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LEEDS.

SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

high and cheerful expectancy, and thousands of little feet tripped along to join the great congregation. Onward and onward still they urge their way to the place of meeting, undeterred by the frowning aspect of the weather. Ever

In fulfilment of their ordinary duties, the committee have visited, by Deputation, most of the town and country schools. These visits afford excellent and anon they beguile the way by opportunities for the interchange of rehearsing the sweet and holy songs fraternal sentiments. Where defects are observed, remedies are deferentially suggested, and in all cases the recommendations offered by Deputations are very cordially received.

The committee rejoice that a Sunday School Union has been formed at the neighbouring town of Dewsbury, and they hope it will prove to be the centre of much vigorous and healthy action. Six of the schools recently in connection with the Leeds Union have withdrawn from us, in order to join the neighbour ing Association, viz. :—

Dewsbury, Ebenezer.
Do. Springfield.
Heckmondwike, Lower.
Do.
Upper.
Chapel Fold.

Birstal, Independent. Knottingley Independent school has also ceased to be associated with us.

The Sunday school singing class, established last year by this committee (and taught by Mr. T. K. LONGBOTTOM, on the Tonic Sol-Fa method), continues its weekly meetings for instruction, in the model Infant school-room, Park Lane. The friends connected with its management would be glad to see a larger number of teachers and scholars availing themselves of the advantages thus offered.

that are to be sung by the noble chorus. Nine o'clock arrives. Behold the stirring sight! There are the 32,000 children and teachers of Leeds. There are the real peace preservers of their country, who wield a power far more potent and exercise an influence far more enduring than tens of thousands of bristling bayonets. Listen to the first tune; would that its immortal composer could have heard it! It was meet that the first strains should be an ascription of praise to the King of Kings—

"O worship the King all glorious above, O gratefully sing His power and His love," and now listen to the children's melody

"God of mercy, throned on high,

Listen from Thy lofty seat;
Hear, O hear our feeble cry;

Guide, O guide, our wandering feet." and then Richmond, sweet Richmond, which transports us to the "realms of the blest," and makes us long for

"Angels' wings,

Those sweeter songs to try."

"GOD

And now the Queen enters between the galleries, greeted by acclamations loud, long and thrilling. Slowly the procession moves, and, midway, in obedience to a royal mandate, it stops. SAVE THE QUEEN" is borne up to heaven on thrice ten thousand voices, and the Sovereign who lives in the hearts of her people, retires amid the heart-inspiring cheers of the interesting assemblage.

The Committee cannot conclude their Report without some record of an event which will ever form an interesting feature in Sunday school reminiscences -they allude to the Royal Visit to Leeds. Other chroniclers have recorded their civic honours, our pleasing duty is to recall the pleasure and gratification afforded to the "little ones." Thousands of little hearts beat with From the retirement of your closets

Fellow Teachers. Glean encouragement from the past. Cherish hope for the future. Determine to know nothing among men save Christ and him crucified! Let your communion be with the Father, and with his son Jesus Christ!

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1354 CHURCH STREET

SCHOLARS.

In select classes

Infant classes

General school, total

Average attendance

Become teachers

LIBRARY

.(vols.) 25250

WILLIAM ALLISON.

JAMES LINFoot.
ROBERT SLADE.

-Secs.

DEVONPORT.

SUNDAY SCHOOL, 1749 BLACKFRIARS.-The annual social tea 12457 and public meeting, was held on Tues10453 day, March 1st, in the chapel, W. H. 320 Watson, Esq., presided. The Revs. W. Barker, President of the school, T. J. Cole, of Beckenham, R. Robinson, of York-road, J. H. Wilson, of Aberdeen; Messrs. W. West, and W. M. Murphy of Surrey Chapel, also addressed the meeting. The teachers and friends in connection with this school are endeavoring to awaken Christian sympathy, and obtain funds for the erection of a new school-the present building being too small for so populated a neighborhood. This was urged upon the meeting by two or three speakers, who had experienced the inconvenience after paying a visit to the school. There was a good attendance on the occasion.

WYCLIFFE CHAPEL SUNDAY SCHOOL, MORICE TOWN.-DURING the past year many children have removed from the neighbourhood, but their places in the school have been more than filled up by new scholars, so that there are on the books about 250; under the care of 7 male and 12 female teachers.

The Infant class is taught in a separate room, and contains 40 of the above number.

The committee whilst occupied last year in revising the classes, in order to fill up vacancies, were gratified and encouraged by observing the amount of scriptural knowledge possessed by many of the junior scholars.

A Bible class of boys and another of girls are regularly taught in rooms separate from the general school. Arrangements are also being made for the formation of a class of young men and another of young women, to be conducted by our respected President.

WALWORTH.

EAST-STREET SUNDAY SCHOOL.-The spacious new room adjoining the chapel was lately filled by a numerous company of teachers and friends, who met to celebrate the sixty-sixth anniversary of the Sunday school, which was the first that was originated in the parish of St. Mary, Newington, and in which the honored and beloved Mr. William Brodie Gurney taught for many years.

