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MEETING of the PORTSEA SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

ON Good-Friday, March the 24th, the Rev. John Griffin preached his Annual Sermon, at King-street Chapel, Portsea, to the Sunday School Children of Orange-street, and the different Schools in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth and Portsea. Nearly Two Thousand children were present on this interesting occasion, and but for the weather proving very unfavourable, a much greater number would have attended. The text was selected from 21st chap. Matthew, 15-16 verses.

It was observed, that the text intimates that when the children cried Hosanna, Christ manifested his kindness and condescension in listening to their praises, and reproving those who had expressed their anger: he appeared pleased by the worship of these children, and encouraged them to come to him-those who are Christians, that is, like Jesus Christ, love to instruct children and see them attentive to the worship of God, we will, thereforepotice

I. The reasons why good people wish children to be religious. 1. Because there are so many children not religious, 2. Because wicked children will be miserable.

3. Because they may die very soon.

4. Because if religious, they will, while children, be very happy..

5. Because by their good tempers and conduct they will make so many happy,

And lastly, Because they will be the means of making others religious.

II. The proofs of children being religious.

1. When they believe what God says.

2. When they shew love to God.

3. When they are afraid of sin and doing evil,

And lastly, When they have done wrong to be sorry for it. III. The encouragements children have to be religious. 1. Because God and Christ delight in such.

2. Because so many promises are given them.

3. Because there are so many persons that were religious in childhood, that are now honoured in manhood:some are Ministers, Deacons, and useful active members of Churches,

And lastly, Because such that honour God-God will honour, and bestow upon them his spirit and grace. After the Sermon, there was collected from the Teachers and the Congregation, upwards of £28, for the support of the three Schools, in connection with the Church at King-street.

To encourage the Spirit of Union, and brotherly love among the Teachers, immediately after the service, they met at the School Rooms, in Orange-street, where tea had been provided for near two hundred Teachers, and their friends.

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After begging the Divine blessing in prayer, the following gen tlemen addressed the Meeting in lively and animated strains of christian eloquence. We are sorry that our limits will not allow us to insert their speeches:

Mr. Mortimer, the Vice-President; Mr. John Orsmond, formerly one of the Orange-street teachers, but now a student at Gosport, preparatory to his voyage as Missionary to Otaheite; Mr. Guger, jun. formerly one of the Orange-street teachers, but now studying for the Ministry under the Rev. D. Bogue; Mr. Haslett, sen.; Mr. John Griffin, jun.; Mr. Render, from the Gosport Şeminary; Mr. Piercy; Mr. Cooper, formerly one of the Orangestreet teachers, now a student at Gosport; Mr. Porter, Mr. Green, and Mr. White.

The Meeting was concluded by singing "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

The unanimity which prevailed, the fervent zeal displayed, and the sacred flame of piety which glowed in the hearts of those who gave the addresses, proved highly gratifying to the friends of the Institution. It appeared like a new epoch in the history of Orangestreet Sunday School, and we doubt not but its effects will be felt after many days..

SIR,

LETTER to the EDITOR.

J. C.

HAVING seen in one of the public papers an incorrect account of a most pleasing scene which I witnessed on the morning of Whit-monday, May the 15th. I transmit you the following account, which if you think proper to give a place in your valuable publication, I doubt not, will please and gratify your numerous readers engaged in that most benevolent and delightful work—of instructing the Children of the Poor in Sunday Schools.

On entering St. James's Park by the parade, I was agreeably surprised to find it filled, not with men trained to arms, and marching to the sound of fife and drum, the usual occupants of that place, but with a large number of children, "training up in the hurture and admonition of the Lord," and marching, if not in equal order, with more cheerful hearts. These children, in number upwards of Two Thousand, belonging to six Sunday Schools, established and supported by the Wesleyan Methodists, in the western part of the metropolis, according to annual custom had assembled at their respective Schools, and walked in procession to the Park, where the whole of them met on the parade, at nine o'clock, and to the philanthropic mind presented a most gratifying scene, of so many children saved from ignorance and vice, and instructed in the relative duties of religious and civil life. From the Park they proceeded, in an extended line and orderly manner, to China Terrace Chapel, where a very appropriate address was

delivered to them by the Rev. Joseph Entwistle, on the conclusion of which, the lines "On the Origin of Sunday Schools," from the "Sunday School Repository," were repeated, in a very able manner, by one of the monitors; and, the hymn, called "Harvest Home,” being sung by the whole of the children, a little boy repeated very correctly, the parable of the "Wheat and the Tares," with the explanation, from the 13th chapter of St. Matthews Gospel, which was the subject of the hymn. Refreshment of buns and water was then distributed to them by their teachers, and singing some verses, they returned to the Park in the order they went, about 2 o'clock, from whence dividing, they proceeded to their respective schools. The chapel, though large, would scarcely accommodate the number of children; a number of adult persons were in consequence prevented getting in. The appearance in the Park of Two Thousand children, all clean and orderly, was truly pleasing, but when assembled and seated in the Chapel, (the galleries of which are circular) where the eye could command the whole, and the ear was gratified in hearing praises ascribed to the Maker and Redeemer of mankind by so many infant voices, the effect was truly astonishing; it excited the most sublime sensations, and produced feelings which cannot be described—in the inimitable words of Watt's, it may be said, ""Twas like a little heaven below."

