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cessant hard labour as a washerwoman, could scarcely keep herself and children in existence. At length she perceived an improvement in his behaviour: he came home earlier, was less unkind, and by degrees became bearable. Still she dared not ask him the cause, till one evening he said, "Where dost think I have been, Bet?" "I don't know, John; but wherever you have been, I hope you will go again; I never saw such an alteration in a man in my life." "I have been at the Adult School, where I have been learning to read, and can now read in the Bible, which has told me that I was going headlong to hell; so I have done with the alehouse and my drunken companions; and thou shalt go, Bet; and when thou canst read too, we may be as happy as others." She went, learnt to read, and while learning the letter, they drank into the spirit of the Bible; they became vital Christians, and, from being the most miserable, they were now among the most happy of human beings. That tongue, which uttered blasphemy, was now filled with praise; those lips which breathed curses, scandal, and obscenity, now were daily employed in prayer to God for a blessing on his family. In short, the change in his whole conduct was so great as to excite the astonishment of his neighbours, and produced in the breast of his wife, the most lively emotions of gratitude to God. She often looked on him with astonishment, and could scarcely think he was her husband; he was become so conscientious in his dealings, so honest, so industrious, that he would not mis-spend a moment: they were lately in the extreme of poverty, but were now in comparative afiluence: all their wants were supplied; habits of frugality, of charity, of brotherly kindness, were formed; and that house, which was lately a hell upon earth, was now become a paradise.

WILTSHIRE SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

ON Wednesday, Nov. 30th, a general meeting was held at Warminster for the formation and establishment of a Sunday School Union, designed to consist of Christians of all denominations, including Wilts and East-Somerset. The principles upon which this society is founded, and on which they intend to proceed, will, it is hoped, be deemed unexceptionable, and in every respect liberal: without attaching themselves to any party, they earnestly solicit the co-operation of all. Their object is, to promote the instruction of indigent children, and thus to improve the condition of the rising generation. They will endeavour to establish schools where it may be considered eligible, and to give additional impulse to those already existing. Necessitous schools will be supplied with books, either gratuitously, or at considerably reduced prices.

SOUTHWARK AUXILIARY

SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION,

THE second Quarterly Meeting of the Southwark Auxiliary Sunday School Union, was held at the Rev. Mr. Chin's meeting, Walworth, on Thursday evening, the 8th of September, 1814. The Rev. Mr. Day (of Greenland Dock) in the chair.

After singing the hymn, "Attracted by love's sacred force," the Rev. Mr. Preston engaged in prayer.

A report was then read from the committee by Mr. Heward. It stated, that the plan for ascertaining the state of the schools in the connection of the Auxiliary Union, had completely succeeded. By requesting an account of the number of children on the books, and the number attending, they found the number of absentees in each school to differ materially. Some had eight, some ten, and others from twelve to twenty, and even thirty absent in one hundred. Conceiving the number of absentees a better proof of the discipline and order of a school, than mere numbers, they recommended from twelve to fifteen in one hundred, as a desirable standard for each school to adopt.

It stated, that measures were taken for the establishment of a depository in a central part of the Borough, for the convenience of their schools in purchasing books, &c. published by the parent institution.

It concluded by observing, that in removing their Quarterly Meetings to different places of worship in Southwark, their object was to interest their congregations in the great cause of Sunday Schools, and made an animating appeal for their liberality to be exercised on that evening.

The Rev. E. Mitchell in moving its reception, observed, that the cry of every new born soul was, "What wilt thou have me to do." To which Sunday Schools, like so many distinct voices, replied, "Come over and help us." He also expatiated on the general utility of Sunday Schools.

The Rev. Mr. Bridge in seconding the resolution, related an anecdote of a child having been instrumental in the conversion of its parents, by praying with and for them.

66

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The Rev. Mr. West of Harold, in moving the second resolution, viz. the alteration of the 6th rule of the society, stated, that should any persons want inducements to engage in the good work, he would say from six years experience, you have a desire to promote religion in your own soul, to grow in grace, engage yourself in a Sunday School." Should any be discouraged by the want of success, he would mention to such a circumstance of a boy with whom he had, when in a Sunday School, taken much pains for a long while, as he thought, without any success; but

* See the state of the Schools annexed to this account,

r 2

meeting him some years afterwards, he was, by his conversation, encouraged to hope that his labour had not been in vain.

Mr. Jones, (secretary of the parent institution) in seconding the resolution, mentioned the formation of a West London Auxiliary Union, two evenings before, and the quarterly meeting of the East London on the last evening, enforced the value of an immortal soul, that for its destruction or salvation the powers of hell and heaven were employed. He related an anecdote of a child having been instrumental in the conversion of father, mother, brother, and sister; and another, shewing the utility of singing in a Sunday School, and concluded by an appeal to those present, on the behalf of the funds of the institution.

Reports were then read from the following schools;
Crosby-Row, by Mr. Denham.

Surry Chapel, by Mr. Burnell.
Lion-Street, by Mr Swaine,
Prospect-Place, by Mr. Bishop.

