them faithful keepers of the word of God. This, in various instances, has been brought about by the active ministry of the children of the Sunday School, who returning home with their little hearts burning within them, after hearing the Scriptures opened to their simple understandings, became the first evangelists to their own families; telling their fathers and mothers, and relatives, what great things the Lord had done for their souls, and inviting them to come and taste, and see how good He is. Within this short period nearly thirty persons have joined the Methodist Society; a larger number attend Mr. Richards' ministry, at Zion Chapel, in Attercliffe; and the great, the glorious work is but begun! The Lord prosper it abundantly, to his own glory!

The committee of the Sheffield Sunday School Union have now presented a summary of the principal documents supplied by Schools in this connection. Arguments are more convincing than declamation, and facts are more conclusive than arguments. The committee having been thus amply supplied with the most "quick and powerful" of these three weapons, in defence of that cause which it is their glory to advocate, will not weaken the effect produced by these plain narratives by making one comment upon them. But in the language of the Apostle, we say to our Brethren of this Union: "If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if any bowels and mercies:-be ye like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

And "may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.

TUNBRIDGE SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

SOME friends, alive to the best interests of the rising generation, whom, an afflictive dispensation had directed to Tunbridge Wells early in the last summer, after inspecting the various Sunday Schools in the neighbourhoods, observed with regret that there was no union of plan and little concern for each others prosperity; the spirit of the Corinthians, "I am of Paul and I am of Apollos," was too apparent to allow them to say, "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." After mature consideration, and remembering the subject in their retired moments, it was determined, to endeavour to substitute union of operation for diversity of plan--zealous solicitude, for indifference to the prosperity of others and the sincerity of the christian, for a mere empty name.

Several meetings of the most active friends of each denomination took place, at the close of which they had cause for thankfulness to him "who disposeth men to be of one mind," realizing what had long been unfelt, "how good and how pleasant

a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." A public dinner for the children, their teachers and friends was proposed and assented to by all. As soon as their intentions became more generally known, an addition to the number and regular attendance of the children in the different Schools was remarked; and they also by meeting at the Chapels alternately, for the purpose of practising the hymns selected for the occasion, learnt that all party distinctions were laid aside. On the 9th August (being the day fixed) the children from Groombridge, with another School, and some music hired for the day, (in addition to which, several friends who played on other instruments kindly lent their aid) assembled at Vale Royal Chapel, and from thence proceeded up the hill attended by the band, to meet those who had come from Penshurst and Southborough at Lady Huntingdon's Chapel, and, after mutual cheering, they returned to Zion Grove near the residence of a Lady distinguished by her be: volent attention to the poor, where they sang the first and fifth verses to the end, first part of the 147 Psalın, Dr. Watts. Persons acquainted with the local situation of the place will be able to form some idea of the effect of near five hundred children all joining at once in, Praise ye the Lord, 'tis good to raise, Our hearts and voices in his praise.

An assemblage like this was never before known in the history of Tunbridge Wells; and many christians present transferred their thoughts to that place where the Apostle heard the sound of many voices. They then proceeded to a part of the Common called Queen's Grove, passing the Ball-room and Theatre, which, the teachers and friends hoped 'might be soon unknown, except as places where the voice of praise and prayer might be heard and consecrated to the best of purposes--for the instruction of youth in the knowledge of the Redeemer. On their arrival under the trees of the Grove, (where a table twenty-eight feet long had been erected) after they where stationed and notice being given by the trumpet they sang a hymn, and the Rev. Mr. Sabine asked a blessing; roast-beef and plùm pudding with a little fruit and a glass of british wine afterwards afforded no small gratification, when the cloth was removed and the Rev. Mr. Cook had returned thanks, they sang another hymn and went, by permission, to amuse themselves on the Common. Among the numerous spectators were several of the nobility and gentry, whose carriages encircled the ground which the children occupied. The Lady of the Manor, who had not left her residence to that distance for two years, was present, and so delighted with the children's singing that she begged it might be repeated, to which they cheerfully complied. The teachers and their friends then adjourned to the Marquee, where the conversation turned upon the best means of instructing the rising generation and adults in the adjoining villages, when the Report of the Bath Sunday School Union was read, and it was proposed by the Rev. Mr. Sabine, and seconded by another friend, that a Sunday School Union be

formed as early as possible. The day was accordingly fixed for the twenty-third August. A gentleman present delighted with the scene-so pleasing to the eye and grateful to the ear, anticipating the happiest results, expressed a hope, in which all present coincided, that a dinner would be given annually, and begged to subscribe £5. 5s. a year for that purpose. The children were then called together, a bun and a broad sheet tract on the Peace given to each, the best child of each class was rewarded with a prayer-book by a friend of the Church of England; they were then dismissed, under the care of their teachers to their respective habitations, regreting the hours of the day had fled with such rapidity. An interesting scene took place at Sontls borough: the Penshurst children who had accompanied them of Southborough to their School, requested to sing, "Lord dismiss us with thy blessing," which being done with suitable unity of mind and cheerfulness of voice, produced an effect on the spectators, difficult to describe. Prior to the meeting for the formation of the Union, the provisional secretary (agrecable to a plan noticed in the Evangelical Magazine for September, and which had been So successful that 150 children were subscribing for Bibles, issued a circular letter to the friends of youth in the different. villages, embracing a circle of twelve miles, and whereby much important information was obtained at the meeting, which took place agreeable to appointment, at the Rev. Mr. Finley's, Mount Ephraim Chapel; after the hymn, "Attracted by love's sacred force," the Rev. Mr. Cook engaged in prayer. The Chairman requested whatever information those friends could afford; their interesting statements enabled him to introduce the subject, and evident necessity of union: the Rev, Mr. Sabine urged its necessity, as conferring respectability and security on the teachers who should offer their services in the destitute villages, being the representatives of a large body many difficulties would vanish, which might be otherwise anticipated, where bigotry and ignorance, two inseperable associates, had so long maintained a despotic sway, and where it had frequently been boasted, they had not a methodist among them, it also tended to remove prejudice and display their principles.

