J. M. Randall, are the nearest, in my opinion, to what we Sunday school teachers want, I have ever met with; but the notes added are often not simple and tangible enough for children; neither are they so numerous and varied as I could wish, and as I think the abstract truth requires; else in other respects they are just a model, but deficient in the very point we so much want.

The Prize Lessons in your Magazine are very valuable, to give an idea how a lesson should be worked out, but it is only the illustrations we can appropriate for use in our classes. A little book styled "My Sunday School Class," by J. F. Sergeant, is very useful, but that also is similar to your Prize Lessons. I think we Sunday school teachers do not want every word we should say written for us, but the heads of the Lessons we are to teach. The Lessons on the Gospels you insert, are very use

ful for the teacher, and save him much time in searching commentaries and other books of information, but they only deal in abstract truth, and are wanting in the very thing which excites interest and arrests the attention of the young. Now my idea is, that you might intersperse some interesting anecdotes and illustrations in the notes you issue, to make plain to the young the truth under consideration, which would make them doubly valuable, for however various a teacher's knowledge may be, he will soon find he wants more and new ideas which another person might afford.

With wishing you God speed, and assuring you that my heart is with you in leading the hearts of dear children to Christ.

I remain Sir,

Your obedient servant,

R. H. C.

LECTURES.

Two most interesting and instructive Lectures have been delivered during the quarter which is now closing. One on the 12th February, by the Rev. J.W. Reeve, on "the Qualifications of Sunday School Teachers," which we hope to print shortly in our series of tracts; and the other on the 5th instant, by the Rev. G. Fisk, on "the Advantages of Bible classes as a means of retaining the elder scholars in our Sunday schools, and the best method of conducting them." This Lecture we hope to publish in the next number of our Maga

zine. We were glad to observe a very large attendance on both occasions. The Rev. G. S. Drew, was prevented delivering his lecture on the 30th of January, by illness, but he has kindly promised to do so in the course of next half year.

PUBLICATIONS.

The series of lessons for 1850 has been very extensively circulated, and many schools have adopted our suggestion, and have taken up the 1849 series, in order to begin with the Book of Genesis and the Gospels.

THE MONTHLY NOTES. The Notes have been issued for the first four months of the year, and will continue to be brought out on the Wednesday before the last Sunday in every month, so as to be in time for the first Sunday in each month. Some few volumes of the Notes for last year are still on sale, price 3s. cloth.

THE LESSONS ON THE COLLECTS.

have been sold to a very considerable extent. The Committee wish to draw the attention of all Church of England teachers to this book, as being pecu. liarly adapted to assist in imparting sound doctrinal instruction in the form provided by our Church.

LESSONS ON THE GOSPELS.

The concluding quarter of these Lessons appears in another part of this Magazine, and as usual is published separately, price 3d. each, or 20s. per 100.

LESSONS FOR INFANT CLASSES.

The series of lessons contained in the

Elementary Class Book have been printed in large bold type on sheets, for instructing infant classes, price 10s. per set, frames 3s. each.

The publication of the key to these lessons, has been much impeded by other work, but the Committee are now actively engaged upon it.

THE TUNE BOOK

has been completed and published under the name of the Precentor. It contains 105 of our most admired Psalm and Hymn Tunes, and the Committee believe it will be found a very useful auxiliary to superintendents and teachers, price 1s. cloth, lettered.

LIBRARY REGISTERS

have been published for registering the issues of the books of a school library, price 4s. each.

INSTITUTE TRACTS.

The Rev. P. B. Power's lecture on "the Claims of the Sunday school upon

the Church," has been published as No. II. of the series of the Institute's Tracts; and that by the Rev. J. W. Reeve, on the "Qualifications of Sunday School Teachers," will be published as No. III. An adddress to the parents of Sunday scholars on the observance of the Sabbath is in the press, and will form Tract No. IV of this series.

TEXTS FOR TEACHERS.

A teacher's duties, a teacher's dangers, a teacher's encouragements, and a teacher's rewards. Extracted from the Almanac. Card, 3d. each; tinted paper 8d. per. dozen.

PRAYERS FOR THE PARENTS OF

SUNDAY SCHOLARS.

Four short and easy prayers for the use of the parents of Sunday scholars are in the press and will very shortly be published. The Committee think that much benefit will result from an extensive circulation of these amongst parents.

ADMISSION CARD. CERTIFICATE CARD.

