CUT-AND-DRIED TEACHERS.

CONCERNING plans of teaching. Nobody has any right to impose his plan of teaching on his neighbour. There is no method that may call itself the method of education. There is only one set of right principles, but there may be ten thousand plans. Every teacher must work for himself as every man of the world works for himself. There is, for all men in society, only one set of right principles, yet you shall see a thousand men in one town all obeying them, although all, in conduct, absolutely differ from one another. They will present among themselves the widest contrasts, and yet every one may be prospering and making friends. In the school, as in the world, a man must be himself if he would have more than a spurious success; he must be modelled upon nobody. The schoolmaster should read books of education, and he may study hard to reason out for himself by their aid, if he can, what are the right principles to go upon. A principle that he approves, he must adopt: but, another man's plan that he approves, he must assimilate to the nature of his own mind and of his own school before he can adopt it. Even his school he must so manage that it shall admit of great variety of plan within itself, and suffer him so to work in it as to appeal in the most effective way to the mind of each one of his scholars.

No man can be a good teacher who is a cut and dried man without any particular character; his individuality must be strongly marked. He should be, of course, a man of unimpeachable integrity, detesting what is base or mean, and beyond everything hating a lie. He should have pleasure in his work, be fond of children, and not think of looking down upon them, but put faith-and that is a main point which many teachers will refuse to uphold-put faith in the good spirit of childhood. He must honor a child or he cannot educate it, though he may cram many facts into its head. It is essential also to the constitution of a good teacher that, whatever his character may be, he shall not be slow. Children are not so constituted as to be able to endure slowness patiently. He must also not be destitute of imagination, for he will have quick imaginations to develop and to satisfy. The most learned teacher ought incessantly to read and think, so that he may be on each topic as full-minded as he should be when he proposes to give lessons to a child. The good teacher must be devoted to his work; if he want pleasure and excitement, he must find them in the school-room and the study. For it is only when his teaching gives great pleasure to himself, that it can give any pleasure whatever to his pupils.

KEEPING PROMISES WITH CHILDREN.

A GENTLEMAN of nervous temperament once called on Dr. Dwight, president of Yale College. One of the doctor's boys was rather boisterous, and pestered the nervous gentleman somewhat; whereupon he said to him. "My boy, if you will keep still while I am talking to your father, I will give you a dollar." Instantly the boy hushed down gently as a sleeping lamb. At the close of the gentleman's remarks, he attempted to leave without giving the boy the dollar; but Doctor Dwight was too fast for him. He put a dollar into the man's hands, saying, " You promised my boy a dollar for good behaviour. Give him that, as you promised. If, sir, we lie, our children will be liars also."

A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF MY SUNDAY

SCHOOL TEACHER.

THE righteous perish and no man layeth it to heart. Life is like a vapour that appeareth for a little time, then vanisheth away, so that the places which now know us will soon know us no more for ever. A solemn but happy thought to the Christian. If there is aught of consolation in it to my soul, I owe it (under God) to the labours and prayers of one, who now is undoubtedly among that "shining band" which surrounds the throne, with "golden harps" in their hands, singing the song of "Moses and the Lamb."

Her toils are ended. The dark river of death lighted by the glory of her Saviour's countenance she has passed. She now beholds "face to face" him whose will it was her meat and drink to do. Happy is her lot Instead of toiling up the difficult path of life, or waging a spiritual warfare with the "great enemy of souls," she walks in " green pastures, and by the still waters;" and with her harp of gold chants the praises of her Redeemer. As she has once "borne the image of the earthy," she now bears and will ever "bear the image of the heavenly." She died in the Lord, and the Spirit hath said, "Blessed are such, for they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them." For many years, as the Sabbaths returned, it was her custom to meet children and to teach them the scriptures. Many came under her influence. Those who composed her last class are still living. Some of them rejoice in the "hope of a glorious resurrection;" while the others are "without God, and without hope in the world.”

