The order in the class, but would have a strong influence in the proper training of the young mind to an orderly and devout behaviour in church and school. The statistics for the past year shew an attendance at separate infant classes of 490 boys and 461 girls; at separate advanced classes of 568 young men and 1,113 young women; and a total average attendance of all classes of 3,318 male and 4,518 female scholars-together, 7,836, which represents, probably, considerably over 9,000 on the roll. The teachers number 820-348 males and 472 females. Comparing the figures for 1882 and 1883 of the schools and classes reported in both years, we find there is an increase of 148 in the infant classes-64 boys and 84 girls; a decrease of 74 in the advanced classes-36 young men and 38 young women; an increase of 149 in the total average of scholars-125 male and 24 female scholars; and an increase of 20 teachers, resulting from a decrease of 8 male teachers, which is more than counter-balanced by an increase of 28 female teachers. In regard to the children's forenoon services, the numbers reported as the average attendance at the 24 services in town, including 1 in Blackstoun for 1883, are 1,609 boys and 1,866 girls-together, 3,475. Comparing the 23 in town during 1883 (one of which was begun within the year), with the 22 in town during 1882, an increase of 76 is discovered, composed of 5 boys and 71 girls. The number of monitors reported is 360, or 49 more than in 1882. Penny Savings Banks continue to do an energetic and increasing business. The statistics of the banks in this report include two more than last report, and shew £3,013 17s. 8d. deposited during 1883 in 53,363 different sums, and £2,977 15s. 9d., drawn in 5,659 different sums. The open accounts number 5,948. The most of the banks shew an advance in the number and amount of their transactions; and the total increases of the banks, whose statistics were contained in last year's reports, are 2,394 deposits, and £62 18s. 3d. deposited, 367 drafts, and £103 19s. 1d. drawn, 237 open accounts. The Bands of Hope in operation during this winter in connection with the Sabbath schools number 12-three of these not having been in operation the previous winter. The membership or attendance at these 12 Bands of Hope amounts to about 2,000; but two or three other Bands of Hope, which were suspended last winter, owing to special efforts in other directions undertaken by the Sabbath schools with which they were connected, are expected to be in operation again next winter. In reference to the subject of the training of teachers, the Committee in charge of this matter has pressed on all the churches in town the duty and necessity of having a class established by each of them for the instruction and training of teachers for their important duties; and the Union has reason to be thankful for the measure of success attained, though much greater results were desired and hoped for. The Committee was most fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Archibald Fairlie, of the Central Public School, to conduct the class. Mr. Fairlie opened the class by delivering a lecture on the "Principles and Art of Teaching," in the Grammar School, when there was a large attendance, and about fifty names were enrolled as members of the class. The class met every Tuesday evening for three months, with an average attendance of 30. For the examination 22 candidates entered-13 for one subject, 4 for two subjects, 2 for the whole three subjects, and 3 for the extra examination. Your Directors and Representatives trust that next winter the class, which Mr. Fairlie has kindly offered to conduct again, will be still more largely taken advantage of, and that a course of lectures on the Evidences of Christianity may be arranged for; and thus a means be provided whereby young Christians may help to fit themselves for the work of Sabbath school teaching. The singing competition, which the generosity of Mr. Barbour enabled the Directors to arrange for, was referred to; also the annual sermon by the Rev. Mr. Gentles. Mr. THOMAS MUIR, the treasurer, submitted his report, which was of an exceedingly satisfactory character. Mr. ROBERT STEWART, S.S.C., moved the adoption of the reports. The Rev. JOHN PATERSON, M.A., in an interesting