With a view of impressing upon the scholar the importance which he should attach to his entrance into, and departure from, the Sunday school, the Committee have printed these cards, the latter of which in particular, might be found by the scholar an useful memorial of the past, in after life.

SUPERINTENDENTS' MEETINGS.

Two of these meetings have been held during this quarter. One on the 24th of January, and the other on the 25th inst. They were very well attended, and the Committee hope they will be useful. The attendance of superintendents, to whom the meeting is confined, is particularly requested.

CONVERSATIONAL MEETINGS.

Three of these meetings have been held since our last number, on the days and subjects therein specified. We subjoin particulars of the last-held on the 25th inst., subject, "The Advantages of Bible Classes as a means of

retaining the Elder Scholars in our Sunday Schools, and the best method of conducting them." We extract from the communications which were received and read, the following,

From Norwich:

That

Bible classes are advantageous, because in them the scholars are raised in their position according to their age, and they have an opportunity of speaking to their teachers with more freedom than is allowed in ordinary classes.

Bible classs were also considered likely to keep the children longer at school, because they would thus be placed more upon an equality with their teachers than they otherwise would be, and they would have the benefit of a higher course of instruction than the common routine of the school affords.

In the management of such classes, the following rules were recommended for adoption :

1. That the elass should upon no account be held in the same room with the general classes.

2. That the class should be conducted by the clergyman connected with the school, if possible; and if not by him, by an experienced pious person, to whom the elder children would look up with more reverence and respect than to a person of their own standing.

3. That the class should be, as far as practicable, of a conversational character, and the scholars who attend it should be permitted to ask questions on the subject in hand.

4. That the instruction given should be made interesting, and should be entirely divested of the character of a task.

5. That the children should be encouraged to write answers to questions during the week on the lesson to be gone through the following Sunday.

6. That consecutive portions of Scripture should be taken, and gone through; and that certain specified subjects should be thoroughly investigated.

7. That the attention of the scholars should be particularly directed to the chief evidences of Christianity, and to biographical parts of the Bible, the lives of eminent saints being considered at length.

8. That notice should be given every Sunday of the portion or chapter to be considered on the following Lord's day.

9. That the children should be expected to attend Church on the Lord's day, but that they should not walk in procession to the Church, nor be confined to any particular part of it.

10. That the class should be opened and closed with prayer, and that the instruction

1. The classes should, if possible, be in a separate apartment. The mode of teaching should be more advanced. The instructor who requires implicit assent in the children's class should encourage the expression of queries, doubts, or investigation in the Bible class. The tone of teaching should be changed. The pupils are now entering on the world; the formation of the mind as well as its instruction should, so far as the limited time will allow, be a paramount object in the class.

2. While aiming at a higher method of instruction, the teacher should earnestly resolve to adopt great simplicity of idea with the utmost clearness of expression, remembering that in the highest branches of science, as well as in the Bible (the revealer of the most sublime truths) perspicuity and simplicity are conspicuous. To effect this, he must not aim to "show off" before his class-and he must be sure that he understands a question clearly in his own mind before he brings it before them.

3. The teacher should do all he can to induce his class to express their thoughts upon A point under review. The giving an idea a being by putting it into words is generally the surest method of ascertaining that the idea is not a mere floating notion, and until this system is secured, the teacher should adopt the simplest subjects of instruction, on which the pupils could not avoid thinking as well as answering clearly.

4. In this respect Scripture narration is peculiarly adapted for instruction in a Bible class. This may either be carried forward from chapter to chapter, or be accomplished by taking a character, or a subject, and pursuing it independently of the context which may not immediately refer to it. Thus the pupils get a picture which stands out in relief in their thoughts, unencumbered with other instruction, and more easily remembered. With Scriptural narration and biography may be applied and interwoven those preceptive portions of Scripture which tell most strongly on the mind when elucidated by their applicability to character on the events of life.

5. Whether in simple didactic or exhortatory parts of the Scriptures, or yet in the more attractive portions, the teacher should endeavour to combine with his instruction a leading idea, around which the whole may centre.

6. When the preceptive portions of Scripture are before a class independent of all narrative, it is most important for a teacher to be copious in his use of illustration.

7. The class should be taught to feel that their studies are in combination with their

teacher, and they do not sit merely at his feet, therefore, they ought always to be acquainted with the subject of instruction the next Sunday thay they may, if inclined to adopt their teachers encouragement so to do, study it during the week.

