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they will hardly allow a man to pursue an honest employment; e.g., a ticket-of-leave man, who was very poor and had been sleeping in the streets, came to the missionary for help. In order to try him he was somewhat repulsed. As he seemed to be earnest, he had a box of brushes and blacking given to him for cleaning boots, and he was sent to the corner by Farringdon Street Station. In a few days, the policeman who had him in charge at his trial at the Old Bailey passed by and recognized him, and instantly kicked the box into the road, and said to the man, "Be off; I'll teach you to waylay people here." The man moved from this spot to another not far off, but in a day or two the same policeman drove him away from there. He then tramped through England and Scotland until he reached Inverness, and then he returned southwards to Eastbourne, in Sussex. Here a Christian man gave him work, and encouraged him in a good course. He had been living an immoral life, but he listened to the gospel message and became a saved man. One day, after having been at Eastbourne about a twelvemonth, be walked into the Mission Room at Cow Cross so respectably dressed that the missionary did not know him. He said he never could forget the words last spoken to him as he left the Mission Room: "Remember you have a soul to be saved." He heard those words ringing in his ears as he tramped along the road by day, and they rose before him as he lay with his loose companions at the dead of night. They were the voice of God to his soul! Eventually he became an evangelist, and now seeks to lead those whom men despise to God.

In these brief papers we have gone round a spot just out of the city of London, which covers only a few acres of ground. Our walk has been short, but we have seen muchmuch of extreme poverty, ignorance, and filth. The question uppermost in the mind of the reader will be, "Can nothing be done to permanently relieve these people?" or, "Is there no remedy for all this misery?" Unhesitatingly we reply, "Yes, there is a cure; and that is emigration." This, however, applies to only the younger and ablebodied portion of the people. Parties of emigrants have recently been sent chiefly to Canada, from the eastern and central parts of London; clergymen and missionaries in some cases going with the emigrants to assist them on the voyage and on landing in the new country. 160,000 persons are now receiving poor-law relief in London, and there are 160,000 more on the verge of pauperism. For the sake of these despairing men and women, with their starving children, and as a lasting remedy for the immediate and pressing consequences of the superfluity of labour, Emigration Societies have been formed in central London to assist persons and families with advances of money towards their passage and outfit, and to render them every possible help in their transit to, and settlement in, their adopted country. Large numbers have been sent from Clerkenwell, and Mr. Catlin has himself aided more than one hundred families of Cow Cross to get to Canada, and he accompanied thirty families there in the middle of 1870. May God prosper this most useful Mission in all its various works abundantly!

R. A. HATCHARD.

HISTORICAL NOTES ON OUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

No. X.-Boston, Wisbeach, Sheffield, and Ripley.

THE General Baptist Church at BOSTON was represented by its pastor, Mr. William Thompson, at the formation of the New Connexion in London, in 1770, but it was not until 1810 that a Sunday school was established. A superintendent was appointed by the church, and it was resolved that there be a new superintendent every month, whose duties appear to have included those of secretary also. Sharp discipline was adopted amongst the teachers from the first, for the rod of exposure was held over any superintendent or teacher who entered school beyond the hour for commencement-such delinquencies being recorded and reported, even to the number of minutes. A scholars' library was established in 1811, use of books being allowed as a reward for good conduct. Parents of scholars and dismissed scholars were also

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allowed to have books from this library Corporal punishment does not seem ever to have had a footing in this school, but an endeavour was made to shame unruly scholars by giving publicity to their faults; thus on Dec. 23rd, 1810, this resolution was adopted-"That a number of labels be provided, with the words 'Too late,' 'Truant,' 'Liar,' 'Swearer,' Rude,' Task not learned,' and others with the word 'Merit,' to be worn by the children as occasion may require." In 1811 one of the teachers, after being frequently noted 'late,' was ordered to be visited by the superintendent. His excuse was that he did not like to get up so soon as to enable him to attend to teach at nine o'clock ! This was deemed an "improper reason for his irregularity, and he was forth with cashiered. A minute of March 1st, 1812,

