THE EDITOR'S ADDRESS. "THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL MAGAZINE" pos- | classify Sunday-school work, seeking to sesses by far the largest circulation of any periodical of its class. Extensive influence and long years of good service present claims of no ordinary character; and hitherto, these demands, public confidence and private friendships have yielded to the full. raise each department of duty, so that the whole system may be elevated. We need but to refer our readers to a series of original papers now commenced, and prepared especially to meet that sceptical and latitudinarian tendency of the age, which lies like a withering blight upon the minds of so many of our senior scholars and young teachers-to the invaluable series for Bible-Classes by Mr. Jordan, where, beginning at "Moses and the Prophets"-he shows how the golden chain of Christ's life and mission binds all Scripture together. With a new year a new start is to be given. The onward movement of the public mind in favour of religious education requires a corresponding advance in all the various departments of our action. The Sunday-school system is not now what it was twenty years ago. In its aim -in its apparatus-in its results-how glorious the change! Then it was very much to keep children orderly, and to raise them from the most abject ignorance to a know-version-conversion is the grand aim of ledge of their mother tongue-now it is to "teach" the simple truths of holy writ, to "train" the heart, to "THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL MAGAZINE," as heretofore, will devote itself to the inte rests of Sunday-school teachers and elder scholars-it will be the organ of no party -allied to no sect, and cognizant of nothing that does not strictly relate to the great work to which it stands committed. It will aim to be practical, simple, and consistent; labouring to assist the pious teacher, that he may be "Wise to win souls." It will draw aid from every quarter, and no expense will be spared in procuring from the very best sources, the requisite assistance, artistic as well as literary. One great object—and we must confess a favourite one-will be to analyze and The plea for infancy by the veteran champion of evangelical truth-the noble vindication of our grand axiom-"Con the Sunday-school," by an ardent and devoted friend of Scriptural educationthe energetic appeal to teachers by "the man of Bible knowledge," and the other contributions, which enrich our first number, are ample proofs of what can be done; and these we present as evidences of what will be done, according to the best of our ability. Our columns are freely open to pertinent and judicious correspondence. Theory and prolixity will always give place to the concise and practical. We hope often to "start a difficulty" and sha!! never object if our readers will help us in this matter. We specially invite friends from all quarters, especially from Country Unions, to send intelligence. It is our intention to devote a page each month to the review of such matters of passing interest in connection with Sunday-school work as may come within the range of our observation. To Christian Ministers-to influential friends-but especially to Superintendents, Secretaries, and Teachers, we appeal for sanction and support. Will they re commend our effort by a few words to those whom it may concern? about two years of the opening of the chapel itself. There was not, however, any school-room until some years afterwards, the scholars in the meanwhile being taught in the chapel. WE commence our sketches of Sunday-relating to the early portion of its schools with a brief history of one history, that Surrey Chapel Sundaywhose founder was a worthy fellow-school was established in 1785, within labourer with the immortal Raikes. The name of Rowland Hill is so interwoven with the history of the establishment of Sunday-schools, that the law of association causes it to start up before the mind whenever the subject is mentioned. In the early part of his career it was an object dear to his soul; and when the winter of age had covered his head with its hoary crown, his sympathies beat as strongly for the cause as in the day when his manhood was girded with power, and his "red-hot eloquence" pierced like arrows the "hearts of the King's enemies." In imagination we see the venerable patriarch, bending beneath the weight of years, but with his heart still hale, assisted into his hallowed pulpit, to give his dying advice to his beloved Sunday-school teachers. Into that pulpit he ascended no more. He had delivered his last message; he had fought the good fight, had kept the faith, and in a few short days afterwards received the crown of glory. It appears, from the most authentic documents which have been preserved In September, 1799, several other schools having been formed in the borough of Southwark by those devoted men, Burchett, Beams, Nixon, and Cranfield, aided by the counsel and the purse of Mr. Hill, a meeting was held in Surrey Chapel school-room, and a society was formed, called the "Surrey Chapel Sunday-school Society." This title was subsequently altered to that of "The Southwark Sunday-school Society." Down to as late a period as 1805, the treasurer's accounts speak of salaries paid to superintendents and teachers. The