THE Sabbath School Magazine. NO. VI.] JUNE, 1885. [VOL. XXXVII. Glasgow Sabbath School Union. FORTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING. THE Forty-Eighth Annual Business Meeting of the Glasgow Sabbath School Union took place in the Christian Institute, Bothwell Street, at one o'clock on Thursday, the 23rd April. Sir Wm. Collins, president of the Union, occupied the chair, and was accompanied to the platform by a number of the Directors. The meeting having been duly constituted by the Rev. James Paton, B.A., of St. Paul's Church, engaging in prayer, the Chairman called upon Mr. James Macnair, one of the secretaries, to submit the annual report of the Directors, which consisted of a summary of their proceedings during the year, and a brief statement of the progress and present position of the Sabbath Schools of the Union. The document being one of unusual interest, we consider it our duty to place it before our readers almost entire. In the course of a few days it will be issued in its completed form, and with the usual statistical tables. The details, so carefully collected by the Committee, ought to be studied by every one who is concerned for the religious well-being of the young. The 621 Schools of the Union are not separately reported upon, but under the head of 285 Societies they are sufficiently described to enable any one to form a correct estimate of what is being done in the city and suburbs, by the 9,605 Teachers who, for the most part, carry on their benevolent work under the fostering care of the churches. FORTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT. The Directors have pleasure in submitting the Forty-eighth Annual Report of the state of Sabbath School instruction in Glasgow and neighbourhood. It is pleasing to record that it contains a statement of much F faithful and earnest work, worthy of consideration and attention. As usual, the Report deals with the work of the various Committees of the Union, and these are reported on in their order; but before proceeding to report in detail the operations of these, the Directors desire to acknowledge, with pleasure and satisfaction, the work done by the various District Unions. These Unions, eleven in number, have, as in previous years, carried on a variety of schemes for the benefit of Teachers and Scholars, such as Training and Musical Classes, Conferences and Examinations, and thus supply wants and overtake districts which the General Union could not do in any satisfactory degree. The Directors are gratified to learn at their Meetings, from month to month, of the interest and enthusiasm with which the work of these Unions is conducted, and which they know is productive of much good in their various circles. PUBLICATIONS.-Scheme of Scripture Lessons and Magazine.-A considerable portion of the time of your Directors is devoted to this section of the Union's work; and they have reason to believe that their efforts are appreciated. Last year they were enabled to report an increase of 2,000 copies in the sale of the Lesson Sheet for 1883. The accounts for 1884 shew a total sale of 162,000, being an increase of 9,700. This year there is already an increase in the sale of 13,000, the total number sold at this date being 175,000. To be instrumental in guiding the studies of such a large number of Bible Scholars is a decided privilege and an honour, but the position is also one of responsibility. It is true that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for instruction; but the selection and arrangement of passages suitable to the capacity and wants of the average Sabbath Scholar, is a work that requires the greatest care and experience. In the doing of it your Directors have the assistance of several professional Teachers and a number of old Sabbath School workers. Their constant aim is to bring before the young, during the short period of their attendance at the Sabbath School, only those Biblical facts and fundamental doctrines and duties which may be most helpful to a clear understanding of the duties of life and the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ, the acceptance of which is essential to salvation. The circulation of the Sabbath School Magazine has been also most gratifying. The average monthly sale at present is 14,200,-an increase of 1,000 per month on the previous year. The average number of copies sold monthly in 1884, was 12,750. It is the aim of your Directors to make the Magazine a medium of communication between Superintendents, Teachers, and others specially interested in the religious instruction of the young. For several years a copy of it has been sent to all the Ministers of Glasgow and Suburbs, and also to every Subscriber to the Union's Funds of Ten shillings or upwards annually. In this way important questions relating to Sabbath Schools are discussed, or at least brought under the notice of those who are most likely to help in promoting practical improvements. The favourable notices of the Magazine which appear from time to time in the public press, the reproduction of some of the