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records that a teacher objected to the superintendent having posted him as being ten minutes late, because he had sent a substitute; but the superintendent defended his act in so noting him by stating that he had not provided for those ten minutes. In June, 1815, two daily charity schools being opened in the town, and providing for the education of all poor children, and instilling into their minds the first principles of Christianity, the teachers, with a retiring modesty which would not suit the competitive spirit of to-day, publicly announced the discontinuance of their Sunday school, as being now rendered unnecessary, thanked its past supporters, and declared their readiness to resume their labours should circumstances so alter as again ever to make it needful. This necessity presented itself in a few years, for it was re-opened January 2, 1820, and has continued to the present time. In May, 1841, our Boston friends, moved by the ignorance and religious destitution of Witham Green, a densely-populated part of Boston, opened a Sunday school, where sixty scholars were admitted the first Sunday, which number was doubled on the second. The hired house in which the school was held soon proved too small, so that a building was erected at a cost (including site) of £250, which should serve, not as a school-room only, but also as a place wherein the gospel might be preached. Winter evening lectures to parents were also adopted on week-nights. Here, as in other cases, the Sunday school has been the pioneer of the church. The good work of the school was supplemented in 1845 by a day school, for the benefit of this hitherto neglected district, and is still pursuing its useful work.

At WISBEACH, the church was formed in 1665, but there does not seem to have been any record kept as to when their Sunday school was established. In 1834 they had 230 scholars and 20 teachers. Public expulsion of offenders has been the severest mode of punishment adopted. The Union Notes are used, and some of the elder youths have written short essays upon the subject of the lessons. Classes are held, separate from the general school, for young men, and others for young women. The system of rewards by books, &c, formerly in use, has long been abolished. Here, as in many other schools, an address concludes the afternoon duties.

ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH Sunday school was commenced in 1815, and for many succeeding years the number of scholars was very small, but it has now for several years been the largest Dissenting school in the town. The Bible, Old and New Testaments, have been the only class books, and the teachers use the S. S. Union Notes. Annual rewards

are given according to attendance, and Bibles when scholars leave the school. The school has been an undoubted blessing to the church, and the majority of young friends who have joined it have been either scholars or teachers in the school.

SHEFFIELD.-The Home Mission commenced its work here in 1839, and a S. S. was opened in the following year, in a small warehouse in Duke Street, belonging to the property where the Eyre Street chapel was afterwards built. This was used only a few weeks, and then a small house was occupied, the girls being upstairs and the boys on the basement; the superintendent standing half-way up the stairs to give out the hymns, that he might be heard by both parties. The children gathered together appeared to be the outcasts of other schools, and were very rough in their behaviour. A joiner's shop was next used, where they were nearly roasted in summer and frozen in winter; but they survived it all, and at last got in 1842 to the vestries at the new chapel in Eyre Street. These they soon found too crowded, so that a school-room was hired not far from the chapel, until two new rooms were built at back of the chapel, and opened in 1850. In 1859 the last and best change of all was made, i.e, to the present spacious schoolrooms under the chapel at Cemetery Road. A few years ago two large and well-fitted class-rooms were built for the young people over sixteen years of age, who number about 50. Two smaller class-rooms accommodate about 30 of the scholars between fourteen and sixteen years of age. Infant classes, with about 70 scholars, are taught in the children's gallery in the chapel. The present number of scholars is about 480, and there are 35 teachers. This school has a good library, and the books are well read. The young men's class sustains a Mutual Improvement Society, for instruction in secular as well as religious knowledge. The school has sometimes been managed by a multiplicity of superintendents, as many even as six at a time; but there is now only one, and he was superintendent when the school was commenced thirty years ago. Many of the recent additions to the church have been from the school, and a very marked change is observable in the manners and habits of the young people compared with their state when the school was first opened.