9. No mean object for a teacher, though subordinate to his highest aim, is to open and expand the minds of his pupils, and to teach them to apply the Bible to their every day pursuit; in order to accomplish this, it is perfectly legitimate and desirable for him to illustrate the Scriptures by the passing events of the day, the mere important occurrences incidental to any locality; and by increasing his own stores of information, so cheaply furnished in valuable publications, he may be able to diversify his teaching.

10. The Bible class must be conducted in prayer. Let the pupils perceive that the teacher believes the Holy Ghost is willing to be, and is in their midst. Let him in humility retain a living sense that he is in the sight of God, and with love and interest for each member of his class, let them feel that he acts as one that must give an account together with them for opportunities neglected, or omitted, at the judgment of the great day.

An interesting discussion then took place of which the following were the principal heads:

The Instruction given.-This should be of a more advanced kind than can be adopted in the school. It would be particularly useful to teach the evidences of Christianity, and the Divine and plenary Inspiration of the Scriptures, as there is only too great cause to fear that many of our pupils will most probably be exposed to the attack of infidel principles. The formularies of the Bible class should be the tie by which the teacher retains his hold upon the scholar, when the latter is too old to attend the school as formerly. Sunday school instruction too often fails to produce the good which we expect, from the fact, that the teacher loses his influence just when the world begins to assert its claims; the counsel and advice are wanting at the very time they are most necessary. When children grow up into young men and young women. they do not like to continue in classes with those much younger than themselves, and therefore, unless some new method is employed, they quit the school. This is not commonly done all at once, but they first become irregular, and then at last, leave entirely. Often they may be seen to linger about the doors, half inclined to enter, when the voice of some evil companion or some notion of their own independence draws them away. Now the Bible class offers the means of attaching these grown-up scholars

to their teacher, to their school, and to their church; but its importance has not yet been generally recognised. The season of youth when the boy has grown up into a lad, and the girl into a young woman, when they are going out to service, and entering upon the business of life, is the time when Satan is most busy, and his delusive offers most ensnaring. How important then that the only instruction which can direct their steps aright should not be withheld. Besides with growing years the scholars are more capable of understanding the instruction given, and of appreciating the motives whichgovern the teacher. The Church liturgy and articles should be studied and explained, and care should be taken to point out her doctrine as distinguished from that of the Roman church-that these our scholars may become intelligent members of our Protestant Church. One member mentioned that he had read the Pilgrim's Progress with his class, using that work as the means of exhibiting scriptural truth, and that he had found it exceedingly profitable.

Reference should be made to the peculiar trials and temptations to which the pupils may be exposed, trials end temptations very different now that they are beginning to mix with the busy world, from what they experienced in their younger years and under the paternal roof.

Qualifications of the Teacher.-Discrimination of character, combined with tact in managing different tempers, are at all times necessary for a Sunday school teacher, and are more especially requisite in a Bible class teacher. He will find his pupils more difficult to manage, and he will not be able so easily to gain their confidence and affection; but when once he has succeeded, this good understanding is likely to be more lasting. The teacher should appeal more frequently to their sense of right and wrong, and should strive to set up their consciences as standards of right and wrong, taking care to instruct their conscience from the word of God. It will be necessary that the teacher should study his lesson well, for his scholars will certainly find out his deficiency, if he neglect this, and he cannot expect to do much good unless his class feel that they can implicitly rely upon his judgment and information. Above all things the teacher must be a man of prayer, and in all his efforts he must look up to Him who alone can bless his labours. Glory to God, and good will towards men must be the end, and the object of all he says or does.

The Place where the Instruction should be

given. This should by all means be a separate room, but if possible in the same building. It is essential to the success of such a class that some of the restraints which are most wholesome in the school should be removed in the

Bible class. The scholar should be taught to
look up to his teacher as his friend and his
counsellor. He should be encouraged to con-
sult his teacher on any difficulties which may
arise, and to seek to him for information on
the various subjects connected with the lesson.
But whilst the class should be held in a sepa-
rate room, all communication with the school
should not be put an end to. If there is an
address or an examination at the end of the
school, the Bible class should attend, and
should always join in the devotional exercises
of the school. They may be of great use in
setting a good example to the other children.
A Bible class at Kensington was referred to,
which contains seventy scholars, who had for
the most part passed this Sunday school. How
much good might be effected were these classes
more general! A determination was expressed
at the meeting that great efforts should be
made to form and encourage Bible classes.
We are sure that very much good would be
the result.

The following Church Sunday schools
have joined us during the last quarter.

Teachers.