articles in other publications, and the steady increase which year by year has taken place in its circulation, encourage the Directors to hope that by this agency they are furthering materially the interests of the Sabbath School. The cordial thanks of the Union are due to Dr. Thomas Morrison, who has for so many years supplied the valuable Lesson Notes which enrich its pages, and also to Mr. James Kerr for the excellent illustrations which fill the " Quiver." In addition to the ordinary Lesson Sheet your Committee published, for 1884, a Scheme of Lessons specially designed for the use of Infant Class Teachers, whose Scholars meet in rooms apart from the general School. The sale of 2,300 copies shewed that its publication met a felt want. At the request of many friends a second series has been issued; and as the preparation of both was the work of Mr. Fred. A. Laing, the cordial thanks of the Union are due to him for his assistance in this matter. The arrangements of the Union to supply Teachers and School Libraries with books at half-price, has been largely taken advantage of during the year. Books of the value of £205 9s. 4d. have been supplied for £102 14s. 8d. This scheme entails upon your Directors considerable expense; but it is one of very great importance, and it should be cheerfully maintained. Many copies of the Oxford Bible for Teachers have been given to bona fide Teachers at reduced rates. Specimens of the volumes may be seen at the Union's Rooms in the Christian Institute. A new edition of the Union Hymnal, in two-part Sol-fa, is in the hands of the printer. It will contain an appendix of about 30 additional hymns and chants, and be published at the same price as at present. Some time ago your Directors resolved to establish in their Rooms a Free Scripture Reference Library for the use of Teachers, and they have now many valuable books which would be most helpful to those who may have difficulty in the preparation of their lessons. To be of much use, however, such a Library would require to be opened for some time in the evening, after business hours, as well as during the day. But as this would necessitate an extra attendant and expense, your Committee have not yet seen their way to carry out this purpose. Of late years the work of the Union has increased considerably, but the income of the Union has not increased at all. Your Directors depend almost entirely upon the voluntary subscriptions of the general public, but only a very limited number have aided in this manner; and recently an Appeal has been issued to the Scholars of the Union, which the Directors hope will be the means of enlarging their income. The amount and nature of the work done by the Union for the good of Sabbath Schools cannot be understood except by those who are personally identified with it. The Sabbath School Union is certainly one of the most important and economical of all our Home Mission agencies, and it will be rather disappointing to your Directors if they are restricted in their efforts by monetary difficulties. The Committee are constantly carrying on an extensive correspondence with Ministers and Teachers throughout Scotland, who write for help or information; and as there are several hundreds of Schools in Glasgow and Suburbs with which the Committee require to be in constant communication, it is impossible to carry out the objects of the Union efficiently without an annual income of at least three or four hundred pounds. LOCAL UNIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER TOWNS.-The Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Unions, which are affiliated with the Glasgow Union, continue on the most friendly relations. Representatives are occasionally present at the monthly meetings of the Union, and your Directors in turn appoint gentlemen from the Board to attend their Annual Meetings. A constant correspondence is likewise maintained, and your Directors also communicate direct with the various Societies in connection with those Unions. Within the last few months a Sabbath School Union has been formed in Bute, in which considerable interest has been manifested, and which promises to be a source of much benefit to the Schools in the district. The Directors are pleased to report that this Union has also agreed to co-operate with the Glasgow Union. At the request of your Directors a deputation from the Paisley Union met with them at a recent meeting, for the purpose of considering the desirability of uniting with the Glasgow Union in promoting the general interests of Sabbath Schools. The Directors are hopeful that this may be attained. A number of Societies in different parts of the country, where no local Unions exist, are affiliated to the Union, and continue to report with great regularity. The connection is highly valued by many of those Schools. As many as possible of the benefits which the Glasgow Teachers receive are extended to them. The Directors are always most ready to communicate with Teachers at a distance, and to afford them whatever information or aid it may be in their power to give. TRAINING CLASSES.