diffusion of light, however, was accompanied by the power of love, and the service of the hireling (we do not here use the term reproachfully) at length gave way to that of the friend. The first gratuitous teachers' meeting for business was held on the 20th of August, 1807. On that occasion Mr. Hugh Beams was chosen superintend- man of the London Missionary Board) ent, and Mr. Bridges secretary. The writer of this sketch has attended nearly every anniversary meeting of the Southwark Sunday-school Society for the past twenty years, and can scarcely remember one on which a grateful testimony has not been borne to the zeal, piety, and heavenly-mindedness of Hugh Beams. His name, indeed, will be held in everlasting remembrance as one who "turned many to righteousness." The earthly course of Mr. Bridges was soon closed; but, from a minute now before us, he appears to have been a valuable coadjutor to his amiable superintendent. The minute referred to speaks of Mr. Bridges in his relation to the teachers, as "an affectionate friend, a judicious counsellor, a profitable companion, and a bright example; " and in his relation to the children, as a "faithful, kind, and watchful teacher, or, rather, parent." Happily for the school, it has been blessed with a succession of such men; but among those who have filled the office of superintendent, we cannot forbear mentioning Benjamin Neale, (in whom was combined every qualification of heart and intellect for the efficient discharge of the duties of the office,) and Mr. W. Jones, the present Secretary of the Religious Tract Society-a man whose "praise is in all the churches," and whose course is like that of the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." 66 presided over about seventy persons; and such were the feelings excited at this re-union, that it was resolved to hold a similar meeting every year. This resolution has been carried into effect, and each succeeding anniversary has furnished abundant evidence that the teachers "have not laboured in vain, nor spent their strength for nought." On the 11th of April, 1834, the venerable Rowland Hill was called to his rest and his reward. His mantle, however, has fallen upon a man of kindred spirit (the Rev. James Sherman), on whose zeal in behalf of Sabbath-schools it would be superfluous to dwell. prayer is, that it may please the Great Head of the church long to spare him to watch over and nourish a cause which lies so near his heart. Our A few years since it became necessary to increase the accommodation for the meetings of the numerous benevolent societies connected with Surrey Chapel; among other things a new school was wanted; the old one was pulled down, and the present handsome and commodious room erected in its stead. Here nearly five hundred children are taught every Lord's-day by about sixty teachers. In the lower part of the building two select female Bible-classes meet every Sunday; and, until her lamented illness, one of these classes was conducted by Mrs. Sherman. There is also a male Bible-class connected with the school. On the 30th of October, 1823, the This school forms one only of twelve, first meeting of "old scholars" took and five select classes, under the fosterplace. The nature of these meetings is ing wing of Surrey Chapel. In these now so well known, and their benefi- schools and classes the total number of cial influence is so universally acknow- scholars was, according to the last reledged, as to render any account of port, 4,085, and the number of teachers them unnecessary. On the occasion to 456. Surely, we may gratefully say, which we are referring, Mr. Frederick "the little one has become a thousand, Smith (formerly a teacher in the school, and the small one a strong nation." and who lately filled the office of Chair THE PASTOR AND TEACHERS. --, school, consisting of upwards of eight hundred scholars, with an adequate supply of teachers, most of whom, it is gratifying to state, In the flourishing town of perform their sacred task with be- not rudely obtruded, nor, in the coming regularity, and under the first instance, very strenuously asinfluence of an enlightened regard serted. They seemed to rise sponfor the glory of God, and the spiri-taneously from the subjects of contual interests of the children com-versation, and withal were accommitted to their care. The pastor of panied with so much eulogy upon the church with which the school is the beneficial tendency of Chrisconnected is emphatically the Shep- tianity, that, though the young men herd of his people, and cherishes were somewhat surprised at the a tender regard for the lambs of his strange phraseology they heard, flock. He had, in fact, originated they did not fully estimate the mathe school by his own indefatigable lignity of the poison contained, and exertions; and has had the happi- hoped the difference in their sentiness, within ten or a dozen years, ments was, after all, rather verbal of seeing it not only crowded with than real. But "the continual scholars, and carried on with great dropping of water weareth away efficiency, but yielding a rich har- the stone;" and these sceptical senvest of devout and spiritually-mind-timents, often reiterated, found an ed members, who, in their turn, entrance into the mind, and grahave become instructors of the dually frittered away their