Quarterly Meetings of the teachers being always open to the neighbourhood, in many instances it had stirred up numbers of the establishment and awakened them to the importance of opening Schools; whether from proper motives or not rested with themselves, and that thereby their strength would be increased; as it had been remarked that two lights at a distance, if united, would produce as much light as three in separate stations, so by a union in this labor of christian love, they would burn brighter and dispel with greater ease the clouds of ignorance yet encompassing so many villages around them; it was then proposed, seconded and unanimously resolved, that a union be formed, called the Tunbridge Sunday School Union, the rules and regulations of

which were nearly similar to those already formed. Many interesting remarks were afterwards made by other Ministers present, and after singing a hymn and concluding with prayer, a collection was made amounting to about £25. The committee were chosen of persons from the surrounding villages, who all appeared much impressed with the importance of the object; arrangements were made for opening schools in the destitute villages as soon as possible. At Groombridge a school has been opened for the reception of children and adults under the zealous superintendence of the Rev. Mr. Cook, and is in a prosperous state; also one at Southborough, consisting of seventy-three children and is on the increase. Several persons of respectability have offered their services as teachers, and the children have been regularly sent and attended cheerfully, and some of the parents also have since regularly attended public ordinances: the schools are now held in much higher esteem. The females in two of them have been supplied with bonnets, and in one school with shoes and stockings in addition, the gift of some Ladies. In one of the little girls who entered the school since, there is every reason to believe a work of grace is begun; these are their encouragements, and may we not hope the first report the Secretaries, Rev. Mr. Sabine and Mr. Dickenson of Pembury intend to present the Sunday School Union at their next annual meeting in May, will realize the prediction of the Prophet, "Instead of the thorn, shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree, and it shall be to the Lord for a name.

Where is the Christian, who, in remembrance of the transactions of Calvary, views before him a universe but partially illumined, that will yet deny himself a share in these pleasures? which, when travelling in pursuit of health, recreation or friendship, are, by a little arrangement, so easily accomplished. How, it may be asked, is this world to be evangelized? How is Britain, our native isle, to become the light and glory of the nations? Only, it may be answered, by the more active co-operation of Christians; here though much has been done very much remains undone. A good man near the residence of the writer, went a few Weeks since, to a village in Somersetshire, intending to preach there; but having left his Bible at home, sent all round the village to procure one, but alas, there was not one to be had!! and at this moment many of the villages in Gloucestershire, Somersetshire, Dorsetshire and Devonshire, have no Sunday School, nor yet a Bible Association, and it is to be feared many other Counties are equally destitute in Britain, the land of Goshen. These are cls, and loud calls indeed, to the adoption of any plan (however occasional disappointment may attend a few) that may in any degree tend to promote the knowledge of the truth. Soon, it is hoped, the nations on the Continent will request our aid to assist them in these designs of mercy, and unless active steps are taken, we shall, with regret, be obliged to reply, our own vineyard is not fully watered.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE ESSEX SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

SIR,

HAVING read, with peculiar pleasure, your valuable and in. teresting miscellany, and being deeply impressed with the utility and importance of such productions, in promoting the best interest of the rising generation; we must be very defective in our duty as Sunday School Teachers, if we neglect to communicate that information which has a tendency to advance this glorious work.

With this end in view, we send you the following additional proof of the beneficial effects of Sunday School teaching which, we think, will not be disagreeable to that class of readers, for which your publication is particularly designed.

We send it to you in the form in which it was delivered at a quarterly meeting of the Essex Sunday School Union.

"As repeated instances of usefulness have sufficiently demonstrated the utility of Sunday School teaching, there can be no further need of comment upon it. But as those instances are the objects, in pursuit of which Sunday School teachers are engaged; and which the persons present are professedly met to promote: the following brief account of an instance of usefulness, which has recently transpired within our own Sunday School (at Chelmsford) will, we trust, prove a powerful stimulus to increasing exertion.

"Susanna Balls was the daughter of Robert Balls of Galleywood Common. She was admitted into the Sunday School at Chelmsford, in April, 1899, at which time she was about eleven years old. In the year 1812, her health became impaired, yet not so much so as entirely to prevent her attendance at School; to which she came as frequently as she could till the 5th of September, 1813. At this time she left the School, after having proceeded from reading words of three letters, to read in the Testament. After she left the School, she continued in a poor state of health till August 1814, and then she gradually grew worse, At this time she was visited by Mr. George Richardson, of Galleywood Common, who states as follows: She appeared to have been under serious impressions for two years, and seemed to live under the influence of those impressions. This Mr. Richardson had an opportunity of observing as she lived near him, and her conduct came frequently under his cognizance. Her delight says Mr. R. was to be with the people of God; that she might converse on the concerns of her soul.

"In her last illness, which terminated in death, she expressed, to the friend above mentioned, a perfect resignation to the will of God, in reference to whether she should live or die. And she ob served that her whole trust for salvation, was in what Jesus Christ had done and suffered and that her knowledge and experience