I may mention that an individual, who was connected with the Sunday school forty-six years ago, sent me to-day two camp-stools, one in the form of a walking stick, with the accompanying letter:

"Dear Sir,-Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I give to the cause of Christ.

"Please accept this small offering on behalf of the Sunday School Union, under a sense of gratitude for the blessings of sabbath school teaching to myself and family. I was first instructed in Castle-yard School, about forty-six years ago, and am still a monument of divine mercy, and often in the furnace of affliction; but the Lord doeth all things well: blessed be his holy name. Pray for a poor sinner.

Now, I shall be very happy to sell these articles to-night; I shall be happy to sell them for £5 each, and cheer the heart of our poor afflicted friend. Let us follow the example of our friends the Wesleyans, who, when seeking to raise the sum of £20,000, jumped into £200,000. You know it is only adding one naught. I never had the slightest doubt of being able to raise the money. If the hearts of the people are right, if the Sunday school teachers are determined, and if the friends of Sunday schools will support them, I have no question but that we shall see a great building reared to the honour of our Master, and for the advancement of his cause.

:

The Rev. JOHN ALDIS said, they had heard that this was a Jubilee. The question had been put, Why of late had these jubilees become so very common? During the last few years, there had been jubilee upon jubilee each society seemed to have its fiftieth year. These jubilees began, about twelve years ago, with the Baptist Missionary Society; and, he believed, not one single year since then had been left in a resting state in respect of jubilee gatherings. What did the term, however, mean? The learned differed considerably as to its true signification. Some thought it referred to Jubal, the originator of the harp and organ; others supposed it to refer to the ancient blowing of the ram's horns once every fifty years, at which period a general movement took place in society,-slaves being restored to their liberty, and debtors being released from all debts contracted. He was not going to attempt to settle these differences; but he hoped they would have good reason to value the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Sunday School Union. In connexion with this Jubilee, they had five objects brought before them. Five things were here stated that required to be done at once. They wanted increased room for a library of circulation and reference, in which accommodation should be made for a large number of teachers.

Then accommodation was required for teachers' preparation classes; perhaps the most interesting of all the matters set forth in the resolution. It was absolutely necessary to employ sabbath school teachers who understood their work, and knew what they were about. They should be well-disciplined: knowing what to teach, and how to teach it. Then accommodation is needed to enable the Sunday school teachers to meet for occasional conference, and to receive instruction by means of lectures. Then they had to secure an enlarged space for the increasing business of the Union, and to assist in the establishment of Sunday schools in destitute districts throughout the kingdom. A large room was required, in which public meetings connected with the institution might be held. In this matter one thing was deserving of consideration. He would say, Don't throw much away in architectural embellishments, or in attempts at mere ornamental appearance. It was his strong recommendation that they should not trust too much to external grandeur. It was always a suspicious circumstance when an individual made a sudden and unexpected alteration in his external appearance and manner of living. The first thing in their new project to be looked for was accommodation; securing that, in a manner they secured everything. There were two things in connexion with their Jubilee against which he should caution them. The period was occasionally made one of boasting. Now, nothing could be more unworthy of the object of the Sunday School Union, nothing more disastrous to the spirit they should cultivate, and nothing more likely to prove ultimately ruinous to the cause they had in hand. A strong temptation to vain boasting appeared in the event of a jubilee, and even while encouraging each other, they were too apt to fall into the grievous error. But it would prove fatal to the carrying out of their work of faith and labour of love. Then, secondly, let them take care that it did not prove merely a season for getting a certain amount of money. Let all feel that they had a great work to do, which, in order to be successfully accomplished, needed not only money, but eminent spirituality of mind. Much had already been done, but much more remained to be accomplished. Yet, in the prosecution of these arduous labours, there was abundant cause for encouragement; and, if entered upon in a right spirit, there need be no fear but that the blessing of Almighty God would abundantly rest upon their exertions.

The Rev. Mr. SHERMAN: I have sold my stool and walking-stick, and for more than I asked for them. The Chairman has kindly purchased them, presenting me with a check for ten guineas.

Mr. CUTHBERTSON, of the Committee of the Parent Society, said:

If all the friends present knew as much of the operations and wants of the Sunday School Union as he did, there would be no necessity for him to say anything to enforce the terms of his resolution. In order to secure that efficiency which the Committee earnestly desired and sought, it became absolutely indispensable that larger means of usefulness should be placed at their disposal. Arts, sciences, and politics, had each their assembly halls and club houses, and why should not the great body of Sunday school teachers also have a place where they could meet together for conference, and seek to instruct each other in the best means of advancing the noble object which they had so much at heart? A library, also, was greatly needed, far superior to that which they now possessed, and appropriate rooms for preparation classes, and a variety of other purposes, all tending to give efficiency to the Sunday school system. He expected great things from the present movement, and believed, if the object contemplated were fully carried out, that the cause of sabbath school tuition would receive an impetus in all parts of the country, and indeed of the world; for the Union had been instrumental in establishing and assisting schools even in the remote regions of the South Sea Islands. The first class book of the Union had been printed in the Tahitian language, and the Christians there were now printing it from the stereotyped plates; and they were hoping to do the same in New Zealand. Now, of course, to carry on such operations as these, larger premises were required; and these he fully believed would soon be furnished. Mr. Cuthbertson concluded by relating some interesting circumstances illustrative of the great moral and spiritual benefits resulting from sabbath school operations. Mr. TYLER said: He felt honoured at being associated with the church in which this Union had originated. What a mighty influence had been disseminated throughout the world by instruction obtained in the sabbath school! Well might they exclaim, as they spoke of the success which had attended their efforts, "What has God wrought!" It appeared to him that the press might be compared to the electric telegraph, and the various sabbath schools to the electric telegraph stations. The wires of christian sympathy had extended to every part of the world, and he gladly anticipated the day when the blessing from on high upon their labours should be so great, that the hearts of the righteous would not have room enough to contain it.

