is to human motives, what the lever is in mechanics, and which therefore, it is said, can remove mountains. We have called this interest instead of faith, because many think they have faith, who would acknowledge they had no interest in the subject in question. They call a cold assent to a truth, faith; but it is only a living faith in Christianity, that produces interest: when we really and truly believe, then we are deeply concerned, and we must be interested. We have dwelt upon this topic longer, and with more earnestness, because we think that many an humble and sincere Christian, who has had this deep interest, has been prevented from taking an active part in Sunday-schools, from the idea that extraordinary attainments were necessary. Doubtless they would be of great value, if they were connected with this principle that we place first on the list of requisites; but the only essential in the commencement of the duties of a teacher, is, we think, such an interest as we have described. We will suppose the young teacher entering upon his duty for the first time, with this deep and sincere devotion of the heart to his work, that we recommend as the one thing needful. The little circle round him, are all strangers to him. He feels with them, and for them. He understands their bashful looks, for he is already their friend. He has something to impart to them, that he feels is of infinite importance; he is anxious that they should understand it, and believe it; he would impress it upon their hearts. He remembers he is to fix their attention, speak in words that they can understand, and interest their feelings. How is he to do this? He knows that children listen to those they love, and he will naturally address them in the words of affection; he will be tender and gentle; he will watch their looks; he will read the silent language that in their "clear eyes shine, like the springs awakening." He will encourage the diffident, he will catch and try to understand the feeblest accents they utter; he will be unwearied in his efforts, till he has won their hearts, and till his little audience listen with interest to what he says. The field now is his own-the minds of his pupils are now before him; his labour is comparatively easy; having gained this access to their souls, he has only to know what to teach them. The same interest in the subject of religion, the same interest in his pupils that has enabled him to succeed so far, will stimulate him to make every exertion to fit G himself to be their instructor. He will read the best books, he will take the best means for improvement, he will consult the wisest counsellors, for this is a concern he has at heart. He will think nothing too difficult, nothing too trifling, that will enable him to succeed in his object. There are instances in every one's experience, of this sincere devotion to a cause-this soul-felt interest-giving an almost incredible power to the weakest intellect. Without this, the sublimest truths fall lifeless upon the ears of the little beings to whom they are addressed; and with it, the teacher's means of interesting his pupils, are endless. It will not only lead him to improve, to the best purpose, the mode of instruction used in the school in which he teaches, but it will prompt him to gather instruction for them from all that passes under his observation. He will illustrate the moral and religious truths that he has taught, by whatever he may have seen in real life that proves their reality and infinite value. As the winter passes away, he will turn the thoughts of the children to HIM who has preserved them through its storms and cold; who has wrapped the face of nature in a long sleep, from which it revives in new beauty and glory in the spring; and her fresh flowers and singing birds as they come forth, will make him eloquent. Summer with its fruits, and autumn with its harvests, will give him a subject for instruction. He will never want words; he will never want new and interesting truths to teach to his pupils, while there exists in his own mind such a deep interest in the subject, as we recommend as we think essential; for he will call forth a voice, he will extract wisdom from every thing around him, There are those who think the subject of religion is sometimes made too familiar with children. It is, they say, debased in their minds, and they lose that reverence and awe that it is natural and right that they should feel. We think that this is the fault of the teacher, and not any incapacity in the children to appreciate the solemn importance and greatness of the subject. We surely would not recommend long faces, or any sort of grimace; but we do think, that if a teacher always speaks with real earnestness and interest, children will have the same feeling. If they perceive that their teacher considers this their greatest concern-if they see that he regards religion as the most important, the most affecting and glorious thing, they will not think lightly of it. Is he cold, indifferent, and formal? their views of religion will be the same. If the teacher's religion is only a set of words, so will that of his pupils be; and as words are much easier to communicate and to be acquired than ideas, they may appear to make great progress, and have long creeds and long chapters on the tip of their tongues, while the sanctuary of the heart is unopened, and the light from