Several appropriate hymns, to very suitable tunes, were sung by the children in the course of the service, in a most correct and delightful manner. The whole arrangement and execution reflect credit on the conductors, and it is to be hoped the beneficial effects will be seen for years to come.

I am Sir, yours,

ONESIMUS.

ADULT SCHOOLS in AMERICA.

Extract of a Letter from Divie Bethune, Esq. New York, to Stephen Prust, Esq. Bristol, dated 10th June, 1815.

"IT will be gratifying to you to learn, that your transmission of the Report of the Adult Schools has been the means of awakening towards this object a great attention, here and in PHILADEL PHIA. I forward you an extract of a Letter I received from a pious Young Lady, in Philadelphia, to whom I mentioned the Adult Schools when there in January, last.

"The little School begun by Mrs. B., on her reading Dr. Pole's Report, has succeeded astonishingly. She and my two daughters, assisted by a female friend, teach it on Sunday mornings. It consists of between eighty and ninety; and the Bible class, now all able to read, is forty-seven! Schools for the education of poor children are rapidly increasing in this country. Great hopes are entertained of the revival of Religion in the episcopal church, in the state of Virginia, The Bishop, Dr. Richard Channing Moore,

who went there from this city, is a pious zealous man, of fine address, and appears to be greatly blessed."

Extract of a Letter from a Young Lady, in Philadelphia, to Divie Bethune, Esq. New York.

"I had several Extracts from Dr. Pole's work inserted in the Religious Remembrancer," a weekly paper of our city, and the subject excited universal attention. The Free Masons have taken it up, and, at a General Meeting, it was proposed, and carried unanimously, that several Schools should be established, and held in the Grand Lodge, Chesnut-street! Mr. Thomas Bradford commenced a School in the JAIL last Sabbath-day,

Several pious females, friends of mine, propose shortly to commence one in the west end of the city-and thus you see how great a matter a little fire kindleth." "O come let us sing praises to the Lord; bless the Lord O my soul; and all that is within me praise his Holy name."

"I never undertook any thing that afforded such heart-felt joy, our precious little establishment goes on delightfully. The first member was a pious soul, 52 years of age; she comes with her spectacles on, and seems as if she would devour the book. She never fails giving us a blessing, and assures us she has long been praying that the Lord would open some way, that she might learn to read the Bible; she looks at your little book with delight, and often says, "O this blessed book-I know I shall learn to read in this book." I feel as if her prayers were as good as a host. We have eleven scholars, two added mostly of an evening, and after the first lesson, they advance wonderfully. O what encourage. ment for prayer is this; "Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it” saith the Lord.

There is no doubt that all the different Lodges belonging to the fraternity will take up this subject, and it will extend over the whole Union; one of the officers gave me this information. Great exertions have been made for the relief of the body; but O the soul, that never dies, that any thing should be done for that, is transporting. "That the soul be without knowledge is not good." Our city exhibits a more favourable aspect than heretofore, as it respects morality and religion. The committees that were engaged in collecting and distributing to the poor, are now making exertions to suppress the vice of intemperance, which they have discovered is the chief cause of their misery.

Our churches are better attended and vital piety is progressing, Mr. Broadhead is blessed abundantly in his labours; and Mr. J. and Mr. Skinner have had many seals to their ministry. Mr. Patterson has from twenty to thirty at his conferences; but Mr. Birch informed me on Sabbath-day, that he had fifty, and thirty he had reason to believe were within the ark of safety, and he said he did not think he had one careless hearer; he has about a thousand regularly attending his ministrations,

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A POEM on the ADULT SCHOOLS in BRISTOL, and other Place
(From Dr. Pole's History of Adult Schools.)

Lord! are there eyes that see the sun,
And gaze with joy on Nature's face,
Yet, while thro' all thy works they run,
Thy glorious Godhead never trace?

Lord! are there eyes, to which thy Book
No hidden mystery 'reveals?
O give them power thereon to look.
Lion of Judah! break the seals.*

There, with new light, may they behold
Thy counsels, since the world began,
Like morning's gradual beams, unfold
The wonders of thy love to man.

For whom, a rebel from his birth,
Thine only Son, Thou didst not spare,
The Lord from heaven came down to earth,
His guilt and punishment to bear.

Thus while instruction they receive,
Thy Spirit's inward light impart,

Till trembling penitents believe,
And Mercy heals the broken heart.

Not eyes alone shall then rejoice
In the rich comforts of thy word,
Deaf ears shall hearken to thy voice,
And bless the day its sound was heard.

Tongues, that were wont to pledge thy name
In oaths and cursings, change their tone,
Thy free salvation to proclaim,

And make thy loving-kindness known.

Bosoms, by cruel fiends possest,
Dark dungeons of in-dwelling sin,
Are temples with thy presence blest,
All-glorious like the ark, within,

* Rev. v. 5.

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