Desirous of recording an instance of some quite modern Sunday school in the denomination, in contrast to those whose early history has been glanced at already, I have selected the RIPLEY one, as presenting features of great interest. The G. B. church there was established in 1833. A Sunday school was not opened until Sept.

26, 1846. Sixty scholars were entered on the first day of opening, and 20 teachers were enrolled; one small partitioned room held them all. The attraction of writing being added to other Sunday instruction, the number soon increased to 200. Then new rooms were built adjoining, at a cost of £450, large enough to hold many more scholars; but the town being canvassed for non-attendants at any school, they were soon filled. At this time several young friends in the first classes gave their hearts to God and became teachers. From that time to this about 250 have been added to the church from the school, 26 being so added last year. A continued and steady increase of the schools necessitated the erection of two other school-rooms and the enlargement of the vestries; this involved a further outlay of about £170. These rooms have been used more especially for the adult classes, and with this wise arrangement for their accommodation, and under the care of a well-selected teacher, they became of great value to the church. Educational advantages having increased in the town, teaching writing on Sunday was abolished, and a week-evening class was established for reading, writing, arithmetic, and essays; also a music class. Several young men trained in this class are now assisting in village preaching, and the choir has the benefit of the instruction given in the music class. The school still increasing, not only in the juvenile sections but also in adults, the accommodation was again too limited; so that, with characteristic energy and promptitude, other rooms were added at a cost of £200, and so all their available land was occupied. These rooms are now filled, and the chapel partially used. About 2500 scholars have been admitted in the twenty-four years. There are now 663 scholars and 62 teachers; they have ten rooms for their use, which have cost over £800. The weekly offerings presented to God by the scholars who have become members of the church during the last two years pay all the interest upon the chapel and school debt, which is now about £100; so the church has experienced that he labour bestowed upon the religious raining of the young is a self-rewarding abour. By a rule which stands first in

MELT, melt, O thou my heart

From all thine hardness!
He cometh, He, most gracious,
Who died that thou might'st live,
To form thee all anew.

Rest, rest, O thou my heart
From fret and strife!
He cometh, meek and lowly,

their cole of laws, "The officers of the school are always considered the agents of the church." They have a large and useful library, a separate scholars' service in the morning, and a "Funeral Club," which gives very material help to parents. At the death of any one in the school, each teacher and scholar pays one penny. The last subscription amounted to £2 15s. All pay who choose, but not paying disqualifies from receiving benefit from the fund. No fund is retained, but the collection is made for three Sabbaths after the death of the scholar. This is a plan well worthy the attention of our school managers.

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Notwithstanding the importance attached to Sunday schools, years elapsed before they received much notice in our annual Associations. In the report of the Broad Street Church, Nottingham, sent to the Association in 1820, they say, " Our Lord'sday school prospers," and Spalding says, "Our Sunday school prospers;" but the references made by the churches to their schools are "few and far between." It was not until the year 1840 that a column was found in our Association minutes for Sunday scholars." This was at Spalding, when 14,326 scholars were reported, contained in 75 schools. The Association was held at Derby in the following year, 1841, and then the teachers were honoured with a notice, 2400 being reported, having the care of 18,575 scholars. In 1850 these had increased to 25,934, and there were 3,590 teachers; in 1860, 27,683 scholars, 4,208 teachers; in 1870, 32,416 scholars, 4,393 teachers. These figures show a very pleasing, steady advance in numbers, but I believe every succeeding race of teachers and scholars has been growing in intelligence, efficiency, and adaptation for their work, the natural result of accumulated experience, and of the gratifying fact that many-the great majority-of the present teachers have themselves been scholars in our schools, and are therefore influenced by gratitude for blessings received, as an additional stimulus to personal devotion to the labours of the Sunday school, thus obeying the good old instruction of God's word," Freely ye have received, freely give." B. BALDWIN.

SURSUM CORDA.

To bear thy heavy burden, And carry all thy griefs.