heaven has not yet been admitted. A child may use very familiar words in speaking of the subject of religion, for it fully understands none other; while the feeling may be, and is, that of reverence and deep interest, if it has always heard it spoken of by those only who feel reverence and deep interest in it. We all have a peculiar set of words, and many have a peculiar manner when they speak of religion, not actually induced by feeling, but which they consider proper, when religion is the subject. This is all as nothing to children. They understand feeling, for it has a universal language; but their vocabulary of words is limited. Their teacher must feel what he is saying, or their hearts and minds are untouched. And if they do feel, and are interested, we need not be so alarmed at their familiar expressions. Surely their pure hearts and innocent thoughts sanctify the words they use; and our superstitious feeling about words, is unworthy of that glorious and good Being, who regards only the heart. We should be sorry to have the foregoing remarks misunderstood. We would not intimate that all that is necessary for the Christian teacher is deep interest; but we do mean to say, that it is the most important requisite; that without it no great good can be effected, and that even much harm may be done. But that with it, great effects may be produced; that the teacher who truly feels it, may acquire every other qualification; and that he necessarily will; for his whole soul will be open to, and asking for knowledge, and new powers to enable him to attain his object; and we do think, that they who are without it, should not attempt to teach the sublime truths of religion, though they should be among "the wise that shine as the brightness of the firmament.' The less gifted Christians, whose whole hearts are devoted to their work, shall be among "those who turn many to righteousness, and shine as the stars for ever and ever." God" our Father." FATHER ALMIGHTY! when oppress'd with grief, In dogmas which his godlike reason spurns, Man's mighty brotherhood-oh! Thou wilt prize Essential to Thy favour; e'en the sighs Of contrite heart, though it subscribe not thrall We humbly seek thine aid, oh! Thou wilt grant our prayer! GLASGOW, 21st Aug. 1831. R. H. THE CHRISTIAN PIONEER. GLASGOW, OCTOBER 1, 1831. American Unitarian Association.-The Sixth Anniversary of this Association took place on Tuesday evening, the 25th May. The members met for business in Berrystreet Vestry, Boston, at 6 o'clock. The records of the last meeting were read, the Treasurer's Report accepted, and the following officers chosen for the ensuing year. Rev. Dr. Bancroft, President. Vice-Presidents. Hon. Joseph Story, Massachusetts. Joseph Lyman, do. Charles H. Atherton, New Hampshire. Stephen Longfellow, Maine. William Cranch, District of Columbia. Samuel S. Wilde, Massachusetts. Henry Ware, Jun. Foreign Secretary. Alexander Young, Domestic Secretary. Henry Rice, Esq. Treasurer. After passing votes of thanks to Rev. Mr. Parkman and Rev. Mr. Gannett, who had expressed their wish not to be re-elected to the offices they had held the preceding year, the Association adjourned at 7 o'clock to the Federalstreet Church, which, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, was soon filled with an assembly of ladies and gentlemen, encouraging alike for their intelligence, respectability and influence. After prayers by Mr. Harding of New Salem, and a few remarks by Dr. Bancroft, the venerable President, one of the Executive Committee's Annual Reports was read by Mr. Gannett, the Domestic Secretary; and, had time permitted, another, relating to Liberal Christianity in distant lands, would have been presented to the meeting by Mr. Ware, the Foreign Secretary. The Report of the Domestic Secretary, was able and interesting. It communicated intelligence of a highly gratifying character, and breathed a spirit, in full accordance with the simple, beneficent, and holy Gospel of the Son of God. Although this, together with the Foreign Secretary's Report, will, as we understand, be soon published, yet a brief abstract of some of its statements, will not, it is thought, be unacceptable to our readers at the present time. The influence of the Association has been greater the last year than in any preceding one. Tracts have been sold from the Depository, to the amount of 900 dollars. Orders for them from England, have been received, to the value of 327 dollars. Besides the Annual Report, and Dr. Tuckerman's Tenth Report, twelve tracts of the First Series, and four of the Second Series have been published; and also twelve of former years have been reprinted; making an aggregate of 72,500 pamphlets, and of nearly 2,000,000 pages. Of these 72,500, more than 68,500 copies have been sent from the Depository. The whole number of separate publications issued by the Association since its organization in 1825, is 73; and it is worthy of notice that the multiplication of new tracts has not driven those of an earlier date out of use; 24 having been reprinted, 6 passed to a third edition, and one to a sixth. ministry to the poor in Boston, under the care of the Association, has been prosecuted with undiminished success, the past year by Dr. Tuckerman, whose influence has not been confined to this city, nor to this side of the Atlantic; his Reports having awakened an interest in the subject of The |