If any of you, my dear class-mates, should read these lines, let me urge you to give earnest heed to the many kind warnings of this departed friend of ours. Often have her prayers ascended in our behalf. Often have we listened, when tears stood in her eyes, while with a peculiar eloquence she related to us the story of "Jesus' dying love." And now shall we forget it all? Will you my class-mates pass on through life regardless of her entreaties to love the Saviour? Can you think of spending an eternity with that "impassable gulf" betwixt yourselves and Him whom her soul loved. I seem to hear you answer, "No."

The Church has sustained a severe loss. In view of it I feel like exclaiming with the prophet, "Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears." Christians! those who labor as Sunday school teachers, be encouraged; never give up hoping and praying. If you have labored for years earnestly and cheerfully even without any success, still be not discouraged. Be assured that "your labor is not in vain." The good seed which you drop from Sabbath to Sabbath shall not, cannot be lost. J. D. Jr.

THE FITTING MACHINERY.

If it were required of one to invent a scheme by which the knowledge of elementary religious truth could be most widely diffused among those who were most destitute of it, and that, too, in the cheapest and most inoffensive form, we question whether he would proceed far, in a sensible

THE FITTING MACHINERY.

investigation of the subject, without hitting upon a process very like ou SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

Perhaps the imperfect manner in which they are often conducted, and the frequent failure of results which they are expected to produce, may have misled observers, but we are confident that the principle involved in them is comprehensive enough to reach the greater part of the wants which are set forth by an English prelate at a late meeting of the Pastoral Aid Society. The Bishop of Lincoln, on that occasion, stated that the population of the country increased at the rate of 200,000 per annum, and "if there were but one clergyman to every 2000 human beings, an annual increase of 100 clergymen would be required. In many of our populous parishes," said he, "not one in six attend any place of worship whatever! In the rural districts, gene. rally, the habit was to attend some place of worship, as it was not thought respectable to omit doing so; but when great masses of the people get together they destroy the increasing spirit of religion."

6

"The Gospel must be made aggresHow can these masses be reached? sive; it must go and seek out those who are not in possession of its blesa grand sings. At one time, out-door preaching was looked upon as panacea for all our ills; but this, from a very natural re-action, does not now seem to be esteeemed as it ought to be.-Out-door preaching was of very great value, for it brought the Gospel to those who could not be persuaded to assemble in rooms; but it would never have a very wide influence, for there were but few places in the great towns where it could be carried on successfully, there being a large number of what we might call the respectable ungodly, who would never stop to listen to a person speaking in the open air. Nevertheless out-door preaching was a most For the first time,' said the valuable aid to the minister of a large parish. Incumbent of Nottingham Church to him, a short time ago, since I have been appointed to this church, I saw men at church in their shirt-sleeves Now, he (the Bishop) did soon after I commenced open-air preaching.' not say that it was desirable that persons should come to church in their shirt-sleeves, but if they were to be in their shirt-sleeves they had better go to church than elsewhere. But after all, the great means of evangelizing our people was by house-to-house visitation. Lay agents had at first been looked upon with suspicion, but their usefulness was now more and more generally recognized. He might also add that he did not think the educated man had more influence with the poorer classes than persons of less acquirements; not that he thought men of inferior education were better received; but he did say that lay agents had advantages in dealing with the irreligious and unbelievers which the clergyman had not. Lay agency was not to supplant clergymen, but it was an extension of the pastoral arm, and, so far from lessening the labours of the clergyman, it actually increased them. If these views of the methods of extending the blessings of the Gospel are sound, how can the church (the great body of believers in, and disciples of Christ) withhold its choicest strength and grace from the SUNDAY SCHOOL-so eminently a wise and efficient method of house -to-house visitation.

THE NEW BIRTH.

A FACT.