The

The chair was occupied by Mr. Foreman. of Western College, Plymouth. An interesting report was presented by congregations were large, in the evening Mr. Worley, the Secretary, and anima- especially. The collections were liberal ted addresses were delivered by the amounting to upwards of £23. The Chairman and Messrs. Wyard, Milner, Meeres, Caunt, Bland, and Jos. Maitland, who became a teacher fifty-seven years ago, when the school was under the superintendence of the late William Brodie Gurney, Esq., Treasurer of the Sunday School Union.

CLECKHEATON.

choir and children sung pieces suitable to the occasion. Professor Charlton delivered two masterly discourses. The text in the morning was from Jeremiah ix. 23, 24; and in the evening, Romans i. 16. Professor Charlton is regarded as one of the first men in the Independent denomination, both as to ability and learning, and at the same time one of the clearest and most richly evanOn March 8th, the large and com- gelical preachers we have ever heard. modious schools and class-rooms con- On Monday evening the annual teanected with the new Congregational meeting was held in the school-room chapel, Providence-place, were opened and adjoining vestry. Both rooms were by a tea party and public meeting, filled-nearly 400 persons sat down to when upwards of 800 persons partook of tea. After tea the chapel was opened tea. The meeting was subsequently for a public meeting, the Rev. James held in the Old Chapel, when George Kernaham, the Minister, occupied the Anderton, Esq., J.P., was called to the chair. Interesting addresses were dechair. On the platform were the Rev. livered by the Rev. T. Roberts, ProT. Scales, Gomersal; Rev. J. Bewglass, fessor Charlton, Dr. Brown (CheltenLL.D., Silcoates; Rev. J. S. Eastmead, ham), J. Nicholas (Methodist New Wakefield; Rev. J. J. Waite, Hereford; Rev. R. Cuthbertson; Thomas Burnley, Esq., Gomersal; C. Goldthorp, Esq., W. Anderton, Esq., Mr. E. Mitchell, Mr. Thomas Hirst, Mr. S. Bedford, &c. opening the proceedings, the Chairman read a very interesting account of the origin and establishment of the Independent Sunday Schools at Cleckheaton, in 1805, written by the late Mrs. Dearnaly, one of the founders, who took a deep interest in its welfare and prosperity up to the time of her death in 1855.-The Rev. T. Scales, Mr. Thomas Hirst, Thomas Burnley, Esq., the Rev. Dr. Bewglass, and other friends, addressed the meeting.

In

Connection), W. Collings (Baptist), and J. Williams (Independent), Rodborough. We are gratified to hear that the Sunday schools and various institutions connected with the chapel are in a most flourishing condition.-Gloucester Journal.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

WORTHY OF IMITATION.-An interesting meeting was held on the 3rd March, in connexion with the Baptist Sunday School, in the village of Ringstead, near Higham Ferrers. The mothers of the scholars assembled by invitation to take tea and spend the evening with the teachers. Nearly ninety of both classes sat down to tea; afterwards, in addition to devotional exercises, earnest and SOUTHGATE-STREET.-ON Sunday last affectionate addresses were given by the annual sermons on behalf of the several of the teachers, and at the usual Independent Sunday schools connected hour of the week-night service the paswith this chapel were preached by the tor preached from the words of Jesus Rev. J. M. Charlton, M. A., President recorded in Mark xiv. 8-" She hath

GLOUCESTER.

"The

done what she could." A similar gath- tendent, Mr. Crook. Addresses were ering has been held annually for several delivered by Mr. Hitchin, on years past, and it has increased in Influence of Sunday schools upon the numbers and interest every year. The World" Mr. Dean," Influence of Sunentire cost of the meetings is borne by day schools upon the Church;" Mr. the senior superintendent, Mr. William-Waters, "Duty and Responsibility of son, who, in the eighty-second year of Parents;" Mr. J. Cooper, "Duty and his age, is as regular and earnest in his attendance, and as liberal in his support of the school, as when he took the superintendence of it, at its commencement, thirty-four years ago.

SOMERSETSHIRE.

TAUNTON.-About 14 years ago, soon after the erection of the Independent Chapel in North-street, Taunton, a considerable amount of accommodation was provided for the Sunday school, including a lecture and assembly room for the boys' school, 51 feet by 25 feet, spacious girls' and infant school-rooms were built, together with eight separate Bible class-rooms, large enough to accommodate from 12 to 25 persons each. Yet even these have now been found too strait for the multitude of young people and children who congregate together on the Sabbath for instruction, and it was recently resolved to build two more large school-rooms, and to provide eight additional class-rooms. A tea meeting was held on the 7th March, and nearly all the money (about £600.) provided to carry out the work. This zealous act of a united people took place just at the period when their beloved pastor, the Rev. Archibald McMillan, entered on the fourth year of his pastorate.

