A NORTHERN SUNDAY-SCHOOL.

31

to perverted, though popular tastes, that its application is not really rigidly and persistently pressed. Every true Protestant must be thankful to Dr. Ellicott for his outspoken words, and if his timeous warnings only lead to the Churches returning to New Testament ways, they must prove a great blessing both to those to whom they were addressed directly, and to all whom what he has said may concern.

By the above title the courteous reader must not think that by the term "Northern" any region near the North Pole, which snowy white bruins are supposed to climb for the buns on the top, is meant; but the famous seaport, Liverpool.

66

Now the first thing which struck me when I went on a journey due north was the children. One of them did, indeed, strike me very forcibly with a piece of cabbage stalk on the back of my head. Perhaps the little rascal had been reading the story of David and Goliath. The stalk of the little Liverpool rebel was as sure as the smooth stone of the ruddy youth of the Israelites; and it seemed to me to be about as hard. But passing trifles by, I was so impressed with the sad condition of the Liverpool children that I said, at two public meetings I addressed, that if some well-sustained efforts were not put forth on behalf of the children in that great city, Liverpool would not be a safe place to dwell in in ten years' time, when these neglected little ones would claim to be considered to be men. I have seen poverty in the city of Dublin, and predicted the disturbances. which have since occurred there; I saw still greater distress in the city of Glasgow; I have visited the worst dens and slums of London, and preached in them; I have seen ruined and degraded humanity in other cities; but in the city of Liverpool, want seemed to stare you in the face in the highways and to meet you at every corner. You can almost hear the sigh for bread of the teeming crowds as they pass you! Look at the faces-there is hunger in every line. Thin shawls, tattered garments, will not conceal the privation that exists, and is felt. The very laughter of the passers-by seems to be an unsuccessful endeavour to defy the gnawings of hunger. Heaven send its brightest angels to help the children! You protect your plants from the frost; but look at those children The top of a pair of trousers round the waist and two pieces of cloth hanging loosely therefrom complete the sole garment which covers them, saving only an apology for a shirt. Such wan faces! Many times did I have my boots blackened in order to get in conversation with them. Their materials were a bit of wood to hold the blacking, the stump of a brush to clear the mud, and not unfrequently an old piece of cloth to polish with. Their

32

A NORTHERN SUNDAY-SCHOOL.

hungry companions would gather round, and seemed as though they could commit highway robbery on the fortunate possessor of the solitary piece of bronze. Yet want had not made these lads callous and hardened. They were grateful for very little. A kind word brought the little buried humanity out. Clothing, food, and work were what they needed and desired. Let Liverpool merchants, their wives and children, keep warm places in their hearts for the gutter children of their busy city.

There is to be found just outside Liverpool one of the most prosperous churches. Having preached there one Sunday morning, I was invited by the pastor, my friend, the Rev. W. Baker, to visit the Sunday-school in the afternoon. This I did, and the school appearing to me to be in a highly satisfactory condition-a model school, in fact -I determined to write, for the benefit of our Magazine, what struck me as being the salient features. But it must be premised that the children did not belong to that sad, neglected class which I have just described. 1. The doors were opened in good time, before any of the children Hence there was no unseemly, un-Sabbatic noise in the street. 2. The Pastor was the Superintendent. By his undertaking that office, he showed the teachers his sense of the value of the Sunday-school, and the children that they were the subjects of his care and prayers.

came.

3. The teachers were for the most part present before the children came. 4. Every child on entering had a warm shake of the hands, and was shown to a seat.

5. The teachers did not stand about gossiping. direct to his or her class, and waited for the children.

Each one went

6. There was no rushing about for books, and no room was given for noise by calling out a long list of names. Each class had a register and Bibles all ready.

7. The Superintendent kept his seat.

8. A slight touch of the bell, one hymn, a very brief, simple prayer, and the school was opened. Precious the good three-quarters of an hour that remained. No reading story-books to kill time, but the pure Word of God read, questions asked, illustrations and explanations given, and then, before its close, here and there the uplifted finger told of earnest pleading for the Lord of children and of men. Another touch of the bell-a hymn, a short prayer, the benediction, and all is over.

