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privilege it is occasionally to deliver a little discourse to the girls, observes that he found it difficult to gain their attention to any thing that he said, till he had gained their affections by kind behaviour. Now when he stands up, he feels as if he were in a little paradise among them, so quiet and devout they appear, till their hearts are melted, and their eyes overflow, while he dwells on the love, or describes the sufferings of Christ: sometimes the emotion has been so great, that speaker and hearers have been affected together, and only sighs have been heard. This awakening among the children, as it may truly be called, has so much engaged the sympathy of the superintendent and this teacher, that they have taken occasion to converse individually with them, and are convinced that on the hearts of several of the girls, a good work is begun, which will be perfected in eternity. Some of these little ones have been engaged in extemporary prayer, and some have suffered persecution from their worldly connections for righteousness sake. In the same school there is a Bible Association, and the poor children have subscribed twenty one shillings and sixpence halfpenny to the Missionary Society.Among the adult scholars there is one seventy years of age, who is very desirous to learn to read.

From the Nether Chapel School the committee have received a gratifying account of the general improvement of the scholars. Among these has been established a circulating tract library. The child of a very dissolute parent, in miserable attire, was lately sent to this School. Some compassionate ladies supplied her with comfortable clothing; and not only her subsequent conduct and proficiency in learning have rewarded them for their kindness, but deep impressions of religious truth on her mind give them delightful hopes that she is a plant of the heavenly Father's planting"" in the little spot enclosed by grace" which they cultivate. A frequenter of the Nether Chapel had, some time ago, an accidental conversation with a person of profane and infidel principles. The latter has since sent his boy to the Sunday School, and he himself regularly attends divine worship.

The report from Lee Croft Chapel of the progress of the Sunday School there is equally encouraging. The Bible Association among the children is well supported. Two subscribers, belonging to one family, having paid their pennies for a short time, the mother came, and intreated, as a particular favour, that when the joint contributions were large enough to purchase one Bible, she might have one, as they had nothing of the kind in the house, and the eldest of the children had frequently been distressed, even to tears, on account of the want. A Bible was immediately furnished, and there is reason to believe that it is daily used in a family, which knew neither the possession nor the value of such a treasure before.

At Garden Street Chapel School the children came forward voluntarily, to subscribe their mites towards the Missionary fund.

By the way, we may remark, that next to the narratives of Scrip ture itself, there is nothing that catches the attention, and touches the hearts of children so quickly, nor indeed engages their sympathy so permanently, as accounts of the heathen in their darkness and misery, visited by the light and consolation of the gospel. When the Juvenile Missionary Society was established in Sheffield, these poor Sunday Scholars transferred their contributions to it; and since then they have begun a Bible Association among themselves. There is now a School for adults in connection with this Chapel, and ten persons are taught to read the word of God, on Tuesday evenings, at the Rev. Mr. Docker's House.

The Sunday School at Roscoe Place was established at the commencement of that extensive manufactory, for the purpose of teaching the apprentices belonging to the concern, the best knowledge the knowledge of God and of themselves, on the Sabbath. In February 1812 the plan was enlarged, and now not only the children of workmen, but others up to mature age, are received and instructed. Good has been done, and experienced, by the benevolent patrons and teachers of this institution.

The Methodist Suuday School in Attercliffe excites peculiar interest, when we consider that it was begun in 1806, by the zeal of that man of God, the late Rev. Peter Haslam, who though he had received the rudiments of very humble learning in a Sunday School, by diligent self-improvement, under the divine blessing, became a preacher of righteousness, pre-eminently adorned with gifts and graces, that rendered him highly acceptable and peculiarly useful in his station. His early removal will long be lamented by those, in every place, who had the happiness to sit under his ministry. This School has undergone many vicissitudes, but at this time it is in a promising, and comparatively flourishing condition.

The Sunday School at Zion Chapel, in Attercliffe, was founded by some generous-minded persons, who are grieved to see the Lord's day, in many respects, so dreadfully profaned as to be the day of the week most notorious for disorder and wickedness. The christian purpose for which this asylum for poor children, from the contagion of evil example, was opened, has been in a great measure answered. Many neglected beings have been reclaimed, and more, in all probability, preserved, from the evil that surrounded them, and that was in them; and it is believed. on good evidence, that some of these, under the gracious influence of the spirit of truth, are growing up" as the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty."

The Methodist Sunday School at Darnal, though it was only opened in October 1812, has been the means of great grace to many families in the neighbourhood. Before that time the Sabbaths were spent in idleness or dissipation by the generality of inhabitants. Many of these are now constant hearers, and some of

them faithful keepers of the word of God. This, in various in stances, 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 evange lists 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 en", first part of the 147 Psalm, 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 plum 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

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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 Southborough: 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

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