When the great day of judgment shall burst on the world, My Sabbath-school labour has not been in vain. My Sabbath-school labours shall not be in vain. CORRESPONDENCE. CHURCH AND SCHOOL PSALMODY. REV. SIR,-In accordance with the wish expressed in your rules for correspondents in the number for May, I have taken the liberty of addressing you, and through you the Teachers in general of our Sabbath-schools, upon the subject mentioned at the head of this letter. I hope that none are so unconscious of its importance as to expect any reasons adduced for bringing it before them; my motive is, to endeavour to point out the method by which an improvement may be made in this important part of our duty. It is now nearly twelve months since a number of young men, Teachers in our Sabbath-school, agreed to assemble together for the purpose of reading the word of God, mutual improvement, exhortation, and praise. At one of these meetings, a Teacher, conscious of the defect which existed in this duty, expressed his sentiments thereon, together with the wish, that those whose duty brought them so much in contact with the rising generation would seriously consider the matter, and adopt such means as might tend to improve the singing in our Sabbath-schools. Happily, this wish was spontaneously responded to, and a fellow-teacher, who was acquainted with the art of singing, offered his gratuitous services, provided a number of fellow-teachers could be gathered together. In a few weeks a sufficient number was enlisted to form a class, and by little and by little we have continued to increase till our numbers have augmented to upwards of sixty. The objects we seek are twofold. 1st. An improvement in our "Sabbath-school" singing; and, 2ndly. The like in that of our sanctuaries. The means by which we purpose to effect these desirable objects are by imparting to Sabbath school Teachers a theoretical and practical knowledge of music; and, where practicable, aiso to the children; but where there are no feasible plans for accomplishing the latter, we look upon our Teachers as a medium for improving, in some degree or other, the singing of the respective schools to which they belong. To effect the second object, we seek to impart (gratuitously, save what is absolutely necessary to defray the expenses,) to the members of the Association a thorough knowledge of the art and practice of singing, with the impression that they will be willing to assist, gratuitously, in forming a choir when called upon so to do. It is now about nine months since we first associated ; and though so little time has elapsed, I am happy to say that the singing in one of the places of worship, in connection with one of the largest parishes in this city, has been entirely conducted by some of our members, without the assistance of any instrument, save that of a tuning fork; and at the present time we are endeavouring to form a choir for the mother church. Taking into consideration the shortness of the time, and in some instances the adverse circumstances under which we have laboured, I look upon this as great encouragement to more diligence and assiduity; and I doubt not but that with a single eye to the glory of God, he will continue to vouchsafe his blessing, and give us to see increased instances of our usefulness. One object we seek to attain is, to disseminate the knowledge of music so widely as to do away with what must be considered both a heavy appendage to the expenses of the church and a monstrous incongruity-that is, "paid singers." The improper conduct carried on during divine service by the generality of these persons is notorious. This, combined with the knowledge that in too many instances the only object they seek is gain, will, I hope, be reasons cogent enough to justify our desire for their annihilation. To offer unto God what is not acceptable to him, is mockery, yet such is their conduct. He seeks a willing service-they must be paid, otherwise they will not sing. God loves a cheerful giver-they must be remunerated, otherwise they will not let their voices be heard in the sanctuary. The time, then, when a choir can be chosen from amidst the congregation-who will sing with the spirit and with the understanding also-who will "offer unto God the freewill offerings of their lips"-cannot be anticipated but with pleasure and with joy, by all who seek to serve God in spirit and in truth. Let me, then, invite the attention of my fellow-labourers to this important matter-let me intreat them to adopt some means for extending associations similar to our own-having in all things one common object, "the praise and glory of God." I beg to remain yours truly, Bristol. E. P. A. SUMMARY OF NEWS. "There are many devices in a man's heart: nevertheless the counsel of the Lord that shall stand." WE are approaching one of those periods which is looked upon with such mingled feelings by men of different classes and pursuits in the country-a general election. The great question which will be asked of the candidates for the suffrages of the people, is, Whether they will honestly support the Protestant cause? Whether, in fact, they will resist the Romanizing tendency of the leading men in the country-oppose every act