the necessity of such an establishment as ours; and though posterior to the commencement of our labours, free day-schools have been established, (the children attending at which are taken care of on the Sabbath) the necessity of our exertions have not been superseded, for we still find ample scope for the exertion of every nerve in this glorious cause. The number of children at present in the school is about five hundred, our minister who is a clergyman of the established church, has from the first formation of the school greatly exerted himself to promote its welfare; in this particular many of his Reverend brethren who have Sunday Schools connected with their churches would do well to follow his example. He attends the School for the purpose of addressing the children very frequently; on the evening of the first Sabbath in every month he particularly addresses the younger part of his congregation, when he occasionally directs his discourse to the children in the Sunday School. Once during the year he examines the children publicly in the church, when rewards are distributed among them according to their various deserts; while the children are thus the peculiar objects of his attention, the teachers are equally indebted to him for the readiness which he shews at all times to render them every assistance in his power; individually, by visiting them in sickness, &c. and collectively, by affording them advice and encouragement to stimulate them to persevere in that work in which they are engaged for the glory of God, and the present benefit and eternal welfare of the rising generation; to this end four quarterly meetings are held during the year, at which he presides, nearly the whole of the teachers, about sixty in number being generally present, who are always addressed by him; these addresses are very conducive to the prosperity of the Schools, and their utility cannot be thoroughly appreciated but by those who have experienced the beneficial effects resulting from them; but a more adequate conception of this may be formed by a perusal of the leading features of one of them which I propose giving in another paper: and if some should be stimulated to the adoption of similar measures, their advantage will only be equalled by the pleasure it will afford Your obedient Servant, SIR, Letter from Mr. Freeman to the Editor. you, Sk, I AM to inform sorry that an apparent mistake in your number for April last, has escaped my notice till the present week. By referring to page 357, you will find that, at the for mation of the Southwark society for the instruction of adults, it is said I " stated, that having been appointed a member of the committee of the East London Auxiliary Bible Society," &c. I had" commenced teaching at Oldford; that the school, though on a small scale, in comparison with some which had been mentioned, had been rendered very beneficial, and some persons who had confessed there was scarcely any crime they had not committed, had become sober, moral, and orderly." Now the fact is, that I was a member of the sub-committee only, and the substance of what I said was, that my experience in teaching adults at Oldford had been confined within very narrow limits; but that, in adverting to experience, we must direct our eyes to Britol. There, I said, it had, through the Divine blessing, been connected with very beneficial results. And then I spoke of a change of character similar to that already mentioned; and which, I apprehend, has been generally understood as referring to the adult persons instructed at Oldford. On their account, therefore, I consider myself bound to correct the mistake, which I can easily conceive might be made in combining short and detached notes taken at that meeting. I think also that a little misapprehension is likely to arise from another circumstance recorded at the bottom of the forementioned page. I am there said to have stated "that those who had come forward, had generally been persons who had not frequented public worship." But this assertion is not applicable to Oldford, though it may be strictly true of some other places. I am rather inclined to think, however, that what I said might be nearly to the following effect: that the generality of persons who could not read, were persons who did not attend any place of worship whatever, and to whom the Sabbath was in some respects, the most miserable day of the seven; and that, for want of proper objects to arrest their attention, many of them had recourse to the alehouse. That when these persons should be induced to spend a well-selected portion of the Sabbath-day in learning to read, they would acquire new habits, and would attend a place of worship, some going to one place, and some to another. That, consequently, places of public worship would receive considerable accessions; and that there was not the least probability that any religious assemblies would sustain any injury in the issue of the event. Upon the whole, therefore, I consider it incumbent on me to request the insertion of this letter in your next number, unless it can be made more consistent with the truth of the case, which I should be glad to see effected, if possible, before its publication. I am, Sir, Yours, &c. J. F. A SUNDAY SCHOOL ANECDOTE. A SUPERINTENDENT of a Sunday School in Bristol, lately discoursing with the Children about eternal things, among other questions asked, "Where is God?" One of the elder boys immediately answered, "In Heaven." The Superintendent not appearing satisfied with this reply, again repeated the enquiry, a younger lad briskly answered, "Every where." The Superintendent expecting a further explanation, made no remark, but again asked, "Where is God?" When a third boy (thinking no doubt that he could improve upon the two former answers) most chearfully called out, "God is here." This met the cordial views of the Superintendent, who instantly rewarded the last mentioned lad; and took occasion to press upon his tender auditory these important truths that, "God is in heaven."