-The Directors are pleased to be able again to report a steady and most encouraging attendance at the weekly meetings of the Training Class during the session which is now closing. It is now four years since this Class was commenced in the Christian Institute; and the attendance, which has been so well sustained since its formation, is an evidence of the value placed upon it by Teachers. The meetings are held on Saturday afternoons, at 5 o'clock, and are continued from September to April inclusive. The Lessons are given chiefly by ladies and gentlemen connected with the public Schools, who have responded very heartily to the calls made upon them. The Directors are gratified that so many professional Teachers are in accord with them in their efforts to raise the qualifications of Sabbath School Teachers, and that they are willing to assist in this direction by giving Model Lessons to aid Teachers in the matter and method of Sabbath School instruction. The Directors beg to thank the following friends who have assisted during the session :—viz., Messrs. R. B. Smith, Thomas Gray, J. W. J. Watt, James Donaldson, James Liddell, James N. M'Raith, Jonathan Milne, Robert Reid, Andrew Hoy, John M'Nidder, Dumbarton; James White, H. M. Ashcroft, William Bisset, A. Fairlie, Paisley; and William Barr. Misses Robertson, M'Gibbon, Jackson, Wilson, Alexander, M'Callum, Cowan, Kerr, Kirk, and M'Murray. The Directors of the Union, as usual, preside in turn at the Class, and conduct the devotional exercises. The Training Class for Infant Class Teachers, conducted by Mr. Frederick A. Laing, Principal of Albion Crescent School, was resumed early in October, and continued till the end of the year. The Lessons given were from the Scheme for Infant Classes, prepared by Mr. Laing for the Union. As there are a considerable number of Infant Class Teachers connected now with the Union, the Directors anticipated a much larger attendance than was usually present. Although copies of this Scheme had been sent to all the Schools, a visitor reports that in several of the Infant Classes he visited no Scheme was in use, nor was the Teacher aware that a special Scheme for such Classes was published by the Union. As the want of such a Scheme had been often felt, and a general desire expressed by the Societies for one, Superintendents should see that their Infant Class Teachers are supplied with copies. The Many of the Teachers who attended this Class testified to the profit they had received from Mr. Laing's method of interesting and instructing the very young. The Lessons given were usually accompanied with Blackboard illustrations of an interesting and valuable nature. Directors have accorded to Mr. Laing their cordial thanks for conducting this Class weekly for nearly eight months of the year. Mr. David Pratt has kindly prepared a number of very large Pictorial illustrations of the Infant Class Lessons, which the Directors propose to lend to the Teachers of such Classes. CONFERENCES.-During the winter four Conference Meetings have been held, the subjects were,— Sabbath School Libraries: How to form and The Minister: His place and influence in the Proper allocation of the Teacher's hour, Sabbath School Entertainments, } Introduced by Mr. THOS. MASON. Mr. JAS. CLARK. Mr. A. A. HADDIN. The introductory papers were all of a most interesting and thoroughly practical character, and one of them, that on Libraries, reached a much wider audience through The Sabbath School Magazine. While the Committee are glad to report a little improvement in the attendance at these meetings, as compared with previous courses, they yet regret that it is very small, and trust that if another series is arranged for, that more interest will be manifested, as they are convinced that much practical good might result from these meetings. MUSIC.-Taking into consideration the success of the Musical Training Classes for Leaders of Praise, conducted by Mr. D. S. Allan during the winter of 1883-4, it was unanimously agreed to that these Classes be resumed on the same lines as last season. They were opened on the 1st September, and closed on the 23rd February last. They have not been quite so numerously attended as last year, still, both in regard to numbers and efficiency, they must be considered quite a success. So many of our conductors having attended these Classes must render them much better qualified for discharging their duties, and thus impart more comfort, pleasure, and joy to the Service of Praise in our Sabbath Schools. They were again closed by a Concert in the large Hall of the Christian Institute, and there was a large attendance. The first part of the programme, with harmonium and piano accompaniments, was rendered by the Elementary, and the second by the Advanced Class. The manner in which the various pieces were rendered reflected great credit alike on the pupils and on the painstaking and care bestowed on their training by the conductor, while the audience shewed their delight by frequent recalls The free proceeds go to the funds of the Union. |