Sing, sing, O thou my heart!
Praise Him who cometh,
Clothed in thy heaviness,
To give thee joy, and change
Thy sorrows into mirth.

Reviews.

SUNBEAMS IN SORROW: Recollections and

Remains of Helena Loveday Cocks. By her Father. Elliott Stock.

"Early, bright, transient, chaste as morning dew, She sparkled, was exhaled, and went to heaven," May be truly said of Helena Loveday Cocks. She was a flower of singular beauty and exquisite fragrance, and after blooming in all her loveliness here for some nineteen summers, was transplated to the paradise of God on high. These pages present the image of her worth. "The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance, but the name of the wicked shall rot." Memories

of the good are the common property of men, and ought not to be suffered to perish. This earth is not favoured with such an excess of sunbeams that we need take no pains to preserve their healing and lifegiving influence. Such a sweet and pure life as that described here deserved a record on earth. Her rich gifts of mind and heart, her genuine affectionateness, and above all, her intense and elevated piety, thoroughly merited the pourtrayal they receive in these "Recollections and Remains." They are sunbeams from the spirit of a lovely daughter, brought to a focus in the affectionate heart of a fond father, and reflected in this work in order to cheer such as carry a similar sorrow to his, and to guide the steps of those who desire a consecration to the service of Christ similar to hers. Bereaved parents

may here find comfort and joy. Young women will have their better purposes strengthened and their piety fed by the study of the memorials of this sainted girl

BYE-PATHS IN BAPTIST HISTORY. By J. Jackson Goadby. Elliott Stock.

MR. Goadby has finished the work which in its issue as a serial we have strongly commended. It forms a goodly volume, is very elegantly "got up," and makes one of those books concerning which the orthodox dictum is assuredly true, i.e., no Baptist minister, no Baptist deacon or elder, no Baptist of any sort or degree, in office or out of office, should be without it; and we will add that the reading of it might render solid service to some members of that large host of enlightened men who imagine that Baptists are of yesterday, and know nothing, and have done nothing. But though called "Bye-paths in Baptist History," it should be known that whilst it detains us in many of the nooks and corners of our Baptist life, and describes the antiquated customs, the strong prejudices, and the vigorous

disputatiousness of our predecessors, it is also a reliable and interesting guide-book as to the main roads of Baptist history. The peculiar excellence of Mr. Goadby's plan is that it enables him to linger over phases of our denominational history that would have been despatched with a sentence or two in an ordinary chronological history. Valuable as a work of reference, useful as a history, it is also interesting as a series of graphic pictures. We should be glad to illustrate by quotations, but as our readers will be sure to get the book itself, this is unnecessary.

THE BIBLICAL MUSEUM. By James Comper Gray. Elliott Stock.

THIS is the first volume of Mr. Gray's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, and contains the Gospels according to Matthew and Mark. In addition to the words eulogistic of the plan adopted, and its execution, on page 53 of this Magazine, we need only say-first, that this volume is beautifully and strongly bound, and is printed and put together in a way that does great credit to the publisher; and next, that the chief merits of these notes are in its truly admirable illustrations of the sacred text, by anecdote, biographic incident, and telling quotations; and in the skill and judgment with which brief, clear, crisp, and concentrated sentences are selected from the most suggestive writers in the English language, both commentators and others. It will be very helpful even to ministers who have a good stock of books, as well as to Sunday school teachers and Bible students generally.

PAMPHLETS AND PERIODICALS.

OUR NEIGHBOUR AT THE CORNER. S. W. Partridge. A sketch ventilating a scheme for providing the children of missionaries to the heathen with a home in the families of their English friends, instead of sending them to such schools as Blackheath and Walthamstow. The plan is worked in Scotland, amongst the United Presbyterians, and is a great success. The paper is racily written, and the plan, as here developed, is well worthy the attention of the friends of Missions. The pamphlet costs sixpence.