confirising generation, and zealous la- dence in the leading doctrines of bourers in the cause of Christ. Christianity, and thus changed the At one period, however, the in-complexion and habit of their conterests of this institution were templations. Truth was stripped threatened with some danger, from of much of its lustre, religious mothe fact, that a few of its teachers tives had lost much of their power, had unhappily imbibed the latitudi-and their minds were strangely benarian spirit which too extensively wildered with apparent contradicprevails in the present day. A few tions and difficulties where before young men of lively imagination, they beheld nothing but beauty and and fond of reading, had become harmony. acquainted with some individuals, who, though of unblemished morals and professing a respect for religion, were strangers to true piety, and sceptical in their sentiments. Acquaintance ripened into intimacy, and frequent intercourse gave rise to many occasions when plausible objections were started against those precious truths comprehended under the term evangelical. The general evidences of Christianity were not assailed, but often it was intimated that nature was the best interpreter of God, that reason was the guide and arbiter of all truth, and that there could be no obligation to believe in doctrines which man could not comprehend. These sentiments, however, were It was while their minds were in this transition-state that the town was placarded with announcements that Mr. M-, a popular orator, had engaged to deliver a series of lectures on "the intellectual and moral nature of man," and the young men were induced by their companions to attend. The place was crowded with hearers, and the lecturer read from his manuscript an elaborate oration. The lecture was neither profound nor learned, but it was ingeniously made up of borrowed wit, sparkling epithets, and showy declamation. The orator never named Christianity as a system, but extolled the dignity of man, the sufficiency of human reason, the purity and moral excel error, whether breathed by the voice of affected friendship, or uttered by the disguised infidel lec lences inherent in his nature, and spoke of the boundless field of progression and happiness open before him by the cultivation and deve-turer! lopment of his own powers. Though But the evil did not terminate in the lecturer prudently avoided an the loss of these fiue, promising open assault upon Christianity, it young men. It afterwards appearwas quite evident to a thoughtful ed that before they had left their mind that the truths of the Bible situation in the school, they had had no place in his creed, and what-suggested doubts to the minds of ever might be his design, the prin- others. An occasional question, ciples he taught were as inimical an incidental allusion, insidiously to revealed truth as if he had openly made, or an artful insinuation, had avowed himself a disciple of Vol- now and then been expressed in the taire or Montagne. The remaining hearing of others, and had origilectures were of the same charac-nated a train of reasoning and speter, and the young men attended culation which threatened to work the whole series; and as the natural similar mischief in their minds. result, their sceptical tendencies were greatly increased, and a settled alienation from the truth was gradually imbibed. A dislike for the truths which offended their pride of reason was followed by a disrelish for the duties which imposed selfdenial, and the restraints which curbed appetite and passion. The sequel is mournful. After a while the school, the house of God forsaken, the debating-room was the scene where the sabbath evenings were spent, and their companions, who had excited their doubts, were now outstripped by the proficiency of their disciples. But an incident just then occurred which happily checked the nascent evil, and led to a very important and advantageous result which will hereafter be stated. THETA. STARTING A DIFFICULTY. A SUGGESTION TO SABBATH-SCHOOL TEACHERS. We do VERY often the best way of preparing the minds of children for the reception of some one important truth, is first to produce a deep sense of difficulty in regard to it. Many were the visits paid to them not mean that this would be suitby their anxious pastor, and many able in all cases. Far from it. Yet, the affectionate attempts made by in reference to a considerable numthe faithful superintendent to re-ber of important truths it may be claim them, but in vain. Scepticism of great service. It tends to create had loosened their principles, un- a spirit of eager anticipation; to belief' had displaced the foundations fix attention; to awaken the power of their religion, and deadly errors of perception into a favourable athad struck deep their roots in the titude; and to render the memory heart. They are still wandering in peculiarly susceptible of a deep and the labyrinths of rationalism, so lasting impression. Your past obcalled, and, it is feared, nearing the servation, and the history of the vortex of absolute infidelity. How operations of your own minds, will many such examples does the pre- probably corroborate these statesent state of society afford of the ments. To this, as one of the variresults of listening to insidious ous modes of improving the youth |