The third resolution, "Thanks to Mr. Chin and his deacons, for the use of the meeting, &c." was moved by the Rev. Mr. Kid; he stated that he had been engaged in a Sunday School in Yorkshire, mentioned a fact of two children from that school having joined a Christian church, and expressed a desire to enter into the ministry; he concluded by addressing parents who might be present, and teachers, and relating an affecting circumstance of a boy fifteen years of age, being visited by his teacher on a death

bed.

Mr. Heward, in seconding the resolution, stated an opportunity for opening a new school in Southwark; mentioned from his own experience the good effects of the union. He did not, he said, hesitate to inform the meeting, that once hearing Lyon-street School was enlarged, and the teachers actively engaged in filling it with children, he felt a little degree of jealousy when he found some children had left the school under his own care, to attend Lyon-street; but the Southwark Auxiliary Union had completely cured this distemper, it had made him acquainted with the superintendent of that school, he had given him the right hand of fellowship, and would feel no objection in assisting him or any other superintendent, to fill their schools with children. Indeed he would take that opportunity of suggesting a plan, whereby in a few weeks, one hundred new scholars had been brought to Prospectplace School: this was by encouraging the children to go out into the " highways" and “ hedges," and invite others to come in. Such children received a tract for every new scholar they brought, but not till it had attended four Sundays constant; at the same time, a smaller tract was given to the new scholar. He concluded by hoping the liberality of those present that evening, would enable the society to promote the opening of new, and encrease of old schools in Southwark.

The Rev. Mr. Preston (of Suffolk-street Chapel) moved thanks

to the chairman, which was seconded by Mr. Preston of Walworth. The Rev. Mr. Day, replied in a short but encouraging address to the teachers to persevere in the work, in which he related an anecdote of the success of a child in his endeavours to convert an adult person.

The Rev. Mr. West concluded the meeting by prayer.

The meeting was more numerously attended than any of the former ones, and it is hoped the animation felt and testified by all, will prove that they are not in vain, but often kindle afresh the almost expiring zeal of many, while they encourage others “never to be weary in well doing."

A Report of the State of the Schools under the care of the Southwark Auxiliary Sunday School Union.

First District. (Secretary, Mr. James Taylor, Holland-street,
Black Friars-road.)

Children admit

When opened ted since its Children on Children Teachers commencement. the Books. attending.

Surry Chapel School.... in 1799.
Castle-yard Do... July, 1802.
Maid-lane Do...... July, 1815.

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2285

400

370 26 386 293 23

143 122 101 12

1500 330 295 28

Second District. (Secretary, Mr. Dry, 9, Swan-st. Kent-road.) Prospect-place School July, 1808. Lyon-street Do.....Decem. 1808. Kennington-lane Do. ... in 1806.

514 180 140 13 1146 212 160 20

Third District. (Secretary, Mr. Legg, Russel-st. Bermondsey.) Borough School...........

in 1801.

Do...
.......

Mint
July, 1799.
Carter-lane Do. for Girls Aug. 1812.
Do. Do. for Boys June, 1805.

300

2500 230 190 23 3026

250 14

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Fourth District. (Secretary, Mr. Denham, 3, Baal Zephor-st.

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Long-lane.)

Crosby-row School. March, 1805. 2859
Kent-street Do..... Aug. 1798.

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3000 245 200

23

Bermondsey New-rd, Do. Decem. 1812.

307 173 156

17

Fifth District.

(Secretary, Mr. Brown, 6, John-street,
Horselydown.)

Unicorn-yard School Jan. 1807. 1367 152 120
Dock-head Do.

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Sixth District. (Secretary, Mr. Courthope, 33, Rotherhithe-st.)

Seventh District. (Secretary Mr. Nettleton, 4, Queen-street, Horselydown.)

Walworth Boys School. in 1793.

Walworth Common

....

Oct. 1813.

600 70 60 7 283

268 180 15

Eight District. (Secretary, Mr. Hoskyns, Grove School

Battersea.)

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Ninth District, (Secretary, Mr. Coy, 205, Kent-street.)

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32

5017

Total number of Schools belonging to the Union.. ... ... ... ...

Ditto of Children

Ditto of Teachers

402

CENTRAL AND NORTH LONDON

AUXILIARY SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

AFTER several meetings of superintendents and teachers of Sunday Schools in this district; it was unanimously resolved, to call a general meeting of the teachers and friends of these institutions; for the purpose of forming an Auxiliary Union, for the central and North parts of the metropolis; a provisional committee was appointed to prepare the constitution, rules, &c. and a numerous meeting was held at the Rev. E. J. Jones's chapel, Silver-street, Wood-street, on Wednesday evening, 23d November, 1814, for that purpose.

Thomas Pellatt, Esq. being called to the chair, the Rev. E. J. Jones gave out the 324th hymn, in the Nottingham Sunday School Union collection, and the chairman requested the Rev. Mr. Blackburn to ask a blessing on the meeting.

The chairman then briefly stated the objects of the meeting, and the great benefit which would result from united operations against ignorance and vice.

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