address, seconded. The Rev. W. F. MILLS moved the election of office-bearers for 1884-85 as follows :-President, Mr. D. C. Pollock; Vice-Presidents, Messrs. Alexander Gardner and Archibald Fairlie; Treasurer, Mr. Thomas Muir; Secretaries, Messrs. Thomas F. Reid and John Glover; Directors, Messrs. A. Craig Muir, Charles Davidson, John Lymburn, James Robertson (Ferguslie), William Macausland, John M'Dougall, William Drennan, Thomas Scott, James Paterson, J. M. Symington, Thomas Cochran, Hamilton Crawford, James Robertson (Renfrew Street), Hugh Harper, John S. Allan, James Parlane, Allan Coats, and John Macalister. The Rev. G. W. LANDELS seconded. The Storie Street Baptist Church Choir, under the leadership of Mr. George Coats, sang several anthems with much acceptance during the evening. Vale of Leven Sabbath School Union. COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION IN SINGING. IN connection with this Union an interesting Sabbath scholars' musical competition took place on Saturday afternoon, 12th April, in the Public Hall, Alexandria. It will be remembered that about a year ago these competitions were inaugurated in this district, the object being to improve the singing of the Sabbath scholars, and to give them a better idea of music. The experiment has been repeated, and although only about half of the schools have joined in the competition, still there can be no doubt that considerable benefit has been derived by the training undergone; and the music committee, with Mr. J. S. Murphy as convener, is to be congratulated on so successful a termination of their labours. At the competition seven schools took part, and the following statement details the order in which they were examined :— It will thus be seen that in all 867 scholars and teachers took part. The tests consisted of hymn singing, modulator and ear exercise, time, and pronunciation. The examiners were-Rev. Mr. Lamb, Old Kilpatrick; Mr. Parlane, Paisley; Mr. Anderson, accountant; and Mr. Stewart, solicitor, Glasgow. The examination lasted for about four hours; and during that time the Rev. Mr. Kidd very kindly presided, while a large staff of officebearers connected with the Union managed the proceedings. To the competition the public were allowed to be present; and they certainly took a very lively interest in the proceedings. The examiners' awards will be given in course of eight or ten days at a public recital of the programme, and until then it is unnecessary to make further comment. At the close the Rev. Mr. Sutherland proposed votes of thanks to examiners and others. Teachers' Local Examinations. GLASGOW SABBATH SCHOOL UNION SCHEME FOR 1884. WE have pleasure in submitting the results of the Teachers' Competitive Examinations, which were held, under the auspices of this Union, on the 7th, 14th, and 21st March. The number of papers written was 60, being 21 in Scripture History and Doctrine, 26 in Evidences of Christianity, and 13 in Principles and Methods of Teaching. Of these there passed 55 papers, being 19 in Branch A, 25 in Branch B, and 11 in Branch C. The names of the successful candidates, arranged in the order of merit, are as follows: Branch A. Scripture History and Doctrine. (Examiner—Rev. J. MARSHALL LANG, D.D.) Hugh Reid. Ellison M. Crawford. Mary Shade. William Govan. Helen Shade. Equal. {Amelia A. Melville. David R. M'Kenzie. Branch B.-Evidences of Christianity. (Examiner-Rev. Professor Branch C.-Principles and Methods of Teaching. (ExaminerTHOMAS MORRISON, Esq., M.A., LL.D.) John A. Shannon. Equal. Jessie M'Indoe. James Robertson. M. A. Inglis. Equal. {William U. Muir. Eliza M'Kenzie. John Jeffrey. Hugh Reid. Jane J. R. Cruden. Mary M. Park. Charles M'Kenzie. Sir WILLIAM COLLINS, President of the Union, having offered prizes of books to the value of two guineas to the writers of the papers which obtained the highest number of marks in each branch, these were presented, at the Annual Meeting of the Union, to Mr. John A. Shannon, of Pollokshields U. P. Church Sabbath School Society, who stands first in subjects A and B respectively. The prize in Branch C, at Mr. Shannon's request, was divided between the two candidates whose papers were considered equal with his,-viz., Miss Jessie M'Indoe, of Bath Street C. P. Church Sabbath School Society, and Mr. James Robertson, of Blackfriars Established Church Society. The President very generously gave a full prize to each of these teachers. Diplomas were also presented to the following teachers, who had passed successfully in all the three branches : Jane J. R. Cruden, Regent Place U. P. Church Mission S. S. Society. Fragment. GIVING THE HEART.