among the heathen; but it pleased God to remove him by an early death to his reward. Since the above occurrence, I have never refused the assistance of volunteers, if they were regular in their attendance on the ordinances of God.

It is to be lamented that some teachers should be stumblingblocks in the way of others they wish to benefit. They should remember, they are watched and looked up to for examples. Some time since, a teacher requested me to speak to one of his boys on the impropriety of his attending a singing and dancing room. In the course of conversation which I had with the boy, he looked up in my face, and said, "Please, sir, some of the teachers go to the playhouse!" There was evidently an air of triumph in the face of the boy when he said this, which I am not likely to forget. I said no more to him, but merely requested him to point out the teachers he had seen in the theatre. It was quite correct that some of our teachers had been in the habit of going to the theatre. Two of them shortly after I had told them of the above left the school, choosing rather the pleasures of sin to the honour of serving their God. Another was so convinced of his error, that he at once determined to avoid, in future, all appearance of evil, and continues among us a faithful teacher.

From the above I conclude that it is not advisable to request any one to become a Sunday-school Teacher, unless he is prepared to set a good example before his scholars.

I am more and more convinced, that it is a great privilege to be a Sunday-school Teacher. The young man referred to, in the former part of my letter, often told me that it was the means of bringing him to his Saviour, and that he had great reason to bless God that he was ever permitted to be a Teacher. He found, that to be able to teach others, he must search the Scriptures; and in searching, he discovered that he was destitute of the one thing needful.

Hoping that some more experienced person will take up the subject, I remain, Rev. Sir, Your constant Reader,

Preston, 18th April, 1845.

A SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHER.

REV. SIR,-I do not know whether you will think the enclosed worth inserting in your little periodical the "Teacher's Visitor, but as it strikes me that it might possibly lead other Teachers, when absent from their schools, to adopt a similar plan. I venture to send it to you. The author was for some time superintendent of a

Sunday-school in South Lancashire, and whilst engaged in that delightful office, had in his first class four boys who promised well, and with whom he was very much interested. Amongst other instruction, he gave them lessons in singing, in the hope that when they grew up, they would form an efficient, and at the same time, a serious choir, for a church which he had reason to believe would be built in the neighbourhood. He has now been separated from this school for nearly two years, but during the whole of that time, has kept up a correspondence with one of the Teachers, who, though an illiterate collier, is very well disposed, and gives him every information. I may just mention, that this man with only one other, in the same station, was the means of the school being built; for they engaged to collect, I think, £60, if their clergyman would meet it with a similar sum. He consented, drew up a statement for them, and by their indefatigable exertions, the money was obtained. This collier, in his last letter, thus writes: "As you will no doubt be anxious to hear some account of your singing pupils, I must inform you that J. T., L. T., and T. Y., have quite given up their attendance at school, and also their going to G. T. to practise singing. They are, I am afraid, getting into a loose, idle habit; loitering about on the sabbath day in their ‘disabille,' and seldom attend church. Perhaps, sir, a few words of advice from you would be of service, and might arrest them in their downward course to ruin." In consequence of the above, (which I give as it was written,) the enclosed note, with a little variation according to the circumstances of each, was sent to each of the three young men. As they are all the sons of colliers, it is written in the simplest language, and has no pretensions but the author's earnest wish and fervent prayer that its intention may be realized.

If you think its insertion in the "Teacher's Visitor" calculated to be useful, he will be gratified; and he remains, Rev. Sir,

Your obedient and humble Servant,

H. L.

"MY DEAR J.,-You little think what deep sorrow it has caused me to hear that you have left of attending at N. B. Sunday-school. The interest you took in it when I was there, made me hope and think that you were really fond of going, and that you would, as you grew up, become a prop and a help to it, both in teaching and singing. I was then both grieved and surprised to hear, as I have done lately, that you have given up going, and are following the example of too many thoughtless young men in your neighbourhood, by spending the Sunday in idleness and sin. O my dear young man, I know what temptation is; and I, like you, have given way to it, but

nitterly have I suffered for it; and I can, from experience, warn you, that if you go on in this way, a day will come when you will repent it too. When you read this letter, think of the time when you used to attend regularly every Sunday at school and church, and ask yourself whether you felt happier then or now. Think of the time when you were confirmed, and of the solemn promises you made then before God, that you would give yourself to him. Think of the time when you used to attend the sacrament; and think of all the instruction you have had about your duty; and remember it will be far worse for you on that account, if you neglect it, than for those who have never been taught what it is. Young men, 1 know, are subject to many temptations, and we see sadly too few going in the right way; but that is no reason why you should not, nor will it be any excuse for them that others were as bad as they. God will give strength to those who ask him, and will help them to serve him, if they wish to do so. I send a note like this, at the same time, both to L. T. and T. Y.; and what I wish you to do is this: You three all meet together at the school gate, at exactly a quarter past six on Friday night, and, at that very time, if God spares my life, I shall be up in my bed-room; most likely, at any rate, wherever I am, I shall be praying that God will give both you and me grace to walk in the narrow way which leadeth unto life-that he will give us all new hearts-that he will help us to conquer every temptation, and that he will forgive us our sins, and grant us his peace, for Jesus Christ's sake. When you are at the school gate, talk the matter over, remembering all the while that I am thinking about you, and praying for you, and resolve that you will ALL come back to school next Sunday, and give up all your bad habits; and then go home and pray for yourself for the things which I have just told you. And may God bless you for Christ's sake.