9. Not quite over!

No child must leave before it has received the parting shake of the hands from its teacher.

10. One by one the classes are dismissed-not, however, to turn the quiet street into a bear-garden, but to go straight home.

11. Five minutes later not a child was to be seen near Everton

Free Church of England Sunday-school.

12. The most noticeable feature of all was, perhaps, the entire absence of noise, bluster, and confusion-three demons which dance so many Sunday-schools to death.

MARGATE.

G. H. J.

Ecclesiastical Register.

NEW MALDEN.-On Sunday evening, February 1, Bishop Meyers preached here on the power of the Spirit's anointing, and hindrance to a holy consecrated life, in which he spoke of the no oil in the lamp, the dirt on the wick (in the snuffers), a knot in the wick (something between us and GOD), no contact with the oil, (abiding in Christ); something mixed with the oil (a divided heart). -Communicated.

A meeting was held recently at the Institute, when a service of song was conducted, entitled "An evening with Moody and Sankey." There was a very good attendance, and the proceedings evidently appreciated. The readings were by Bishop Meyers, and the songs and solos by the Trinity Church Sunday-school children, and the choir of Emmanuel Church, Putney. The meeting was opened with singing, and a prayer by the Rev. E. D. Price. Solos and choruses were by Sarah Ann Maryon, Sophie Soden, Norah Barnard, Eliza Pleece, Harold Barnard, Mr. Pritchard. Miss Bartram's contralto voice was most effective. Mrs. Merryweather, who effectively accompanied the musical items throughout the evening, also sang, with feeling and expression, "Jesus, my Lord, to thee I cry." meeting closed with the Benediction.-Abridged from the Surrey Comet.

The

PUTNEY.-The school children's usual New Year's tea was given on Thursday, February 12th. The room was very tastefully decorated for the occasion, and about 120 sat down to a capital repast. After tea, Bishop Meyers and the Superintendent each gave a short address, and the presents from a Christmas tree-the_articles on which were given by the members of the congregation and friends -were distributed. The singing of a hymn then brought a most pleasant evening to a close. During the past few months the number of scholars in this school has rapidly increased, there being 140 now on the register. A morning school has also been started, and promises. to be a success. THOMAS BEVERLY, Secretary.

SOUTHAMPTON.-On January 16, an astronomical lecture illustrated by dissolving views with the oxy-hydrogen lights was given by the Rev. Wesley Rodger at the schoolrooms. The attendance was numerous, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. On January 19, the teacher's social quarterly tea-meeting was held. Occasion was taken of the exhibition of Sir Noel Paton's celebrated picture, and interesting allusions made thereto by the Rev. E. J. Boon in one his sermons. On January 27, the proceedings of the Dorcas Society were enlivened by a tea; a tea being also given to the choir boys on February 4. We regret to announce that the church has sustained a severe loss by the death of Mrs. Hulman, which sad event took place on Jan. 30. Her

remains were consigned to their last resting place in the Southampton cemetery on February 4, and her funeral sermon was preached on February 8. On February 1, the services were ably conducted by the Rev. Mr. Johnson; and an interesting address given to the scholars of the Sunday-school in the afternoon by Mr. Churchwarden E. Page. The annual prize distribution took place on February 5, the prizes being distributed by the Rev. E. J. Boon, Addresses were delivered by Mr. T. L. Harris, the assistant superintendent, and Mr. J. H. Ruffell, the superintendent; great interest being taken in the proceedings by the children. A meeting of the members of the Temperance society was held on Feb. 9. There was a capital attendance. Hymns were sung, prayer offered by Mr. Cook, and Mr. J. Tyrell gave recitations. The Chairman (Mr. Edwin J. Boon) also spoke on the "old Temperance worker" as compared with those of the present day. On Wednesday evening a lantern exhibition was given to the children, there being about 400 present. The lanterns used were those of the Band of Hope Union, and were admirably managed by Mr. Widgery. The address was given with great earnestness and power by Mr. F. Smith, all present being pleased with the entertainment provided. WILLIAM J. BANNISTER.