Mr. W. H. WATSON said: He had an interesting fact to communicate in connexion with their Jubilee, and that was, the reception of a hundred francs from the Paris Sunday School Union, to be applied to the object in view. That union has recently been formed,

and if the friends would look at the forthcoming “Union Magazine," for October, they would find that the committee of the Paris Sunday School Union were desirous to take part in the celebration of the Jubilee of the London Union. This fact was especially interesting from the circumstances which had recently taken place in that country. They had just received a communication also from Switzerland, stating that in that country they were also about to form a Sunday School Union. Such had been the example of England, and such the effects upon other nations by following it; and they could not but hope that, under the blessing of God, the means of religious instruction, so beneficial in their own land, would be extended with like results to the other nations of the earth.

Mr. DANIEL PRATT said: As the finance secretary of the South London Auxiliary, I shall hope to gather up some fragments, and some large ones too, from this meeting. I have now the pleasure of stating, that Mr. Sherman has kindly undertaken to receive any contributions which may be handed to him for the advancement of our object. Surrey Chapel is distinguished above all congregations in England, if not in the world, in reference to Sunday schools. There are ten, if not a dozen, schools connected with this place of worship -schools which are sustained, and have been originated by it; and as the Sunday School Union took its rise in Surrey Chapel schoolroom, forty-nine years ago, I do earnestly trust that Mr. Sherman's congregation will be eminently distinguished by the largeness of its contribution towards the Jubilee fund. What a glorious thing it would be if Surrey Chapel, with its twelve schools, should contribute a twelfth part of the amount proposed to be raised for the purpose of securing a building for the society more adapted, in all respects, to its noble objects. It would be a glorious thing for you to say, that a twelfth part of the proposed building belonged to Surrey Chapel and its Sunday schools. If Mr. Sherman will only take the matter in hand, it can be done, and with little difficulty. If twenty gentlemen in connexion with the chapel will give £50 each, the thing is done. One gentleman has already sent in £50 through Mr. Sherman. Who will follow this example? As you had to do with the beginning of this Union, and you have hitherto done nobly, I trust you will have to do with the glorious consummation of the object proposed in this year of jubilee.

MANCHESTER.

On the evening of Thursday, September 30th, a public meeting was held in the Roby Schoolroom, Aytoun-street. Many of the ministers of the town having kindly deferred their week night services until another evening, and earnestly urged attendance upon their congregations, the large and handsome apartment was crowded by a highly respectable auditory.

On the platform were the following ministers and gentlemen :James Sidebottom, Esq.; Rev. Dr. Campbell, W. H. Watson, Esq., and Thomas Thompson, Esq., forming a deputation from the London Sunday School Union; Rev. R. Halley, D.D.; Rev. J. Clunie, LL.D. ; Revs. R. Fletcher, A. E. Pearce, John Peters, and W. Parkes; James Kershaw, Esq., M.P.; T. Dick, Esq., LL.D.; J. Hewitt, Esq.; G. W. Burge, Esq., of London; W. Ince, Esq.; Mr. Councillor Adshead; Mr. J. C. Jones, and Mr. J. Milne, the secretaries of the Manchester Sunday School Union; Mr. W. Willcock, one of the secretaries of the Salford Union; Mr. Carrington, &c. &c. A little after six o'clock, JAMES SIDEBOTTOM, Esq., of Manchester, took the chair, and opened the proceedings by announcing the fourth hymn in the Jubilee Hymn Book, which was sung with great spirit by the large assemblage.

The Rev. A. E. PEARCE, of Broad-street Chapel, Pendleton, having engaged in prayer,

The CHAIRMAN spoke as follows: My christian friends, it is impossible for me to be placed in my present position without having awakened powerfully in my mind some of my earliest and most pleasing associations. It was my privilege, when very young, to be admitted a scholar in Grosvenor-street sabbath school; and well do I remember those evening addresses which were delivered to us from sabbath to sabbath by our devoted teachers, some of whom have passed to their reward, whilst others who still remain with us are among the warmest supporters of sabbath schools. Never can I forget some hallowed associations in connexion with this place; and, more than all besides, do I remember the sacred spot, the library of the school, where a few of us met in secret for private prayer, where we were accustomed to pour out our youthful hearts to God, that he would be graciously pleased to smile upon us, and to bless us. And I doubt not that many of you have the same pleasing recollections; and it is surely, then, fitting in us, on an occasion like the present, thus to come together, in order to testify our esteem for, and attachment to, the great work of Sunday school instruction. Many are