- "Mother!" | mands." The child's face looked said a little boy, "what does it mean bright with a new thought. "And to give your heart to God?" The mother put down her sewing, and, looking at her boy, said, "Charlie, do you love anybody?" With a book of surprise, the child answered, "I love you; I love my father, and my sister, and Henry.' "Then you give your heart to your father, to Henry, to your sister, and to me; and you shew that love by doing all you can for us, and obeying our com you ought," continued the mother, "to love God best, because He gave you your father and mother, and all your friends and comforts; and He gave you His dear Son Jesus Christ, who came from heaven to die, that you may live for ever. "I do want to give my heart to Him, mother: how shall I do it?" The mother taught him to tell Jesus his wants, and led him, by her example, into the good way. His child-life did not came one of the best men, and he disappoint her hopes. He always says he had one of the best of tried to live like Jesus. Charles be- mothers.-S. S. Times. Intelligence. GLASGOW SABBATH SCHOOL UNION. -The monthly meeting of Directors was held in the Christian Institute, on Monday, 14th April-Mr. James Howatt, one of the vice-presidents, occupied the chair. There were 25 directors present. Reports were read from the Southern, NorthWestern, Partick and Hillhead, Govan, and Western District Unions. The Teachers' Examination Committee reported on the results of the recent Teachers' Examinations, full particulars of which, with the names of the successful candidates, will be found in another part of the Magazine. The prizes and diplomas would be presented to the successful candidates at the Annual Public Meeting. As the outcome of the Mr. John Jeffrey. The examiners examinations, 8 of the candidates have this year won diplomas; of these, 5 sat in March for the first time, and took the whole of the subjects in succession. It was reported that £327 16s. 1d. had been received to date on behalf of the Children's Day Refuges. Mr. Thomas Gray was appointed to attend the annual meeting of the Dumbarton Sabbath School Union. A draft of the report to be submitted at the annual public meeting was read and approved of. The report we shall endeavour to give in full in Allan Coats, J. A. Brown, T. F. Reid (writer), Jas. Parlane, John Glover, Alex. Gardner, Alex. Lang. After prayer, led by Dr. Hutton, the chairman mentioned that the competition was the sixth, in which four classes intended to compete, and expressed the thankfulness of the Union to the gentleman (Mr. W. B. Barbour) who gifted the money. The Sabbath schools sending competing classes were-High Parish, consisting of 108 scholars, conducted by Mr. Alexander Andrew, M.A.; Canal Street, U.P., 103 scholars, conducted by Mr. Stephen Hindle; Martyrs' Parish, 106 scholars, conducted by Mr. James Waddell; E. U. Church, New Street, 100 scholars, conducted by our issue for next month. were Messrs. Colin Brown, Robert Stewart, S.S.C., and Robert Anderson. Out of a list of ten hymns, these gentlemen selected three, which each of the classes sang. An exercise on the modulator, a sight singing test, and a hymn selected by the conductor, comprised the examination. The conductors all deserve credit for the labour they must have bestowed on their classes. The choirs all passed through the examination creditably. Of course there were degrees of excellence, which the judges will properly classify, after the examinations were over. Sheriff Cowan expressed the indebtedness of the Union to the gentlemen who had PAISLEY SABBATH SCHOOL UNION SINGING COMPETITION. This competition took place on Saturday so kindly come to examine the afternoon, 22nd March, in the Neilston Institution. In the absence of Provost Clark, Mr. D. C. Pollock, president of the Sabbath School Union, presided. Among those present were Sheriff Cowan, Rev. Dr. Hutton, Messrs. Peter Coats, jun., classes. He moved a hearty vote of |