"I am, your sincere friend and old Teacher, H. L."

REV. SIR,-I have looked with some anxiety, but hitherto without success, for some special notice in the "Teacher's Visitor," of one most important branch of Sunday-school Teaching. I refer to the duty of Teachers to cultivate a missionary spirit amongst their little flock. I call it a most important branch, because I am fully pursuaded that in proportion as this spirit is cultivated and flourishes, will the well-being not alone of our societies be promoted, but also the internal health and prosperity of our schools themselves be advanced or retarded. With regard to the societies

themselves, (though the present efforts of the young are by no means to be despised,) it is not this so much that I look at, as the good feeling and deep interest which will in most instances grow up in mature life, in those who have early been taught to feel it their duty and their privilege to do what in them lies to promote the best welfare of their distant brethren. Few can have failed to observe how lasting and almost irremovable are early impressions; and those who at all interest themselves on behalf of these blessed objects, are made painfully to feel the truth of this remark, in the loads of prejudices they have often unsuccessfully to oppose, and which are generally all summed up in-" We never heard of these things when we were young, and the world was just as good then as it is now; why then make such a stir now?" &c. May we not then hope that a future generation shall reap what we now desire to sow in the minds of the young? and that by these means much of the toil of future labourers will be lightened, and their hearts cheered by the ready contribution, coupled with the reviving remark, "I was taught to love these things in my youth, and, therefore, I shall feel a deep interest in them to the day of my death."

With regard to the children themselves, I look upon it that it will prove a blessing greater than we have been apt to conceive, to have their minds early occupied in actively promoting the good of others. Their ever active minds will be engaged in something good or bad; and let us give them good instruction as we may, unless we teach them that they have talents which must be employed in the vineyard of the Lord, and for which they must give account hereafter, and moreover, put them in the way of trading with them to advantage, their unstable and and unoccupied minds are left the prey, alas! but too easy prey, of every trifle that presents itself. And oh, we know too well what thousand snares stand ready to bewitch them.

I am quite aware that many and active efforts are making in various Sunday-schools throughout the land, and the result has exceeded the most sanguine expectations which could have been entertained; but still there is a wide field unoccupied ; and many a retired nook into which your welcome pink-dressed Magazine makes its monthly entrance, is doubtless not aware of the little crocus covered Church Missionary Magazine, with its attendant little collecting boxes, which may be had gratis from the society, for the use of juvenile associations.

I have thus briefly and imperfectly glanced at a subject which seems to me teeming with blessings to all connected with it. By way of venturing a suggestion to you, Rev. Sir, that it might prove a valuable addition to your already highly valued Magazine, if a

page were devoted each month to giving information respecting the various Missionary Societies in connection with the Church of England, to seriously urging on Teachers the duty and privilege of seeking to create and increase a missionary spirit in their young charge, and suggesting to them hints for carrying out a regular system of effort.

With these few remarks, I close for the present, trusting you may not deem my freedom a liberty, and earnestly hoping and praying that you may hereby be induced to give the matter that consideration which I am persuaded will lead you to follow the course best adopted to promote a cause dear to the heart of every Christian ; and I think I may add, especially so, that, of Rev. and dear Sir, Yours obliged, A SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHER. Since writing the above, I have noticed the remarks made in the number for March, on the injudicious plan of allowing children to run from house and even beg in the street as Missionary collectors. Such proceeding cannot be too much censured; but the abuse of the thing need surely form no argument against the thing itself; and perhaps in this case blame attached more to those who had the management of the juvenile association, than to the children themselves. While they stimulated to zeal, they may have forgotten to inculcate prudence and discretion.

HINTS ON SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

REV. SIR, I beg to tender you many thanks for your timely and truly-valuable "Visitor."

I was much pleased with the "Hints on Sunday-schools" in your earlier numbers last year, and it would rejoice my heart to see an article of the kind every month, should some one amongst your many readers feel disposed to render such assistance to Sabbathschool Teachers.

We must admit that example is as needful as precept. You will not, therefore, be surprised when I say that I believe Teachers congregating together before, yea, up to the very minute of prayer and praise, and again, after school, as soon as they rise from their knees, to talk and laugh, is at variance with all order and decorum. If I rightly understand the meaning of the word, "School," it means order.

I believe disorder to be a giant defect in any school, much less a Sunday-school.

I am truly sorry to say that I know a Sunday-school where a girl