Our ability to meet the demands of this year were, of course, in a corresponding degree impaired; and, as a consequence, scores of neighbourhoods where Sunday-schools could have been established with every hope of success are to-day without them. To this dark cloud, however, there is a silver lining. With characteristic energy and perseverance, ladies have come forward to supply the lack of service thus temporarily suffered, and their example has stimulated others to new efforts and sacrifices. Before closing our report, we would, with devout gratitude, render our thanksgivings to God that so much has been accomplished for advancing the Sunday-school interest. That we are able to report any advance at all, is, under God, owing to the Sunday-school itself. At one period during the past year the storm threatened to overwhelm us. The suggestion was made,-Appeal to our Sunday-schools for assistance. We did so, and met with a noble response. Contributions from almost every quarter, and in sums of from seventy-five cents to fiftysix dollars, were sent in promptly and the work went on. But for this, we would have been compelled to dismiss many of our missionaries. With the blessing of God, all that we now need is the means to carry forward our mission. We undertake the work of the year in simple faith, being already in advance of our receipts,-trusting that God will put it into the hearts of his people to come forward and supply liberally our wants. Never Third, A third cause of embarrassment, growing out were the prospects more hopeful for doing a good work, of the unhappy strife which is now desolating the land, never the call more imperative to occupy the land. has been the increased difficulty which our missionaries If the bitter feelings engendered by this fearful war are have experienced in finding suitable persons to superin- to be soothed and subdued, we must commence with the tend and teach Sunday-schools. The effort to overthrow children, and bring the precious truths of the gospel to the government has rallied to its support hundreds of bear on them. We appeal not only to the professed thousands of strong arms and brave hearts, among whom people of God, but to those who love our common country, the Sunday-school can count its representatives by that they come forward and help us. We want enough thousands. They have however, left a scene of moral not merely to prevent further embarrassment, but suffidesolation behind them. Our Superintendent of Missions cient to largely increase our present missionary force. for the Mississippi Valley writes thus:-"Multitudes of We have men of God well qualified for the work by those who were engaged as teachers and superintendents education and, we believe, by grace too, who are willing are now bearing arms. The shepherds having deserted and anxious to go forth and bear the precious seed of their flocks, the lambs are of course scattered." divine truth to the children and youth of our land. "In the States of Missouri and Arkansas, where we had planted and had been carefully nourishing between three and four thousand schools, contending armies have swayed hither and thither, violently dissipating many of their organizations and destroying their libraries. The vine was, indeed, planted with care. "It took root and filled the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it. The boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. But her hedges are We are encouraged to believe that our benevolent work will commend itself more and more to those who give any attention to it; and it may be proper to state that we have no means in hand for the prosecution of our plans beyond present positive engagements, so that not only the enlargement of our scheme of operations, but the continuance of our present efforts, must depend upon the future liberality of our friends. We cannot obtain the services of a suitable missionary, pay his travelling-expenses, and supply him with the few items that constitute an outfit, for a less sum, on an average, than five hundred dollars a year. If an individual, a society, or a school feels disposed to provide for the entire sustenance of such a missionary for a year, with the privilege of receiving from him, through us, a monthly letter containing a report of the incidents of his tours, we at once select the most destitute section within our knowledge, and commission the most suitable person we can find to occupy it. And in such a case our sole reliance for means is on the party pledging such support. If there is any failure to redeem the pledge or any part of it, a serious embarrassment is occasioned to all concerned. Sometimes the contributions of several individual donors or schools are combined to support a missionary. The default of any one of them is, to the same extent, a source of trouble. We have reason to be grateful for the great promptness and punctuality with which such promises have been fulfilled. It must be remembered, however, that they are for the most part so restricted to some particular person or place as to leave the Committee little or no margin for rendering assistance to poor schools. Not unfrequently the grant of an inconsiderable amount in elementary or library books will enable a school to begin or continue its existence without missionary aid. Our narrow means oblige us to decline urgent applications of this character, which we would gladly grant. A very few thousands, or even hundreds, of dollars, intrusted to the discretion of the Committee for such a purpose, would be a most important means of furthering the benevolent objects of the Society. With the sympathies and prayers of the people of God, we hope to acccomplish a much larger measure of good in the current year. A purely Scriptural Text-Book, constructed on the "Word Method," and designed to teach adults to read, in as many days as the usual process requires months. 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 post-paid application. Samples of the Book and Tablets will also be furnished by mail teachers-especially of Mission and Adult Schools-Who will remit fifteen cents for payment of postage. to THE SILENT COMFORTER. THE GREEN PASTURES. (AS A COMPANION TO THE ABOVE.) choice texts for every day of the month. Each day's portion is The first two of these very popular productions contain, each, printed in large type on fair white paper, and all are then attached to a roller, so as to hang open at any page, and to be read at a distance of several feet. Each selection sets forth some leading The following are among the books which have been added to doctrine of our common faith, and one or more comforting promises the catalogue within a short time. of the Bible. In a notice of the work which we find in an English magazine, Cents. it is said:"A large volume of extracts could be written from the letters being daily received by the editor of this simple work, bearing testimony to God's great blessing resting upon it. Many instances have come to his knowledge where the mere perusal of its precious texts hanging up in sick rooms and hospitals, has rivited attention, and led to conversion. No bedroom should be without The Silent Comforter.'" 75 THE ROCK. With an Introduction by Rev. H. A. Boardman, D.D.,..... THE YOUNG ORGANIST; or, The Story of Abel Grey, 35 COMFORTING PROMISES,..... Upwards of 20,000 copies of the earliest of these Publications have been called for since January, 1861. The SECOND work is on the same plan, and a corresponding collection of Choice Hymns for daily use forms a suitable companion to both. The English edition sells for 50 cents, while ours, on equally good or superior paper, and as well put up, sells for 37) 25 cents, and every eleventh copy gratis, if bought to give away. THE YOUNG CLERK; or, The Story of Robert Elliott,... 35 THISTLE BLOWS. A Story for Boys,. MINERAL RICHES OF TIE EARTH,.. THE BIG TREE,. ...... SISTER ALICE'S STORIES,. GUIDE FOR LITTLE FOOTSTEPS,......... WINSIDE FARM; or, The History of the Spensers,.. AUNT RUTH'S CHRISTMAS PŘESENT,. 50 THE NAUGHTY GIRL WON; or, The Story of Kitty Willis,........... THE MINER'S CHILDREN; or, Three Days Under BOOK OF ONE HUNDRED PICTURES,................. WHICH WAY; or, Fetch them in and tell them of Jesus. IN PRESS. UNCLE JABEZ; or, The Teachings of Adversity. 10 ANNALS OF THE POOR. A new and beautiful edition of the interesting and universally popular biographies of Legh Richmond. "THE DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER;" "THE YOUNG COTTAGER;" and "THE NEGRO SERVANT." Illustrated with new and original designs. 25 There is a great deal of food served up for the refreshment and 25 nourishment of children and youth at the present day, so dis25 guised in the process of cooking, that it is not easy to distinguish 30 the wholesome from the hurtful. What Legh Richmond supplies 15 is plain, safe and nutritious for soul and body. |