TOTTINGTON.—TREAT TO OLD PEOPLE.—The fifteenth annual treat to old people of over 60 years, residing in this neighbourhood, was given on Saturday, January 31st, in the Free Church of England School. A substantial tea was provided, of which the same number as last year, viz., 75 males and 118 females, partook. The total ages of the men amounted to 5,216 years-average 69 years. The total ages of the women 8,100-average 682 years. Of the women there were 74 between 60 and 70 years, 39 between 70 and 80 years, four between 80 and 90 years, and one between 90 and 100. Of the men present there were 41 between 60 and 70 years, 29 between 70 and 80 years, and five between 80 and 90 years. The age of the oldest man, William Lindsay, was 87, and that of the oldest woman, Ann Ramsden, 97, both of whom received the customary gift of a new half-crown. During the year eleven old people had died, the same number as the previous year, whose names and ages were as follows:-Rachel Barlow 83, George Nuttall 63, Betty Hamer 66, Susan Rostron 77, Hannah Morgan 66, Ann Hindle 69, Ann Worsley 80, Joseph Belfield 89, Edward Rothwell 94, Thomas Hutchinson 78, and Mary Fielding 70. Their total ages amounted to 835 years. After the choir had sung "Auld Lang Syne," the chairman (Mr. Hugh Roberts, the donor of the treat), welcomed the old people, remarking that he was very glad to see them looking so well, and hoped that he would have the pleasure of meeting them for some time to come.-The Rev. J. Brunskill also delivered a brief address, in which he detailed the particulars given above as to the ages, &c., of the old people, and, after presenting the half crowns to the oldest man and woman present, he asked those who had been present at their annual treat 15

years ago to hold up their hands, when five old men and three old women responded. It also appeared that five old men and two old women had been present at all the treats.-A long and varied progamme was then satisfactorily gone through, and was much enjoyed by the aged guests, in which Masters C. and E. Cornall; Master P. Roberts and Miss M. Roberts took part, Mr. J. Brunskill officiating as accompanist. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. During the evening oranges were distributed to the old people, and as they left the room each, according to preference, received 2ozs. of tea or tobacco.

On Sunday, February 1st, the Old Folks Service took place in the Church, when a very suitable service of song for aged people was rendered by the choir of the church, conducted by Mr. James Spencer, the Rev. J. Brunskill giving the connective readings. The whole of the services were felt to be times of refreshing, of counsel, and of warning. Communicated.

PRAYER REVISION.-A meeting of the Prayer Book Revision Society was held recently in Dudley, and addressed by Mr. Butcher, who stated that the Society was determined to bring the matter before Parliament, and had had a Bill drafted and submitted to many members of the house of Commons, who had expressed themselves in favour of its terms. Mr. William Roberts also addressed the meeting.-Daily Telegraph.

Finance.

GIVING AND PRAYING.

THE extract from a private letter at foot is so appropriate at this moment, that we venture to insert it, trusting the writer will regard the good it is fitted to do as our apology. This letter announces a donation to the old debt fund, and we venture to trust as the writer has done so our readers will do, and prove the sincerity of their love by both giving and praying. The suggestions as to the future are sound and wise; but the carrying of them out, like that of wiping off the old debt, depends on giving as well as on praying, and to give promptly is to give twice.-EDITOR.

"We are praying the God whose are the silver and the gold to incline the hearts of all our ministers and Churches to give of their little or their much, that the result may be a clean sweep of the debt for ever. And then, if some hearty, brotherly determination could be arrived at, to make some systematic arrangement in every church to contribute a fixed sum for the due maintenance of the F. C. E. every year, so as to avoid hateful debt for all the future! How can we get a proper esprit de corps into every Church, to unite as the heart of one man for the Church's general welfare? Oh, for the spirit of wisdom, love, union, and prayer!"