—" God is every where"-" God is here." It will be found one of the best ways of imparting instruction, thus to make the children their own teachers, and to induce them to think for themselves. Letter to the EDITOR. J. S. B. A Stimulus to exertion in SUNDAY SCHOOLS. DEAR SIR, I have often been highly delighted when at the quarterly meetings of the Sunday School Union, while hearing the pleasing communications from different parts of the country, in the formation of unions, the increase of Sunday Schools, and the incontrovertible evidence they afford of their beneficial tendencies in promoting the best interests of the young. Yet these recollections, so pleasant, have been soon interrupted by the information which I have received, and which is too well authenticated to doubt its correctness-that numerous villages in our country, are still sitting almost in the shadow of death, and on whom the light of Sunday School instruction has not yet shined. Permit me, through the medium of your valuable Repository, to urge on the attention, particularly of Ministers, as well as every friend to the rising youth of Britain, to provide themselves with all the information they can possibly obtain, and to present the state of their respective neighbourhoods to the general meeting of the Sunday School Union in May, when, may we not indulge the hope, that arrangements will be made by some of our most zealous friends to make a tour for the purpose of establishing a Sunday School Union in every county, and Schools in every village. I often regret that the importance of Sunday Schools in increasing a congregation-promoting the spiritual welfare of the teachers as well as children-diffusing a spirit of piety in the neighbourhood, awakening the energies of the private christian the aid they afford to Bible Associations, and the enlargement of the benevolent feelings-are not thus viewed by ministers generally; though I rejoice there are many, very many, who watch over them with their most affectionate regard. And, Sir, as no means, however trivial they may ap pear, should be left untried, to excite more general attention, I beg to offer £21, as a premium, for the best poem on the subject of Sunday Schools, which shall detail the state of the English poor prior to their establishment-origin-progresspresent state of-and the good that may be anticipated by their more general adoption on the state of Britain, Europe, and the world. The day has already dawned, and will, I hope, soon arrive at that glorious meridian, when concerning Britain as it regards a Sunday School in every village, it may be said—she is truly perfect-and that the local names attached to Sunday School Unions will shortly be absorbed in a Universal Sunday School Union. That this may be soon realized is the earnest wish of The Writer is known to the Editor, and has left £21 in his hands for the purpose above mentioned. He wishes to receive the Poem by December 31, 1815, at farthest, and should any profits arise from the publication of it, they will be given to the Sunday School Union. Editor. THE SECOND REPORT OF THE SHEFFIELD SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION, (Continued from page 34.) SOME years ago when the Methodist Sunday Schools, now at Red Hill, were held in Peacroft, Benjamin Davison, a boy, who attended them, absconded one Sabbath afternoon. After many adventures, he arrived as a soldier in the East Indies.-But though, like Jonah, he fled from the presence of the Lord, he could not escape from the merciful hand that had once appre. hended him, and which at length saved him from himself, while he was rushing upon his own destruction. He has since become a witness for the gospel both among his comrades and before the heathen; and by the latest letters received from him, it appears that the blessing of God is upon his labours. There are, at this time, two travelling preachers in the methodist connexion, who received their first instructions in human learning, and their first impressions of divine grace, in the same School in Peacroft. Ebenezer Ironside, at four years of age, went to the Sunday School at Rotherham, where he was remarkable for punctual at tendance and good behaviour. On the removal of his parents to Sheffield, they sent him to Red Hill School, for about two years and a half; but he was afterwards transferred to Queen Street, at his own request, having received so great au affection for Mr. M'Goy, the master of the Lancasterian School, which he attended on the week days, that he wished to be with him on the sabbaths also. This privilege he enjoyed only a few weeks. On Monday, December 13, 1813, he rose in his usual health; in the afternoon he was taken ill; on the Friday following he was a corpse. He died in his eighth year. At the beginning of his sickness he felt deep convictions of being a poor sinful child, who had need of pardon, though his general conduct had been amiable and exemplary in the sight of men. For pardon, therefore, he often prayed; and desired his father to pray with him. Being asked, whether he would rather get better, or die and go to heaven," he replied "I would rather get better." Afterwards so comfortable a change was wrought in him, that the same question being repeated, his answer was, "Now I would rather die and go to heaven." It is a beautiful circumstance, indicative of the simplicity of the minds of children, that, when they have the assurance of future happiness within themselves, the natural fear of death, which makes even the aged saint tremble when he feels his heart and his flesh fail him, Vanishes entirely: and is not this "receiving the kingdom of heaven as a little child?" This dear boy suffered much pain of body, but his soul was staid on Christ; in the last agony, after a fervent prayer, he intreated his father to take him up. The afflicted parent had just power to raise him in his arms, and say in faith, "Lord Jesus! receive the spirit of my child!" Mary Ann Burgess, the youngest of fifteen children, though of a very delicate framic, was a diligent attendant of the Methodist School for five years. Her duty there was indeed her delight, and she loved especially to join her companions in singing the praises of her Saviour. She had an exceedingly sweet voice, and during her illness, which lasted five weeks, she daily exercised herself in " psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs," as well as singing," making melody in her heart unto the Lord." Thus |