THE CHRISTIAN AGE: Light from Across the Waters. We have seen nine numbers of this penny weekly newspaper, and desire to commend it very warmly to all our readers, and beg them to examine a copy for themselves at once. Each number contains

two or three sermons from American authors of the highest fame, such as H. W. Beecher, De Witt Talmage, Dr. Ide; reports of what the American churches are doing, as well as a brief statement of English church news; a serial story, and numerous apt quotations and forcible anecdotes. To use an American word, it is one of the most "live" papers we have.

THE NINE HOURS MOVEMENT. G. T. Stevenson. A plea for a Factory Act for men, enacting that the working day shall be fixed at eight, nine, or seven hours; and that all over-work shall be paid for at double rate. It is a pungent and forcible statement, made by a factory hand, and in the first instance on behalf of printers.

The Sunday Magazine commences its new year (in Oct.) with a tale of great interest and of thoroughly healthy tone, by George Macdonald, and called the “ Vicar's Daughter."-The Sword and Trowel has a truly scathing article on "false liberalism" in our churches and out. It deserves to be read most extensively. - An admirable portrait of Mr. Chas. Brook, J.P., and biographical sketch of this eminent philanthropist appears in the November number of Old Jonathan.-The Old Jonathan Almanack for 1872, contains a well-engraved set of portraits of the various members of the Royal Family.- We also commend The Appeal, Congregational Miscellany, Hive, dc., published by Mr. Stock.

Church Register.

CONFERENCES.

The WARWICKSHIRE CONFERENCE was held at Longford on Oct. 10th. At 10.30 a.m. Mr. J. Lawrence, of Birmingham, gave an address on "The advantages and disadvantages of bringing Sunday school children to the regular service in the chapel." Conversation followed, and thanks were voted for the address. At 2.30 p.m., Rev. J. P. Barnett took the chair. The reports stated 51 baptized and 23 candidates.

I. It was resolved-" That this Conference desires to express its deep sorrow at the loss of brother J. Harrison, of Birmingham, from our assemblies, and begs to record its warmest sympathy with him in his affliction, and hopes by the blessing of God he will shortly be restored to health; also to express our sympathy with the church at Lombard Street in the great loss sustained by the resignation of their beloved pastor.

II. That we most cordially welcome the Rev. J. P. Barnett into this Conference, and trust that his services at Longford may be abundantly blessed.

III. That the advisability of uniting with the Midland Home Mission be taken into consideration at the next Conference; the churches to be requested to report thereon.

IV. The church at Nuneaton applied for a recommendation to the Midland Home Mission for assistance in the support of a minister. Nuneaton is a rising town containing 10,000 people. Our chapel therea poor dilapidated place is held on life interest. The people are exerting themselves to raise funds for a new chapel, and in the event of a new chapel being raised, and a suitable minister obtained, with God's blessing a flourishing church would

be established. Resolved, "That we cordially grant their request."

The next Conference to be held at Longmore Street, Birmingham, on Easter Tuesday. Subject of paper, "The best methods of making our church meetings as promotive of the spiritual interests of the church as possible;" Rev. J. P. Barnett to be the writer. Rev. W. Lees to preach in the evening.

In the absence, through illness, of the Rev. J. Harrison, the Secretary preached in the evening. HENRY CROSS, Sec.

CHAPELS.

COVENTRY, Gosford Street.-Mr. Henry Varley, of Notting Hill, conducted special services in this chapel on the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th of Oct. The chapel was crowded. Believers were quickened and sinners aroused. We are enjoying much of the presence of the Divine Master.

LONDON, Church Street.-On Lord's-day, Oct. 29th, we celebrated the fortieth anniversary of our chapel; the pastor preached the sermons to large congregations. The collections exceeded any made for many years past. On the Tuesday evening following, the social tea meeting was held, when our Lecture Hall was crowded; and at the succeeding public meeting Dr. Burns referred to the history of the chapel, and to the progress of the various institutions during the past year. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. W. and Jas. Blake, and Rev. E. Davies. No happier or more satisfactory anniversary has ever been celebrated within our walls.

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