by which the Roman Catholic religion is taken under the protection, sanction, and encouragement of the government-and endeavour to maintain intact those distinctive features of Protestantism which marked it off at the Reformation by a broad line of separation from Romanism? There can be no doubt that every man who is an elector has a duty to perform in this respect, for the conscientious adherence to which he is responsible to God. Let him, then, exert his power in the right direction; and though, alone, his barrier may be ineffectual to stem the current which hurries men Romeward, yet combina.. tion is power, and union of force may effect such a revolution as single-handed efforts never could effect. We do not expect, when we consider the great, and to many unexpected, demonstration of Protestant feeling abroad, that any immediate or decided steps will be taken by the government in this falsely called liberal direction; but it is well to anticipate and guard against such a movement, though it may be distant. The affairs of Portugal are becoming more tranquil the result, probably, of our interference. Oporto has been entered by the Spanish troops, and the Junta have surrendered. Two articles of the treaty are, that the Queen of Portugal adheres to the charter of the constitution, which she has repeatedly broken; and that a general amnesty to the rebels be proclaimed. The statements at the last annual meeting of the Society for the Improvement of the Condition of the Labouring Classes are encouraging. The object has been threefold: First, to form benefit institutions, for the accumulation of their savings: in other words, to provide funds for their money. Secondly, to introduce the system of allotments throughout the country: in other words, to negotiate for their occupation of land. And lastly, to improve their dwellings. In the second endeavour, they have greatly succeeded; and where introduced under proper restrictions, it has been found to be a benefit both to the landlord who lets, and the occupier who hires his piece of ground. The last point which they have been aiming to effect has had principal reference to crowded towns, and especially the metropolis. The disclosures here continue to be most frightful. Imagine one court-yard, from which, in consequence of the tainted state of the atmosphere, fever has not been known to have been absent for two years. Imagine a lodging-house in Westminster, not far from the princely building of the House of Lords, at which the keeper answers to the enquiry, "How many persons lodge here of a night?” "Twenty-four." "How many rooms have you for this number?" "Two" "But do you not separate the different sexes from each other?" "No; we leave all that to themselves: they sleep all together." In one of the most crowded localities near Drury Lane, however, the Society rent three houses, where improvements of a very gratifying description have been carried on, and have succeeded beyond their expectation. The installation of Prince Albert as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge has passed off with great pomp. There was a very pleasing allusion to Luther and the Elector of Saxony in Wordsworth's ode on the occasion. It was introduced thus: "Like that wise ancestor of thine From gladdened Elbe to startled Tiber heard." We were happy to see that a motion had been carried in the House of Commons to the effect that couples above the age of sixty are not to be separated from each other in the Union Workhouses; but the decision has been reversed in the House of Lords! O Temporari The interior of Africa has been lately explored by Mr. Becroft, within forty miles of Park's discoveries, and the natives are willing to trade. THE TEACHER'S VISITOR. No. 41. SEPTEMBER, 1847. VOL. VII. THE BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. (Concluded from p. 51.). A ON THE MECHANICAL ARRANGEMENT FOR A SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 61. THERE should be an ENTRANCE BOOK, in which the names of all those who are admitted into the school should be entered, with a notification of their proficiency, at that time. The time when they leave school should afterwards be specified, and the state of their proficiency at that time should be also recorded, and a short abstract of their future history may subsequently be made, in a column for observations. This forms a very valuable document; and by a judicious use of it, the best system of subsequent superintendence over the scholars is preserved. 62. A SCHOOL ABSENCE BOOK, kept by the Superintendent, who will call over the names every Sunday, and mark those who are present in good time that is, before prayers-those who come after, and those who are ab sent. The last description should, if possible, be visited during the week. 63. Each Teacher should keep a CLASS ABSENCE Book, in which the same process should take place with regard to the class. It should indeed be a counterpart of, correspond essentially with, the School Absence Book; and the holding this book should constitute the warrant for being teacher to such and such children. In the beginning of this book should be written the list of the lessons to be learnt by the class, e. g. in the Class |