GRAVESEND.

Responsibility of Teachers;" Mr. Carpenter, "Prayer;" the Rev. B. H. Kluht, "The Work of the Holy Spirit" and Mr. Smith, "Success of Sunday school Instruction." The meeting was rendered additionally interesting through the presentation of “ Bagster's ComMr. mentary, wholly Biblical," to Willoughby, the late superintendent.

UXBRIDGE.

The second anniversary of the Sunday and day schools in connection with the Baptist Church, was held on Monday, March 14, J. D. Lowden, Esq., in the chair. The report, which was read by the Rev. G. Rouse Lowden, F.R.G.S., was highly encouraging. The Rev. R. W. Guinness delivered a touching and affecting address to parents; the Rev. Mr. Griffith, of Hayes, confined his remarks to that well-known passage in Scripture: Let us not be weary in well-doing;" the Rev. J. Gibson addressed the teachers earnestly and affectionately. Addresses were also delivered by the pastor, and Messrs. Stransome, Bettridge, and George.

SOUTHAMPTON.

SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHERS' UNION.A very interesting social meeting in connection with this union was held at the Above Bar chapel school-rooms on PERRY-STREET.—The friends of the Tuesday evening, March 1st. It may Sunday school held their annual tea be necessary to premise, for the informameeting in the school room at the above tion of any of our readers who may not place on Tuesday, March 8. John be acquainted with the details of this Cooper, Esq,, presided. Prayers were movement, that the union was originoffered by Messrs. Pink, Munns, Elkin, ated last autumn, through a suggestion and by the chairman. The report, emanating, we believe, from the respected which was very satisfactory, was read incumbent of Trinity church, and that by the secretary and present superin- by degrees it has widened its boundaries,

with some remarks, insisting strongly on the importance of a personal acquaintance on the part of the teachers with that religion which it is their mission to explain to their youthful charge. Mr. Gamblen, of the East-street Baptist school, also joined in the discussion, making some valuable suggestions gathered from his own experience, as to the most efficient methods of imparting Sabbath-school instruction; after which, at the solicitation of the meeting,

until it now includes among its adherents and referred in impressive terms to the the teachers and officers of the following time when all party differences will be Sunday-schools:-Church of England: buried in the grave, and when, at the Trinity and Christchurch, Northam; sound of the trump, the dust of the dead Congregational: Above Bar, Victoria in Christ will be raised first, without Rooms, Broad-street, Kingsland, Belvi- distinction of sect or respect of persons. dere chapel, Northam, and Portswood; The president then called upon Mr. A. Wesleyan: East-street and Bevois valley; Hillier, of the Victoria Rooms CongreBaptist: Portland and East-street; Pri- gational school, to open a discussion on mitive Methodist: St. Mary-street; Bi- the best means of retaining the elder ble Christian, Canal-walk; and the scholars in the Sunday-schools, which he school conducted in the Ragged School | did in a brief but able manner, advocatbuildings. The purpose of the associa-ing the establishment of senior classes, tion is to afford to Sunday-school teachers to be presided over by intelligent and of all denominations the opportunity of well-qualified teachers. Mr. Coleman, frequent intercourse for mutual edifica- of the Ragged Sunday-school, followed tion, social prayer, and the discussion of topics relating to the work in which they are engaged. The meeting on Tuesday was an aggregate gathering of the entire union, and at half-past 7 o'clock a large body of teachers of both sexes, numbering upwards of two hundred, and comprising representatives from all the various schools above enumerated, sat down to an excellent tea, provided for them in the spacious school-rooms connected with the Above Bar chapel. The Revs. Messrs. A. B. Burton and Mr. Thomas Marshall entered at some Goodee, the incumbent and curate of Trinity church, and the Rev. G. Gregg, minister of Belvidere chapel, Northam, were present, and took a lively interest in the proceedings. After an hour spent in social converse, and in disposing of the good things provided, the tables were removed, and a meeting for discussion was held. Mr. Morris, the master of the Ragged Schools, and president of the union, commenced the proceedings with an excellent and impressive address, in which he described the principle on which the association was formed as an attempt at a spiritual union between teachers of all denominations, without any design to interfere in the internal management of the respective schools. He insisted very forcibly on the duty of all laborers in Christ's vineyard to seek by mutual encouragement and co-operation to strengthen each other's efforts,

length into details connected with the management of the senior classes, urging it as indispensable to their efficiency that there should be, on the part of the superintendents, a careful avoidance of an undue spirit of routine in the administration of school discipline, so far as these classes are concerned; and on the part of teachers having charge of such classes, a method of instruction divested of everything unreal and conventional. Mr. Tiller, of Portland Baptist school, and Mr. Saunders, the superintendent of Itchen congregational school, having added a few remarks, the proceedings were brought to a close by singing the doxology, and the benediction pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Burton; after which the meeting separated, with the evident impression on all present, that a more delightful and profitable evening has rarely been enjoyed.

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