It was a bright, frosty night, some years ago, when I stood with H. H—, leaning over a swing-gate, about half-a-mile from the little town of Ledbury. Before us an avenue of trees led up a steep hill, to a greensward knoll. Behind was a beautiful open country stretching away for many a mile. We had stepped aside from the turnpike road for a holy purpose-it was even to pray. A moment's silence, broken only by the receding footsteps of the last lonely passer by, and by a sound more dear to a teacher's ear-the heavy sigh of a contrite sinner's heart; and then slow, solemn, and earnest, my voice poured forth the wishes of my heart, that the boy who stood beside me might be blessed with a view of a Saviour's full atonement. Silently we wandered towards home. As I opened my eyes and turned them upwards, I found that the cloud which for a time had eclipsed the silvery beams of the Queen of night, had passed away, and left her bright and beautiful. Thank God, thought I, for so happy an emblem of what will soon, I trust, take place in the soul of my young friend. "Do you understand it better now?" said I at last, "I think I do, said he," and we parted.

The next morning he went alone to a stable-loft and prayed, and as he prayed the cloud removed, and brighter far than the silvery moon, rose the glorious "Sun of Righteousness with healing on his wings." How sweet the words to my heart, as he repeated in passing me that morning, "I think it is all right now, Sir;" and to read subsequently the ardent breathings, after final perseverance, expressed by the new-born soul, in the following letter:

LEDBURY, September —, 185-.

DEAR FRIEND,-I have joined the Church since you were here, and am very thankful to say I was unanimously received. I thank God that he has given me grace to walk circumspectly before the world and the Church, and pray that he may preserve me through all the future course of my life.

I am very much troubled in my own mind about going into the ministry. I am ready to give myself, if I can only win souls and bring glory to God.

Send me your advice. Try what you can do for me; but (need I say) seek direction at the Throne of Grace, before you advise.

I will employ all my talents, which God may have given me, in his service. If I can only "finish my course with joy, I count not my life dear unto me." Not that I think by becoming a preacher of the Gospel, or going to India, or anywhere else, will be one single grain on my side when I am weighed in the balance.

I bless God that his salvation is a complete salvation. If we are Chris. tians, good works will follow. When we love God, we shall try to please him.

I am,

PLAN OF A PROVIDENT INVESTMENT SOCIETY.

MR. EDITOR,-As the importance of encouraging provident habits among the working classes is now attracting considerable attention, I enclose, for your inspection, (and insertion if you please), a copy of the rules of a Society recently established in connection with our Sunday school.

Roseberry Villas.

Yours very truly,

WALTER BERDOE, Jun.

Rules of the Kentish Town Congregational Sunday School Provident Investment Society.

RULES.

1.- THE Committee of Management shall consist of a President, Treasurer, and two Secretaries, to be appointed by the Sunday School Committee. They shall all retire at Christmas in each year, but be eligible for re-election.

2.-All scholars attending regularly and behaving well, shall be entitled to the benefits of the Society, and on leaving the school, for reasons satisfactory to the Committee, shall be allowed to continue their connection with the Society.

3. The deposits shall be paid in on Monday evenings, between eight and nine o'clock.

4. The amount deposited shall be either 1d., 2d., 4d., 6d., or 1s. per week.

5.-Interest at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum, shall be allowed to each Depositor every three months, namely at the end of the respective months of March, June, September, and December. Such interest to be calculated on the amount standing to the credit of the Depositor at the commencement of the quarter. Depositors being more than two weeks in arrear at any time, shall not be entitled to have interest allowed on that quarter's deposits, till the end of the following quarter.

6. One of the Secretaries shall be in attendance each deposit night, to receive deposits and pay claims, and shall enter the same upon the Depositor's card, and in a book kept for the purpose. He shall also pay over the amount so received to the Treasurer, not later than the Wednesday following.

7. When his name is enrolled, each Depositor shall be supplied with a card, for which one penny will be charged. This card must always be produced on paying in or withdrawing money, and if lost or damaged, a new one must be purchased. On withdrawing from the benefits of the Society, the Depositor must leave his card with one of the Secretaries.

8-A Depositor may at any weekly meeting withdraw any part or the whole of the amount paid in by him, together with the interest thereon due, by giving written notice to one of the Secretaries, at the previous weekly meeting.

9.-The sums received by the Treasurer shall be deposited by him in the Perpetual Investment Land and Building Society, in his own name and that of the Senior Secretary. £5 shall be the maximum sum retained in his hands at any time.